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 Greece's 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.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
A 41-year-old man has been identified as the suspect killed following a police chase and shooting in St. Clair County.

Coroner Dennis Russell on Sunday identified the man as Gerald Wayne Marlin Jr. He lived in Lake View.

It wasnt immediately clear why Marlin was being pursued. Court records show he has received multiple traffic violations, including two DUIs, but the records do not reflect any kind of arrests for violent crimes.

The chase began about 6:11 p.m. Saturday on Highway 231 near Ashville when Alabama State Troopers initiated the chase with Marlins pickup truck. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies joined in as the pursuit traveled along 231 through Pell City, turning onto 174 in Odenville.

The chase lasted about 20 minutes, coming to a stop at the intersection of Highway 174 and Highway 411 near the Piggly Wiggly and Charlies BBQ. Agencies involved included the sheriffs office and police from Odenville, Margaret and Argo. Officers deployed two different sets of spike strips before the chase finally ended.

No officers were injured, but the suspect is dead. According to the St. Clair County Sheriffs Office, the suspect fired his weapon and officers returned fire.

At least several bystanders captured the entire ordeal on cell phone video. The footage shows the suspect come to a slow stop just before the intersection. Officers exit their vehicles with guns drawn and approach the pickup truck. They are standing just feet away, with at least one or two officers looking into the trucks window.

Officers can be heard shouting at the driver. About 36 seconds after stopping, a barrage of gunfire rang out. The suspect was dead inside his vehicle.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe. The agency has not yet released any statement on the investigation.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY  Currently limited to part-time counselors split between schools, a pair of elementary and middle school representatives proposed to the Georgetown County School District board March 16 that full-time rehabilitative behavioral health services (RBHS) counselors be added to all elementary schools and Waccamaw Middle School for the 2021-22 school year.

Sabrina Goff-Mack, the elementary representative, noted that full-time counselors dedicated to a single campus will aid students as they return to school in the fall.

"RBHS counselors would provide services for all students, not just those who qualify for special services, and with the increased need during this time of the pandemic with social and emotional learning, this could be beneficial for all students," said Goff-Mack, adding that RBHS counselors will provide services and counseling for students who have emotional or behavioral needs.

This request came alongside others as Goff-Mack and representatives from the middle and high schools presented budget requests to the GCSD board at its bi-weekly meeting.

The board also approved the 2021-22 school year calendar, which doubled the amount of professional development days for teachers from this years schedule, with one every month except for May. There are five professional development days and five student half-days for professional development set aside.

Patti Hammel, a board member and former director of professional development for the district, said these added days will alleviate stress for teachers who often have to squeeze professional development time in after school or during planning periods.

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The things they accomplish on these days will directly come back to helping students, Hammel said.

"(Teachers) are going to have those professional learning times that are going to be unencumbered and not when they're dead tired," Hammel said.

Students will also start school August 18, about three weeks earlier than last year, and get out for summer break June 3.

The GCSD board also heard a pitch for an additional custodian position at each middle and high school, with high school representative, Adam Gorge, noting that extra help is needed not only for COVID-19 cleaning, but also because several of the high schools have added square footage to their campuses recently.

"The one additional person would definitely help in making sure that we are cleaning adequately for our students and our staff to keep them safe," Gorge said.

GCSD will hold departmental budget presentations in April before the board holds a public hearing for the 2021-22 budget on June 1. The budget will then be finalized in a public hearing before June 30.
The Hudson County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit and Jersey City Police Department are investigating a shooting that occurred just after 5:30 p.m. in the area of MLK Drive between Woodlawn Avenue and Fulton Avenue in which a male was killed.

More info to follow, according to a spokeswoman for the Prosecutors Office..
This is the glamorous hairdresser accused of stabbing a woman 13 times in what police described as an arranged fight following a two-year feud.

Nan Dunlop is charged with attempting to murder a woman she met for an alleged night-time score-settling in an Iceland supermarket car park.

Police claimed in court last week the 27-year-old Ballymena woman slashed another woman's windpipe and punctured her lung in the same incident.

Dunlop was arrested following the alleged attacks outside the supermarket on York Street in north Belfast in the early hours of Wednesday.

She appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court the following morning, where she also faced charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife.

A police officer told the court the incident represented what they believed was an escalation in an alleged two-year dispute between Dunlop and her current partner's ex.

"It seems there was a premeditated meeting between the accused and victim to sort out (their) differences," he said.

"There was some kind of altercation in which the injured party received 13 stab wounds."

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A second alleged victim sustained lacerations to her neck and arm. Under cross-examination, the detective confirmed the injured parties have yet to provide statements to police.

"One of the victims had a punctured lung and the other one is still in hospital awaiting surgery on a laceration to the windpipe," he explained.

A barrister for Dunlop argued his client was threatened in the lead-up to the encounter and claimed others brought a range of weapons to the scene, including a knuckle-duster, two knives, a screwdriver and a mallet.

The lawyer added the alleged injured parties and their group of up to 10 men and women "massively outnumbered" Dunlop and her friends.

"(Ms Dunlop) says that when she arrived on the scene, she was attacked immediately by the alleged injured party and other females," he told the court.

"While she was getting attacked, other males arrived. One of them came at her with a screwdriver.

"He cut her to the head, cut her on the knee and kicked her tooth out when she was lying on the ground."

He said the group fled when Dunlop asked security guards to call police.

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Dunlop, who had an address on the Beersbridge Road in east Belfast, was granted bail to live under curfew at an approved address outside the city.

Adjourning the case to April 15, Deputy District Judge Liam McStay banned Dunlop from contacting any witnesses or entering the north Belfast area.
Katie Price's son Harvey comforted her boyfriend Carl Woods on Sunday, after he broke three bones in his hand in an accident.

Car dealer Carl, 31, was rushed to hospital after he reportedly dropped a heavy dumbbell on himself  months after Katie, 42, broke her feet in a freak accident.

And in a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, Harvey, 18, was seen gently rubbing Carl's bandaged hand as he urged him to 'be brave' amid his injury woes.

Scroll down for video

Comfort: Katie Price's son Harvey (pictured) comforted her boyfriend Carl Woods on Sunday, after he broke three bones in his hand in an accident.

In the video, Harvey was seen sitting on the couch as his mother said: 'I wanna show you something. Look what he's done, Harv.'

Carl, who stood off-camera then stretched out his bandaged arm, which Harvey gently rubbed, prompting Carl to wince in pain.

'Get better soon, Carl woods,' Harvey said, as he learned that Carl had been injured.

Former glamour model Katie then asked her eldest offspring: 'What do you think? It's like mummy's feet, he's broken it.'

'Yeah, he's bad innit Carl,' said Harvey, who was then asked by his mother: 'Do you feel angry? What do you want to happen, Harv?'

Accident: Car dealer Carl Woods, 31, was rushed to hospital after he reportedly dropped a heavy dumbbell on himself  months after Katie Price, 42, broke her feet in a freak accident

Caring: In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, Harvey, 18, was seen gently rubbing Carl's bandaged hand as he urged him to 'be brave' amid his injury woes

'Be better. Keep brave, Carl,' responded Harvey in the heartwarming brief video.

'I've broken it in three places,' Carl explained to Harvey, before he asked him: 'Will you look after me?'

'OK, we promise Carl,' Harvey assured Carl before the pair blew kisses to one another.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Katie Price for comment.

Last month, Katie revealed that she's been registered disabled after breaking both her feet when she fell 25 feet in a freak accident while holidaying in Turkey.

Accident: Last month, Katie revealed that she's been registered disabled after breaking both her feet when she fell 25 feet in a freak accident while holidaying in Turkey

The star suffered the horrific injuries while abroad in August and had to undergo an eight-hour operation to rebuild her feet.

Discussing how she's coping six months on, Katie has detailed how she's in constant pain and 'waddles like a duck' when trying to walk, with 20 minutes a day being her limit, in an interview with The Sun.

Katie said: 'I will never be the same... I've got a limp when I walk now as one leg is longer than the other because of all the metal in the foot  I waddle like a duck. It does make me feel a bit paranoid

'I'm registered disabled and have got letters from the doctors to certify me for a blue badge, which I've sent off for.'

Speaking about the pain she's still feeling after the accident, Katie said that she feels like she's 'being electrocuted' as the pain shoots through her feet.

Horrific injuries: The star suffered the horrific injuries while abroad in August and had to undergo an eight-hour operation to rebuild her feet. Pictured in November

The mother-of-five also revealed that she's not been taking either of the painkillers given to her as she's worried about becoming addicted so is always in lots of pain.

She went on to explain how when out shopping she has to strategically park close to the shops and can't carry heavy items as it hurts her feet too much.

Katie, who can only walk for 20 minutes and has physiotherapy sessions four times a week, also said she's been overcompensating for the pain while trying to take steps meaning the rest of her body is taking a toll.

She revealed she'll have to get her legs and hips 'aligned' and also wears pads in her shoes to help with a collapsed arch.

As well as impacting her health, the constant pain and difficulty moving around has meant the mum-of-five has had to miss out on playing with her children.

Helping hand: Over the past several months, Katie has been seen relying on Carl to get around

Katie, who's now getting legal advice about her situation, said: 'This has all affected our home life dramatically... It's all just a nightmare that has gone from bad to worse.'

The star later explained how her feet are 'destroyed' following the incident, with doctors telling her they have amputated legs with similar injuries, and admitted she returned to The Priory to learn to 'walk again'.

Katie underwent an eight-hour operation to rebuild her feet after she was 'mucking about' following a few drinks and jumped off what she thought was a 'small wall' at the Land of Legends theme park.

Discussing her injury on her YouTube channel at the time, Katie said: Silly me, at my age, should calm things down. Basically, silly little accident. I was running and jumped over a wall, as it was a little shortcut, and didnt really judge the height.

I just sort of fell funny on my ankles and I fractured the hairline on my heels and stuff. The hospital here wanted to operate and wanted to put pins in and stuff. Because Im away, Id rather wait until I get home.

Aw! She added that she 'feels sorry' for boyfriend Carl who has doted on her since the accident and said that it is 'demoralising' seeing him push her in the wheelchair

Its the most painful thing ever. Like when I was trying to put the cast on, I was screaming in pain. They said I wont be able to walk for three to six months.

The model has also revealed how she has returned to The Priory because her 'mental health' has been 'badly affected' by her injuries.

She last visited The Priory in September 2018 and spent 28 days in the facility after her family urged her to seek help following wild partying antics in Mallorca.

Katie has always been very candid about her recovery from the injury and previously revealed she feels 'humiliated' at the prospect of having to learn to 'walk again'.

She's discussed how tasks are 'impossible' including going to the toilet, cooking, reaching for the cupboards and taking a bath where she could 'drown'.

Accident: Earlier this week, Katie revealed how her daughter Princess 'snapped her arm' after falling off her horse while out on a ride together

Katie, who is mother to Harvey, 18, Junior, 15, Princess, 13, Jett, seven, and Bunny, six, explained how she is 'embarrassed' of having to be pushed around and told how people treat her 'differently'.

She added that she 'feels sorry' for boyfriend Carl who has doted on her since the accident and said that it is 'demoralising' seeing him push her in the wheelchair.

But the CBB star described how she would be 'lost' without her beau and revealed how she can still 'keep Carl happy in the bedroom' with him having 'no complaints'.

However Katie also vowed that she is 'never drinking again' following the traumatising accident and plans to cover up her 'mangled' feet with tattoos.

Earlier this week, Katie revealed how her daughter Princess 'snapped her arm' after falling off her horse while out on a ride together.

Ride: Kate said, 'All my kids, we all ride and a couple of years ago, Princess was on her horse and me being a typical mum, going over the jump fell off, went, "Get up, you're alright!"

The-mother-of-five discussed her own injury while appearing on Steph's Packed Lunch on Wednesday, but also mentioned her 13-year-old daughter's accident.

She said that Princess had to be rushed to hospital following the accident and had metal plates put in her arm.

Kate explained: 'All my kids, we all ride and a couple of years ago, Princess was on her horse and me being a typical mum, going over the jump fell off, went, 'Get up, you're alright!"

'And then she got up and this part of her arm was hanging here, she snapped it off. I looked at it and went, "Don't react". I went, "You're alright, just come here!"

'I laid her down and waited for an ambulance and she had to have metal plates, screws because she'd snapped it. It wasn't even a serious fall, it was just how she fell off.'
By Hereward Holland

BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Congo Republic voted in presidential elections on Sunday, with the incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso widely expected to extend his 36-year rule despite an economic crisis in the Central African oil-producing nation.

The president's main rival, former government minister Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, was in hospital with COVID-19 and could be evacuated to France, Kolelas' campaign said.

Even so, the government appeared to be leaving nothing to chance. There was an internet blackout across the country on Sunday, internet monitor NetBlocks said.

Sassou, a 77-year old former paratrooper, rose to power in 1979. He lost Congo's first multi-party elections in 1992 but reclaimed the presidency in 1997 after a civil war. He later changed the constitution to extend term limits.

"I am very satisfied because across the country, I have seen people mobilised and ready to participate in the electoral process," Sassou said after voting, adding that he wished Kolelas a swift recovery.

Turnout appeared light in the capital Brazzaville throughout the day, a Reuters witness said. Poll workers began to count ballots shortly after voting ended at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT).

Results are expected to be published within four days. If none of the seven candidates secures more than 50% of votes, a second round will take place 15 days later.

United Nations and European Union observers were not invited to monitor the election, and the interior ministry refused to allow the Catholic Church's 1,100 observers to take part.

Observers are optimistic, however, that the aftermath of the vote will be peaceful - in contrast to the sporadic violence that followed the last election in 2016. The government signed a peace accord with an anti-Sassou rebel group in 2017, quieting a conflict in southern Congo.

"The Congolese people don't want disorder," said Michel Bedo, an 80-year-old retiree, after casting his ballot at a school in Brazzaville.

Story continues

Congo is a significant oil producer, yet 41% of its 5.4 million citizens live below the global poverty line, the World Bank said.

Extreme poverty has increased since the last election as oil prices slumped. Public debt, much of it owed to oil traders, including Glencore and Trafigura, ballooned to more than 100% of GDP.

Anti-corruption activists say vast sums have been lost to graft by Sassou's inner circle, accusations the government denies.

"I want change," said Bouanga Luca, a 26-year-old student. "If we look at the country's problems, we see that nothing works."

Kolelas, who finished second in 2016, released a video from his hospital bed late on Saturday. Breathing heavily and holding an oxygen mask next to his face, he said he was "battling against death" but urged Congolese to "go vote for change".

(Reporting by Hereward Holland; Writing by Hereward Holland and Aaron Ross; Editing by Mark Potter, William Mallard, Frances Kerry and Barbara Lewis)
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday called on to reverse its decision to leave the EU-backed Istanbul Convention on women's rights, reported Sputnik.

Ankara pulled out from the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention, which aims to reduce and prevent domestic abuse against women.

"Now is the time to show leadership and enhance global efforts to fight violence against women and girls, not to retreat. This is why we cannot but regret deeply and express incomprehension towards the decision of the Turkish government to withdraw from this convention that even bears the name of Istanbul. This decision risks compromising the protection and fundamental rights of women and girls in Turkey," Borrell said in a Saturday statement.

The foreign policy chief of the EU further said that Turkey's decision sends a dangerous message across the world while stressing that the rights of women and girls are a fundamental element of equality and security in the 21st century.

"The Istanbul Convention is the first legally binding instrument to combat violence against women and domestic violence. It aims at ensuring essential legal protection to women and girls across the world. This is today more important than ever, as violence against women and girls has increased to new levels worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the many conflicts, where women are primary victims. We, therefore, cannot but urge to reverse its decision," Borrell remarked.

The Istanbul Convention is a human rights accord backed by the Council of was the first country to ratify the convention, which was adopted in Istanbul in 2011, Sputnik reported.

"This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across and beyond," said Council of secretary-general Marija Pejcinovic Buric in a statement.

"The Istanbul Convention covers 34 European countries and is widely regarded as the gold standard in efforts to protect women and girls from the violence that they face every day in our societies," she added.

However, Turkish top leaders are supporting the country's withdrawal from the landmark treaty.

Taking to Twitter to praise the decision, Vice President Fuat Oktay said: "We are determined to carry our sincere struggle to raise the reputation and dignity of Turkish women to the levels they deserve in the society, by preserving our traditional social fabric. There is no need to seek the remedy outside, to imitate others. The solution is in our traditions and customs, in our essence."

"Existence or absence of conventions does not reduce or increase our responsibilities to prevent any form of crime that our citizens will face and our work as a requirement of this responsibility," wrote Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

(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 launch of a Russian Soyuz-ST carrier rocket with two Galileo from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana has been put off from September until November, two space industry sources told Sputnik.

"The launch of the Soyuz-ST-B rocket with the Fregat-MT booster with two Galileo from the Guiana space center has been postponed until November," one of the sources said.

The second source confirmed this information, adding that the launch is now set for the end of November. According to the source, the delay is not related to Russian launch vehicles.

"The rocket and the booster were prepared a long time ago," the source told Sputnik.

Earlier this month, a space industry source told Sputnik that two Galileo European navigation were planned to be launched in the first quarter of 2022 using the Russian Soyuz-ST carrier rocket, instead of the European Ariane 6.

In September 2017, a contract was signed for the launch of four Galileo satellites in 2020-2021 using Ariane 6 rockets. The contract stipulated that Soyuz carriers were just a backup. However, since the first Ariane 6 launch was postponed until the second quarter of 2022, another Galileo launch was switched to the Soyuz rocket. It was initially planned for September of this year.

The second launch of two Galileo satellites is preliminarily planned for March 2022, according to Sputnik sources.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"Our 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
New York, March 21 : The Covid-19 pandemic and a flurry of immigration-related directives from the last US administration devastated enrolment of international students at US educational institutions in 2020, a media report said.

The number of international students, on their F-1 or M-1 visas, fell by 18 per cent last year, to 1.25 million, according to a new tally by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which manages the Department of Homeland Security's student visa monitoring system.

Visa records for newly enrolled students tumbled by 72 per cent, and F-1 student visas went down by more than 90 per cent in August 2020 when the new school year started, Xinhua news agency quoted The Wall Street Journal report published on Saturday as saying.

The F-1 visa is issued to full-time academic student, while the M-1 visa category includes students in vocational or other non-academic programs.

"US consulates around the world paused nearly all routine visa processing last spring, meaning aspiring students weren't able to schedule the required in-person interviews to be issued their visas," the report said.

"A series of orders over the summer barring international students not already in the U.S. and whose courses were being taught entirely online further complicated the process for those holding out hope of getting to a US campus," it added.

The ICE figures include students in K-12 (kindergarten to Grade 12) schools, those pursuing academic programs in colleges and universities and those studying in vocational programs.

The declines were spread across all degree levels, and for students from all regions of the world.

The report said that there was prevailing uncertainty about 2021 looking much better, as many consulates and embassies remain closed or are processing visas only on an emergency basis.

As of March 1, 43 out of 233 consular posts were operating at full capacity, according to the State Department.
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After appearing together on the cover of Tatler last month, society twins Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, 28, have made another joint appearance  as bridesmaids for the wedding of society girl Leila Osato in South Africa last week.

The daughters of Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer are cousins of Prince Harry and, in another life, would be part of his party circuit, particularly as Lady Amelia is engaged to the appropriately named South African polo player Greg Mallett.

Cavorting among his relatives and having fun with members of South African high society must seem like a distant dream to the Hollywood Harry we know now.

Society twins Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, 28, have made another joint appearance  as bridesmaids for the wedding of society girl Leila Osato in South Africa last week

Pictured: Princess Diana visits the English National Ballet School in south west London

I've been chronicling the depths Lottie Moss has plumbed after moving to LA to model nude for Glow, an X-rated website. And last night Lottie broke her silence to tell me her strange new world is 'healthy' for her.

'I decided to take my career into my own hands. I am now able to make a living in a much happier and healthier environment and make a lot of money doing it,' she told me exclusively.

'I know the changes have been abrupt and to some confusing, but I assure you I am the happiest I have ever been. My family, specifically my sister, are supportive of my decisions.'

Lottie  Kate Moss's little sister  added that she has parted ways with modelling agency Storm, telling me she doesn't need them and she doesn't need saving, even from herself.

Seemingly to prove the point she posted this picture, above, with what looks like a real gun.

Lottie appeared to be offering a 'chat' service via Instagram last week, which I can only assume is possibly sexual in nature, as she offered the invitation alongside another provocative photo of herself  naked.

Cillian Murphy, 44, has signed up to be the face of luxury pen company, Mont Blanc

He's been careful not to cash in on his fame over his 25-year career, but after news that Peaky Blinders is coming to a close, needs must for Cillian Murphy as I can reveal the Irish actor, 44, has signed up to be the face of luxury pen company, Mont Blanc.

Cillian  who lives in Dublin with his artist wife Yvonne McGuinness and their two sons  will be paid 250,000 for the advert, which will be shot this month for release in the summer.

It is somewhat of a U-turn for the star, who keeps out of the public eye as much as possible and whose only other advert was a Guinness voiceover back in 2014.
China is providing and will offer vaccine assistance to 80 countries and three international organizations, the first large-scale assistance of its kind, the country's International Development Cooperation Agency said on Friday.

The vaccines are being donated to a wide range of countries from five continents in a timely and orderly manner, including 26 in Asia and 34 in Africa, the agency's spokesperson Tian Lin said in an interview.

The country also offered vaccine doses to the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations Peacekeepers, Tian said.

China has acted swiftly to donate the vaccine doses, he said, adding that the nation is also providing injection devices to countries facing difficulties.

So far, over 60 countries have authorized the registration or emergency use of Chinese vaccines, and many foreign politicians have been inoculated with Chinese vaccines, including the president and prime minister of Hungary, the Pakistani president and Chile's president, which Tian said is a vote of confidence in the security and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines.

China applies the strictest quality control measures with regard to its vaccines and ensures the timely delivery of high-quality vaccines, he said.

The moves aim to implement the promise made by President Xi Jinping at the opening of the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly via video link last year that COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good.

The ongoing assistance is provided to ensure developing countries have fair and timely access to vaccines, and is based on the pandemic situation and the specific needs of related countries, he said.

China provides the assistance to help developing countries save lives, to which it attaches no political strings and has nothing to do with geopolitics, he said.

China is not a savior, but tries to be a friend in need, a sincere partner to be counted on in times of difficulty, he added.

Tian called for efforts to promote the fair distribution of vaccines around the globe. He noted that while high-income countries have quickly acquired a large number of vaccine doses, there are fewer opportunities for poor nations to obtain vaccines.

He said that China firmly opposes selfish behavior such as hoarding, monopolies and "vaccine nationalism", and hopes the international community will do more that is conducive to global cooperation in combating the pandemic.

Vaccine assistance will not affect domestic inoculation, he said, adding that China always offers foreign aid according to the principle of doing the utmost within its capabilities.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Farida Tareen, a female bureaucrat in Balochistan, has undergone four transfers within 36 days, according to ANI report. Farida Tareen was posted at four different positions from February 11 to March 16.

The Pak bureaucrat was first appointed as Assistant Commissioner Quetta on February 11.

Her appointment was canceled the next day, and on February 16, she was posted as Section Officer Three in the administration department. Subsequently, on February 25, she was posted as Section Officer One in the Services and General Administration Department. Thereafter, on March 16 she was appointed as Section Officer Commerce and Industries, said reports.

Although the government's spokesperson denied the case of discrimination against the officer, widespread evidence shows how women in Pakistan continue to face a host of problems in everyday life.

Pakistan was ranked by the Global Gender Gap Index 2018 as the sixth most dangerous country in the world for women and the second-worst in the world (ranked 148th) in terms of gender equality, Pakistani human rights activist Anila Gulzar had said in an article titled 'Life of women in Pakistan and China'.

Women in Pakistan also face sexual harassment at the workplace, on the street, and in the family by male family members, Gulzar had said. The gap between male and female employees is the widest in the world, as per the data by the International Labour Organization. On average, women in Pakistan earn 34 percent less than men.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan tests Covid-19 positive

Meanwhile, 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.

(With ANI Inputs)
Ballots have arrived throughout Colorado Springs for an April 6 election in which voters will choose six members of the nine-member City Council.

Beginning Monday, March 22, The Gazette and KOAA-TV are teaming up to bring you live Zoom townhalls that will give you a chance to ask the 21 candidates for those six City Council seats your questions and hear their answers.

RELATED:

Watch a Zoom video replay (passcode is ^%2Oxw@4) of Monday's City Council candidate forum

Meet the 2021 Colorado Springs City Council candidates

Questions like: How should the city help businesses recover from the pandemic? Is the city's investment in parks and open space adequate? Do you support recreational marijuana? What more should the city be doing to address homelessness and affordable housing? Is the city doing enough to address the mental health crisis in Colorado Springs?

Each day at 12:30 p.m. in the coming days, The Gazette and KOAA will stream a town hall to their websites featuring the candidates from one city council district. Viewers signed in and watching the forums can submit written questions while the candidates discuss the issues most important to Colorado Springs. You can sign in for any one of the forums at gazette.com/election. The link will be live an hour before each forum, at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday of this week, and Monday March 29 and Tuesday, March 30.

The forums will be moderated by reporters Alasyn Zimmerman of KOAA and Mary Shinn of the Gazette.

On Monday at 12:30 p.m., District 1 candidates will answer questions, including Glenn Carlson, Jim Mason and Dave Donelson. The fourth candidate, Michael Seeger, is unable to attend.

On Tuesday, District 5 candidates will convene, including Nancy Henjum, Matt Zelenok, Karlie Van Arnam, Justin Hermes and Mary Elizabeth Fabian.

On Thursday, the District 3 forum will feature Richard Skorman, Henry McCall, Art Glynn and Olivia Lupia.

On Friday, District 4 candidates Regina English and Yolanda Avila will debate.

On Monday, March 29, District 2 candidates David Noblitt, Dave Geislinger and Randy Helms will take questions. Candidate Jay Inman is unable to attend.

The forums will wrap up with District 6 candidates Mike OMalley and Garfield Johnson on Tuesday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m. That forum will be prerecorded for logistical reasons, so please send your questions in advance to mary.shinn@gazette.com or Alasyn.Zimmerman@koaa.com and they will make every effort to ask them during taping.

All six forums will be available for viewing on gazette.com and koaa.com afterwards as well.
Luis Palaus family and close friends recalled the renowned evangelist's focus on Jesus, his seriousness for holiness, his love for all people and his humility during a livestreamed memorial service Saturday afternoon following his death earlier this month.

Rich McKinley, the founding pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon, said the evangelist told him that he would use every opportunity given by his cancer to preach about Heaven. He said he knew where he was going: to be with the Lord in heaven.

McKinley said Palau was given only about three months to live by the doctors when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, but he lived for three years. In his speech, McKinley said that Palau had a short account with sin and was known for loving and caring for the local church.

He took holiness seriously, not just as a thing to talk about, McKinley told the audience.

Source:The Christian Post
A Hundred Years of Molinard Habanita and a Red Flacon

1001 Past Tales

I met a friend I hadn't seen in a long time a while ago in a concert hall full of people, just before the pandemic.

-Mmm, what's that delicious scent you're wearing? Organza?

-Habanita.

-Come again?

-Habanita. Little girl from Avana. Old scent, very old.

-Uh huh. Now, you do realize, honey, we've lost our names for the world, right? We have code names now, we're spies.

-Yup, you're Organza and I'm Habanita!

-Right you are, Habanita darling.

I kinda reminiscence on that happenstance with glee and an amused smile. I recall one of my favorite characters, Bridget Gregory in The Last Seduction, a ruthless NYC woman who steals a bag of "drugs" mafia money, going undercover in Buffalo, USA and making fun of everyone and everything, preying on men, and escaping scott-free in the end. Talk about #goals (not really, I'm just kidding). What has Habanita to do with it all?

As I wrote in my article Risk Perceptions: Vamps and Gender Fluidity, "Many of the legendary feminine perfumes of the early and mid 20th century are now considered 'masculine', 'non-feminine' and 'unsexy' by young girls, although when they were first launched they were addressed to the daringly sexual vamp women of their time. Vamp was the name given to women who followed the 1920s fashion inspired by the cinematic heroines of the times. It is indeed an abbreviation of vampire and the word is on the one hand stylistic and on the other of metaphorical and archetypal texture. The 'vamp' women were therefore the femmes fatales who ate men for breakfast. They acted like erotic vampires, sucking the energy out of their prey. The 1920s and the Charleston era were les annees folles (the crazy years) after all, anything bold and daring was embraced as a reaction to the vagaries of the Great War."

Many, but not Habanita. Apparently millennials embrace Habanita, by legendary French firm Molinard, when it's presented to them, and I find it quite an astonishing fact for a fragrance that counts 100 Mays passed upon its elegant shoulders. Its association with other dark fluffy scents that recall the 1920s, like Cacharel's Loulou, is another element in its favor. Loulou doesn't project as too dated either for the most part. But another "cousin", L'Heure Bleue does not fare that well with the young. Maybe it's the melancholy of the purple flowers in its heart, maybe it's that it's not powdery enough, like Shalimar; millennials seem to adore powder. And Molinard surely delivers, with Habanita.

If Loulou is a youthful, aspiring Pandora in a modern day Pandora's Box, then Habanita is the archetypal Louise Brooks. The scent's spirit animal, though, had a wild reputation for decadence and debauchery. At the time, Brooks carried on numerous affairs with both men and women, something racy for the mores of the time, although she did not identify as bisexual; she even had a brief fling with fellow thespian Greta Garbo, who was of an unconventional sexuality herself. Thrown out of the Algonquin Hotel, Brooks went to the Martha Washington Hotel only to be again thrown out, in the space of one month. So there's something edgy about the fragrance associated with her.

Although the fragrance first saw the light of day as a fine fragrance in 1921, as an extrait de parfum and later in eau de toilette, it began its life as a scent to aromatize tobacco cigarettes with. At that time, cigarettes were scented, much like clove cigarettes and herbal cigarettes still are; a touch of refined elegance, which in the 1920s aimed at the ladies, who had been just started to smoke in public. In the USA, they were called flappers; in France Les Garconnes, after a popular novel of the times. They wore their hair short, bobbed and marcelled, and they wore their skirts and dresses short as well. No corsets, no restraints. Josephine Baker would even dance naked with a skirt made out of hanging bananas...

This is how the company presents the iconoclastic Habanita:

1921 ... Les Garconnes, who do not intend to sacrifice seduction on the altar of freedom, fall in love with a cigarette essence nicely presented in a Baccarat bottle fitted with a glass top. Slipped along the rolled paper on a few grams of blond tobacco gives off an unprecedented alliance: vetiver hitherto reserved for men, in unreasonable quantities, on a patchouli-sandalwood duo, sublimated by notes of sensual vanilla and magnificent jasmine... From essence for cigarettes to Eau de parfum, this young prodigy of the Roaring Twenties now appeals to both women and men and still resonates, 100 years later, like a scent of freedom...

Habanita was reformulated in 1988 to a more talcum powder direction which made it quite opaque. I recall having a small bottle with the gold cap which was very powdery indeed, with a hint of the latex or rubber that was in the original creation.

In 2012, Molinard launched a new reinterpretation of the original in a new bottle and stronger concentration the one we use now - Habanita Eau de Parfum. The fragrance is described as mysterious and addictive, both classical and modern, for strong and free-spirited women, but this iteration retained the hallmarks that made it so famous and beloved. The poetry and richness of the orientalized notes are there along the strength and the darkness that makes it so complex. Molinard say they used 600 ingredients, which for an old recipe which probably contained a handful of perfumers' bases, i.e. ready-made shortcuts of a cluster of ingredients to create specific effects, I don't find it too preposterous a claim. Mousse de Saxe, for one, the legendary component in some Caron classics, is there to be sure.

The company breaks down the fragrance thus: At the top, accords of mastic, petit grain and geranium stand out. The main heart notes include ylang-ylang, heliotrope, vetiver, jasmine, mimosa, Centifolia rose, nutmeg from Java, and Virginian cedar. The base notes are musk, amber, patchouli, Mysore sandalwood, oak moss and Madagascar vanilla.

Actually there is no tobacco, and the main chord is (reportedly) one of vetiver and vanilla. They do create lots of welcome tension.

The "little girl from Havana" then, there in the old days, had the bitter density of the powder crashing arrogantly against the skin, with the animal scents emitted by the genuine despair of the proletariat embedded in her bouquet, reminiscent of the horrible George Orwell line about the lower classes smelling. And although the French company Molinard was not politicized, it nevertheless decided to shift the scent from the aroma of tobacco products to the liberated flappers themselves, who danced the Charleston wearing long dresses, patting their breasts to make them look more androgynous, and toning their thin lips with vampiric crimson lipstick.

The modern Habanita, in a 2012 reissue, has lost some of its dark animal charm of the interwar period (as well as part of the stifling talc odor of the 1980s version,) because the demonization of natural odors dominates today's social fabric. However, it still maintains this fetishistic contrast of the dense cosmetic powder with the treated hides, or rather better with the rubber and the latex, reminiscent of the process followed to wear a garment made of this second material. This formula thus approaches an ideal intermediate, a musical interval less than the combined semitone, a sob of microtonic music, between the legendary Caron Tabac Blond (equally leathery and hard-necked with a spicy clove-like texture) and the original Bulgari Black (with corresponding rubber vanilla,) a Lapsang Suchong tea scent. It also exhibits a slightly metallic trace of iris-raspberry (from the specific synthetic musk it contains) which stays on fabrics for days on end.... After all, it was advertised once upon a time as "le parfum plus tenace du monde" (the most tenacious perfume in the world.)

The effect is furry, soft, mysterious, like a gorgeous gray cat that's lounging. Its hairs are to be found everywhere in the house, just like the trail of Habanita is everywhere where it passes through.

photo by Jana Zalum on Fragram

The fragrance is so fabulously iconic and beloved, that the company has issued a couple of flankers already; L'Esprit is one, a muskier and airier edition, a different fragrance than the original, and Habanita Cologne is the other, a lighter interpretation with pronounced floral-woody elements. They bear little relation with their older sibling though.

On the account of its glorious centenary anniversary, Molinard launches a limited edition of Molinard Habanita eau de parfum in a red bottle presentation, Cent Ans, Collection Anniversaire. The bottle reads Cent Ans in cursive on the top with a kiss in between the two words and has Collection Anniversaire on the lower part of the bottle. It retails for 94 euros on Molinard right now, for 75ml of Eau de Parfum. Habanita is also available in a home candle, and a concreta, a unique Molinard product, a solid perfume, available at 3.6gr for 39 euros.

Habanita: Red as in blood. You've been warned!

Read the author's collected historical articles on 1001 Past Tales HERE.
TRS Legislative Council election winner Surabhi Vani Devi meets party president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao after her victory, in Hyderabad on Saturday. - By arrangement

Hyderabad: TRS candidate Palla Rajeshwar Reddy retained his Legislative Council seat after a tense battle with independent candidate Teenmaar Mallanna, late on Saturday night. The result for the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda (WKN) graduates constituency election is expected to be officially announced by the Election Commission on Sunday.

That victory was the icing on the cake after TRS candidate Surabhi Vani Devi, daughter of former prime minister late P.V. Narasimha Rao, won the election from the Mahbubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad (MRRH) graduates constituency. She secured 56.17 per cent of the vote, beating 92 candidates and wresting the seat from BJP MLC N. Ramchander Rao

Vani Devi met TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan. The TRS chief also put out a congratulatory message for Rajeshwar Reddy on his victory. TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao thanked voters, saying, on Twitter, Gratitude to the voters for showing up in large numbers & reposing faith in KCR Garus nominees. (sic)

At Nalgonda, where counting for the WKN seat was underway, Rajeshwar Reddy had secured 1,32,681 votes against 1,08,339 for Mallanna after 68 candidates were eliminated from the race. Since the TRS candidate could not get the 50 per cent-plus-one vote, the requirement to win the Legislative Council election, the process of transferring the votes of Mallanna, the last remaining rival, to Rajeshwar Reddy was going on till reports last came in.

The two candidates shared the second preference votes of TJS founder Prof. Kondadaram who got 1,03,030 prior to his elimination from the race. The TRS candidate has to make up 21,356 votes to reach the victory mark, which he is expected to do with Mallannas votes

Ninety-three candidates were in the fray for the MRRH constituency and 71 for WKN. The WKN seat saw 3,86,320 votes polled (76.41 per cent) and MRRH 3,57,354. Polling was held on March 14, and counting of votes began on March 17. The process has to be completed by March 22.

Vani Devi secured 1,12,689 first preference votes followed by the BJP's Ramchander Rao with 1,04,668, independent candidate Prof K. Nageshwar (53,610) and the Congress' G. Chinna Reddy (31,554). The TRS had a lead of 8,021 votes in the first preference votes.

Since the victory mark was not reached, the Election Commission initiated the elimination process by transferring the second preference votes from the candidates with the least votes to the leader of the count.

After eliminating 91 candidates in stages, Vani was given 36,580-second preference votes followed by Ramchander Rao with 32,989. With the winning mark not in sight, election officials deleted Ramchander Rao's vote, as is the process, which resulted in Vanis victory.

The EC declared that Vani had secured 1,89,339 valid votes and the 1,47,700 votes polled for 92 rivals were exhausted. During the 96 hours of counting, as many as 9,600 officials participated for the Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahabubnagar MLC graduate constituency.

Following Vani Devi's victory, celebrations started at TRS Bhavan with party leaders and activists bursting firecrackers. The celebrations are expected to continue on Sunday.
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Billions of years ago, geological evidence suggests that the cold and dry Red Planet used to be far more blue. There was enough water collected into pools, lakes, and deep oceans to have covered the whole planet in an ocean roughly 100 to 1,500 meters (330 to 4,920 feet) deep. That is roughly equivalent to half of Earths Atlantic Ocean.

The question is: what exactly happened to all that water?

While some water can be found frozen in the Martian polar ice caps, scientists had previously suggested that the flowing water on Mars escaped into space due to the planets low gravity. And while some water did indeed leave Mars this way, a new NASA-backed study claims that a large quantity of its water is still on the planet, trapped in its crust.



ALSO READ: NASA Successfully Lands Perseverance Rover & Ingenuity Helicopter On Mars

"Atmospheric escape doesn't fully explain the data that we have for how much water actually once existed on Mars," Eva Scheller, the lead author of the paper that was published in the journal Science, said.

How Researchers Estimated Water on Mars

Scheller and his colleagues used data from Mars rovers and orbiters as well as analysed meteorites to study the quantity of water the Red Planet had in the beginning and how much it lost over time.

One way to do that is by analysing the hydrogen levels within the planets atmosphere and rocks. Water is made up of both hydrogen and oxygen, but not all hydrogens atoms are created equal. Most of them have just one proton within the atoms nucleus, whereas the so-called "heavy" hydrogen, have an additional neutron.

NASA/JPL

Regular hydrogen has little trouble escaping from a planet's gravity than heavier deuterium. The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen (D/H) in the planets atmosphere, therefore, reflects the loss of Martian water.

"Atmospheric escape clearly had a role in water loss, but findings from the last decade of Mars missions have pointed to the fact that there was this huge reservoir of ancient hydrated minerals whose formation certainly decreased water availability over time," explains Bethany Ehlmann, professor of planetary science and associate director for the Keck Institute for Space Studies.

When water and rock come together, a process called chemical weathering can take place forming clays and other hydrous minerals that contain water as part of their mineral structure.

And while Mars still has between 30 per cent and 99 per cent of its water trapped in the crust, Scheller cautions that it wont be easy for future astronauts to easily extract water for their use.
People who have fled very real dangers now live in catastrophic conditions directly on the border, on the Mexican side. The migrants sleep on concrete close to the bridges that lead to the US. Their only hope is that they can manage to cross over  as quickly as possible. But for many unaccompanied minors, hope isn't enough and they attempt to illegally cross the Rio Grande river that makes up the border here. As DW writes, in 2016, Donald Trump was elected president not least because he promised a wall as a solution to the migration problem. Now, under Joe Biden, many in Central and South America are hoping to be let in. But the reality on the border looks quite different.

Don't come!

"Don't come over! We're in the process of getting set up. So, don't leave your town or city or community. We're going to make sure we have facilities in those cities and towns... to say you can apply for asylum from where you are right now. But don't come now or we will have to send you back! Those were President Biden's words in an exclusive interview with the television network, ABC, on Tuesday on the migrant crisis.

The previous week, the White House's southern border coordinator, Roberta Jacobson, repeated the same message during a press conference, even saying it in Spanish  Don't come! It's not the right time!

The White House might not have admitted it so far, but the new US government has a problem. The number of migrants on the border has tripled in the last two weeks. Aid organizations put the figure at over 180,000, with most people coming from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Many say that they had heard that the new president would now open the borders for them. Nobody here was prepared.

Memories of Germany in 2015

The images are a reminder of the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees who came to Germany in 2015 after Chancellor Angela Merkel expressly opened the borders. Migrants, especially from Syria, Iran and Afghanistan, came from Turkey over the sea to Greece and then via the Balkans, fleeing wars and violence at home. Here too a river  the Inn on the German-Austrian border  was the last hurdle for the migrants to overcome before reaching safety in a country ready to take them in.

Like Chancellor Merkel, President Biden too now faces a dilemma: on the one hand he wants to change the racist migration policies of Donald Trump and shape them in a more humane way. But this message has spread to Central America and led to a dramatic escalation of the situation on the US-Mexican border.

Populist demagogy

The Republicans are seizing the opportunity to use these images to whip up fears among the population and to speak of an "unstoppable crisis. House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, who still supports from former president Trump, even paid a visit to the border along with other lawmakers to, in his words, "defend our border. Where the populist demagogy of the conservative Republicans is headed is all too foreseeable.

Biden's government is now working on two tracks: personnel on the border are being temporarily beefed up. Workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are meant to help with the faster processing of asylum applications and build tents and barracks for unaccompanied minors who can't be sent back. Above all, Biden has spoken of a longterm treatment of the problem at its very roots. By that he means an intensified development cooperation with the countries that the migrants come from in order to tackle the reasons they leave in the first place. Chancellor Angela Merkel had followed a similar approach with African nations.

Drugs-related crime at the heart of the problem

Death threats, blackmail, kidnappings, political persecution  these are the reasons most migrants cite for leaving. Those are valid reasons though there is no war in their home countries. What's clear is that rising crime and homicides and above all, the growing power of the drug cartels in many countries in Latin America are at the heart of the problem. Why else would people embark on a life-threatening journey and leave absolutely everything behind?

Industrialized countries also share responsibility for this development. The drug trade is so profitable because there is such a high demand in the rich West. Tackling the root causes is the right approach. But it shouldn't just be empty words, what's needed is massive economic and reform aid for Central America. And, it will take time to dismantle the corrupt systems and the illegal power structures that, in isolated cases, lead all the way to the president's office. In the words of a migrant from Honduras on the southern US border: "I didn't want to leave. My country is beautiful. Unfortunately, it's in the wrong hands."
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Rescued Indonesian kidnap victims identified as (left to right) Khairuldin bin Yai Kil, Arizal Kastamarin, Arsyad Bin Dahlan and Riswanto Bin Hayono are presented to Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana (not shown) at Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga, Philippines, March 21, 2021.

Philippine troops rescued a 15-year-old kidnapping victim on Sunday in the far south of the country, the last of a group of five Indonesians held by Abu Sayyaf since January 2020, authorities said.

Troops secured the teenager, identified as Khairuldin bin Yai Kil, after an encounter in which a suspected kidnap gang leader was captured in Tawi-Tawi, an island province in the far southern Philippines.

I am happy to report that the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi under Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas successfully rescued the remaining one Indonesian kidnap victim, said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, commander of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Authorities had earlier identified the still-missing member of the group as Mohammad Khairul, age 12. He was one of five Indonesians seized on January 16, 2020 in waters off Lahad Datu, in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah, where they were working for a Malaysian fishing firm.

Soldiers rescued three other members of the group in Tawi-Tawi late Thursday. The fifth, identified as La Baa, was said to have been killed by his captors during an encounter with government troops in September 2020 in the jungles of Patikul, in Sulu province.

Khairuldin was recovered in a town called Languyan early on Sunday morning, Vinluan said.

It was not immediately clear if the teenager was abandoned by his captors as they scrambled to flee following a clash with the military on Saturday. That clash left their leader, known as Majan Sahijuan, wounded, and he was subsequently captured by the military.

Sahijuan is listed by authorities in Sabah as an Abu Sayyaf member responsible for a spate of cross-border abductions and a notorious kidnap-gang leader. Little else is known about him.

Members of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 tracked down Sahijuans group after receiving reports from local people about armed civilians in the area, Vinluan said

The Abu Sayyaf members were believed to have made it to shore after their speed boat capsized on Thursday. Three Indonesian hostages were rescued and an alleged Abu Sayyaf militant was captured at the time.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana himself flew to Tawi-Tawi to fetch the remaining hostage in order to reunite him with the others, authorities said.
Some gig workers are more entitled to equality than others. Thats one takeaway from a ruling last month by the British Supreme Court, which found that contract Uber drivers must be classified as workers eligible for minimum pay and benefits.

Thats not the case for Uber drivers in the United States, especially after the passage of a California ballot initiative, known as Prop 22. Voters agreed with the company that its drivers must remain classified as contractors and are not entitled to the full protections that other workers enjoy. The ballot proposal was written by a group of gig companies to exempt themselves from state law that classified their workers as employees.

At the heart of Ubers rise is the stance that, as a trade-off for flexible schedules, its legion of drivers cannot be granted the benefit of a guaranteed minimum wage, full employer-provided health care, expenses, paid leave or an unemployment lifeline. Under pressure, Uber has advocated instead a system that keeps them as contractors with a modicum of benefits.

When Uber faced threats to its business model in court and from state governments, it argued that it is actually just a digital matchmaker and not in the transportation business. So its drivers have remained contractors rather than become employees.
Schiller Institute Conference, Panel 2: The Strategic Crisis Facing the Human Race

March 20 , 2021 (EIRNS)The second panel brought together, under the conceptual hand of the Schiller Institute, government representatives from the Peoples Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic, and scientists and thinkers from Mexico, Argentina, the U.S., France, and Pakistan.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, in her opening remarks, warned of the threat of global nuclear war in the near term, given the current plan to globalize NATO, while declaring China as an enemy of the West. She posed the challenge: can Humanity not find the capacity to give itself a New Paradigm to insure a bright future?

Consul General Ping Huang, from the Chinese Consulate General in New York City, gave a major address, dispelling widely circulated lies and misconceptions about China, its history and the Communist Party of China. He described the nature of democracy in China, the unity of human rights and economic progress in China, and a foreign policy defined by the common destiny of mankind. How can the current confrontation between China and the U.S. be replaced by collaboration? He answered: the West must understand that China will never give up its right to become a modern, prosperous nation; move to restart cooperation in counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, combatting the financial crisis, and enliven joint business ventures. He concluded that as great nations, the U.S. and China shoulder heavy responsibilities for the fate of all Mankind: only the right choice can ensure a bright future.

First Secretary Alexey Boguslavskiy of the Russian Federation Mission to the UN warned that the geopolitics of the rules-based order, rather than the international law inscribed in the UN Charter, and the formation of military blocs, will only lead to disaster. He said that with the Covid pandemic raging, the worlds people are demanding cooperation among the great powers. He sharply ended his talk by quoting John Quincy Adams: America should not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy.

Next, Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Media and Political Advisor to the Syrian Presidency, gave a passionate depiction of the destruction of her country by an American policy over the last 10 years which is based on the ugly axiom of Western supremacy, on the deploying of a world NATO and an obsession with the rise of China. She called for a New Paradigm of relations between nations which acknowledges that God created all of uswith different cultures and different historieswhich must each and all be respected and allowed to freely develop, to enrich the world as a whole. (Helga Zepp-LaRouche remarked during the Q&A that Dr. Shaabans presentation to a Schiller Institute Conference in Berlin in 2016 had been quite optimistic, in great contrast to the destruction of the nation that has taken place since then.)

Dr. William Happer, Professor Emeritus of Princeton University (who had been brought on to the National Security Council by President Trump in order to set up an actual scientific debate with the advocates of the climate change hoax, only to see that effort sabotaged by Trumps Cabinet), presented a devastating scientific proof of the fraud of the claims of the climate hysterics. He demonstrated that CO2 is not a pollutant, but a boon to food production, and that the hysteria is based wittingly on fraudulent computer models. He described the climate change movement as a religious crusade, not based on any real science.

The second half of the panel put a spotlight on the emerging movement for development in Ibero-America, grounded on the current revival of integration of the patriots and governments of Mexico and Argentina, centered on what Alejandro Yaya of Argentina called the industry of industriesspace science. Dennis Small of EIR, Simon Levy and Daniel Marmolejo of Mexico, all joined Yaya on discussing, in depth, an emerging youth movement in Ibero-America: for space science, for education, for creating, now, a future of science, economic growth and Ibero-American integration. Marmolejo called China the key country to assist in the integration of Mexico and Argentina. Yaya described in detail all of his work in Argentina educating youth, from all classes, in physics, robotics and the space sciences; we must awaken in youth the quality of astonishment, dont let anyone take that away from them!

Presentations were also made from France on the global import of Russian-Turkish relations, from Pakistan on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the New Silk Road, and by EIRs Richard Freeman on the long-planned origins of todays fascist schemes called the Global Reset and the Green New Deal.

In her concluding remarks, Helga Zepp-LaRouche discussed the devastation of 10 years of war dismembering Syria, which continues today, and the concentration camps in Yemen and in nations in Africa where starvation and disease create mass death, even while the practical solutions among the major powers are readily at hand. She asked: can we not evoke the power of agape in mankind to break these fascist policies, this heaven-crying injustice? She said that we now have the New Silk Road, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Schiller Institute, and the plan for a North American Belt and Road Initiative (NABRI) as a bridge-builder between China and the U.S. We can find solutions on a higher level if we employ Cusas method of Coincidentia Oppositorum. She urged the audience, participating in this conference, to wake people up with the history-changing ideas presented here today, and to accomplish the solutions that are readily at hand, as expressed by the governments and the thinkers at todays conference.
Sitting on her three-wheeled scooter, Della Foit, 74, recounted how cold it was in her home at the Fair Avenue Apartments the night it snowed in San Antonio and the power went out.

She recalled how she tried to help her 80-year-old neighbor, who was scared and crying because she was having trouble breathing and no one could come for her because of the storm. Freezing temperatures hit by Feb. 15 and San Antonio woke up to 3 to 6 inches of snow.

Were not asking for sympathy, Foit said, as she held her dog Missy at a protest Saturday, demanding accountability from city officials and from San Antonio Housing Authority, which runs the Fair Avenue Apartments. Empathize with us. Weve got grown kids that take care of us, but Im not their responsibility. Im on my own by choice.

Robin Jerstad /For the Express-News

Foit was one of more than 50 people who gathered in front of Fair Avene on the Southeast Side, including members of the League of United Latin American Citizens, American GI Forum, Reliable Revolutionaries and other community groups. The coalition wants the city and the housing authority to answer for what its members say was needless suffering by older residents at SAHA complexes across the city and a death that may have been related to last months power outages.

Residents lost electricity, heat and running water during the record-setting winter storm. Coalition members said lack of preparation, planning and a slow response by the housing authority put residents, many older and disabled, in jeopardy.

Robin Jerstad /For the Express-News

This is sad that things like this are happening, said Henry Rodriguez, executive director of LULAC Concillo Zapatista 4383. We just want to know what happened and why did it happen.

On ExpressNews.com: Man found dead with heat and oven running at senior housing complex

The main speaker was Queta Rodriguez, a community advocate and Marine Corps veteran, who first read on social media about the seniors plight. She helped evacuate residents from freezing apartments to warmer locations. Rodriguez said tenants in wheelchairs, scooters and walkers, some on dialysis and oxygen machines were left to fend for themselves.

We want to demand that someone take responsibility for what happened, she said. If this was a company, people would have been fired. If this was the military, they would be relieved of command.

Robin Jerstad /For the Express-News

On the SAHA website, the entity said it responded to more than 100 residential communities across the city during the weather event and implemented a four-point action plan. Earlier this month, a spokesman said staff members made door-to-door visits and phone calls to each resident.

On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: When they were needed most, officials failed the vulnerable

Rodriguez disputes those claims.

Mary Ann Villegas, a resident at Lewis Chatham Apartments, called the winter storm experience hell.

She said the freezing conditions at the four-story building located at 6405 S. Flores were horrible. According to Villegas, elevators werent working, people fell from the stairs and there were no security crew members that Sunday after midnight.

My main issue is, where are the generators? Villegas asked. Where were the office management, where were they? We needed them to help us.

Robin Jerstad /For the Express-News

Foit said she believes the death of a resident at the Fair Avenue Apartments was storm-related.

On March 5, police found resident Robert Charles Shumaker dead in Apartment 413 of the high rise for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Someone called police to report a foul odor coming from the fourth floor of the building.

On ExpressNews.com: Timeline: How the polar vortex knocked out San Antonio

At Saturdays event, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Lawrence Romo of the American GI Forum said the Department of Housing and Urban Development directed public housing authorities, back in 2016, to create a disaster preparedness plan.

Robin Jerstad /For the Express-News

The plan should consist of six steps for a catastrophic event: risk assessment; coordination; resource and guidance development; partnership development; readiness; and staffing and training.

Romo said the bottom line is: Does SAHA have a continuity emergency preparedness plan?

If so, why didnt they use it? Romo queried. If not, they need to create one.

vtdavis@express-news.net
No trace of missing student yet as of last evening By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s):

Four police teams searching for a 16-year-old student, missing since Thursday, had found no trace of him as of last evening.

Aldon Devon Kenny, a GCE O/Level student at a leading private boys school in Bambalapitiya, left his home in Ratmalana on Thursday morning. His mother told the Sunday Times that Aldon had told her early that morning that he would not be going to school. However, he had subsequently left home without informing anyone.

CCTV footage from a neighbours house showed Aldon leaving home clad in casual wear and carrying a backpack at around 6.20 am. CCTV footage from a private bank branch along Galle Road captured him walking in the direction of Moratuwa about 10 minutes later. No trace of him has been found since then.

He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black trousers and slippers.

He had a tab in his backpack, but when family members tried to reach him through the device, they found that it had been switched off.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered full-scale investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack and r...

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered full-scale investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack and reported attempt on the life of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, at his farm in the outskirts of Makurdi, on Saturday.

The IG condemned the incident, and equally directed the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command to take adequate measures towards strengthening and improving security in the state, particularly around the governor.

Ortom was at his farm with six security operatives when the unidentified gunmen numbering about 15 reportedly fired at them.





The governor said his men returned the gunfire and spirited him to safety in his vehicle parked a few kilometres away.

Ortom accused the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of masterminding the attempted assassination.

The MACBAN had opposed the anti-open grazing law passed by the state government.

But the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, in a statement on Sunday, said the IG has also directed the CP to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the attackers.

It was titled, Attack on Governor Ortom of Benue State: IG orders full-scale investigations.

The statement read, The IGP has also specifically directed the CP to carry out painstaking investigations into the incident and ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons indicted in the course of the investigations.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure a speedy, thorough and conclusive investigation into the matter, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of a team of specialized investigators from the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Abuja, to Benue State to provide additional investigative support to the Benue State Police Command.





While calling for calm, Adamu assured the people of Benue State and the country at large that the Force would continue to do its best in stabilizing the security situation in the country.

He further reiterated that the Force would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to advance the fight against violent crimes and other criminal activities across the country.
Chennai, March 21 : With opinion polls and poll pundits predicting a huge victory for the DMK, the party leadership is leaving no stone unturned to impress the Muslim voters.

DMK supremo and party's CM candidate M.K. Stalin has, according to party insiders, categorically told party office bearers and candidates to woo the Muslim vote bank.

The DMK is in alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and MMK which are contesting 3 and 2 seats respectively from the DMK-led front.

However, with a 5.86 per cent Muslim population in the state, according to the 2011 census, the DMK knows that the Muslim vote bank is crucial. There is a minimum of 2,000 votes in each constituency and the DMK does not want to split this vote bank.

With the AIADMK having a political alliance with the BJP, there will be a less preference for the Muslim community to the AIADMK-led front. However, with parties like Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), having made a political alliance with Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM, there is a possibility of a certain percentage of the Muslim votes drifting towards the AIMIM and MNM.

DMK leader M. Senthilanthan of Chennai city while speaking to IANS said, "DMK will not allow a split in the Muslim vote bank and we want the Muslim community to vote for the DMK in total." He added, "If there is no split in the Muslim vote bank, the DMK front will have easy victories."
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London: Britains SAS soldiers will be told to disrupt Russian meddling around the world as part of a major shake-up of defence priorities.

The SAS and other units in the Special Forces Group will work alongside MI6 to conduct covert surveillance operations against Russian spies and military units.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Credit:AP

Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, the Chief of the General Staff, said that special forces will be tasked with tackling hostile state actors.

The move comes ahead of the publication of the Defence Command Paper, the Ministry of Defences contribution to the Governments Integrated Review of foreign, defence, security and development policy, which is due to be published on Sunday, UK time.
Invita, a PCI-DSS certified - leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Digital Transformation Solutions provides its customers with a wide range of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions.

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Commenting on it, the CE of Invita Rahul Bhalla said: Our solution focuses on transforming operations and services in companies, which have to rely on legacy operations and systems. Our solutions can be applied across diverse industries, including banking, insurance, healthcare, and other data-intensive businesses. With our RPA solutions, companies can benefit from lower costs, higher revenue, and better serve customers. Our focus is to help companies achieve digital excellence and increase our digital offerings in the market. Whether you are in the banking, insurance, trading, healthcare or any other sector, RPA is your way forward.

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Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Sunday said the second wave of has begun and sought people's cooperation to contain the disease.

"We are at the beginning of the second wave of Let us all join hands to control it because the next three months are crucial for us," Sudhakar told reporters here as the cases started shooting up.

He said he would discuss with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa about the COVID-19 situation and measures to be taken.

He said the state Technical Advisory Committee on coronavirus has given clear guidelines to the government stating that people would be in for a trouble if certain activities were not controlled.

"We all will be responsible for the aftermath if the government and people do not respond to experts' report," Sudhakar said.

To a question whether election-related activities would be among those needed to be under check, Sudhakar sought to know, "Can any activity be an excuse for coronavirus? Will it spare VIPs, political parties or religious congregations?"



The Minister underlined the need for an all-party meeting in view of the coronavirus situation since the byelections were round the corner and all the political parties would take part in it.

Sudhakar's warning came as the cases in shot upto 1,798 with seven deaths and Bengaluru urban district alone contributed 1,186 cases, including five deaths, on Saturday.

The Chief Minister too had appealed to the people to exercise caution as coronavirus was on the rise at an alarming proportion.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth is expressing skepticism about the initial assessment by FBI chief Chris Wray that the shootings at Atlanta-area spas last week that killed eight people, including six Asian women, did not appear to be motivated by race. From where I sit, I want to see a deeper investigation into whether or not these shootings and other similar crimes are racially motivated. It looks racially motivated to me, Duckworth said on CBS Face the Nation.

Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois who is one of only two Asian-Americans in the Senate, did add the caveat that she is not a police officer and isnt investigating the crimes. But she said that more investigations are needed, not just into the shootings but also more generally into crimes that involve Asian-Americans to see how many crimes have actually been underreported as hate crimes. Duckworth pointed out that the number of crimes against Asian-Americans that have been classified as hate crimes have soared in the past year and women have particularly been targeted. But even as the numbers show a sharp increase, the statistics may be undercounting the true extent of the problem. We also know that many of these crimes go underreported as hate crimes and are just classified as a mugging, or harassment or vandalism when really they were targeted at Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in particular, she said.

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Following this week's shootings at 3 Atlanta-area spas which killed 8, including 6 Asian-Americans, Illinois Democrat @SenDuckworth is now calling for a "deeper" investigation into whether the shootings were racially motivated.



"It looks racially motivated to me," she says. pic.twitter.com/EM673xO5B9  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 21, 2021

Duckworth was not the only senator to say that the shootings could have been motivated by race. We all know hate when we see it, Sen. Raphael Warnock from Georgia said on NBCs Meet the Press. It is tragic that weve been visited by this kind of violence yet again. Speaking to NPR on Thursday, Wray said that while the motive remains still under investigation at the moment, it does not appear that the motive was racially motivated.

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We all know hate when we see it, and we all need to work together to prevent this kind of violence in the future. pic.twitter.com/dN3cjTgjR6  Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) March 21, 2021

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Protests and vigils took place across the country over the weekend calling for an end to violence against Asian-Americans. Hundreds took part in a protest near the Georgia State Capitol while hundreds more gathered in Manhattans Union Square on Sunday. Demonstrators gathered in several cities to call attention to the rising violence targeting Asian-Americans as some leaders said that more needs to be done to track hate crimes. Rep. Judy Chu from California, who heads the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, called for legislation to improve the reporting of hate crimes. Our reporting is very flawed, because it relies on local law enforcement agencies to voluntarily provide such statistics, Chu said on ABCs This Week. Chu also said she strongly believes the Atlanta shootings were hate crimes.

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When Mario Gonzalez and his wife, Delaina Ashley Yaun, went to Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Georgia, on Tuesday, it was supposed to be a relaxing treat. She wanted a day just her and her husband, spend a little time together, all she wanted was their massages, Yauns mother, Margaret Rushing, said. But when they were both nearing the end of their massages in separate rooms of the spa, Gonzalez suddenly heard gunfire. I couldnt see anything, I only started thinking that it was in the room my wife was in, Gonzalez said in an interview with Mundo Hispanico. He managed to escape, but rather than receiving sympathy and help from law enforcement officers, Gonzalez was immediately treated as a suspect. He was handcuffed and was only told hours later that his wife had died. She was one of eight people shot dead by alleged gunman Robert Aaron Long.

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Gonzalezs niece, Jessica Gonzalez, told the Daily Mail that her uncle was in the handcuffs for like two hours because law enforcement thought he could have been the shooter. Gonzalez is now angry about the way he was treated. They knew I was her husband, he said, but police only told her she was dead hours later. Maybe its because Im Mexican, I dont know, because the real truth is that they treated me poorly, he said before showing the scars that the handcuffs had left on his wrists.

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Gonzalezs niece describes a scene of desperation outside the massage parlor, and law enforcement officers seemingly ignored her uncles pleas for information. He kept asking, Wheres my wife? Wheres my wife? and nobody would give him an answer, the niece said. He didnt get any answers until a couple hours later. Others tried to tell the officers that Gonzalez wasnt lying about his identity, but the cops didnt seem to care. Someone who worked next door even recognized Mario Gonzalez. I know is all a police officer said when he was told that Gonzalezs wife was inside.

Amid the heartbreak about losing his wife, Gonzalez is also contending with the mistreatment that he believes was racially motivated. Hes very upset and angry about that, Jessica Gonzalez said. He was handcuffed for something he didnt do. I think it was a racial thing. He was the only one left in handcuffs. Yaun and Gonzalez have an 8-month-old daughter, and they both cared for her 13-year-old son from a previous relationship. She had a heart of gold. She would do anything for anybody, give her shirt off her back for anyone, Yauns sister, Amy Cinkaj, said.
Burial spaces are fast diminishing at a historic County Kildare burial ground.

Bodenstown Graveyard, known internationally as the burial place of Irish patriot Wolfe Tone, is almost at capacity.

Kildare County council say less than 10 plots remain

Tone was one of the leaders of the 1798 rebellion and he died in prison in November of that year.

The Sallins graveyard is also home to a stone church which dates to before 1352, and since 1922 various political parties (including Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail) and groups have made annual pilgrimages to the graveyard.

Cllr Carmel Kelly is concerned about the impending lack of space.

Even without being in the midst of a pandemic, where our loved ones are buried is a sensitive, personal and highly emotional decision. We Irish are admired for how we deal with death, funerals and burials. A funeral with a burial service allows us to mourn the loss of a loved one and get closure. Afterwards, visiting the grave of a loved one often affords comfort and peace that cannot be got anywhere else.

That is why in Ireland, you will find graveyards in every village and town, they are local, they are within walking distance; visiting the grave is sacrosanct and in better weather people love to be able to walk to visit the graveyard, said Cllr Kelly.

The councillor added: I couldnt even begin to understand the hurt and the extreme pain it could cause to a neighbour here in Sallins if they had to be told that there was no plot left for their loved one in Bodenstown.

She said Kildare County council is aware of the problem and a staff member visited the site where we were able to identify a few more spaces which should help alleviate the issue in the very short term.

However, he added, it is imperative that work on the new graveyard starts as soon as these Level 5 restrictions are lifted.

I have spoken with one of the directors of the company which will be building the new graveyard at Bodenstown, he has assured me that the company is keen to get started as soon as current restrictions allow.

Cllr Kelly was referring to plans for a privately operated cemetery nearby, which have been approved.

However Dep James Lawless says more plots may become available because theyve been bought by people who have passed away elsewhere.

He also pointed out that the development plan for Sallins would provide for another cemetery in a different location and he feels the scale of the planned privately run facility is probably in excess of current or future needs.

He added: we dont have to be fixated on extending it where it is.
In the past 6 years, dozens of Illinois homes had lead levels as extreme as those in Flint, Michigan, analysis finds
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Were coming up on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America.

Theres a lot I remember about that day.

But what Ive been thinking about lately are the days immediately after Osama bin Laden and his band of extremist Islamist terrorists murdered 3,000 people in my country.

One thought stood out for me in those days: Maybe we in America are the good guys, after all.

It may sound jingoistic to people reading this in 2021, particularly those who didnt live through that horrific day or were too young to remember.

I remember absorbing the non-stop run of news in the days immediately after the attacks. Hearing about those who died on the hijacked airliners and in the buildings of the World Trade Center.

I remember seeing pictures of missing people hanging on walls and fences around the city, loved ones whom we still thought would be rescued from the rubble and would walk through the door again.

A cowardly, sneak attack on America. Like Pearl Harbor. But unlike Pearl Harbor, this was an attack on everyday men and women, people just going to work. Civilians. The World Trade Center wasnt a military target.

And I remember thinking that the United States, with its vast network of super-spies and cloak-and-dagger operatives, its enormous intelligence capabilities, could pull off attacks like 9/11 any time we wanted and leave no fingerprints.

We could hijack airliners. Or blow up buildings. Attack mass transit systems.

We could do it every day of the week. And we dont. Thats what I thought.

Being a child of the 1970s and having been raised during the era of Watergate and Vietnam, I was taught to mistrust everything that the government told me. It didnt matter who said what. It was all self-serving half-truths or outright lies.

But 9/11 changed all that, at least for a little while. My patriotism surged, without reservation. Like many peoples. Youre damn right I was proud to be an American.

A New York City Police Department death certificate and an American flag recovered at Ground Zero are displayed at new 9/11 Tribute Museum, June 13, 2017 in New York City. The museum shares the personal stories of those directly impacted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)Getty Images

And I remember who the heroes were those days: The men and women in uniform who rushed into the burning buildings. Who died when the Twin Towers collapsed. Who spent months clearing the rubble.

The ones who continue to die to this day after being exposed to toxins. Bin Ladens murderous rampage goes on.

Police officers. Firefighters. Soldiers. Emergency responders.

Remember how we thanked them? How glad we were to have them? We called and they came.

They didnt shy away from the mayhem. They ran toward it, even though many knew from one look at the burning towers that the odds were against them.

Think of how thankful we are to our health-care workers in these days of pandemic, and youll have some idea of the outpouring of unconditional emotion back then.

A lot of that has turned upside-down now, of course, particularly for the NYPD. Now cops are routinely demonized. Now some communities consider them an occupying force. The very police officers that have kept us safe from terrorist attacks for two decades have somehow become terrorists themselves, at least to some.

The military has taken its knocks as well after two decades of war.

The NYPD isnt perfect. No police force or military organization is. I know the litany of transgressions.

And President George Bush, so good that long-ago day at Ground Zero, when he said that the people who knocked down the buildings would hear all of us soon, squandered the goodwill wrought by 9/11 by launching a pointless war in Iraq.

But as we mark the two decades since the deadliest attack on American soil, lets remember those who ran to the front lines that day. Those who answered the call of duty. Those who helped save our city and our nation. Those who gave their lives to keep the rest of us safe.

Lets remember how they stood between us and chaos. And how glad we were to see them.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The push to legalize recreational cannabis for New Mexico adults will have to wait after stalling in the final hours of this years 60-day legislative session  but maybe not for long.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she plans to call lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session on marijuana legalization in about two weeks, adding a framework for a deal was already largely in place despite its failure to win final approval.

Its not really goodbye  its take a rest and Ill see you soon, Lujan Grisham said during a news conference at the Capitol shortly after Saturdays adjournment.

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The Democratic governor, who has pushed for cannabis legalization since taking office in 2019, said approval of such a law would create jobs and bolster business opportunities in New Mexico.

It makes no sense to make New Mexicans wait when weve got it ready to go, Lujan Grisham said.

When asked, she did not rule out adding additional items to the agenda of the special session that could start March 31, but she said she doesnt intend to clutter it up with multiple policy initiatives.

While five different cannabis legalization bills were filed during this years 60-day session, only one of the bills was still in play during the final hours.

Sweeping changes were made to that measure, House Bill 12, in two Senate committees, and more amendments were still being crafted in the run-up to adjournment.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said the latest draft of the cannabis legalization bill was delivered to him at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday  just a few hours before adjournment.

But he said he ultimately decided not to bring the bill up for a vote because it would have prompted a lengthy debate and likely led to the demise of dozens of other bills.

We are close, Wirth said Saturday. But there was no way it was ready.

Specifically, he said Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, who had introduced one of the competing marijuana legalization measures, had a cartful of proposed amendments to the House-approved bill and a ready supply of energy drinks.

But some Republican lawmakers said they are not keen on the idea of coming back for a special session.

House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, said returning to Santa Fe for marijuana legislation will be costly for taxpayers, especially given the increased security now present at the Capitol.

Were expecting to come back for a special session because the Democrat leadership in the House and the Senate and the Governors Office couldnt get everything they wanted, he said.

Split the bill?

In its final form, the bill that ultimately languished on the Senate floor called for legal cannabis sales in New Mexico to begin in April 2022.

As for taxes, marijuana sales would have been taxed at about 20%, depending on the location.

Specifically, the bill would have set an excise tax of 12%, with revenues split between state and local governments. The states gross receipts tax would also have been levied on cannabis purchases, though medical cannabis sales were exempted from that tax.

One of the bills sponsors, Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, said it would have passed if the legislative session would have lasted a few more days.

The bill is well-vetted and ready to go, Martinez said shortly after the session ended Saturday.

However, crafting a legalization bill with enough support to pass both the House and Senate proved to be a difficult task despite strong Democratic majorities in both chambers.

Among other issues, there were lengthy debates 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.

Voicing the views of several GOP lamwakers, Senate Minority Leader Greg Baca, R-Belen, said lawmakers should split the proposal into at least two parts  one on the economic and regulatory questions, another on criminal justice matters, such as expunging past cannabis convictions.

That could be a path lawmakers pursue in the special session, as several lawmakers confirmed that one of the options under consideration before Saturdays adjournment was moving forward with two separate bills.

Broad support

While New Mexico lawmakers debate the issue, other states are moving ahead with legalization measures. 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.

But backers have argued for years that New Mexico should also legalize cannabis as a way to generate revenue for the state, create jobs and free up law enforcement to focus on other issues.

On the other side of the issue, critics of such proposals, including New Mexicos Roman Catholic bishops and some business groups, have voiced concerns about the impact of cannabis legalization on children and drug-free workplace policies, among other issues.

For the third year in a row, New Mexico lawmakers have rejected Big Pots attempt to expand into the state, and for good reason, said Kevin Sabet, the president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national group opposed to cannabis legalization. As each day passes, more research is published showing the damaging effects of the proliferation of todays high-potency marijuana.

However, recent polls have shown broad support for cannabis legalization in New Mexico across all regions of the state.

Arranging security

Under the state Constitution, only the governor can call a special session, which can last for no more than 30 days.

And a special session on cannabis legalization could be politically risky, especially if it drags on, as the cost of recent New Mexico special sessions have averaged $50,000 per day.

After Saturdays adjournment, Baca called on Lujan Grisham and Democratic legislative leaders to reopen the Capitol to the public and take down the security fence before the special session.

We have the public fenced off from their own building, Baca said Saturday afternoon. We had no participation from them.

During her news conference, Lujan Grisham said such decisions are made by top-ranking lawmakers and the Legislatures administrative arm, not by her. But she suggested the security presence that was ramped up in January because of threats of political violence could be dialed down.

I would expect there should be no fencing for the special session, she said.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP)  When Matt Jones won his first PGA Tour title seven years ago, he needed a 45-foot birdie putt just to get into a playoff and then a 40-yard chip-in to take the victory.

This win was far less dramatic, yet just as meaningful.

It got him back to the Masters.

Jones won the Honda Classic by five shots Sunday, a final round of 2-under 68 good enough to finish the week at 12-under 268 at PGA National. The margin matched the largest in tournament history, tying the mark set by Jack Nicklaus in 1977 and matched by Camilo Villegas in 2010.

Its been seven years. Its been a tough seven years," Jones said. Ive had ups and Ive had downs, as all golfers have, but it gets me into a lot of big tournaments now."

The 40-year-old Australian earned $1.26 million and, this time, hell have more than a day to prepare for the trip to Augusta National. His win at the Houston Open in 2014  and his Masters invite  came just one day before he had to go to Augusta, making it a scramble to get family and friends together to share in the experience.

The Masters starts April 8, so he's got much more time to plan this one.

Its going to be nice," Jones said. I can go prep for the Masters this time. Last time it was an absolute blur. I cant remember a thing about it, so Im going to do some prep this time before."

Jones started the week with a course-record-tying round of 9-under 61. He was three shots behind Aaron Wise after 36 holes after a second-round 70, and his round of 69 on Saturday was good enough to put him up by three entering Sunday.

Brandon Hagy (66) finished 7 under and alone in second on his 30th birthday, his chance at winning doomed by a third-round 76. Chase Seiffert (64), Brendan Steele (65), C.T. Pan (70), Denny McCarthy (67) and Russell Henley (68) tied for third at 6 under.

Theres a lot of tough holes out there and theres big stakes for sure, but Ive been working on some good stuff and its nice to see some of that pan out, Hagy said.

Story continues

The only stretch where Jones grip on the lead seemed in peril was midway through the round; Wise, who once led by six shots during the third round, had four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the front and got within one of the lead.

Wises chances ended at the par-4 10th. He hit his second into a bunker, then four-putted from 25 feet for triple-bogey. Jones lead went to four, and he avoided trouble the rest of the way, while Wise finished with a 73 and tied for 13th at 4 under.

J.B. Holmes was in the final group with Jones, three shots back to start the day, and his chances were gone very quickly. He ended up with a costly final-round 79 for Holmes; second place, where he started the day, paid Hagy $763,000 while the tied-for-46th finish paid Holmes $19,070.

Holmes knocked his shot from a greenside bunker off the green and made bogey on the opening hole, then sent his tee shot way right on the par-4 second and needed about 10 minutes to find the ball  it was nestled among palm fronds  and decide how to proceed.

He went on to make double bogey there, and when Jones birdied the par-5 third Holmes deficit had gone from three to eight shots in about 45 minutes.

At that point, only a few had a realistic chance at catching Jones. Before long, the outcome was obvious.

You can't get a tougher golf course to win on than this one, in these conditions," Jones said. To be able to do that on this golf course is amazing and something I can build on for the future, hopefully."

DIVOTS: Phil Mickelson started 3 under through three holes Sunday and finished with a 70 on the day, 2 under for the tournament. I was really impressed with the golf course and the setup was terrific, Mickelson said. ... U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker shot 69 Sunday and was 4 under for the week. ... Rickie Fowler and Bronson Burgoon, the first group off Sunday morning, played in about 3 hours, 20 minutes. ... Nobody has shot four rounds in the 60s at the Honda since 2017. The four players who had a chance to do it Sunday  Keegan Bradley (74), Holmes, Cameron Tringale (72) and defending champion Sungjae Im  all fell short. Im came closest, shooting 70 Sunday and finishing 5 under to tie for seventh with, among others, Villegas and Zach Johnson.

___

More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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County residents benefit from seamless electronic filing process

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) today announced that the Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino, has successfully gone live with Tylers Odyssey court case management solution suite, including Odyssey Judge Edition and Odyssey File & Serve solutions. Despite being implemented remotely during the pandemic, the go-live was on time and budget.

Our courts vision is to revolutionize our business processes by using technology to offer the public enhanced access to court records and a more efficient way to file their court documents, which were brought into sharper focus during the pandemic. The court also plans to optimize communication with our justice partners through electronic interfaces and improve court case flow management internally. We believe that Tyler also supports that vision, said Kim Turner, chief executive officer for Mendocino Superior Court. We are already experiencing better workflows throughout our court, as well as seamless routing of court documents to our judges for electronic processing and signature. This is a game changer for our court in terms of efficiency and responsiveness to serve our public.

With the implementation of Tylers Odyssey solutions, the superior court is now able to:

Track all aspects of court case processing, financial transactions and operations, from electronic filing through disposition

Manage the courts highly sensitive data

Allow users to file documents via a secure, web-based portal electronically

Reduce paper usage by moving toward a completely paperless environment

Allow the court to be consistent with the software that is currently serving 70% of Californias population

The superior court is also looking forward to implementing Odyssey Clerk Edition later this year. The court hopes to connect its system with other community justice partners, including the probation office, public defenders office, and sheriffs office.

Were pleased to see the Mendocino Superior Court join other successful California counties in implementing an effective, accessible technology foundation, said Rusty Smith, president of Tylers Courts & Justice Division. The combination of Odyssey and our electronic filing solution brings many efficiencies to the court, improves its case flow management, reduces paper usage, and allows the courts staff to put even more focus on serving its residents.

The County of Mendocino is in northern California, equidistant from the San Francisco bay area and the California/Oregon border. Tyler also provides its Munis enterprise resource planning, ExecuTime time and attendance, SoftCode civil processing, and Eagle Recorder solutions to the county. The Mendocino County Sheriffs Office also uses Tylers New World public safety solutions.

About Tyler Technologies, Inc.

Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate more efficiently and connect more transparently with their constituents and with each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions are transforming how clients gain actionable insights that solve problems in their communities. Tyler has more than 27,000 successful installations across more than 11,000 sites, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler has been named to Government Technology's GovTech 100 list five times and has been recognized three times on Forbes' "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210318005023/en/

Jennifer Kepler

Tyler Technologies

972.713.3770

Jennifer.Kepler@tylertech.com

Source: Tyler Technologies, Inc.


A new product from Google may help people solve their sleep problems, but some privacy rights groups are concerned.

Google showed off its newest Nest Hub home assistant device on Tuesday. In addition to recognizing your voice, showing pictures, videos, news and weather, it can also track your sleep.

The basic model costs about $100 and the sleep-tracking technology will be available for free for the rest of 2021. The sleep tracker makes Googles product different from a similar home assistant from Amazon.

If you put the Nest Hub beside your bed, it can follow how you sleep. That is because of a new computer chip called Soli, which can sense motion.

Some people may like the new technology because they would not have to wear another device to bed. Some companies make products people can wear on their wrist to track their sleep.

Google says the new Nest Hub will create reports each week that show how long and how well a person sleeps. It will also show if they snore, cough or wake up often. The company said it studied 15,000 people over the course of 110,000 nights to develop the technology.

For people who want to know more about their sleep, the device sounds like a good idea. But, people who pay attention to privacy are worried what Google might do with the information it is gathering.

Jeff Chester is one of those people. He is the director of the Center for Digital Democracy. Googles goal is to monetize every cell of your body, he said.

Google recently bought FitBit, a company that makes a health tracker people can wear on their wrist. Some technology experts think Google may find a way for the Nest Hub to work with the FitBit.

Google says the sleep tracker has a lot of privacy protections. For example, it will only work if the user turns it on. The company said it will not use a persons sleep information to try to sell advertising.

But Chester said he is not so sure that promise will be kept.

Im Dan Friedell.

Michael Liedtke wrote this story for the Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

Do you want to know more about your sleep? Would you let Google track you? We want to hear from you. Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

track v. to watch or follow the progress of (someone or something)

snore v. to breathe noisily while sleeping

wrist n. the part of the body where the hands join the arms

digital adj. using or characterized by computer technology

privacy n. the state of being away from public attention: not public

monetize v. to change something so that money can be made from it
LANE COUNTY, Ore.-- Oregon classrooms have undergone several changes throughout the pandemic and with the CDC announcing new guidelines on Friday, it's about to look different once again. According to the new recommendations, students can now safetly sit three feet apart instead of six.

RELATED: UPDATED CDC GUIDANCE SAYS 3 FEET OF PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS SAFE IN SCHOOLS

"I have to admit I'm disappointed this was released the day before spring break," Eugene Education Association President Sabrina Gordon said. "After a year of everyone working in education trying to respond to the everchanging landscape, people are pretty exhausted and they need this week to recharge and reenergize."

Gordon said that districts in Eugene are still adjusting to Governor Brown's executive order and the new guidelines would not make any immediate impacts.

RELATED: GOV. BROWN ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER TO REOPEN SCHOOLS

"This week K-1 just started entering buildings in Eugene. After spring break, that expands to grades 2-5 and then our middle and high school students are not far behind that. We need to roll out the plans that were already in place," Gordon said.

Teachers said they are still waiting on more direction from their administration.

"We haven't been informed yet by the administration. In my class, I still don't think we could fit my whole class with the new rules," Oakridge Elementary School teacher Tinamarie Standley said. "I'm hoping they can keep it the way it is until my whole class can come back."

Oakridge Elementary School parent Jeri Reed said she wouldn't mind if classrooms were less physically distanced than before. Reed said having her daughter go back to in-person instruction has been transformational.

"My daughter being in kindergarten, we got the chromebook. She was great for like the first two weeks," Reed said. "Then it got less of a fun thing for her and she'd want to do anything but the Chromebook. With in-person learning, she comes back and learns things in leaps and bounds compared to what we've taught her at home."
Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.
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









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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Martin Bashir has told an inquiry that Princess Diana was to blame for the "smears" he has been accused of peddling to secure his interview with her.

It has been alleged that Bashir told Diana "preposterous lies" to secure his interview with her in 1995 before her divorce from Prince Charles. A series of bizarre claims reported to have been made by Bashir were noted down by Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, at a meeting all three attended on September 19, 1995.

Reporters have seen leaked documents that show Bashir, currently the BBC's religious affairs editor, claims that comments made at the meeting have been mistakenly attributed to him 25 years later.

It is the first evidence of Bashir's response to allegations that he cheated and lied his way to the "interview of the century", broadcast on the BBC's Panorama, in which Princess Diana disclosed details of her husband's adultery.

She famously told Bashir, then aged 32 and an unknown reporter, that there were "three people" in their marriage.

The emergence of Earl Spencer's notes last November prompted the BBC to launch an internal inquiry into how Bashir got the interview.

Bashir has been accused of falsely telling Princess Diana she was being spied on by the intelligence agencies, her private correspondence opened, her car tracked and her phone tapped, feeding her growing anxiety.

His denials - and the attempt to attribute comments instead to Princess Diana - are likely to fuel further anger against the BBC journalist.

Bashir has already admitted ordering faked bank statements, which he showed to Earl Spencer, but insisted Princess Diana never saw them. Earl Spencer said the statements - of mocked-up payments to his former head of security - were used to gain his trust, prompting him to introduce Bashir to his sister.

The report, which is expected to heavily criticise Bashir as well as senior corporation executives accused of covering up the scandal, is due to be completed by May.

 Telegraph Media Group Ltd (2021)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
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In January, Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM) released its Every Kid, Every Day, Every Way strategy for outdoor and environmental learning, with clear recommendations that will help achieve equitable access to the outdoors for all New Mexico kids.

The plan has been developed by leveraging three years of community conversations, with input from more than 200 individuals from 90 different organizations, agencies and schools. EENMs 17 paid Fellows have also been closely involved in developing the plan.

The long-term goals of the EENM plan are that every New Mexico child will have access to the outdoors and environmental learning; that New Mexicos children are supported in daily experiences outdoors, in both in-school and out-of-school experiences; and to identify and promote the variety of approaches that help connect kids with the outdoors. These connections include, but are not limited to, conservation, experiential, environmental, land-based, nature-based and place-based education.

A few of the key recommendations of the plan include:

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................................................................

 Establish an Office of Outdoor and Environmental Education at the state level to support teachers and school staff. Embed outdoor ambassadors in every school district and, ultimately, at every school.

 Develop a network of outdoor gear, plus libraries to support kids, families and community members.

 Restructure requirements and resources for pre-service and in-service teachers to include an introduction to Outdoor Learning, along with financing and support for teachers for ongoing professional development annually.

For more than 25 years, EENM has been boots on the ground in realizing the success of outdoor learning and environmental education. We currently support over 150 organizations that offer outdoor programming to 200,000 New Mexico kids annually, groups such as the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, which leads ecological science programs on-site for all 5th-graders in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho public schools, the Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District, New Mexico Highlands University and many others.

EENM is a strong supporter of the New Mexico Office of Outdoor Recreation and of the Outdoor Equity Fund, both of which are working to expand the outdoor recreation economy  and access to the outdoors  to every corner of New Mexico, and bring jobs, prosperity and wellness to all state residents. Every Kid, Every Day, Every Way provides clear directions and strategies for the Office of Outdoor Recreation and other state agencies developed from communities representing such interconnected interests as outdoor recreation, education, conservation and environmental justice.

The announcement of EENMs comprehensive outdoor education road map comes at the same time that Wild Friends, a student civics group organized by the University of New Mexico, introduced Senate Memorial 1, requesting the establishment of a task force to promote the use of outdoor classrooms in New Mexico, in partnership with EENM. This measure, which has been passed by the Legislature, is in direct alignment with Every Kid, Every Day, Every Way.

EENM worked with Wild Friends to draft the memorial, which was sponsored by Senator Siah Correa Hemphill (D-Silver City).

In October 2020, EENM created The New Mexico Outdoor Learning Guidance for 2020-21 School Reentry, adopted by the New Mexico Public Education Department, along with a new website, Outdoor Learning in New Mexico during Covid-19: Resources and Support for the 2020-2021 School Year, designed to support parents, families, teachers and administrators across the state in the implementation of outdoor learning at home, in communities and at school during and after COVID-19.

EENM is strongly poised to provide leadership for getting kids outside because of its robust collaboration with many organizations that have been providing outdoor and environmental education across the state to 200,000 children annually, with the goal to reach all New Mexico children.

For more information, go to www.eenm.org.

Eileen Everett is executive director of Environmental Education of New Mexico.
Crisis-ridden NMRA gives waiver of registration for import of Chinas Sinopharm vaccine By Kumudini Hettiarachchi View(s): View(s):

Chinas Sinopharm vaccine was on Friday night granted a waiver of registration by Sri Lankas newly appointed drug regulator.

The waiver of registration was granted under Section 109 of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act which deals with Emergency and other special circumstances, confirmed NMRAs Acting Chairman Prof. Sisira Siribaddana, stressing that it was with specific regard to a donation of Sinopharm vaccines.

He said he believed that it would be a donation of around 600,000 doses but was unsure when they would arrive in the country and to whom these vaccines would be administered.

Asked whether the full dossier including the vaccines Phase 3 clinical trial data had been submitted to the NMRA, he said the complete dossier had been sent.

With regard to concerns over a lack of data, Prof. Siribaddana said the Lancets Infectious Diseases journal had published data indicating that the vaccine was fairly safe and had good immunogenicity. On the numbers on whom the data were published, he explained that they were the numbers required for Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, while pointing out that it was difficult to compare different vaccines.

He added that information on animal studies of the Sinopharm vaccine published in the prestigious Cell journal was good and the NMRA would also seek the views of experts before granting registration while awaiting emergency-use listing (EUL) for this vaccine by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The NMRA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe, who concludes his term on March 24 (Wednesday), said the waiver of registration was granted for Sinopharm by the NMRA so that a government-to-government donation could be imported and cleared. The EUL for Sinopharm might be granted in time to come.

Asked what Sri Lanka was hoping to do with the Sinopharm vaccine as it had no EUL to administer it to the people and how many doses were expected in the donation, he requested that the Sunday Times contact the Health Ministry and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC).

The Sunday Times understands that the new NMRA (with several recently appointed Board Members), which has been dogged by controversy recently, held two exhaustive emergency Zoom meetings on Friday, in the afternoon and night, to decide on whether or not to grant EUL to the vaccine produced by Sinopharm, the China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. They had not been able to reach consensus.

The thinking behind the registration-waiver had been that, as requested by the Chinese government, some of the vaccine doses could be used on 30,000-odd Chinese workers in Sri Lanka, it is learnt.

The issue around the Sinopharm vaccine is that insufficient data have been released with regard to the Phase 3 clinical trials, it is understood. The vaccine has also not secured EUL, either from the WHO or a stringent regulatory authority such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, the United Kingdoms (UKs) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Fridays NMRA meetings had been to fast-track the grant of EUL to Sinopharm on the basis of WHO advice to South Asian drug regulators on giving expedited market authorisation to government-to-government donations. However, there had been no consensus on the matter. Some sources said the full dossier on the vaccine had not been received from Sinopharm as yet.

The Sunday Times understands that it is also not the NMRAs Board Members who should grant EUL to a vaccine but the NMRAs independent advisory Panel of Experts on vaccines. So far, based on the expert panels recommendation, the NMRA has granted EUL to AstraZenecas COVISHIELD vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India and the Sputnik V vaccine produced by the Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia.

Prof. Siribaddana who guided Fridays meetings has taken the place of Prof. Asita de Silva who submitted his resignation on Monday (March 15) as Head of the crisis-hit NMRA. His resignation followed hot on the heels of the lightning sacking of four members of its board by a State Minister, the previous week.

On Wednesday, at a meeting summoned by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi with the participation of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Channa Jayasumana, a suggestion to appoint a just-qualified Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr. R.I. Wijewantha who has still not returned from his post-graduate training abroad, had generated much discussion, with the culmination being the appointment of Prof. Siribaddana as the Acting Chairperson for a month, it is understood.

Prof. Siribaddana and three others had been appointed as NMRA Board Members by State Minister Jayasumana soon after he sacked the four who were in service. The legality of these moves by the State Minister is under question, the Sunday Times understands as the appointing authority for NMRA members is the Health Minister, based on recommendations with regard to people of eminence.

Even though Prof. Asita de Silva had resigned only from the post of NMRA Chairperson but not as the Board Member representing the field of pharmacology, in his place, Prof. Sudheera Jayasinghe from the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhuna University has been appointed. Prof. de Silva has not been issued a letter of termination of service.

The four NMRA Board Members who were sacked the previous week were well-known health expert Dr. Palitha Abeykoon, management expert Dr. Kapila Ranasinghe, accountancy expert M.K. Harshana Karunaratne and lawyer Chamindika Herath.

Those appointed in their place were Prof. Sisira Siribaddana (Management), Raja Goonaratne (Law), Dr. Udayasri Kariyawasam (Accountancy) and Dr. R.I. Wijewantha (Health).
Week 11 in review: Galaxy A52 and A72 official as OnePlus 9 leaks intensify

Welcome to another week's recap, let's get started. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A52, A52 5G and Galaxy A72. All three phones are already on sale - the Galaxy A52 4G and A72 4G offering Snapdragon 720 chipsets and 90Hz refresh screens, while the Galaxy A52 5G has Snapdragon 750 chipset and 120Hz screen.

Speaking to investors, Samsung's co-CEO DJ Koh has revealed that Samsung could skip unveiling a Galaxy Note in 2021, due to a "serious imbalance" in semiconductor market globally. He did add that next year the lineup should be back on track, reassuring Note fans that the lineup is still in the company's future plans.

The OnePlus 9 series will arrive next week (March 23) and it was heavily featured in our top stories this week. It appears that both the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro will have an LTPO OLED display, capable of running a QHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate at the same time. The LTPO backplane technology will allow the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro's displays to go between 120Hz and 1Hz to maximize smoothness and battery life.

The pair of phones will also come with 2 years of warranty, instead of the usual 1 year - great news for everyone living outside the EU. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 9 Pro scored 660k on AnTuTu this week. Finally, the OnePlus Watch specs leaked - the wearable expected to join the phones at the event next week. It will feature an SpO2 sensor, IP68 element-resistance and optional LTE connectivity.

A day after OnePlus, Realme will drop its 8 series. The Realme 8 Pro will premiere the 108MP camera sensor in the lineup.

Another announcement for next week is the Poco X3 Pro, slated for March 22. It's expected to start at 269 for a 6/128GB model and run a Snapdragon 860 chipset.

The final major story was the Asus ROG Phone 5 failing its durability test. Despite having the standard glass and metal sandwich construction, the device has a weak point along the antenna line on the side frame. With some pressure applied to the back, the host was able to crack the frame and fatally damage the internal vibration motor. So if you have an ROG Phone 5, try not to bend it, okay?

That'll do it for the biggest stories of the week. The full list is below. See you in a week!



The OnePlus 9 phones will come with 2 years of warranty CEO Pete Lau says that 2 years is how long most flagship buyers keep their phone before upgrading.





Foldable Xiaomi Mi Mix appears in leaked hands-on photos The phone will adopt the solution with a big internal display and a second panel on the outside.





Samsung Galaxy A82's camera detailed It's still unclear if it will swivel like the one in the A80.





OnePlus Watch specs leak ahead of March 23 unveiling It will come with an SpO2 sensor, IP68 rating, and support LTE connectivity.





Realme 8 series is arriving on March 24 with 108MP Infinity Camera The Pro variant will feature the 108MP camera, while the vanilla model will sport a 64MP unit.





Sony Xperia Pro has the largest vapor cooling chamber in a phone yet JerrryRigEverything has taken apart his fair share of gaming smartphones - none had a vapor chamber as large as this one.





Realme 8, 8 Pro blind sale scheduled to begin today Users will be able to reserve a Realme 8 or Realme 8 Pro with an INR1,080 payment in advance.


What is 680 feet long, 140 feet above the ground and provides spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains?

Its SkyBridge, the nations longest pedestrian suspension bridge that opened in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, two years ago. It is part of the renovated SkyLift Park at the top of Crockett Mountain.

In addition to the bridge, the park includes the SkyLift to give you a scenic ride up the mountain; the SkyCenter with a cafe, gift shop and bar; and the SkyDeck, which has a fire pit and seating for those not looking to explore the bridge.

Here are some tips to make your visit easier.

When to visit

SkyLift Park is open every day, weather permitting, except Christmas Day. Since a ticket is valid all day, you can come and go as you like. For example, the best times to walk across the bridge are in the morning and at night. The crowds are smaller and the view during each of those crossings will be very different.

SkyLift Park opens at 9 a.m. all year long, with the exception of maintenance weeks. During spring, it closes at 9 p.m., with hours extended to 10 p.m. during the summer. According to the parks website, any ticket bought after 9 p.m. is good the next day.

How to get tickets

You can walk up to the ticket window and purchase admission to the park, but its easier to buy online.

If you buy tickets online, you can join the arrival line at the base of the SkyLift when you visit and pick up a wristband when you pass the ticket windows. Be aware there is not a separate arrival line for online purchases.

Anytime Tickets offers all-day access to the SkyLift Park any day, including weekends and holidays.

Costs are $27.95 for ages 12 to 64, $22.95 for ages 65 and older and $17.95 for ages 4 to 11. Children ages 3 and younger are free.

Value Tickets offer all-day access to the SkyLift Park on Mondays through Thursdays, except holidays.

Costs are $24.95 for ages 12 to 64, $20.95 for ages 65 and older and $17.95 for ages 4 to 11. Children ages 3 and younger are free.

Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The good news, however, is that all tickets remain valid for one year after the original date of purchase for the original purchaser.

What to know

Face masks are required in all areas, even those outside. Strollers are not allowed at SkyLift Park. You can store your stroller at the SkyLift until you return back down the mountain.

No animals are allowed, either  even service dogs. Our policy is supported by industry and federal regulations and is based on legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operation of the facility, the parks website states. These safety requirements are based on actual risks and are not intended to be discriminatory in any way.

Wheelchairs are permitted on the SkyDeck and lower level of the SkyCenter, but not on the SkyBridge.
The billionaire heir to cosmetics giant Estee Lauder is ramping up his bitter legal battle with his former partner after their 13-year-old daughter referred to the family's dirty laundry in a social media post.

The court conflict between Estee Lauder chairman William Lauder, 60, and socialite Taylor Stein, 54, was laid bare in a New York Post article published Saturday.

Lauder is reportedly asking the Los Angeles Superior Court to kick Stein out of the $7million, 6,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion he purchased for her.

He is also trying to terminate a 2007 settlement agreement under which he promised to pay Stein $1million a year to keep the identity of their love child shrouded in secrecy.

Lauder allegedly claims that Stein violated the agreement when their daughter described her parents as being 'divorced' in a social media post last December.

Billionaire cosmetics heir William Lauder (left) is ramping up his bitter legal battle with his former partner Taylor Stein (right) after their 13-year-old daughter referred to the family's dirty laundry in a social media post, a new report claims

Lauder and Stein's fraught relationship is described in detail in the Post article, citing heavily-redacted court documents and sources with knowledge of the situation.

The couple met at Lauder's mansion in Aspen in 2000, when he was still married to his wife Karen.

Lauder and Stein allegedly began an affair the following year. She became pregnant in 2005, and Lauder told her to have an abortion because he was in the middle of negotiating a settlement agreement with his wife, whom he divorced in 2009, the Post reported.

Stein - the daughter of New York City nightclub entrepreneur Howard Stein - got pregnant a second time in 2006, and welcomed a baby girl the following spring.

Desperate to keep the birth under wraps, Lauder allegedly sent Stein and the baby to Aspen to keep them out of the 'gossip press', the Post reported.

He also reportedly drew up an agreement that would see Stein receive an annual payment of $1million if she did not publicly disclose the identity of her child's father and stayed at least 100 yards away from any member of the Lauder family in Aspen, Palm Beach, and New York.

Stein took Lauder to court in 2018 and alleged that he had reneged on their settlement deal and was attempting to kick her and her daughter out of their Bel Air home.

By November 2020 they appeared to have reached a truce, with Stein's attorney drafting a letter to the judge stating that the case had been settled, according to the Post.

William Lauder is pictured with his billionaire philanthropist father Leonard A Lauder at the Lincoln Center Corporate Fashion Gala in New York City in November 2019

Taylor Stein (second right) attends the LEVIEV Party for 'GLAMOUR GIRLS' at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles in 2008 with Patrick McMullan (left), Lara Shriftman (second left), and Dean Winters (right)

However the feud was apparently reignited the following month when the couple's daughter mentioned their relationship online.

Lauder saw the post as a clear violation of his demands for strict secrecy, a source told the Post.

Lauder's attorney, Thomas Nolan, wrote in January legal filings that the aforementioned November settlement was not 'formal'.

Stein's lawyers hit back: 'How is it that suddenly, almost 2 months after the fact, "Looks good" has been transformed by Lauder into, in essence, "Looks terribly wrong?"'

Stein has now again accused Lauder of breaching their court-brokered arrangement to support her.

She also claims that Lauder launched a harassment campaign against her, including by hiring high-profile private detective Jack Palladino to spy on her, a source said.

The latest developments in the couple's legal battle came eight years after Stein and Lauder engaged in a shouting match on a street in Los Angeles, which ended with her punching him in the face.

Stein ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge and served 19 days of community service.
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Johann Chuckaree is the epitome of the modern Indo-Trinidadian.

The 31-year-old is a proud descendant of East Indian indentured labourers. Prays to Jesus Christ. And plays the pan.

The Woodbrook-born musician exuded equal passion for all three during a virtual sitting with the Kitcharee on Thursday night.
Mitch McConnell vowed to burn down democracy Tuesday, promising a completely scorched earth Senate if the new Democratic majority reforms or purges the filibuster in its effort to replace indolence with actual governing.

It is another sign that McConnells party is not serious about this American experiment, and is more disposed to tear it up. Some Republicans incited a failed coup with lies about voter fraud, then rationalized and excused the desecration of our democracy. Across the country, other Republicans are crafting hundreds of laws in statehouses that eviscerate the voting rights of minorities and the poor, daring the courts and our egalitarian virtue to stop them.

And now, since democracy is a hindrance, McConnell seeks to weaponize arcane procedural rules in order to protect a Jim Crow relic, as Barack Obama calls the filibuster, because this valued tool of segregationists still allows a minority of elected officials to undermine the will of the majority.

In an evenly divided Senate, the Democrats dont have the 51 votes to kill it  yet. But one reluctant member, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, has not ruled out reform because voting rights are under attack this week  no small matter for a Democrat in a red state  and the filibuster is what stands in the way of the Biden agenda on climate policy, immigration, criminal justice, police reform, gun control and much more.

So we hope Senate Democrats thank McConnell for his kind offer, try not to swoon at his macho flex, and are ultimately guided by Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who says that the filibuster is making a mockery of American democracy, and that it has turned the worlds most deliberative body into one of the worlds most ineffectual.

Because if there is a time to save a nation under attack from within, this is it.

The voting rights package will be up for discussion this week, and Senate Democrats have two choices. They can let the GOP hijack democracy and keep the filibuster, which will allow state-level Republicans to push through 253 toxic bills that manipulate voting rules, purge voter rolls, and discriminate against Black and brown people.

No joke: On Monday, the Georgia House Republicans passed a bill that makes it a crime to give water to someone waiting on line to vote  in a state where voting lines in minority communities can be 10 hours long.

Or, Democrats can provide a shield for 90 percent of these voter suppression laws, which would mean theyd need Manchin and another red-state Democrat, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, to sign off on defanging the filibuster.

You get that this massive wave of voter suppression bills is Jim Crow coming back with a vengeance, right? If the Senate doesnt pass HR1, the For the People Act, hes going to be hard as hell to kill. #HR1  Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) March 19, 2021

There are multiple ways to do this. They could discourage use the filibuster by forcing senators to stand and talk, like the old days  make it more painful, as Manchin put it. Or they could reduce the votes needed to break a filibuster from 60 to 51 over 8 days. Or they could exempt certain bills, such as voting rights, from the filibuster.

But Democrats must demolish the blockade that has turned the worlds most deliberative body into a dysfunctional debate club.

Yes, there is a risk to its full abolition if the GOP wins the Senate and the White House, but the filibuster is a national stain on majority rule. Today, senators from the 21 least-populous states  representing 11 percent of Americans  can use it to stop a bill.

Or consider this: By 2040, 70 percent of Americans will live in 15 states, which means the remaining 30 percent of the population will choose 70 percent of the Senate. You go, Idaho.

McConnell needs the filibuster because voter suppression is his partys last, best hope for relevance in a nation that has rejected its retrograde policies, its white grievance, its racist fringe, its trickle-down economics, and its embrace of Trumpism. Dumping the filibuster now is Americas last, best chance to restore democracy.

But if Democrats keep the filibuster, he'll play nice? Just like he has for, oh, the last several decades? https://t.co/y4NllNbd3A  Lee Drutman (@leedrutman) March 16, 2021

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Jammu, March 21 : A Pakistani national has been arrested by the BSF on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector, officials said on Sunday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) said that on Saturday night alert BSF troops observed suspicious movement of one Pakistani national on the International Border (IB) in the Samba sector. He had crossed the IB but was nabbed ahead of the fencing by the troops.

Further details are being ascertained, said the BSF.

Of late, there have been a series of cases of intruders crossing over into India.

A minor, who had inadvertently crossed the LoC into the Indian side on December 31 last year, was apprehended by a police party near the Batar nallah in Poonch.

On December 7, 2020 two girls who had also inadvertently crossed into the Indian side in Poonch were repatriated by the army.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. lodged on Sunday a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of over 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef, which is within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.

"Diplomatic protest fired off tonight; can't wait for first light, Locsin said in a tweet on Sunday.

The move was recommended by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on Sunday afternoon, according to the DFA chief. Locsin earlier said he was only awaiting the directive from Hermogenes and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to fire the protest, adding he listens only to the generals.

On Saturday, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said it received a report that around 220 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted on March 7 at the Julian Felipe Reef.

According to the task force, the incident reported by the Coast Guard was a cause for concern since the vessels at the time were not seen conducting fishing activities and their white lights were turned on during nighttime.

The NTF-WPS notes this circumstance as a concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation, it said.

Lorenzana also expressed alarm over the sighting, saying the presence of the Chinese vessels is a clear provocative action of militarizing the area.

He stressed that under international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling, Filipinos have the sole right to resources in territories within the country's EEZ and continental shelf.

We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory, Lorenzana said. We are committed to uphold our sovereign rights over the WPS.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Cirilito Arevalo likewise issued a statement condemning any move of encroachment in Philippine territory, but added that the AFP will continue to pursue a "peaceful, principled, and rules-based approach in resolving issues in the disputed sea.

We will defer to the decision of the Department of National Defense and Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the matter, he said.

Our utmost priority remains to be the protection of our citizens in the area, particularly our fishermen, through increased maritime patrols, he added.

It is unclear based on the statement if the vessels are still docked in the reef but the task force said it will continue to monitor the situation.

The reef is claimed by China and Vietnam, but an arbitral tribunal in The Hague recognized the Philippines sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone. However, China rejects the landmark ruling.

In December last year, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative had warned that China may have increased the frequency of its patrols in the South China Sea during the COVID-19 pandemic, including areas Manila claims as the West Philippine Sea. In the same report, the US think tank flagged that Chinese forces conducted patrols at Scarborough Shoals, also known as Panatag for a total of 287 days from Dec. 1, 2019.

READ: China normalizes presence in West Philippine Sea with more patrols  US think tank
(Newser)  Pope Francis on Sunday denounced racism, likening it to a virus that lurks, then surfaces to show that "our supposed social progress is not as real or definitive" as people think. Francis tweeted on racism on the date that the United Nations marks as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The pope likened racism to "a virus that quickly mutates and, instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and lurks in waiting," the AP reports. "Instances of racism continue to shame us, for they show that our supposed social progress is not as real or definitive as we think," Francis tweeted, adding the hashtags #FightRacism #FratelliTutti. "Fratelli Tutti'' is the title of the encyclical, or special teaching document, that the pope issued last year during the COVID-19 pandemic to press for solidarity, brotherhood, and care for the environment worldwide.

story continues below

In his tweet, Francis cited no particular instance of racism or place. Throughout his papacy, he has championed the rights of people who are marginalized in societies, including migrants. The annual UN commemoration on March 21 falls on the anniversary of the day that police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid laws in 1960. In the pope's weekly remarks at the Vatican, per the AP, he urged more efforts to ensure all people have access to clean drinking water. He said water "isn't some good of commerce but a "fount of life and of health," per the AP. "I thank and encourage all who, from various professions and responsibilities, work for such an important aim." In particular, he cited those in his homeland, Argentina, who are working on such water projects. The World Health Organization says some 2 billion people use a source of drinking water that is contaminated with feces.

(Read more Pope Francis stories.)
A man riding a Divvy bicycle in the area was Thomas first victim. He heard pops and then saw several bullet holes in his clothing, Assistant States Attorney James Konstantopoulos told the court. The man turned in time to see Thomas trying to unjam the weapon. About 10 minutes later, a resident witnessed Thomas firing on two people who pulled over after thinking the gunshots were popping car tires, Konstantopoulos said.
As counties across the state start easing yearlong pandemic restrictions, a form of normalcy is on the horizon for many Californians.

Yet, I cant help but think of people like MiQueesha Willis. In 2019, Willis was living out of her car in San Francisco with her young son, Tobias. She worked a construction job to save money for an apartment in the city. But she kept racking up parking citations. One day while at work, her car was towed. Willis couldnt pay the $500 towing fee or the hundreds of dollars in additional fines to get the vehicle back. A few weeks later, her 20-year-old Lexus was sold at auction.

What Willis experienced is commonly referred to as a poverty tow. Months into the pandemic, they were still happening to cars with unpaid parking tickets or expired registration, or to cars parked in the same space on the street for more than 72 hours, according to Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, one of many advocacy groups wanting to end poverty tows in California.

A Lawyers Committee analysis of data from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency showed 3,405 poverty tows occurred in District 10 from July 2018 to June 2020. This was the highest figure of any district in the city, though another four districts each recorded more than 1,000 poverty tows, the Lawyers Committee found. District 10 includes the Bayview-Hunters Point area, has San Franciscos largest Black population and, according to city statistics, the third-lowest median household income.

Poverty tows disproportionately impact low-income communities of color.

In California, 20% of all poverty tows happened to American Indian/Alaska Native people in 2019, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation nonprofit. Nineteen percent happened to Black people and 15% to Latinos.

The high cost of recovery fees usually result in the person permanently losing their vehicle. Or, in Willis case, her home.

It feels humiliating. Youre already sleeping in your car and then you lose the car, Willis recently told me. You never know what to do after that. You might be in a shelter, you might be under a bridge. Its just a lot to figure out in that moment.

The onset of the pandemic last year spurred some Bay Area cities to tweak how they issued parking citations. The SFMTA temporarily stopped ticketing cars that werent moved on street sweeping days. Oakland briefly stopped enforcing parking meters or time-limited parking.

But those moratoriums ended over the summer. And while the SFMTA advertises substantial discounts for financially vulnerable residents, they come with a catch. To qualify, folks needs to show theyve received subsidies or are living below the federal poverty level. Those deemed eligible for discounts still have to pay $100 in fines. As for the tow waiver offered to unhoused people, thats a one-time break.

Elisa Della-Piana works for the Lawyers Committee. When we spoke recently, I talked about Willis. Della-Piana in turn told me about a domestic violence survivor who used her vehicle both as a means to escape her abuser and for shelter. The woman lost her car because of overdue parking citations before the pandemic.

Della-Piana said if policies dont change, more people will lose their cars in the coming months.

We know there were people who couldnt work during the pandemic so there are going to be more people who cant afford the tickets over the last few months, Della-Piana said. Theres going to be a glut of people in these situations.

Poverty tows are a symptom of a larger issue in California  growing economic disparity. Black and Latino people are overrepresented among low-income families, according to data from Bay Area Equity Atlas. Addressing this disparity will take years.

But Brandon Greene, the director of the racial and economic justice program at the ACLU of Northern California, thinks a permanent end to poverty tows would be a good start. He says the punishment doesnt fit the infraction.

Parking in a place you shouldnt have been parked in, maybe for longer than you should have been parked in  losing your vehicle as a consequence for that is just out of proportion, he said.

Willis eventually saved up enough money to rent an apartment in Oakland for her and Tobias, who is now 3. As society reopens, we need to rethink the policies that made lives worse for people who were already struggling. An equitable return to normal in California doesnt exist if poverty tows are a part of it.

The Bay Area should lead this effort, rather than using tow trucks to pull Black and brown residents deeper into poverty.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
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A Shanghai court last week awarded approximately $US15,000 ($19,000) to a plaintiff in a sexual harassment suit against a colleague who had sent disturbing text messages to her almost daily for six months. It was a rare legal win in China, offering others whove been harassed some hope that Chinas laws targeting sexual harassment are growing sharper teeth.

This outcome stands in stark contrast to other recent cases where the legal system has stymied survivors - or cases where those accused of harassment used the legal system to strike back. In December, a Beijing court adjourned after a closed 10-hour session of Zhou Xiaoxuans lawsuit against state television star Zhu Jun, and Chinese government censors reportedly scrubbed pro-Zhou messages from social media. And a prominent journalist named Deng Fei won a defamation case in December against He Qian, who had spoken out about being accosted by Deng as an intern.

Prominent MeToo figure Zhou Xiaoxuan speaks to her supporters as she arrives at a courthouse in Beijing in December. Credit:AP

Last weeks judgment may to turn out to be the exception that proves the rule, under a legal framework that seriously disadvantages survivors.

China enacted its first provision in a national law prohibiting sexual harassment in 2005, and provinces and localities followed up on it with a flurry of regulations. The State Council, the Chinese governments top executive body, took a further step by stipulating in 2012 that employers should curb workplace sexual harassment.
On March 3, World Wildlife Day, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar announced the Centres goal of bringing cheetahs back to India. India stopped being a habitat for Cheetahs when they went extinct from the country in 1952.

Excessive hunting, trafficking and a decline in forest cover are said to be the main reasons for India not having any cheetahs for 70 years.

A country that once took pride in its Asiatic cheetah now only finds the wild cat in zoos.

The end of 2021 will witness history as the first batch of Cheetahs will be brought from Africa, as per a report by The Indian Express.

An effort to reintroduce cheetahs in India began back in 2009, but a nod from the Supreme Court to pursue the objective only came recently.

Currently, the only surviving Cheetahs in the country live in zoos. For the reintroduction of the species, the African variety of the cat would be introduced. The work on the reintroduction began last year after the Supreme Court gave the Centre its go-ahead for the project, based on the application filed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The decision was taken keeping in mind the depleting population of the wild creature.

Preparations for the major reintroduction will be underway in a week when Indian forest officers will start being trained by experts from Namibia and South Africa. These are both countries with the worlds highest population of cheetahs. The team of experts will be training the officers how to go about handling, breeding, rehabilitation, medical treatment and conservation of the cheetahs.

In 1947, Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya is believed to have caused the Asiatic Cheetahs extinction in India after he shot the last three of them while hunting. Now, decades later, India is going to carry out the worlds first inter-continental relocation of a large carnivore in an attempt to make up for his actions.

Six sites - Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve and Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuno National Park, Madhav National Park and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh  have been assessed for relocating the wild animals. Out of them only Kuno National Park has been deemed ready so far, owing to it being observed since 2006. The park was also chosen for relocating the Asiatic Lion since both animals share the same habitat.

Dean and expert committee member of the Wildlife Institute o India (WII), Dr Y V Jhala, said, While there was never any problem with cheetahs and lions sharing the same space, the Supreme Court felt at the time this was not conducive to the lion. The court had instructed that the lion be introduced at Kuno in 2013; that is yet to happen. Last year, the Supreme Court gave the go ahead to introduce cheetahs here. But one site is not enough for a healthy population of cheetahs in the country. So, we will upgrade the other identified sites, which have conducive habitats, so it can be introduced in four-five places at least over the coming five or six years. But this year, we will relocate eight cheetahs to Kuno to begin with. The idea is to relocate 35-40 cheetahs across the identified sites.
Philippines says China violating its maritime rights

Philippine defence minister Delfin Lorenzana said the boats were violating the Philippines sovereign territory. File photo: AFP

The Philippines urged China on Sunday to recall more than 200 Chinese boats it said had been spotted at a reef in the South China Sea, saying the presence of the vessels violated its maritime rights as it claims ownership of the area.



Authorities said the Philippines coast guard had reported that about 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored at the Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef, on March 7.



"We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory," Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said.



The Philippine military had conducted air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea to further validate the report, spokesman Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo said. He did not explain when.



The military had submitted its findings to other government agencies, and they would be used as basis for taking "appropriate actions not limited to filing diplomatic protests", he said in a statement, without elaborating.



"The (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will not renege from our commitment to protect and defend our maritime interest within the bounds of the law," Arevalo said.



Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the boats, told a journalist on Twitter: "Only if the generals tell me. In my watch, foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces."



The vessels are fishing boats believed to be manned by Chinese military-trained personnel, according to Philippines security officials.



The vessels' presence in the area raises concern about overfishing and the destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safe navigation, a Philippine cross-government task force said late on Saturday.



China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered.



An international tribunal invalidated China's claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling. China has built islands in the disputed waters in recent years, putting air strips on some of them.



Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and the authorities in Taipei all claim parts of the sea.



In January, the Philippines protested at a new Chinese law allowing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a "threat of war".



The United States has repeatedly denounced what it called China's attempts to bully neighbours with competing interests, while Beijing has criticised Washington for what it calls interference in its internal affairs.



The Whitsun Reef is within Manila's exclusive economic zone, the task force said, describing the site as "a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs".



The task force vowed to continue "to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea. (Reuters)
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Two supercars rented for a wedding procession crashed when their drivers lost control in Sydney's once-in-century storm.

A Porsche Carrera 911 was written off in Greystanes in the city's west about 1.30pm when the driver lost control and ran into a stationary truck.

The other car, a white Lamborghini, crashed into a tree in nearby Horsley Park.

The Porsche Carrera 911 worth more than $200,000 was written off in the crash

The white Lamborghini was rented for a wedding procession when it was crashed

The tree that the white Lamborghini crashed into was knocked over

The Porsche that is valued at over $200,000 crashed on Gipps Street when witnesses said ended up on the wrong side of the road and hit the truck.

Ambulance and the fire brigade attended the scene as the driver was taken to hospital by private transport.

NSW Ambulances said the Porsche had two men in their 30s who were conscious and breathing when the ambulance arrived.

The crashes came as a result of the raging storms that have hit NSW with Premier Gladys Berejiklian calling the storms a 'one in a 100 year event.'

The incessant rain has hit most of NSW with widespread flooding occurring and Sydney's primary water source, Warragamba Dam overflowing.

As the rain continues to fall more than 30 homes in Sydney have been damaged as well as numerous evacuation orders to residents in Sydney's western suburbs.

There has also been a number of road closures causing delays across the city.

The rain is expected to continue into next week until Wednesday.

Witnesses say that the driver of the Porsche lost control of the car before hitting the stationary truck

The white Lamborghini was towed away from the scene in Horsley Park
Maharashtra minister Nitin Raut on Saturday said curbs imposed in Nagpur district amid the rise in COVID-19 cases will continue March 31, but with some relaxations.

Strict curbs have been imposed in the district from March 15 to 21, following a surge in COVID-19 infections. Raut, who is the district guardian minister, held a review meeting with district officials to assess the situation. The restrictions, which have been imposed in the district, will continue till March 31 with partial elaxations, the minister said. He further informed that a separate standard operating procedure will be issued for the festival of Holi, which will be observed on March 28-29.

Shops selling essential commodities will be permitted to operate till 4 pm as opposed to the earlier timing of 1 pm, while restaurants and eateries, which had been ordered to remain shut, can function till 7 pm, the minister said. Food delivery services will be allowed till 11 pm, he

said.

The police department has been directed to take action against violators, the minister added. Nagpur recorded 3,235 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, taking the count of infections to 1,85,787.

Also Read: COVID trajectory rising in 8 states as India records over 40,000 new cases, highest in 111 days
A Massachusetts man who worked for an online ride-hailing service is under arrest on a kidnapping charge after authorities say he locked a woman inside his vehicle.

The driver, identified by Boston police as Kamal Essalak, 47, of Acton, laughed as the woman screamed and banged on the vehicles windows, authorities said. He was arrested Saturday by Acton police and then taken to Boston for booking.

According to police, Essalak is accused of locking a woman inside his vehicle around 8:30 p.m. on March 18 in the area of 1139 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston.

During that incident, officers responded to take a report from an adult female victim who stated that she had requested a ride via a common online ridesharing service which was being operated by the suspect, police said in a news release. When the victim got into the vehicle, she noted that the suspect/operator was behaving strangely and requested to be dropped off and let out of the vehicle.

Essalak stopped the car, but when the woman tried to get out, she noticed the child safety locks had been enabled on both rear doors, police said.

As the victim began to scream and bang on the glass in an attempt to draw attention to the unfolding situation, the suspect began to climb into the rear passenger area of the vehicle, laughing periodically, police said. The victim was able to quickly slide around the suspect, into the drivers seat at which time she was able to unlock the door and exit the vehicle, making her way to safety.

Essalak is expected to be arraigned in Brighton District Court. The name of the service was not released by police but WCVB reports he drove for Uber and the company removed his access to the app.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is continuing to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 measures, with the Interior Ministry registering 8,579 cases for breaching social distancing protocols and 61,051 for not wearing facemasks in public settings until this Thursday.

Brigadier Dr Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Public Security Assistant Chief for Operations and Training Affairs, said the ministry also carried out 7023 awareness campaigns until March 18.

Civil Defence officials carried out 213,207 cleanings and sterilisation operation in buildings, government facilities, streets, roads, etc., during the period. The authority is also continuing to hold training sessions on correct methods of disinfection and sterilisation operations, said Dr Sheikh Hamad.

Gardai are investigating a suspected shebeen in Limerick following the search of a private property yesterday.

Gardai in Henry Street conducted a search of a private premises in Limerick on Saturday in relation to alleged breaches of liquor licensing legislation.

The investigation, which was part of Operation Navigation, led Gardai to discover a fully equipped, unlicensed bar with a television and a dartboard in a garage behind the premises.

When Gardai had arrived, there were several glasses on the tables with of alcohol still inside them.

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A significant amount of alcohol, including six beer kegs, was seized during the operation along with refrigeration units, four beer dispenser taps, gas regulators, and optic dispensers.

No persons were present at the time of the search.

Enquiries into the matter are ongoing and a file is in the process of being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to all citizens to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to save lives.
A respected Royal biographer has condemned Martin Bashir for blaming Princess Diana for the catalogue of smears that he allegedly spun to clinch his infamous Panorama interview with her.

Sally Bedell Smith, who published a best-selling biography of the Princess of Wales, said she was appalled that Mr Bashir has reportedly suggested that Diana was the source of a string of lies about the Royal Family and senior courtiers.

It was alleged last year that Mr Bashir peddled 32 smears to secure his sensational interview in 1995, detailed in notes made by Earl Spencer, Dianas brother, from a meeting that all three attended.

Yesterday it was reported that Mr Bashir has denied inventing the lies and told an official inquiry that most of the comments attributed to him were actually made by the Princess

It was alleged last year that Mr Bashir peddled 32 smears to secure his sensational interview in 1995

They are said to detail how the BBC journalist falsely claimed that the Princesss private correspondence was being opened, her car tracked and her phone tapped. The records also suggest that he falsely claimed that the Queen had heart problems and that Prince Edward was having treatment for Aids.

Yesterday it was reported that Mr Bashir, now the BBCs Religion Editor, has denied inventing the lies and told an official inquiry that most of the comments attributed to him were actually made by the Princess.

He is also said to have told Lord Dyson, the former Supreme Court judge heading the probe, that such allegations were consistent with Diana telling him that she spoke to mystics who had given her false information.

But former New York Times reporter Ms Bedell Smith, 72, who has also written biographies of the Queen and Prince Charles, lambasted the journalist for blaming the late Princess.

What Mr Bashir has said is brazen and I find it appalling that after all these years he would contradict something that Charles Spencer wrote at some length at the time and that accurately depicted what went on, she said. This is a real calumny against Diana that she is not around to defend.

The BBC declined to comment and a spokesman said that Mr Bashir wont be making any public statements while the investigation is ongoing.
Imperial Valley News Center

Ex-Federal Correctional Officer Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Taking Over $15,000 in Bribes and Smuggling Contraband

Victorville, California - A former Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Complex, Victorville was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in federal prison for accepting more than $15,000 in cash bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband  including methamphetamine and cell phones  into the complexs high-security penitentiary.

Paul James Hayes II, 52, of Victorville, who retired from his job with the BOP in March 2019, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. Hayes pleaded guilty in January 2020 to one count of conspiracy and one count of acceptance of a bribe by a public official.

Hayes was a lieutenant with BOPs Special Investigation Services (SIS), a unit that investigates illegal activity by correctional officers and inmates. From early 2018 to September 2018, Hayes met in person with co-defendant Angel Marie Wagner, 44, of Buena Park, in parking lots of stores or restaurants in Victorville, and accepted cash bribes from her. In exchange for the bribes, Hayes accepted wrapped contraband -- including methamphetamine, suboxone and cell phones -- to be smuggled into the prison. Hayes then smuggled the contraband into the prison and provided it to inmate coconspirators, who then distributed the contraband to other inmates.

In total, Hayes accepted more than $15,000 in cash to smuggle contraband into the prison, and he smuggled at least four separate packages of contraband into the penitentiary.

Wagner pleaded guilty in July 2020 to one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery of a public official, and she was sentenced on February 4 to two years probation.

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Sean D. Peterson of the Riverside Branch Office prosecuted this case.
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Congress is used to doing politics over tea, says PM Modi in Assam's Bokakhat

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bokakhat, Mar 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a rally at Assam's Bokakhat. PM Modi tweeted today, saying, "The people of Assam have decided that they will bless NDA in the upcoming polls."

At the Bokakhat rally, PM Modi said, "It is now decided that Assam will get 'double engine ki sarkar', 'doosri baar, BJP sarkar'," as he took the stage to address the crowd.''

PM Modi continued, "We have improved Petro infrastructure in Assam. We have seen an increase in investments in Assam. People who ruled Assam for 50 years are now giving it a guarantee of 5 promises...Everyone knows that Congress has been against Assam...Congress is offering a manifesto of lies."

''When Congress was in power at the Centre and in Assam, there was double negligence and double corruption. You have to remember that Congress means instability, corruption. They have no vision or intention to do any good,'' PM Modi at Bokakhat in Assam.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 12:43 [IST]
You could tell womens thoughts were turning to sex when Normal People became last years surprise TV hit. Rarely had so much programme time been devoted to the drama of sexual intimacy.

The phenomenon was replicated over New Year when bodice-ripping Bridgerton launched a million sexual fantasies. It could only be a matter of time before the search for satisfaction extended to novels.

And, sure enough, this spring theres a boom in sex and sensuality  nearly all of it penned by women.

Having edited two literary erotic magazines, The Erotic Review and The Amorist, Ive read more titillating fiction than is strictly wholesome for one lifetime. You name the title  Fanny Hill, The Story Of O, Lace, Riders, 50 Shades Of Grey  and Ill have spent a torrid night on my chaise longue with it.

So heres my pick of the current sultry crop, rated for sexiness and narrative value. Theres something for everyone here, from slower-paced literary romps to old-fashioned bonkbusters. Its time to retreat alone to your bed, armed only with chocolates, wine and naked anticipation . . .

Rowan Pelling who has edited two literary erotic magazines, revealed a selection of must reads rated for sexiness and narrative value. Pictured: Secrets In The Dark by Ceril Campbell

RAUNCHY TALE OF FRIENDSHIP

Secrets In The Dark by Ceril Campbell (14.99, Satin Publishing, out now)

The plot: Poor little Kensington rich girl Phoebe is miserable at school in the 1970s, until she meets fellow misfit Paula, whos motherless, working-class and on a scholarship. A fierce friendship blooms as the duo discover pop, Carnaby Street and loon pants together. Then circumstances tear the girls apart. Phoebe joins the debutante scene, where her quirky style sets her on the path to celebrity fashion styling. Desperation drives Paula into the world of Parisian high-class escorts. Eventually their worlds will collide again.

Verdict: Campbells novel transports you to the sexual free-for-all of the 1970s, which means theres plenty of joyful, lusty hook-ups, but also some shocking scenes of coercion. These, after all, were the days when many men claimed that no meant yes. Theres an upbeat honesty in the writing that reminded me of Jilly Cooper.

Well-thumbed bit: As they moved slowly and still drowsily together as one, Abdul whispered, Paula, Im just warning you that Im intending you to come a few more times before we even consider breakfast and thats how its going to be for the rest of the weekend.

Literary merit: Campbells warm, wise bonkbuster transports you back to the days when Chelseas Kings Road was the most stylish place on the planet and Biba was a fashion mecca. Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and David Bailey all have walk-on parts. The novels proved a surprise Amazon success and Campbells just sold rights to a mainstream publisher.

Sex factor: 3/5

WITTY 1920S WEDDING ROMP

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans (14.99, The Borough Press, out April 1)

Rowan said The Inverts by Crystal Jeans (pictured) sometimes feels like a champagne haze of giddy sexual encounters

The plot: Bettina and Bart grew up together: theyre best friends, partners in crime and bright young things stepping out in the Roaring Twenties. So it makes perfect sense when they get married, even though theyre both gay. A respectable front allows the duo to lead double lives with lovers, although they put their affairs aside long enough to have two children. We pursue this unconventional union through balls, bookshops and Hollywood sets until World War II. The question, 50 years later, is did they get away with murder?

Verdict: This novel sometimes feels like a champagne haze of giddy sexual encounters. Bettinas gradual enlightenment about the mechanics of lesbian sex is described in some detail.

Well-thumbed bit: But the kiss quickly became heated and they were grabbing at each others faces and hair and moaning like animals, and they retreated out of the wardrobe and made it to the bed, rolling and snatching and shedding clothes, and Jean made no demands, said nothing actually, and for the first time, it felt like  yes, it felt like making love.

Literary merit: This delicious romp is the sort of thing Nancy Mitford might have written if shed been gay and published by the Obelisk Press (the Paris-based firm that first published Anais Nins erotica in the 1930s). Its wonderfully blithe, witty and moving all at the same time.

Sex factor: 4/5

FOOD PORN AND REAL PASSION

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder (16.99, Bloomsbury, out now)

Rowan said Milk Fed by Melissa Broder (pictured) explores nurture, desire and how hard it is to be functional when a parents love has been entirely conditional

The plot: Broder has written the ultimate novel about appetite. Lapsed Jew Rachel, a 24-year-old wage slave at a Hollywood talent agency, restricts her calories to the point where food is a source of pain and self-revulsion, not pleasure. Then she meets voluptuous Orthodox Jew Miriam, who compiles mind-blowing sundaes in Yo!Gurt, her familys frozen yoghurt bar. Forbidden love blooms briefly amid rainbow sprinkles and Shabbat dinner. Miriams unabashed gluttony helps release Rachel from a lifetime of hunger: finally shes sated.

Verdict: This book is more of a gradual burn, with luminous, sexy moments. I started thinking of it as food porn, since the descriptions of food are as lavishly erotic as those of the womens passion. The author explores nurture, desire and how hard it is to be functional when a parents love has been entirely conditional.

Well-thumbed bit: She moaned, giving off deep sighs with quickened breath, no self-consciousness, as though she knew each part of her was worthy of pleasure.

Literary merit: Broder spins a compelling narrative, combining top-drawer writing with knicker-drawer scenarios. It left me wondering why it is that American heroines are always so sassy compared to their self-deprecating British counterparts.

Sex factor: 4/5

WELL WRITTEN NON-STOP SMUT

Insatiable by Daisy Buchanan (12.99, Sphere, out now)

Rowan said Insatiable by Daisy Buchanan (pictured) has far more concentration on womens erogenous zones than on mens

The plot: Curvaceous, 20-something Violet, whos jilted her fiance and is frustrated by a low-status job at a start-up company, meets impossibly gorgeous, sophisticated Lottie at an art gallery opening.

Inexplicably (or so it seems), Lottie swoops on Violet and introduces the ingenue to her equally alluring husband, Simon. The couple seduce Violet into a grown-up life of dinner-parties, artsy conversation and partner-swapping. But is Violet a true insider or the temporary plaything of two privileged professionals?

Verdict: This is the 2021 erotic novel that sets the pace for all others. Not an inch of flesh goes unexplored. I started to bookmark sizzling passages but had to give up because its saturated with orgiastic scenes. Notably, theres far more concentration on womens erogenous zones than on mens.

Well-thumbed bit: Im thrilled to realise theyre both performing for me. My breath is quickening. Im impatient for more. Ive relaxed into the role of voyeur.

Literary merit: This Sunday Times bestseller is smart, well-written smut for the modern Bridget Jones. The tone and style is similar to other millennial romances, such as Dolly Aldertons novel Ghosts, but the content is 100 times filthier. Anais Nin for the Twitter generation.

Sex factor: 5/5

1980s STYLE BONKBUSTER

Ruthless Women, Melanie Blake (12.99, Head of Zeus, out now)

Rowan said Ruthless Women by Melanie Blake is an unashamedly 80s-style bonkbuster

The plot: Falcon Bay was once the nations favourite soap but its haemorrhaging viewers and the production companys American owner, steely Madeline Kane, demands a revamp. The actors, producers, directors and writers jostle for position  on and off the casting couch  as tensions rise.

Verdict: This is an unashamedly 80s-style bonkbuster and the only problem with that is the sex scenes can feel stuck in that era. Even so, its rollicking good fun and almost all the erotic focus is on women over 50. No female character says she feels invisible in this novel; theyre all far too busy juggling lovers.

Well-thumbed bit: The door had barely closed when he was on her, licking her neck in that special way that drove her crazy. Then he stood back and stared at her. Take your clothes off, he commanded, whilst undoing his shirt buttons.

Literary merit: You dont read this for Blakes fine prose style. I was left haunted by the man who pumped what felt like electricity into a female character. But the writing comes alive when Blake examines the nuts and bolts of soap opera plotting and casting. Which isnt surprising, as the author has managed half of Britains leading soap stars and keeps many a showbiz secret.

Sex factor: 3/5

A COMPELLING SEX TRIANGLE

Luster, Raven Leilani (14.99, Picador, out now)

Rowan said Luster by Raven Leilani (pictured) has compelling writing that made her fly through the novel in one sitting

The plot: Edie, 23, is the token black employee at a childrens publishing house. Desperate for connection, shes walked open-eyed into a relationship with white, middle-aged Eric, only to discover his wife, Rebecca, has written down a set of ground rules. Inevitably, Edie and Rebecca meet and the lines of attraction become blurred. Soon Edie is sleeping in the familys guest room and befriending the couples adopted black daughter, Akila.

Verdict: Leilani is more interested in analysing power dynamics than turning on the reader. Having said that, Edies physical allure is the way she asserts herself. The book kicks off with the line, The first time we have sex, we are both fully clothed, at our desks during working hours, bathed in blue computer light.

Well-thumbed bit: So I try to help him out of his pants but his shoes are still on, shoes with laces that we both consider for a moment before we opt out and get his pants down only as far as they need to go, his face dark and urgent, his body taut.

Literary merit: The writings so compelling I flew through it in one sitting. Leilanis razor-sharp analysis of middle-class sexual mores and marriage is sexy in itself.

Sex factor: 2/5
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 14:03:36|Editor: huaxia

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People play with foam during the 5km Color Run event in Canberra, Australia, March 21, 2021. (Photo by Liu Changchang/Xinhua)

CANBERRA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The cold rain on Sunday morning in Australian capital failed to extinguish people's passion for the Color Frenzy.

Many people arrived at the Weston Park with friends and family, wearing white T-shirts. Some of them were sprinkling color powders to each others, and some were busy taking photos together.

The color run is a five-kilometer paint race, in which participants were not judged by their speed, but purely enjoyed the process with themselves showered with color powders.

Cherie Russell came to the event with her husband, son and daughter. It was their first time to a color run.

"I thought it would be a fun thing to do with the family, although it's raining," she said. "It's a good way to get outside, not just run around the field, but in a way to kind of make it fun."

Event organizer Clayton Bielby told Xinhua that the Color Frenzy was started four years ago in Queensland with the purpose of raising money for animal rescues.

The event was introduced to Canberra in 2019 before the COVID-19. Last year the event was postponed due to the pandemic, and this is the second time it was hosted in the capital city.

"We're here with Street Cat Alliance," said Bielby. "They do a lot of re-homing for cats around Canberra and the goal is to 5,000 Australian dollars (about 3,871 U.S. dollars)."

He said the event was also aimed to get people "out and moving." "The best way to do that is to add some colors and bubbles," said Bielby.

Talking about the charm of color run, the organizer said "you don't get messy on purpose very much in life. So people want to come in and just get messy and have some fun."

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year they were only allowed to have 1,200 participants.

In spite of the bad weather, Bielby believed that more than 1,000 still arrived. "They haven't been out for a while," he said. "We've got small groups of people who haven't seen each other for little long."

Those who finished at least 2.5 kilometers were eligible to receive a medal.

Kym Donovan completed her lap very early and was happy to put on the colorful medal she got.

"I have never done it before," she beamed. She was supposed to come with a friend, who failed to show up due to illness.

But Donovan still decided to run alone. "It's only for one day. If you don't come, you miss that," she said.

She liked running in competitions, though, color run was different to her. "There is no other time in my life when I have gone home looking like this," she said. "It's exciting." Enditem
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Sir Ian McKellen yesterday defended his decision to play Hamlet at the age of 81, with co-star Jenny Seagrove set to portray his mother  despite being 18 years his junior.

The veteran actor had raised eyebrows by taking the role of a character meant to be no older than 30, but he dismissed concerns by saying the Shakespearean part had even been played successfully by women in the past.

Ms Seagrove, 63, insisted that she completely forgot that McKellen, who turns 82 in May, was in his 80s when the pair rehearsed their stage roles together last year.

Veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen (pictured) had raised eyebrows by taking the role of a character meant to be no older than 30

The production is due to open at the Theatre Royal Windsor in the summer.

Speaking on BBC radio, Sir Ian said: It is a bit of a gamble but I look back at the last century when Edwin Booth, the great American actor, played him.

It was the last part he played. He was way into his 60s. Women have played Hamlet, very successfully. So it isnt quite as outrageous as it might seem on paper.

McKellen told Radio 4s Today programme that it was easier to play a younger character because he was young once  unlike younger actors trying to play older roles.

When I was a youngster in regional repertory theatre you had a different play every two weeks.

You often had to play the old men, putting on beards and moustaches. Trying to look like Gandalf when youre 22 wasnt very easy because you havent been old.

Ms Seagrove, 63, (pictured) insisted that she completely forgot that McKellen, who turns 82 in May, was in his 80s when the pair rehearsed their stage roles together last year

'Now Im in my 80s, I have been young so I can remember what its like and force myself to feel what it was like.

Ms Seagrove, who will play Gertrude, Hamlets mother, added: Acting is about suspending disbelief and our production isnt just about age blindness but about gender blindness and some colour blindness which is just so exciting.

But the casting decision drew criticism from actress Nicky Clark, who founded the Acting Your Age Campaign.

She posted on Twitter: Theatre, film and TV is ageless for men, for women its an entirely different landscape. On screen and on stage men have a whole life, women have a shelf life.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A coalition of local agencies came together to organize a day of vaccinations for residents at the Seaview C Senior Housing development in the Todt Hill.

On Friday, at least 80 senior citizen residents at the 161-unit housing unit received the Johnson & Johnson, single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, according to a spokesperson for the group.

Seniors living at Seaview C Housing in Todt Hill were vaccinated against COVID-19 with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Were thrilled to be embarking on this initiative alongside our partners to vaccinate more than half our residents at Seaview as New York City continues its efforts to combat the pandemic, said Russell Lang, Senior Vice President at Douglaston Development. Access to public transportation can be limited throughout Staten Island, so it became clear to our team that the best path to help our residents get vaccinated was to bring the vaccine directly to them.

The initiative was led by Douglaston Development, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island.

Seniors living at Seaview C Housing in Todt Hill were vaccinated against COVID-19 with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Registered nurses were on site to monitor all vaccinations being administered and all patients were observed for 15 minutes following their injection as a precaution.

We are so excited to not only be able to vaccinate our senior residents, but our staff as well, said Meredith A. Schuckman, the vice president of affordable operations at Clinton Management, the property management affiliate of Douglaston Development. Our staff is an essential part of maintaining our community here at Seaview.

Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, added: We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Douglaston Development, NYC HPD, NYC EDC, and NYC Health + Hospitals for working with us to make these lifesaving vaccines available to the seniors at Seaview senior housing.

Having the clinic onsite will make it much easier for residents to access this vaccine. We are so proud to be a part of this effort to help vaccinate seniors in our community.

In New York State, you can use the Am I Eligible app or visit the state website to check your eligibility and schedule you vaccination appointment.
A Second Draft of History

Counting the Cost in Human Terms

Classical Insights into Contemporary Times

Our Plague Could Have Been So Much Worse

Swiss Cheese for What Ails You

Nicholas Christakisis an outstanding book. I agree with the eminent historian of ideas Niall Ferguson , who called it magisterial in his review in the Times Literary Supplement. I could not recommend it more highly. Its not only the most readable of the books published on COVID-19 (and other plagues) in the last year, but the most insightful, most thoughtful, most wide-ranging and  if this doesnt sound perverse  most delightful. Christakis is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, with appointments in the departments of sociology, ecology and evolutionary biology, statistics and data science, biomedical engineering, and medicine. In 2009, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. His previous book,, spent time on the New York Times bestseller list. Hes an optimist.Here is what Apollos Arrow offers. A thoughtful and comprehensive analysis of what went wrong with Americas response to the pandemic, but without righteousness or judgment. An excellent explanation of how a virus works, and how this one found its way around the planet. An excellent explanation of the development of coronavirus vaccines. Careful speculation about the site and manner of origin of COVID-19. A thorough but never tedious survey of the history of epidemics. A thoughtful consideration of how some of the basic institutions of American life are likely to change thanks to the pandemic, particularly the digital delivery of medical expertise and the future of higher education. In spite of the gravity of the subject, Apollos Arrow is often whimsical, ranging far beyond the usual confines of a treatise on a major disease.For a book like this, issued by a major publisher, to appear in time to be useful, requires some very fast research and writing, but Apollos Arrow shows no signs of haste either in the structure or the writing. Perhaps the most unsettling paragraph in the book is when, early on, Christakis steps back in horror to assess the damage so far:Lonely deaths. Families unable to say goodbye to loved ones or perform proper funerals and acts of mourning. Destroyed livelihoods and stunted educations. Bread lines. Denial. Fear and sadness and pain. As I write, on August 1, 2020, over 155,000 Americans and over 680,000 people worldwide have died, and many more are still uncounted.That was then. Christakis despondency  at 150,000 dead  seems almost naive in retrospect. As I write this review, on March 13, 2021, 545,544 Americans have died, 30 million have been infected. The number who have died worldwide now approaches three million. By now, just over 100 million doses of the vaccine have been injected into 19 percent of the American people. We are likely to reach herd immunity within the United States sometime late in the summer or early fall.One of Christakis implied conclusions is that this pandemic, no matter how much more we know about epidemiology than our forebears and no matter how much fabulous technology we bring to bear on it, is going to run its course, like all previous pandemics. At some point a couple of years from the onset the two dynamics are going to meet in the middle: vaccines from one direction and inevitable herd immunity from the other.Any survey of the historical literature reveals that virtually all societies respond to epidemics in more or less the same way. At first the government denies that there is a problem. Then it downplays the severity of the crisis and searches for scapegoats to blame. In anything but autocratic systems, the people resist complying with public health protocols until it is nearly too late. Shysters, mountebanks, and charlatans suddenly emerge to exploit public fear. They prey particularly on the poor and the least well-educated members of the community. When the state just begins to get on top of the epidemic, the citizens are so tired of being locked down that they rush prematurely into the public square, bringing on unnecessary additional waves of infection. In the end, most societies fail to learn the lessons of the social crisis they just endured. If you read Camus superb The Plague , written 70 years ago, you see the pattern we have followed in something that approaches a Pavlovian manner.The challenges and responses, both good and bad, are timeless, Christakis writes. Plagues reshape our familiar social order, require us to disperse and live apart, wreck economies, replace trust with fear and suspicion, invite some to blame others for their predicament, embolden liars, and cause grief. But plagues also elicit kindness, cooperation, sacrifice, and ingenuity.The title of Christakis book comes from the opening of Homers epic poem . The Greeks, who are besieging Troy on the coast of Asia Minor, capture the daughter of a local priest. When they refuse to return her for ransom, her father prays to the god Apollo to punish the Greek army for its intransigence. Apollo, who is the god of many things, including plagues, uses his divine bow to shoot a deadly plague into the Greek camp. It starts with dogs and soon moves on to humans.Christakis has a deep grounding in the humanities. He refers to such disparate writers as John of Ephesus, Petrarch, Pope Clement VI, Marcus Aurelius, Procopius, as well as the usual suspects  Camus, Thucydides and Defoe. Apollos Arrow is a literary and historical tour de force.Given his outstanding academic credentials, Dr. Christakis science is predictably lucid and plain-spoken, but in addition to that he has read all of the pandemic literature  from Daniel Defoes(1721) to Camus 1947 novel La Peste ). In fact, at a certain point in the central chapters of Apollos Arrow, I was struck by the nearly exact parallels between Defoes fictional re-creation of the great plague of London in 1665-66 and Christakis nonfiction account of the coronavirus of 2020. In both cases, the rich and the privileged flee the infected cities with their characteristic sense of entitlement, often carrying the epidemic into the countryside.The poor, as always, take the brunt of the crisis, not only because they dont have anywhere to flee or the money to do it, but because they wind up being the frontline workers who attend to the basic needs of the privileged who are largely indifferent to their suffering. There is no working from home for food servers, nurses, graveyard workers or teamsters either in London of the 17th century or New York. Death overwhelms the community. Bodies are stacked like cordwood. People are buried in mass graves. The social order begins to crack.The parallels are exact, chilling and depressing. Have we learned nothing since the Black Plague of 1348 , since the London plague of 1665 , since the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 ? The answer is, of course, yes. But also no. Today we possess epidemiological knowledge and a pharmaceutical mastery that are little short of miraculous. Christakis marvels that the vaccines were developed and tested in well under a year. The victims of the yellow fever epidemic that literally decimated Philadelphia in 1793 had no understanding of bacteria, virus, the agency of the mosquito or the human immune system. As Thomas Jefferson wryly noted, they barely understood the circulation of the blood. The African American community of Philadelphia was pressed into the most basic services because the experts assured them (or at least themselves) that the disease was less contagious in the Black community than among white Americans.Dr. Christakis has a particular distaste for scapegoating. The evidence proves that COVID-19 came to the United States via Europe, not directly from China. It became clear through  genetic analyses that the greatest risk to Americans was from domestic importations from other U.S. states rather than from foreign arrivals. Calling it the  China virus  or suggesting  at the highest levels of government  that the virus was deliberately released by the Chinese to damage or destroy America is not only irresponsible, but it diverts the national attention from focusing on remedies and amelioratives.Before February 2020 almost all of us shared the somewhat glib assumptions of such futurists as Yuval Harari ) and Stephen Pinker ), who have recently argued that plagues are a thing of the past, that modern chemistry and such magnificent entities as our Centers for Disease Control , the World Health Organization Johns Hopkins University , and scores of other public health research and policy institutions are now able to climb on top of emerging viruses within months or even weeks.Whats amazing about the coronavirus pandemic is how flat-footed the world was when the crisis went global in the spring of 2020. The United States made things much worse than they had to be  when our leaders failed to model social distancing and mask protocols; when even the venerable CDC was guilty of mixed messaging; when the U.S. government failed to set up the kind of testing and contact tracing protocols that might have helped to contain the spread of the disease; when President Trump made poor use of his daily briefings.In explaining our weak national response to the pandemic, Christakis employs the Swiss cheese trope, a perfect metaphor he borrows from psychologist James T. Reason . If you have a deadly virus and your only response has some big holes in it like a slice of Swiss cheese, you are not going to protect yourself adequately. The virus will get through. Social distancing helps, but that alone is not enough. If you add masks to social distancing, your hope is that the hole in that layer doesnt line up with the holes in the previous layer. As you add more layers  hand washing, temperature screening, true COVID-19 tests, contact tracing, transparency in public pronouncements, etc.  you make it less and less likely that the virus will get through. With a multilayered policy based on solid science, you can add enough filters to block the virus entirely or nearly so. Christakis believes our national response more closely resembles a slice or two of Swiss slapped haphazardly together rather than the multiple-screen approach that might lead to happy results. Americans had put on blindfolds when they should have put on masks, he writes.It is always much easier to write intelligently long after the fact than in the midst of a national or international crisis. Add to this the unrelated political and constitutional crisis the United States was lurching through in 2020, and the widespread social unrest and national crisis of conscience that followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. It is remarkable that any mindful and alert person can think straight just now. Dr. Christakis has cut through all of this to provide us an important, useful and extremely well-written book. Every American, certainly every policymaker, should read Apollos Arrow.Nicholas A. ChristakisLittle, Brown Spark, 384 pages, Oct. 27, 2020, $21.24
Madrid has seen a surge in tourism after city officials refused to follow government's Covid curfew and let restaurants and bars stay open until 11pm.

The Spanish capital bucked the trend by easing Covid restrictions and its bars and restaurants have been opened since late last year.

The region also decided to push back the curfew adopted by Spain (10pm-6am) to 11pm.

While in other areas of Spain, terraces of bars and restaurants can be up to 100 per cent capacity until 6pm, in Madrid they can stay open until 11pm.

Flight comparison site Kayak has reported a 731 per cent increase in searches on its French site of flights to Madrid from any airport in France between January 15 and February 18 compared to the previous four-week period.

Tourists stand outside a bar as the curfew starts during the Coronavirus pandemic on March 20, 2021 in Madrid

People sit at the terrace of a bar during the Coronavirus pandemic in Madrid

A piece of graffiti on a wall in Madrid reads 'Covid equals fake'

Tourists sing outside a bar as the curfew starts in Madrid last night

Local police issue a fine to a man who wasn't wearing a face mask outside a bar

Madrid's coronavirus rules seem to be the most relaxed across Europe as in other countries such as Germany, France and the UK, bars and restaurants are still completely closed.

Spanish officials also wanted to put in place travel restrictions between regions across the country but Madrid has refused.

From March 26 until April 9 the country's government is set to impose rules banning travelling from region to region.

It will also limit social gatherings to a maximum of four people for indoor spaces and six for outdoor spaces.

Policemen issue a fine to another man who was not wearing a mask outside a bar in Madrid last night

Tourists walk the streets as the curfew starts in Madrid last night

In private homes, gatherings should only be between people who live in the same household.

The health authorities in Madrid, who voted against the new measures, have already said that they will not be respecting the majority of the restrictions but have recently agreed to closing its regional border over Easter.

It is unclear why Madrid is refusing to follow these restrictions but it may be because they believe opening the tourism and hospitality industry, which employs 13 per cent of the country's workforce, would benefit the country.

People sit at the terrace of a bar in Madrid last night

Tourists and locals are seen sitting at a bar last night

A local policeman patrols as people sit at bar terraces last night in Madrid

The country currently has four million unemployed people (8.5 per cent of its population) so the government is trying to strike a balance between public health safety and stimulating the economy.

Madrid's police chief, Jose Luis Morcillo, has said that tourists are coming to the city from across Europe.

The city's GDP grew by 4.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2020 and is leading the national statistics of employees working in the tourism and hospitality sector.
A Cork man caught at a Covid checkpoint transporting 95,000 of cocaine has avoided a jail term after a court heard of his extensive efforts to rehabilitate himself.

Garda Shane Harten told the court Gary Nolan (39) was visibly nervous and sweating when he stopped his van at the Covid checkpoint in Clondalkin last May. He asked Nolan about a package in the passenger footwell of the van and Nolan told him it contained cocaine.

Nolan told gardai he had amassed a drug debt and had been asked to transport the drugs back to Cork to reduce the money owed. He said he had been threatened many times.

The court heard Nolan has since been attending regularly with a counseller and has been giving clean urines. The counseller said she had never had a client as motivated or interested in recovery.

Nolan, with an address at Drishane More, Killeagh, Cork pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the cocaine at Outer Ring Road, Clondalkin on May 18, 2020. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Martin Nolan said the mitigation in the case was obvious and included his early guilty plea, admissions as to his involvement, lack of a previous record and the fact he was unlikely to reoffend.

He noted Nolan was in the throes of a very expensive cocaine addiction at the time and in debt.

He took into account his good work history and support within his family and community.

He said there were grounds to depart from the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment and that he found there to be exceptional factors in this case including the evidence of Nolan's counsellor as to his progress and the testimonials handed into court.

Judge Nolan imposed a five year sentence which he suspended in full.

Garda Shane Harten agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending, that Nolan was in significant distress, shaking and sweating uncontrollably. He said Nolan could not have been more co-operative at the scene. He agreed Nolan told them he had been threatened a number of times and was in fear.

Gda Harten agreed Nolan told them he had sought to get control over his addiction earlier in 2020 but during lockdown, his position deteriorated. He agreed with Mr Bowman that Nolan would have no control over how much money he owed and it could go up and down.

He agreed that Nolan's family had sought help for him and an appointment to see a counsellor had been arranged before his arrest. He has since attended counselling on a regular basis.

Mr Bowman handed in a number of testimonials which he said outlined his client to be a decent man with support within his family and community. He said the letter writers were all aware of the charges but believed it to be out of character for Nolan.

Mr Bowman submitted this was a most unusual case which ticked all the statutory boxes in terms of special and exceptional circumstances.

He said Nolan was a young man who had fallen into debt and offended due to fear of reprisals, but has since acted in a brave and moral way.

Mr Bowman said in this case rehabilitation was not aspirational but has firmly taken hold. He said Nolan was a grown man who made certain choices but has since sought to make recompense with good choices.
Wokeness is an offshoot of Christianity. So historian Tom Holland argues in Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind (2019). If he had followed his argument to its logical conclusion he would have arrived at the same conclusion I did -- that woke progressivism will crash and burn.

This is because the adherents of woke progressivism find it impossible to live up to their utopian expectations. Sooner or later the cognitive dissonance of living in a state of self-contradiction will become translated into a burning desire to punish others for not being perfect also. At that point the reactionary response will ensure their destruction.

Holland offers numerous examples of Christian sects following this pattern. One, the Taborites, were a Christian community who in 1419 established a utopian settlement outside Prague. It was a communistic society: no ranks or authority, everyone was equal, everything was shared, and the primary focus was to pay witness to Christ. Whilst claiming to be peaceful and compassionate and spreading Gods love to all, the Taborites decided that those they identified as the enemies of the Lord should be put to the sword, which they proceeded to do with great enthusiasm. Not surprisingly they provoked fear and hostility and in 1434 were decisively defeated by an army of more moderate Hussites.

But Holland does not apply this lesson from history to the woke progressives of today.

His final chapter -- entitled Woke -- ends lamely, because he doesnt say whether he views wokeness as being good, bad, or merely irrelevant to the challenges we face as a civilization in the 21st century.

Nonetheless Im convinced that Holland is right about the origins of wokeness: it has developed from a secularized version of the Christian values of care and compassion and the righting of injustice and oppression.

But wokeness is not a reflection of Jesus teachings as witnessed in the New Testament. Which is to say, the kind of Christianity which aims to bring out the best in its followers and to foster the best in those who have not yet seen the light, through not only preaching the good news but living their Christian values to the full. This is not what wokeness is about. It is evangelical in outlook, but not in a Christian way, because woke progressives are not spreading the word of Jesus but disseminating an ideology that is essentially secular.

The distinction between the secular (saeculum) and the religious (religio) was a first made by St Augustine, to distinguish Godless times from the age of Christianity. In time this came to mark a distinction between the worldly life of believers and the kind of life lived by the clergy. Moving on through history, the distinction then came to be applied to worldly authority compared to the Word of God.

This final transition is probably marked best by the views on tolerant, pluralist government as set out by William Penn (in his four Frames of Government) with regard to the state named after him, and John Lockes concept of the liberal secular pluralist state in his Two Treatises of Government. Penn believed that a separation of church and state was the best way to ensure religious freedom, but he also believed that the state would need constitutional checks and balances to prevent the development of tyranny. Locke put his trust in the sovereignty of an elected Parliament and the consent of the governed. Both men believed that the primacy of individual conscience would suffice to enable Christian values to suffuse the affairs of state, and that keeping politics out of religion was the best way of ensuring freedom of conscience. But for todays woke progressives the idea of freedom of conscience counts for nothing. All that matters to them is their belief in their own infallibility and their obsession with imposing their will on everyone else. The woke progressives are actually regressive in expecting that everyone dance to their tune.

Tom Holland tells of repeated struggles between those Christian believers who wished to return to something closer to what they viewed as the fundamental teaching of Christ and a church hierarchy which viewed its mission as the imposition of an orthodoxy arrived at by wise men who decided such matters on the delegated authority of God. And through all this those who took upon their selves the Divine Right of ruling over their dominions felt justified in imposing their religious beliefs and practices on their subjects, until the Peace of Westphalia (1645) after the Thirty Years War established the principle of freedom of religion. But the idea was around a lot earlier than that.

The very first reformatio occurred in the 13th century with St Francis of Assisi, whose vows of poverty and chastity were buttressed by one of obedience, which allowed for a solution which pleased everyone: the Pope awarded St Francis a monastic Order of his own and let it be known that this was part of a new orthodoxy. Attempts by subsequent reformers were to have less happy endings. By the time Martin Luther stood trial for heresy in 1521 and was excommunicated by the Roman Church the idea that a believer was answerable to his or her own conscience was attractive to many who no longer believed that the Church authorities were acting with the authority of God. Those who came to be called Protestants were asserting their right to the primacy of individual conscience, but when in 1525 the Peasants Revolt challenged the authority of Luthers powerful protector, Friedrich of Saxony, Luther himself sided with Friedrich in the brutal suppression that followed.

The non-conformist versions of Christianity survived as movements and organizations only because they resisted the temptation to become uncompromising and totalitarian and kept faith with the primacy of the individual believers conscience, and also abstained from challenging worldly authority. Those variants which resorted to the more primitive methods of enforcing conformity either moderated their approach or crashed and burned.

And that is exactly the choice facing woke progressives today. Those who moderate their zeal and who recognize the primacy of personal sovereignty and individual choice may preserve something of their influence and leave their unpromising beginnings behind them. But those woke progressives who remain uncompromising and totalitarian in their demands and practices will eventually crash and burn for the same reasons that the repressive puritanical Christian sects of old crashed and burned: because their hypocrisy and barbarity will arouse so much antipathy and hostility that the great mass of ordinary people will begin to hold them in contempt and take steps to confine them to the pages of history.

The woke progressives now dominate the political, intellectual, social and cultural elites of the West, but what matters is that they can go only so far in their totalitarian tendencies before they cease to be useful to the globalist economic elites who currently exploit them. At that point the antipathy and hostility of the great mass of ordinary people will be harnessed to destroy woke progressivism and it will crash and burn.

Wen Wryte is the pseudonym of a retired teacher of philosophy who now leads a life of quiet contemplation.

Image: Monica Showalter, personal photo
Imperial Valley News Center

Fourth Circuit Upholds Jury Conviction in Foreign-Agent Prosecution

Washington, DC - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Thursday upheld an Eastern District of Virginia jury verdict convicting a man of acting and conspiring to act as an agent of the Turkish government within the United States without disclosing that relationship to the U.S. government. The Fourth Circuit also vacated an order granting a new trial and remanded the case for further proceedings before the district court.

According to court records, Bijan Rafiekian, 69, of San Juan Capistrano, California, along with his alleged co-conspirator, Kamil Ekim Alptekin, 43, of Istanbul, a Turkish national with close ties to the highest levels of the Government of Turkey, were involved in a conspiracy to act covertly within the U.S. on instructions from the Turkish government. The plot included using the services of the Flynn Intel Group (FIG), a company founded by Rafiekian and retired General Michael T. Flynn, to publicly and privately influence U.S. politicians and public opinion against a Turkish national, Fethullah Gulen, who is an imam, writer and political figure living in the U.S. Since 2015, the Government of Turkey has filed multiple extradition requests for Gulen in an effort to convince the U.S. government to extradite Gulen to Turkey.

Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's National Security Division John C. Demers and Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following statement with respect to the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in United States v. Rafiekian:

A federal jury found Rafiekian guilty of acting as an undisclosed agent of Turkey and conspiring to do so. We are pleased the Fourth Circuit concluded that the jurys verdict was amply supported by the evidence. The Courts careful legal analysis confirmed the broad scope and importance of transparency requirements for individuals acting within the United States at the direction of foreign governments. This case is a reminder to those who act covertly within our country on behalf of a foreign power that they face criminal consequences for their conduct. The Department will continue to combat covert foreign influence operations using the Foreign Agents Registration Act and all the tools at its disposal.

According to court documents, the purpose of the conspiracy was to use FIG to delegitimize Gulen in the eyes of the American public and U.S. politicians, with the goal of obtaining his extradition, which was meeting resistance at the U.S. Department of Justice. At the same time, the conspirators sought to conceal that the Government of Turkey was directing the work. However, not only was Rafiekian told by Alptekin that Turkish cabinet-level officials had approved the budget for the project, but Alptekin also told Rafiekian and Flynn during the project that he was providing the Turkish officials updates on the work. Rafiekian understood that Alptekin was relaying the Turkish officials directions on the work to Rafiekian, Flynn, and others at FIG. During a September 2016 meeting in New York City organized by Alptekin, Rafiekian personally met with Turkish officials and heard them express their desire for Gulens extradition, an objective he then pursued using FIGs personnel and connections.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, the scheme included using Alptekins Dutch shell company to act as FIGs client. FIG was paid $600,000 in three installments from an account in Turkey in Alptekins name. After Alptekin made the payments to FIG, FIG kicked back 20% of the payments to Alptekins shell company.

Rafiekian was convicted on charges of acting as an undisclosed foreign agent and of criminal conspiracy to act as an undisclosed foreign agent and to make a materially false Foreign Agents Registration Act filing. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Taft Grano argued the case on appeal. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Gillis and John T. Gibbs of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case at trial.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  A year into lockdown with a higher surge in COVID-19 cases, the government has yet to ramp up its targets in vaccine rollout and standardize its quarantine decisions, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday.

In her radio show Biserbisyong Leni over RMN DZXL, Robredo urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to increase its daily vaccinations to over 256,000 per day to meet its goal of protecting majority of Filipinos from the virus by yearend.

Citing March 17 data from the Health Department, Robredo said at least 269,583 Filipinos  mostly healthcare workers  got their first COVID-19 shot since the vaccination drive was rolled out on March 1. This is only over 24% of the 1.1 million doses that the country already received, she said.

"Hindi nga supply lang yung problema. Malaking problema 'yung rollout, deployment. Parang sirang plaka na tayo dito. Habang wala pang bakuna, paghandaan na natin yung deployment para pagdating niya, mabilis madedeploy," said Robredo.

[Translation: Our supply is not the only problem. There is a big problem with the rollout, deployment. We've been reminding this like a broken record. While the vaccine is not yet here, let us prepare for its faster deployment.]

"Kung meron pa tayong 286 days para ma-achieve 'yung target natin, dapat makapagbakuna tayo ng 256,993 na tao everyday. Hindi natin ma-a-achieve kung hindi natin i-improve kung ano ang meron tayo ngayon," said Robredo, referring to the government's 70 million vaccination target by year-end. "Nag-aaverage lang tayo ng 15,000 doses a day."

[Translation: If we have 286 more days before we can achieve our target, we should be able to vaccinate 256,993 people per day. We won't be able to achieve our targets if we can't even improve what we have today. We only administer an average of 15,000 doses a day.]

RELATED: Govt keeps 70M vaccination target by year-end, eyes 'better Christmas' for Filipinos

"Stringent" requirements must also be eased on members of the private sector who will fund their own immunization program in the country to help fast-track the rollout, she said.

Robredo also called on the IATF to make a standardized set of quarantine declarations based on a specific number of COVID-19 infections and ensure mass testing and contact tracing when lockdowns are imposed.

"Pati yung mga quarantine natin, dapat sana science yung nagdidikta, hindi 'yung kung ano lang 'yung napag-usapan. Dapat kung ganito yung kaso, ganito yung phase."

[Translation: When it comes to our quarantine, science should dictate that, not just what they have agreed upon. If the number of cases are this much, this should be the phase.]

She added: "Tama 'yung lockdown pero magiging tama lang 'yung lockdown kung after ng lockdown, test, isolate, trace tsaka treat. Ang tanong ko lang ginagawa ba natin iyon?"

[Translation: It is a good move to impose a lockdown but it will only be right when you test, isolate, trace and treat residents. I would like to ask, are we really doing that?]

OCTA Research group projected Saturday that intensive care units of hospitals in Metro Manila may reach 100% capacity in the first week of April if the national government and localities do not take drastic action to reduce COVID-19 infections.

RELATED: LIST: 29 Metro Manila hospitals under critical COVID-19 capacity

On Saturday, the Philippines again broke its record for the biggest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases, reporting 7,999 new infections. It was the second consecutive day that the country confirmed more than 7,000 cases, beating the 6,968 infections recorded on August 10, 2020.
Besides this first case, all other prisoners have tested negative.

A prisoner at Schrassig Prison has tested positive for Covid-19 this week, its director Serge Legil told Luxemburger Wort on Saturday evening following another interview on Radio 100,7.

It were the first case since the start of the pandemic. New prisoners arriving at the penitentiary last year were placed in quarantine, and by doing so 15 positive cases could be isolated.

It is unclear how the virus got into the prison. Since the infection occurred in a block where there is little movement of detainees, one has to assue for the time being that the virus was brought in through a member of staff, Legil said.

The prisoner's two roommates have been put into isolation.

Read also: Opening of penitentiary in Sanem to bring about numerous changes in Schrassig
Campaign kicks off

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced nine candidates for the Northeast Man and Woman of the Year Campaign.

The 2021 candidates include: Kristen Schoemig, customer service manager, Price Chopper; Jennifer Narkavitch, owner, My Girl Managed Services; Alec Senofonte, owner, Titan Tree Services; Courtney Novak, Scranton School District teacher; attorney Tony Piazza, Piazza Law Group; Jim Talerico, Talericos Tropical Winery; attorney Mike Parker, Pond Lehocky Scranton; Mike Ruane, vice president, strategic relationship manager, John Hancock; and attorney Frank Ruggiero, Campolieto-Ruggiero Law Offices.

The candidates have set a goal of raising $100,000 during their 10-week campaign and have a goal of not only raising funds for lifesaving blood cancer research, but also raising awareness for LLSs mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families, according to the society.

To provide inspiration and motivation during their campaign, the candidates compete in honor of children who are local blood cancer survivors, also known as the Boy & Girl of the Year. This years fundraising is in honor of two blood cancer patient heroes, the 2021 Boy & Girl of the Year: Luca and Grace.

What happens between these two events is the heart of the race, said Pamela Formica, LLSs campaign development director. Throughout the 10 weeks, each candidate will host events and motivate their networks to raise money for blood cancer research. The man and woman who raise the most money will be named as the local Man and Woman of the Year and go on to compete for national honors.

The campaign kicked off March 16 with a virtual event. It concludes with a grand finale celebration on May 25. For more details, visit www.mwoy.org/mwoy-scranton-0.

Super teachersMoscow Elementary Center speech therapist Tara Carito teamed up with parent Emily Parfitt to keep special education students safe at home, at school and in the community.

Parfitt hoped to develop a means of communication that her daughter, who is in the schools autistic support classroom, and her daughters peers could use to communicate and stay safe. She worked with Tobii Dynavox LLC to grant the North Pocono School District a licensing agreement to create an Emergency Communication Board. The board establishes a familiar communication system for children who are nonverbal or have complex communication needs in the event of an emergency, according to the school.

The Emergency Communication Boards are posted in North Pocono nurses offices and first-aid kits/AEDs throughout the district.

The community EMS has also joined in this effort and communication boards are posted and available in local ambulances.

North Pocono staff and community members that offered assistance in making the project possible include Amanda Pierre, Danielle Alder, Jason Wittel, Carrie Goul, Brenda Antosh and Lynn Heard.
The door to summer is slowly creaking open in Europe, and for those who want to stroll through it to take a vacation amid ongoing Covid restrictions, the key may soon be at hand.

While borders are likely to remain closed in coming weeks, the European Union is proposing to roll out a Digital Green Certificate, or vaccine passport that will allow those with the required armfuls of approved anti-Covid pharmaceuticals or antibodies from having had the virus, to travel freely. Negative tests could also be used to qualify.

It's a measure eagerly anticipated by Europe's prime tourism destinations, among them Portugal, Spain and Greece, where an absence of visitors over the past year has left gaping holes in national bank balances.

But will it be fair?

While the beleaguered tourism industry has delighted at the plan, which the EU is expected to vote on later in March, there are fears that patchy vaccination rollouts and supplies across Europe could mean some countries will enjoy more freedoms than others.

Likewise, with certain demographics targeted for early vaccination over others, some may be forced to remain at home, watching with jealousy as older citizens, many of whom will have received both jabs before the end of spring, jet off for their time in the sun.

And while the EU's executive body, the European Commission, envisages its new Green Certificate simply as a document for allowing its citizens smooth transit across European frontiers, concerns have been raised that they will also become required for entry into restaurants, bars or other venues and events.

While the newly Brexited UK won't be part of the program, the success of its vaccination program could see special travel deals struck with some EU countries that will allow Brits to bypass the need for certification.

Those EU citizens yet to qualify for vaccination -- or unable to qualify -- could be sidelined from the return to the normality most of us are eager to embrace unless they submit to frequent testing regimens.

Generational unfairness

A harbinger of this can already be seen at sea. Some major cruise companies are advertising summer departures that will only be open to passengers able to prove they've had a full complement of vaccines.

Anger, say some commentators, is inevitable.

"Only the over 50s will be vaccinated by this summer, so there may well be protests from younger people," Kaye McIntosh, former editor of consumer magazine Health Which? and WI Life, tells CNN Travel. "It adds to the sense of generational unfairness created by austerity, house prices and student loans. I wouldn't blame Gen Z for being angry."

Norbert Hidi, a 24-year-old student from the Hungarian capital Budapest, is among those who expect to be going nowhere.

"To put it bluntly, it's not fair," Hidi tells CNN Travel. "Most of us won't have been inoculated by the summer so that means we can't travel or possibly go to bars or restaurants. The older generation have had the vaccines first because they are most at risk, but it shouldn't mean they have more rights because of it."

Brian Young, managing director at UK-headquartered G Adventures, a travel company that offers a range of options including tours for 18-to-thirtysomethings, is confident vaccine passports will help revive tourism worldwide, even if some will miss out this year.

"With international travel having been almost completely grounded for a year now, it's essential that governments work together to find a uniformed solution to opening borders and allowing holidaymakers to start flying again," Young tells CNN Travel.

"The announcement of the vaccine has seen a surge in confidence in the over 50s and, while vaccine passport proposals would pose a good solution as proof for those who have received the vaccine, it leaves a large portion of travelers, who have not taken or are yet to receive the vaccine, uncovered."

Third wave

Young says the EU decision to allow unvaccinated individuals to qualify for health passports with a negative test for antigens will help, but could still be a barrier for some to travel.

"The roll out of cheaper testing options is also essential if the cost is to sit with the consumer," he says. "The current cost of PCR tests will deter some travelers, especially if they are required to take multiple tests when traveling."

If approved as planned, the EU's Digital Green Certificate will be valid across all EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It will use a QR code with a digital signature to protect against falsification. It'll be issued by hospitals, test centers or health authorities, but the data should be verifiable across the EU via a digital gateway.

The EU says certificates will be issued for approved vaccines. People inoculated prior to the certificate's availability, or outside the EU, should still qualify. It's hoped the certificates will also be valid in countries outside the EU.

It does seem like a golden ticket, but in reality, many European nations may be some way off issuing them at scale. Covid rates are entering their third wave across the continent, prompting new lockdowns in countries such as France and Italy.

Ongoing disputes over vaccine supplies and suspicions over the safety of the AstraZeneca jab -- which regulators say are unfounded -- have hampered inoculation rates that were already well below those achieved by vanguard vaccinators such as the UK and Israel.

In Hungary, where the vaccination rate is higher than the EU average, officials feel that the Commission's time would be better spent on the procurement of vaccines for the entire bloc.

"We regard the debate related to the certificate as a fake debate because from Brussels no one is expecting certificates; from Brussels we are expecting vaccines," Gergely Gulyas, the minister heading the prime minister of Hungary's office, said on Thursday. "It would be desirable if Brussels shifted the focus of its activity onto this area."

Transparent measures

The certificate plan will need the support of all 27 member states if it is to be passed next week and introduced in June. Amid concerns from countries such as Belgium and Germany that it could result in discrimination, EU leaders have sought to bolster confidence.

"We are proposing a common EU approach that will lead us on the way to our goal of re-opening the EU in a safe, sustainable and predictable way," Stella Kyriakides, commissioner for health and food safety, said this week.

"The situation with the virus in Europe is still very challenging and confidence in decisions taken are crucial. It is only through a joint approach that we can return safely to full free movement in the EU, based on transparent measures and full mutual confidence."

The World Health Organization, which has also expressed grave concerns about the risk of vaccination passports creating a two-tier society, this week proposed its own "smart digital certificate," which it was at pains to insist was not a license to travel.

"This is something different than a passport," WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge said on Thursday. "We do not encourage at this stage that getting a vaccination is the determining whether you can travel internationally or not. It should not be a requirement."

He said there were ethical, practical and scientific reasons for this.

"There is a global shortage of vaccines," he said. "So, this would increase the inequities, and if there's one thing that we learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that the vulnerable people got hit disproportionally."

He said lack of clarity over how long immunity lasts meant that vaccination certification was no guarantee of fitness for travel, likewise uncertainties over whether the inoculated can transmit the virus.

Such concerns haven't stopped some countries from forging ahead with their own certification and passport schemes.

Winners and losers

Israel, which has one of the world's highest vaccination rates, is already using a "green pass" to open up restaurants, bars, venues and events. Denmark has proposed something similar with tourism officials recently saying it's essential to ensure a "summer of joy."

Meanwhile some airlines are adopting certification to ensure passengers are virus-free. Australian carrier Qantas has started trial of the CommonPass system which will be necessary for overseas travel when Australia's border reopens.

Other airlines are signing up to a digital pass created by the International Air Transport Association, IATA, which will allow passengers to upload negative Covid test certification to allow smoother passage through airports.

Amid this confusing maze of digital paperwork, it is possible that the might of the European Union may help impose some uniformity and clarity on how global borders can be opened up in the near future.

But as health expert McIntosh adds, there will likely be winners and losers, and there are no guarantees, especially not in the long run.

"The right not to be exposed to a deadly disease outweighs the rights of the unvaccinated," she says. "Maybe that will change if vaccination eventually means Covid-19 becomes something more ordinary, such as seasonal flu -- although that still kills thousands of people every year.

"But no vaccine is 100% effective, so even people who have had the jab are still at risk."
In-school COVID-19 transmission is rare - even among close school contacts of those who test positive for the virus - when schools heed public health precautions such as mandatory masking, social distancing and frequent hand-washing, according to results of a pilot study in Missouri aimed at identifying ways to keep elementary and secondary schools open and safe during the pandemic. A close contact is anyone who has been within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period with someone infected with COVID-19.

The study is part of a larger, ongoing collaboration involving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Saint Louis University, the Springfield-Greene and St. Louis County health departments, and school districts in the St. Louis and Springfield, Mo., areas.

The findings are published March 19 in the CDC's journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Missouri school findings mirror those of schools in other states, demonstrating that COVID-19 prevention efforts can significantly curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among students, teachers and staff.

This work is imperative because keeping kids in school provides not only educational enrichment but also social, psychological and emotional health benefits, particularly for students who rely on school-based services for nutritional, physical and mental health support." Johanna S. Salzer, DVM, PhD, senior author, veterinary medical officer, CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

The pilot study involved 57 schools in the Pattonville School District in St. Louis County and the Springfield Public School District in Greene County in southwest Missouri, as well as two private schools in St. Louis County. All schools in the pilot study required students, teachers, staff and visitors to wear masks while on campus or buses.

Other safety measures included a focus on hand hygiene, deep cleaning of facilities, physical distancing in classrooms, daily symptom screenings for COVID-19, installing physical barriers between teachers and students, offering virtual learning options, and increasing ventilation.

For two weeks in December, the schools involved in the pilot project notified the research team of students, teachers and staff who were either infected with COVID-19 or quarantined due to being considered a close contact of someone who had tested positive. In St. Louis, close contacts of students or teachers who had tested positive were placed in quarantine, meaning they were not to leave their homes for 14 days from when last exposed to a positive case. In Springfield, however, some of the close contacts of those who had tested positive were placed in modified quarantine - meaning they could stay in school if they and the infected person were wearing masks when in close contact; in this scenario, the infected person still isolated at home.

Participants in the pilot study included 193 persons across 22 of the 57 schools -- 37 who tested positive for COVID-19 and 156 of their close contacts. Among participants who were COVID-19 positive, 24 (65%) were students, and 13 (35%) were teachers or staff members. Of the close contacts, 137 (88%) were students, and 19 (12%) were teachers or staff members.

Among the 102 close contacts who agreed to testing for COVID-19 using saliva tests, only two people received positive test results indicating probable school-based SARS-CoV-2 secondary transmission. Further, no outbreaks were identified in participating schools despite the high rates of community spread in December, even among the Springfield schools that followed modified quarantine protocols allowing some close contacts of positive individuals to remain in school.

"Schools can operate safely during a pandemic when prevention strategies are followed," said one of the study's leading researchers, Jason Newland, MD, a Washington University professor of pediatrics, who treats patients at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Newland led the pilot program with the CDC and has advised multiple school districts in Missouri on plans for reopening schools. "The pilot study demonstrates low transmission in schools and no student-to-teacher transmission -- and this was during the height of the pandemic in December, with high rates of community spread."

Added Randall Williams, MD, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: "Schools with proper prevention strategies remain a safe environment for students and teachers during the pandemic."

Since mid-January, the CDC, Washington University and Saint Louis University researchers, and the St. Louis County and Springfield-Greene County health departments, along with three school districts from St. Louis County, and three school districts in Greene County have been participating in a larger study to further examine the COVID-19 prevention strategies and quarantine policies. The St. Louis County school districts involved are Rockwood, Pattonville and University City; the Greene County school districts involved are Springfield, Republic and Logan-Rogersville.

In addition, the researchers are going into classrooms to measure the distances between desks to evaluate whether the 6-foot social distancing rule can be relaxed in school settings. They're also sending surveys to parents, teachers and staff to assess the stress and mental health challenges surrounding quarantine. In Springfield, the researchers are continuing to study modified quarantine policies.

"We are pleased to continue to work on this joint project with the CDC, Washington University, and the Springfield-Greene County Health Department," said Jean Grabeel, director of health services for Springfield Public Schools. "The initial results helped verify that our mitigation strategies have been successful in the school setting. This continued work will help to further guide the full-time return of students to in-person learning, five days a week, in a safe manner. We deeply appreciate this unique opportunity to collaborate on such a meaningful, impactful project."

Added Mark T. Miles, PhD, superintendent of the Rockwood School District, the largest school system in St. Louis County and one of the largest in the state, with 22,268 students: "I am grateful for Rockwood's opportunity to participate in this collaboration. We all share the same priority: keeping schools safe for students, teachers and staff as well as the community at large."
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas had a simple message for people who are thinking of migrating to the United States through the southern border: Dont do it. The message is quite clear, do not come. The border is closed, the border is secure, Mayorkas said on ABCs This Week. But even as the United States is determined to keep on expelling families and adults who do try to cross into the country, unaccompanied minors are a different story. We will not expel into the Mexican desert, for example, three orphan children, Mayorkas said on NBCs Meet the Press.

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The message has been straightforward and simple, Mayorkas added, noting that the decision to treat unaccompanied minors with a different strategy has to do with values. We are expelling families. We are expelling single adults. And weve made a decision that we will not expel young, vulnerable children, he said. I think we are executing on our plans. And quite frankly, when we are finished doing so, the American public will look back on this and say we secured our border and we upheld our values and our principles as a nation.

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"The message is quite clear: do not come."



As the border sees a surge in migrants seeking asylum, @MarthaRaddatz presses DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas on the administration's messaging on immigration. https://t.co/bDt05PIrO4 pic.twitter.com/frfqm68FLM  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 21, 2021

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The Homeland Security secretary blamed Trumps administration for the situation that the country finds itself in now, saying that it dismantled the orderly, humane and efficient way o handling children who were seeking to migrate to the United States. We are rebuilding those orderly and safe processes as quickly as possible, he said. In the meantime though, children wont be expelled because thats not who we are.

WATCH AGAIN: DHS Sec. Mayorkas tells @chucktodd the "border is closed." #MTP@SecMayorkas: "We are expelling families, we are expelling single adults and we have made a decision that we will not expel young, vulnerable children." pic.twitter.com/D2O9NiY1tQ  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 21, 2021

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Mayorkas appeared in the Sunday talk shows amid news that the government was housing some 15,500 unaccompanied migrant minors, including more than 5,000 who are in Border Patrol facilities. Those stations are no place for a child, Mayorkas said, noting how the administration is working on setting up new facilities to temporarily house unaccompanied minors. Republicans are seizing on the issue and accusing the Biden administration of encouraging migrants to try to cross the border. Sen. Tom Cotton, for example, criticized Mayorkas directly for defending the policy of not expelling minors. Hes basically saying the United States will not secure our border and that is a big welcome sign to migrants from across the world, Cotton said on Fox News Sunday.

The Washington Post takes a look at the current situation at the border, which the administration is refusing to call a crisis, and notes that many had warned there would be a sharp increase of migrants and the White House did not adequately prepare. Now the Biden administration is scrambling to control the biggest surge in 20 years, notes the Post.
Water is a big deal! Like the air we breathe, each one of us relies on water for our well-being, and ultimately for our very survival. I live in the Chicago suburbs with the worlds largest freshwater reservoir just a few miles away. I get my water from Lake Michigan, where it is received into the worlds largest water treatment plant before being piped straight to my house. When I am finished with it, my wastewater is pumped out to the DuPage River (treated first!), where it ultimately flows into the Mississippi River and then the Gulf of Mexico.

So, what does water mean to me, or those of us living in the Chicago suburbs? Beyond turning on our taps or flushing our toilets, many of us rarely think about it except when we need to pay our water and sewer bills. But thats not the same for everyone.

Right out of college, I accepted a teaching position in Lusaka, Zambia. At that time, Zambia was facing a financial crisis, causing a reduction in government services, including water. Water services in the city became less reliable and left the rural sector even further behind. Gone were the days when city dwellers could open a water tap and expect water to flow out from it. I learned that many people, often women and children, had to spend long hours each day walking to and from a water source so that their families could drink, cook and bathe. What does water mean to the people of Zambia?

I later became a water engineer, worked on river and bridge projects in the U.S., then, through Mennonite Central Committee, moved to Eastern Indonesia where I worked through a local university and alongside local churches to help design and install water systems for isolated communities. After completing one project in the village of Jenderau, a local pastor told me, Before building our new water system, the situation was always the worst in the rainy season. It was hard to climb the slippery mountainside to our spring and once there, the water was always red with sediment. Many children would get sick in the rainy season. What does water mean for the people of Jenderau?

The United Nations has designated March 22 as World Water Day.

Years later I worked on a water and sanitation project in the half-island nation of East Timor. There, I partnered with my Timorese counterparts in the government water department to build rural water systems where none existed, strengthened local water departments and created a structure for a resilient rural water sector in East Timor. Together we worked to set priorities, develop a maintenance system and create robust water management policies. All this in a new country where many rural people counted a 3-month long hungry season and rains were often not sufficient for people to grow enough produce to keep them fed throughout the year. What does water mean for the people of East Timor?

Here in the U.S. many communities also struggle with water quality and supply. Examples include Flint Michigan with lead in pipes, Texas cities with contaminated water, or no water, following the February 2021 power outages, and many communities that daily struggle to maintain aging water systems or an ever-lowering groundwater table. What does water mean to these communities?

The United Nations has designated March 22 as World Water Day. A day when people around the world come together and consider both the blessings that Gods water brings to them, our responsibilities when we receive that blessing in great abundance and how we can work together so that all may benefit from the blessing of water that God sends to all of us. This years World Water Day theme is, Valuing Water, and asks, What does water mean to you? As you consider this question for yourself, you may also want to ask:

Where does my water come from?

How do I use water and why is water important to me?

What do others around me do with water (farmers, businesses, families, etc.)?

How can we work together to make Gods gift of water work for everyone?

What can we do to ensure that clean water will be there for our grandchildren and beyond?

What does water mean to others around the world?

As you consider these questions, think of actions that you can take, both locally and globally, that will help all to share in the abundant gift of Gods water.

Jeff Yoder is a civil engineer and has spent many years working on relief and development projects, primarily in Southeast Asia. He now serves as Wheaton Colleges Engineering Program Coordinator where he occasionally teaches courses in disaster risk reduction and management. As time allows, he enjoys conducting international development program reviews.
Protesters take cover during clashes with security forces in Monywa, Burma, on March 21, 2021. (Still image from a video obtained by Reuters)

Burma Protesters Defiant as 2 More Killed, Pressure on Junta Grows

Demonstrators in Burma (also known as Myanmar) maintained their dogged opposition to military rule on Sunday despite a rising death toll, with two more people killed as the junta appeared equally determined to resist growing pressure to compromise.

The country has been in turmoil since the military overthrew an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, bringing an end to 10 years of tentative democratic reform.

One man was shot dead and several were wounded when police opened fire on a group setting up a barricade in the central town of Monywa, a doctor there said as a community group issued a call on Facebook for blood donors.

Later, one person was killed and several were wounded when security forces fired on a crowd in the second city of Mandalay, the Myanmar Now news portal reported.

At least 249 people have now been killed since the coup, according to figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.

Protesters take cover behind barricades during a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay, Burma, on March 21, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

The violence has forced many citizens to think up novel ways to express their rejection of a return to army rule.

Protesters in some 20 places across the country staged candle-lit, nighttime protests over the weekend, from the main city of Yangon to small communities in Kachin State in the north, Hakha town in the west and the southernmost town of Kawthaung, according to a tally of social media posts.

Hundreds of people in the second city of Mandalay, including many medical staff in white coats, marched in a Dawn protest before sunrise on Sunday, video posted by the Mizzima news portal showed.

Failure of the military regime, our cause our cause  federal democracy, our cause our cause, the crowd chanted as the sky was beginning to brighten and birds called from trees lining deserted streets.

Protesters in some places were joined by Buddhist monks holding candles while some people used candles to make the shape of the three-fingered protest salute.

Others came out later on Sunday, including the crowd in Monywa, where police opened fire.

Sniper, sniper, people can be heard shouting in a video clip shortly after the man was shot in the head and more shots rang out.

The spokesman for the junta was not available for comment but has previously said security forces have used force only when necessary.

State media said on Sunday that men on motorbikes attacked a member of the security forces who later died. The military said two policemen were killed in earlier protests.

Foreign Insults

The junta says a Nov. 8 election won by Suu Kyis party was fraudulent, an accusation rejected by the electoral commission. Military leaders have promised a new election but have not set a date.

Western countries have repeatedly condemned the coup and the violence. Asian neighbors, who have for years avoided criticizing each other, have also begun speaking out.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have denounced the use of lethal force and called for the violence to stop. The Philippines has expressed concern.

Indonesia and Malaysia want an urgent meeting of Southeast Asias regional grouping, of which Burma is a member, on the crisis.

But the military, which sees itself as the sole guardian of national unity and ruled for nearly 50 years after a 1962 coup, has shown no sign of even considering back-tracking on its seizure of power.

Coup leader General Min Aung Hlaing visited the Coco islands, one of Burmas most strategically important outposts, 400 km (250 miles) south of Yangon, on Saturday and reminded members of the armed force there that their main duty was to defend the country against external threats.

The state-run Kyemon newspaper prominently featured a quote from independence hero Aung San, Suu Kyis father, who in 1947 said: It is everyones duty to sacrifice their lives and defend and fight back against foreign countries insults.

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.

Australias SBS News reported that two Australian business consultants were detained as they tried to leave Burma, but it was not clear why. The broadcaster quoted an Australian foreign ministry spokeswoman as declining to comment on the two for privacy reasons.
Manchester City and Southampton on Saturday booked their places in this years FA Cup semi-final. The Premier League leaders beat Everton 2-...





Manchester City and Southampton on Saturday booked their places in this years FA Cup semi-final.

The Premier League leaders beat Everton 2-0, thanks to late goals from Ilkay Gundgoan and Kevin De Bruyne.

The victory keeps Citys quadruple hopes alive this season.

Pep Guardiola has now guided the Etihad side to the FA Cup semi-finals for the third season in a row.

In the first match of the day, Southampton thrashed South Coast rivals Bournemouth 3-0.

Nathan Redmond netted twice and Moussa Djenepo also scored to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2017-18.
NEW DELHI: Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday conveyed his thanks to International Federation Of Film Archives (FIAF) for honouring him with the prestigious FIAF Award. He also posted a picture on Instagram from the event.

The veteran actor is the first Indian to get this award that recognises his efforts to preserve film heritage in the country. The award was presented to him virtually by Hollywood filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan on Friday.

"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," he wrote alongside his Instagram image.

With another picture he posted the same day, he wrote: "Preserve Cinema .. preserve film .. preserve our Heritage .. for posterity !!Preserve the greatest INTEGRATOR in the World today .. When we sit inside a darkened hall to see a film we never ask the caste creed colour or religion of the person sitting next to us. yet we watch the same product . we laugh at the same jokes , we cry at the same emotion, we sing the same songs ..In this vast Universe, Cinema integrates ...brings people together. Where in this fast disintegrating world do we find such examples."

FIAF is a global organisation comprising film archives and museums across the world. Bachchan`s name was nominated for the honour by the FIAF affiliate Film Heritage Foundation.
More than 80 suspected stolen dogs have been seized and six people arrested at a Suffolk Travellers' site in connection with a series of pet thefts.

The animals were discovered during a 10 hour search of the site on the outskirts of Ipswich on Saturday afternoon.

Three women, aged 35, 41 and 46, two 34 year old men and a 38 year old man were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal the 83 dogs.

The animals were discovered during a 10 hour search of the site on the outskirts of Ipswich

All six, all from Ipswich, remain in Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Four people were also fined during the search in relation to breaches of coronavirus regulations, while dispersal notices were also given to several others.

Suffolk Constabulary said they are now focusing on reuniting the dogs with their owners, and will be working with other forces in the East Anglia region.

It comes after a pet owner from Carmarthenshire, west Wales, discovered 70 stolen dogs locked in cages after he launched a search for his own missing spaniels.

Tony Cronin discovered the animals, thought to be worth up to 40,000, in cages after receiving a tip off.

Recent figures have shown a spike in dognapping cases amid lockdown.

Three women, aged 35, 41 and 46, two 34 year old men and a 38 year old man were arrested

In 2020, the cost of puppies more than doubled, with volunteer service Dogs Lost reporting a 170 per cent increase in stolen dogs.

The group, which reunites missing dogs and their owners, said more than 320 cases were reported to police between January and August last year.

Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Bridger of Suffolk police said dog theft has become a 'particular problem' across the country since the first UK wide lockdown in March 2020 due to the demand for certain breeds.

Suffolk Constabulary are now working to reunite the dogs with their rightful owners

Four people were also fined during the search for breaches of coronavirus regulations

'We recognise that these crimes have a significant impact on the families affected and we will continue to disrupt criminals wherever we have information that we can act upon,' he said.

'I know many victims of these crimes will be anxious to know whether or not we have recovered their pet.

'I would like to reassure them that we are working as quickly as possible to identify who all the dogs belong to and aim to reunite them with their owners as soon as we can.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Bridger of Suffolk police said dog theft has become a 'particular problem' across the country since the first UK wide lockdown in March last year

The RSPCA has also warned pet owners against fraudsters posing as animal welfare officers.

A spokesman for the charity said: 'We would like to remind and reassure the public that our inspectors and rescue officers all wear branded uniforms and carry identification.

'If one of our officers knocks on your door, please ask to see their ID and check their uniform for branding.

'Our staff wear navy blue uniforms with the RSPCA logo, as well as white shirts with a black or blue tie and black epaulets.'

Anyone with information regarding dog thefts is asked to contact South CID at Landmark House in Ipswich.

Have you lost your dog in the Suffolk area? Let us know and send a picture of your missing pet to tips@dailymail.com
I live in a bad neighborhood. Why, I saw two complete strangers share a taxi. Yeah, one guy took the radio and the other guy took the tires.

 Rodney Dangerfield

I drove a taxicab a long time ago. It wasnt for very long, but it was an interesting job for a summer.

Now, you have to bear with me since it was 48 years ago. My memory is reasonable good yet, although it does fail me when I walk into a room these days and forget why I went in there in the first place. I usually remember why after I go back from where I started.

In this case, I can be forgiven since it was so long ago  1973 to be exact  and since I didnt do it that long, that also factors in my lapse of information.

It was the first summer back from college. I dont remember how actively I was looking for some work. Not even sure how the connection was made since the taxi company was out of Pottsville. Dont ask me what the name was. That information in my head is long gone. Maybe somebody out there may remember what cab companies worked in and out of Pottsville.

The company had a branch operation in Shenandoah. There had been a taxi service in the immediate area called Wallys Taxi Cab Service, located at the top of the hill on Route 924 going north out of Shenandoah on Ringtown Boulevard. It was located just past the former Evening Herald building. Im not sure if it was still in operation in 1973, but possibly not.

I did an internet search on Wallys, although I really wasnt expecting much, but there were some hits for Wallys Taxi Cab Service. The most information  which wasnt very much  came from the Bizapedia website. The information was about the company filing for a fictitious name.

Heres the info at Bizapedia:

Wallys Taxi Cab Service is a Pennsylvania Domestic Fictitious Names filed On March 22, 1946. The companys filing status is listed as Active  The companys principal address is Unknown, Shenandoah PA-0.

The company has one principal on record. The principal is Wally L Wolsky.

That was 75 years ago and it is still on file.

But I digress. I got the job and I was to work the evening shift from about 4 or 5 p.m. and be on to about 10 or 11 p.m. Again, it was a long time ago and times are approximate. The job was six days on, one day off. My day off was Thursday. That day will factor in later in the column.

The shift for me began at a gasoline/service station on South Main Street where the current Friendly Food Mart is located, where Valeros was. The name of the gas station that was there is not remembered. The cab was parked on the side of the lot. Id pull in with my car and get the cab. A pouch to hold the fares was taken from the trunk.

The next stop was downtown Shenandoah at the Ferguson Hotel (or the Hotel Ferguson). The four-story building filled the south side of the entire first block of West Centre Street. The configuration changed over the years, but at that time there was a bank at the southwest corner of Main and Centre streets, then the hotel entrance, and on the Ferguson Street (mostly called Alley) was the ONeils News Agency, which was my hangout in high school. The store had books and comic books, and for a time I worked there. The three stories above the business level were the rooms.

So, the taxi would be parked near the front entrance of the hotel on Centre Street. Heres where it gets a little strange. As expected, all the cabs had radios to communicate with the main office to receive the calls to pick up the fares. Well, due to whatever limitations of the equipment, radio calls couldnt be received north of the mountain on any reliable basis. Mostly, it was never. So, if I needed to call the main office, or they needed to contact me, it was necessary to go inside the hotel and use one of the pay phones in the lobby. I aint kidding here!!! Luckily, Superman didnt need a phone booth at those times. Almost all fares were call-ins. There were only a few times someone would come to the cab to get a ride.

So, you would get your assignment and drive off, pick up the fare, get paid with a tip (hopefully) and drive back to the hotel. They were routine for the most part.

Here was one that was not routine. I got the call to go to a Frackville bar at Frack and Mahanoy streets. The bar was located at the corner of where the Cherry Street Commons is now located. A few years ago when the ground was broken for the commons, I was looking at the now-closed bar and thinking about 1973.

Well, I stopped and picked up my fare  a woman who had thrown back a few beers, at the least. She was able to walk and got in the cab. I asked a couple of times where she wanted to go. She told me and I started driving to the destination. I dont remember where we ended up, but it wasnt her home. She gave me another address, and off we went again. Another wrong address. This went on for more than an hour. After a few more addresses, we finally arrived at the right house. Guess what? I know you probably already have guessed it since my readers are pretty sharp, but she had no money. HA! HA! I guess the joke was on me!!! While trying to figure out what to do next, her adult son came out and paid me and apologized for his mother.

At the end of the shift, I would drive to the gas station and place all money and paperwork into a strongbox bolted to the floor of the trunk. Everything would stay there until the next day when someone would pick up the money and paperwork.

If you remember, I was on six days with Thursday being off. After a couple of weeks, I took my day off, but on Friday morning, I heard that the taxi was robbed. Whoever the driver was was not hurt. Whether Divine Providence or just plain good luck or whatever, being off spared me that experience. If the job was more than a temporary thing, I probably would have kept going with it, but for a temporary job, it wasnt worth it. I called the taxi company that Friday morning and gave my resignation. I wasnt pushing my luck.

It wasnt much in a lifetime, but still its something unique to look back on.

Its an interesting memory and I learned some things, especially getting used to people telling me where to go. At least then I was getting paid for it.

(Staff writer Usalis can

be reached at jusalis@republicanherald.com)








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

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.Published: 3/20/2021
From this summer, staff who provide help to pupils with special needs, including speech and language therapists for deaf children, will be taken out of schools and put into the community instead.

Parents have, understandably, expressed concern at how this will negatively impact children, not least because they'll now have to leave school to attend appointments, rather than getting the help they need in-house, which Labour senator Marie Sherlock has, not unreasonably, said is "shameful".

The politician with responsibility for this legislation since last July is Fine Gael's Josepha Madigan, Junior Minister for special education and inclusion. It is she who will oversee the roll-out of the Progressing Disability Services programme in coming months.

Last week, Madigan was all over the Irish media, from Newstalk's Lunchtime Live to RTE Radio One's Today With Claire Byrne, talking about the need for "gender inclusive" language. She even took time out of her busy day to write a column on this apparently pressing social issue for the Irish Mirror, in which she called on Ireland to follow the example of Berkeley City Council in California in replacing all "gendered" job titles with more inclusive terms.

If she'd stopped there, Josepha Madigan may have had a point. Not an especially urgent one at a time when her Government's slow pace on vaccinations is extending the financial, medical and psychological misery for millions of people in the country; but a point nonetheless. Nothing of value is lost by replacing such terms as "chairman" with "chairperson", or "policemen" with "police officers". Language has power to shape attitudes.

That's why it was so awful a few months ago to see the minister herself use the term "normal children" to describe pupils without special needs. She rightly apologised. We should all use language more sensitively.

Unfortunately, Madigan went further by suggesting that The Kerryman newspaper should change its name to The Kerry Person to be more acceptable to women in the south-west.

The newspaper's general manager, Siobhan Murphy - who, unlike Josepha, actually is a woman from Kerry - was having none of it, telling RTE's Claire Byrne that the name 'Kerryman' had been a proven brand since 1904, and won't be changed.

Most people understand that, and make due allowances for certain anachronisms.

The fact that Madigan had to come up with such a feeble example to make her point only shows how far she had to climb into the barrel to scrape up some controversy. If the use of gender-specific terms for gender-neutral subjects really was as widespread as she claims, she ought to have been able to find countless better examples to back up her argument, especially when she declares confidently of these words that we "accept them as sacrosanct", and that "fireman", "taxman", "weatherman", and other such terms, "still predominate".

Do they really? The assertion is questionable at best. Most people in public life now just use gender-neutral terms as a matter of course when referring to positions which can be held by both men and women.

The change has happened gradually in a largely successful attempt to be more inclusive, and gender-neutral terms such as "firefighter" or "police officer" are now widely used without jarring. When public bodies and institutions do use "fireman" now, it's usually because they're referring to a male firefighter, for whom the term "fireman" is the correct one. Similarly with "chairman" and "chairwoman".

"Chair" or "chairperson" is generally used officially and in the media when referring to the position itself, and the male and female versions for specific chairpersons of either sex. When people do slip up, it's usually just an honest and trivial oversight.

Madigan urged everyone last week to "look forensically" at sexist language, but has she done so herself?

Media style guides are now fairly consistent in advocating the use of gender-neutral terms where appropriate. Following an internet search for the word "firemen", for example, I could only find one recent example which may back up Madigan's argument. That was from a piece in The Jerusalem Post, which referred to "firemen" in southern France who had refused the AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns about its safety.

But without knowing the gender breakdown of firefighters in that region, it's impossible to say if even that was inaccurate. Maybe they were all men.

Madigan seems to be objecting to all uses of gendered language, without appreciating that the reason some gendered language exists is because there is a difference between men and women, and there's nothing wrong with acknowledging it.

We certainly know where denying it leads. It ends in ugly constructions such as "pregnant people" when what is really meant is "pregnant women".

Madigan fell into some of that confusion when asked on RTE whether Woman's Way magazine should also change its name.

"Yeah, I mean if the converse is true, absolutely," she said.

What nonsense is this? Woman's Way is a magazine for women. Men are free to read it, but it's literally aimed at women.

Madigan repeatedly talked last week as if she was bravely standing up to some great orthodoxy. "We shouldn't be afraid," she even said, as if anyone seriously was, or ever had been. On another occasion, she actually said it was her "duty" to raise this issue, and that she was "challenging the status quo".

What was even more absurd than Madigan's claim to be some kind of rebellious outsider was her assurance on radio last week that "it is never up to me, as a government minister, to tell media what to do".

If politicians really believed that, they'd get on with their jobs rather than trying to police people's language.

"I cannot believe," said Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, who was interviewed on the same RTE show, "that we're actually having this conversation at a time when there are so many real problems and issues out there."

I wish I could say I was surprised. Tragically, it could well be that we're having this conversation precisely because it's a time when there are so many real problems and issues out there. The Roman satirist Juvenal had a famous phrase to describe how leaders in the late Roman era placated a restless and discontented populace. They gave them "bread and circuses" to distract them from their woes.

These days, we have pandemic payments and Netflix, but the principle remains the same. Kicking up a fuss about manholes and firemen is just a meaningless distraction from the things that really matter. It's probably not unrelated that the "mob" which the Roman rules feared at that time was largely made up of small shopkeepers and craft workers who had, as one historian writes, entirely "legitimate grievances" with the state of the world. The sneering which the Irish establishment has engaged in over anti-lockdown protesters, trying to tar them all as "far right" rather than listening to them - which Labour TD Aodhan O Riordan warned against eloquently - shows that history always repeats itself eventually.
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.
Patna, March 21 : The Nawada police in Bihar have claimed to have cracked a bank robbery case by arresting eight persons, a police officer said on Sunday.

The accused persons had looted Rs 14 lakh from the Dakshin Bihar Gramin Bank at Basti Bigha near the Nardiganj police station on March 8. As per the robbery plan, six accused carrying firearms entered the bank while two others were present outside the bank.

"After the robbery, the accused persons distributed the money among themselves. One of the accused donated the money to his brother to contest the state panchayat elections. Another accused tried to buy a bike from Gaya while another spent the money for his daughter's marriage," said Nawada SP D.S. Savlaram.

Following the bank robbery, the Nawada police had constituted a special investigating team (SIT) to crack the case.

"During the bank robbery, the accused were wearing face masks to hide their identities. One of the accused later tried to buy a motorbike from Gaya. As his activities were suspicious, the Gaya police arrested him on receiving information from the officials of the motorbike agency. During his interrogation, he revealed the entire bank robbery incident. The other seven accused have also been arrested," the police officer said.
Jen Clark was too worried to sleep on Friday night. Rapidly rising floodwaters had forced her eight-year-old son Kai and 27 of his schoolmates to spend the night in their school library, burrowing under blankets donated by neighbours.

He wasnt used to sleeping without her nearby. He was scared. And as water and wind lashed the town, she didnt know how long he would be stranded. You feel so helpless, even though theyre very reassuring at the school, she said.

The teachers could not have been more supportive, and there was plenty of love. They stayed up all night with the kids and made them feel safe. It doesnt stop your maternal urge to want to have your son with you.

Jordan Marden stranded at her school due to floodwaters on her 7th birthday.

Students at Kendall Public School, near Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast, had barely begun their lessons on Friday when the principal sent word to parents that a nearby river was rising rapidly and the crossing would soon be cut off.

Lackawanna County municipalities should receive more than $83 million from the American Rescue Plan, money needed to replace lost revenue and fund vital infrastructure improvements.

Passed by congressional Democrats absent any Republican support and signed into law earlier this month by President Joe Biden, the mammoth $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package allocates $350 billion in funding to states and local governments. That total includes $13.7 billion for Pennsylvania and its local governments, with every municipality receiving a share.

At $69.9 million, financially distressed Scrantons allocation far exceeds those of other county municipalities, and eclipses the countys own allocation by more than $29 million. Other Lackawanna County municipal allocations  totaling about $13.15 million  ranged from a high of $1.28 million to Dunmore to a low of $24,223 to West Abington Twp.

Municipal officials celebrated the coming aid but largely said theyre still exploring permitted and potential uses for the relief funding. Without committing to specific projects, many expect to replace revenue lost as a result of COVID-19 and vowed to work with their councils and boards of supervisors to maximize the moneys impact. Bidens legislation puts fewer restrictions on the funds than did past relief packages, giving local officials more latitude in how they deploy the resources.

Broadly speaking, local governments may use the funding for revenue-loss replacement and to mitigate the pandemics economic impact. That includes assistance to households, small businesses, nonprofits and hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, hospitality and others. They may also use the money to invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure and provide hazard pay to eligible essential workers. The money cant be used to shore up pensions or offset revenue from a tax cut enacted since March 3, according to the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.

In Dunmore, which passed an unbalanced 2021 budget, Councilwoman Janet Brier said the borough hopes to use some of its $1.28 million allocation to make up the roughly $374,083 difference between budgeted revenues and expenditures without tapping proceeds from the 2016 sale of the Scranton Sewer Authority system. Officials would rather not use sewer sale proceeds as one-time revenue to plug a deficit.

Wed rather not use it for operations at all, Brier, councils finance chairwoman, said of the proceeds. Wed rather use it for projects, large fixed-asset purchases (and) those types of things.

Among other losses, host fee revenue Dunmore receives from the Keystone Sanitary Landfill dropped significantly last year, by almost $335,000 compared to 2019.

Dunmore was approved for a roughly $48,000 state strategic planning grant to engage a municipal management consultant that will help craft a strategic financial plan for the borough. That consultant will assist council and other officials in determining how to best use the American Rescue Plan relief funding, Brier said. Recipients have through 2024 to use the federal aid.

Dickson City, home to numerous pandemic-impacted industries, should receive about $569,578 in relief funding. Thats welcome news for the borough that saw 2020 revenues fall about $400,000 short of budget due largely to lower-than-anticipated earned income, local service and other tax revenues, borough Manager Cesare Forconi said.

The borough offset last years revenue loss by curtailing spending, Forconi added, noting the boroughs federal relief allocation is almost 20% of its roughly $3 million annual budget.

If we can use it toward infrastructure improvements or for improvements of our facility or some of our revenue shortfall that weve incurred because of the pandemic, thats all good things, he said. It all helps us move forward and it could certainly be very beneficial to the residents here.

Carbondale City Clerk Michele Bannon expressed a similar sentiment. The Pioneer City is slated to receive about $828,810 in federal aid, which Bannon said should alleviate pressure the pandemic put on Carbondales finances.

The citys earned income tax revenue was down 4% to 6% last year as a result of residents out of work, she said. Like most municipalities, Carbondale grappled with unforeseen staffing expenses and other costs the public health crisis induced.

Officials have yet to determine specific uses for the federal funding, but Bannon said city council and Mayor Justin Taylor will work together to make those decisions with Carbondales long-term future in mind.

They want to spend the money wisely, Bannon said. They want to get as much bang for their buck as they can.

Those discussions will take place in municipal buildings throughout the county in the weeks and months ahead, including in South Abington Twp., which is slated to receive about $878,739 from Bidens relief package.

Noting the funding can be used for certain infrastructure improvements, including sewer line repair and replacement, township Manager David ONeill said officials will explore whether paving projects constitute a permitted use. The township maintains about 37 miles of road and saw its liquid fuels allocation  money meant to help communities maintain roads and bridges and cover other street-related expenses  drop between about $22,000 and $23,000 as a result of the pandemic.

The state Department of Transportations Municipal Liquid Fuels Program is funded by gas-tax revenue, which took a hit as the pandemic kept people at home and off the roads. Lackawanna County municipalities will receive just over $6.9 million in liquid fuels funds this year, down about 7% from 2020.

Jermyn Borough Manager Dan Markey said he imagines infrastructure projects would be a top priority for the borough, which should receive about $202,976 in relief funding.

We know that we still own some sewer systems in town that have started to fail, Markey said.

Officials will also explore whether some of the federal funding can be used to cover certain costs associated with Jermyns long-delayed Rushbrook Creek flood-protection project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a construction permit in February for the project, which was first authorized in 1996 and must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.

The project, which the state Department of Environmental Protection will put out to bid, will be primarily funded by the federal government, though Jermyn is responsible for easement acquisition and utility relocation. A $385,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant will defray those costs, but the borough will need to keep $15,000 in an escrow account for maintenance.

If provisions of the federal relief package permit, which is currently unclear, Markey said the boroughs allocation could potentially fund the escrow account and other of the boroughs project-related expenses not covered by grants.

Select other American Rescue Plan allocations include: Jessup, $435,019; Moosic, $576,598; Old Forge, $780,464; Taylor, $584,606; and Waverly Twp., $166,395.

To view allocations for each Lackawanna County municipality, visit thetimes-tribune.com.
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New South Wales has been pummelled by a once-in-a-century storm that ripped roofs from homes, caused a luxury house to teeter on the edge of a cliff and left locals swimming laps in Sydney's most iconic park.

Startling pictures taken across the state illustrate just how much damage has been done in the last three days, and meteorologists are warning the deluge has set in for at least the next five days.

A luxury home in Newcastle, north of Sydney, is teetering on the edge of a cliff after a landslide caused the ground beneath it to collapse.

A landslip took out some of the house's foundations, forcing the road to be closed on Shortland esplanade in Newcastle on Sunday.

The lower level deck looks in a precarious position as it juts out above ground level with rubble, mud and dirt piled beneath it.

Meanwhile south of Sydney in the Sutherland Shire, an excavator on a washed out job site was submerged in floodwaters on Sunday morning

A luxury home in Newcastle, north of Sydney, is teetering on the edge of a cliff after a landslide caused the ground beneath it to collapse

Sydneysiders captured footage of themselves swimming in Centennial Park after three days of torrential rain turned the greenspace into a lake

Meanwhile south of Sydney in the Sutherland Shire, an excavator on a washed out job site was submerged in floodwaters on Sunday morning.

The machinery fell into the pool of water after the muddy ground gave way and caused it to keel over.

Sydneysiders captured footage of themselves swimming in Centennial Park after three days of torrential rain turned the greenspace into a lake.

A woman was seen doing breaststroke through the waist-high water, before diving under and continuing to frolic.

The Sydney CBD was drenched by 110mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, while 120mm hit Hornsby and 168mm reached Katoomba.

Further north in Port Macquarie, a cow was photographed struggling to keep its head above water.

A local woman used a kayak to row over to the cow that had become trapped as floodwaters continued to rise in the region.

She captured a video of herself lifting the cow's head above water so it could breathe as it wailed in distress.

Elsewhere in Port Macquarie, a lone man could be seen wading through water as he made his way down Short Street on Saturday afternoon.

The water reached the local's waist as flash flooding destroyed shops and homes in the region.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday labelled a 'one-in-100-year event' on the mid-north coast.

Patrons at a pub in Telegraph Point, in northern NSW, were seen enjoying a beer while standing in thigh-high water on Saturday night.

The locals appeared unfazed as furniture around them began to float and move around in scenes reminiscent of the movie Titanic. The owner's dog sat perched on a table above the water.

In Penrith in Sydney's west, locals hilariously struggled to ride their bicycles through a flooded park on the banks of Nepean river on Sunday.

In Penrith in Sydney's west, locals hilariously struggled to ride their bicycles through a flooded park on the banks of Nepean river on Sunday

Patrons at a pub in Telegraph Point, in northern NSW, appeared unfazed while enjoying a beer while standing in thigh-high water on Saturday night

The woman in a kayak captured a video of herself lifting the cow's head so it could breathe as floodwaters continued to rise in Port Macquarie

The Bureau of Meteorology's Agata Imielska said the severity of rain hitting Greater Sydney would ease from Sunday night, but the mid north coast would continue to be drenched and inland NSW would be deluged from Monday.

Ms Imielska said the NSW northwest slopes and plains would receive four times more rain in two days than the entire March monthly average.

The NSW south coast would also experience heavy rain from Tuesday, with little respite for any region across the state until Wednesday.

The heavy rain kept falling overnight and into Sunday morning as rivers across NSW and near Sydney overflowed or threatened to flood.

Residents in Pitt Town Bottoms, Pitt Town North, Cornwallis, North Richmond, Grono's Point, Freemans Reach and Agnes Banks west of Sydney were told to evacuate in the early hours as the Hawkesbury River flooded.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Justin Robinson said forecasters believed the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley would experience its worst flooding since 1961, with the spilling of a full Warragamba Dam prompting major concern.

Warragamba was hit by more than 150mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, and more than 250mm over the past four days.

People in low-lying areas in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley have been told to protect homes by sandbagging doorways and clearing drains.

The Nepean River at Penrith could rise as high as 10 metres by 9pm, while the river at Richmond and Windsor would not peak until Monday.

Elsewhere in Port Macquarie, a lone man could be seen wading through water as he made his way down Short Street on Saturday afternoon

Warragamba Dam in Sydney's west - the city's main water supply - has spilled over for the first time in fourteen years

A car is left stuck in raging floodwater at the Audley Weir in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

This entire street near the Paterson river in Hinton, in the NSW Hunter region, is underwater

SES Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin told the ABC the service was dealing with downed trees, power outages, clearing of debris and damage to houses.

The SES has responded to almost 7000 calls for help since Thursday.

'We're planning well beyond Easter for our own operations,' Mr Austin said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday said that the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley flood could prompt an additional 4000 evacuations by the day's end.
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Britain has smashed its vaccine record yet again with 874,000 jabs given in just one day - as the UK's daily death toll fall by 36.5 per cent week-on-week.

The first and second dose figure recorded yesterday - which is equivalent to around 27 jabs a second - marks the second day in a row of record-beating figures, with 711,156 vaccines given on Friday.

And Britain's great vaccine push appears to be working to drive down the country's death toll - as the 33 fatalities recorded today marks a drop of more than a third on the 52 recorded last Sunday.

However, the number of people who tested positive for Covid-19 has gone up compared to this day last week. The 5,312 cases recorded today is 15 per cent higher than the 4,618 cases seen one week ago.

More than half of all adults have now had at least one vaccine dose, with the number equivalent to the entire adult populations of Liverpool, Southampton and Oxford combined.

But as the UK's hugely-successful vaccination drive continues to soar ahead, there are fears the rollout could be slowed in the coming months.

Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), warned that supply delays mean it will take until late July to vaccinate all adults in the UK.

The government initially set the end of July as their end target but the early success led ministers to believe the country would be inoculated by the end of June.

Meanwhile the EU today doubled down on its threat to block jab exports to the UK as the European Commissioner for financial services Mairead McGuinness said 'everything is on the table' and the bloc's focus is on 'protecting our citizens'.

She also said there is a need for both sides to 'calm down' amid the escalating war of words over vaccine supply - as the British Government warned Brussels that 'the world is watching'.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Brussels that going ahead with an export ban would 'damage the EU's reputation globally'.

He said the EU is 'under tremendous political pressure' because of its botched vaccine rollout and insisted 'the rest of the world is looking at the Commission about how it conducts itself'.

In other developments:

Policing minister Kit Malthouse has been accused of breaching Covid-19 protocol at the Home Office after he tested positive at his place of work;

EU doubled down on its threat to block jab exports to the UK - as the British Government warned Brussels that 'the world is watching';

Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman defended Nicola Sturgeon, claiming the First Minister has 'led by example' while accusing her critics of playing 'partisan politics' amid growing calls for her resignation;

P lans for 'Alfresco April' gathered pace with Marston's brewery saying 700 of its pubs would open on April 12 ;

Experts predicted a 11.5 billion wedding bonanza once restrictions eased, while some hairdressers reporting full appointment books until early summer;

Japan announced that in a 'great sacrifice', international fans would be barred from attending the Tokyo Olympics later this year.

Of the 874,000 vaccines recorded in Britain yesterday, 756,873 were in England alone - and 686,424 of England's jabs were first doses.

The UK's triumphant vaccine figures come at the end of a week which saw the highest number of doses delivered since the vaccination programme began, NHS England said.

Chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: 'The speed and precision of the NHS vaccination campaign has been on full display this weekend and yesterday NHS staff across England administered a remarkable 27 jabs a second.

'In just one day we vaccinated the equivalent of the entire adult populations of Liverpool, Southampton and Oxford combined.

'When my turn came earlier this week I was delighted to get my first dose and we have a strong supply of vaccine for the coming week too, so if you are aged 50 plus, don't delay!

'Now is a great time to book your NHS Covid jab - it's quick and efficient, safe and effective, and painless.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned Brussels that going ahead with an export ban would 'damage the EU's reputation globally'

European Commissioner for financial services Mairead McGuinness said 'everything is on the table' and the EU's focus is on 'protecting our citizens'

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

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

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

Meanwhile, tensions with the EU continued to increase. In a dramatic move, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, 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 EU continues to face criticism over the glacial speed of its vaccination programme and many of its members have been plunged into fresh lockdowns as Covid-19 cases soared.

Meanwhile, the UK delivered 711,156 jabs in 24 hours on Friday, with Boris Johnson hailing the success by tweeting: 'Many thanks to everyone involved in this fantastic achievement. Let's keep going!'

Professor Brown warned that supply delays means government insiders are less optimistic about vaccinating all adults ahead of schedule.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky news: 'I suspect our vaccine programme will be delayed slightly compared to where we hoped it might have been a few weeks ago but then, at that point, we were actually ahead of schedule so we are probably going to fall back to the original schedule and end up with them being offered the vaccine by towards the middle or the end of the summer, I suspect.

'I think July/August, those are the ballpark areas where we hope every adult has been offered their first dose of the vaccine.'

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.'

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.

Ms McGuinness told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that EU leaders will 'make an assessment of the current situation' when they discuss the matter.

I think what is terribly important this week, as you say, there is an increase in infections across Europe, alarming for everybody,' she said.

But the leaders will meet this week and they will make an assessment of the current situation about the roll out of vaccines and perhaps make decisions.

But as the President of the Commission said herself, everything is on the table but there is no decision.

Seeking to cool tensions, she added: Frankly none of us have had a great Covid. I think all of us should put our hands up and say we were not prepared for this global pandemic, we did not do our best at the beginning but we are doing our best now to protect our citizens.

I think that is exactly what Europe is focused on is on protecting our citizens and once everyone is protected we are safe.

I think that we all need to, if you like, calm down, look very carefully, if you like, dispassionately at the situation around the raw materials for vaccines, around where they are produced and how we might ramp up that production.'

Government ministers have been scathing in their reaction to the export ban threat and Mr Wallace today added his voice to the chorus of senior figures criticising the EU's approach.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: I will take the President of the European Commissions words that she gave to the Prime Minister a few months ago that Europe and the European Commission and Europe were not going to engage in breaking contracts.

All of us recognise the importance of international law and upholding contract law around the world.

The European Union will know that the rest of the world is looking at the Commission about how it conducts itself.

If contracts get broken and undertakings, that is a very damaging thing to happen for a trading bloc that prides itself on the rule of law, prides itself on following contracts and being an open trading bloc.

The Commission knows deep down the world is watching what happens and also it would be counterproductive because the one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacturing is it is collaborative.

Mr Wallace said the European Commission is 'under tremendous political pressure' and warned its reputation is at stake.

He said: 'I think it is really a matter for them of how they deal with it. But the values that they espouse of the European Union of upholding the rule of law, being a trading bloc, all of that means that you follow those contracts, you honour them that you agreed, and I think it would damage the EUs reputation globally should they renege on those things.

A senior British Government official last night warned any move to ban jab exports 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.

As summer holidays hang in the balance, Professor Brown today said social distancing rules will need to be kept in place in the UK until 'everybody' has been vaccinated.

Prof Brown said 'some degree of social distancing or protection is going to be required' until the whole nation has had the jab.

He said the rules will need to be retained because people who have not had the jab could still be at 'high risk of disease'.

The Government has not committed to a date for lifting all social distancing rules.

But under Boris Johnson's roadmap ministers have committed to updating advice on social distancing between friends and family no later than step three in the strategy, set for May 17.

Prof Brown was asked during an interview on Sky News what the purpose of a coronavirus vaccine programme is if people are still required to follow mask and social distancing rules.

People walk along a sea promenade in Barcelona, Spain today. Madrid has seen a surge in tourism after city officials refused to follow the government's Covid curfew and let restaurants and bars stay open until 11pm

Professor Jeremy Brown told Sky News 'some degree of social distancing or protection is going to be required' until the whole nation has had the jab

He replied: 'Essentially, until we can suppress infection going around the country, which means vaccinating everybody, then some degree of social distancing or protection is going to be required, just because even if a small proportion of people have not been vaccinated or where the vaccine has not worked very well, we have a high risk of disease if we have no control of infection and the control of infection comes in once a very high proportion of the country have been vaccinated.

'We now know that the vaccine does prevent transmission to a degree but that only works on a population level once you have vaccinated a high proportion of the population, so that's phase two of the vaccine programme.'

Prof Brown said a 'very large number' of at-risk people could develop a 'serious' Covid-19 infection if restrictions are lifted too quickly.

Meanwhile, policing minister Kit Malthouse has been accused of breaching Covid-19 protocol at the Home Office after he tested positive at his place of work.

The Government has not committed to a date for lifting all social distancing rules but under Boris Johnson's roadmap ministers have committed to updating advice on social distancing between friends and family no later than step three in the strategy, set for May 17

Mr Malthouse took a lateral flow test on his way into work last Monday - but the minister reportedly went into the Home Office without waiting for the results.

According to the Sunday Times, Mr Malthouse was asymptomatic and was alerted to his positive test result 30 minutes after taking the test.

The 54-year-old immediately asked those working in his department to wear masks and drove himself home to self-isolate after receiving the diagnosis.

In January, Mr Malthouse told LBC that it is 'preposterous' to think anyone would be 'ignorant' of the rules during the third national lockdown.

He said: 'It seems preposterous that after 10 months anyone could be ignorant to the rules.

'Also, it is frankly ignorant to the perilous state that we find ourselves in with the NHS rammed to capacity, with numbers of infections rising on a daily basic and sadly deaths following them.'

Government guidance states that workers must remain socially distanced at work until they receive their negative test result.
Courtesy of GHBA

Progress continues on a HomeAid Houston construction project for Family Promise of Lake Houston (FPLH) in Humble. HomeAid has partnered with First America Homes, the home building division of Signorelli Company, on a 5,800-square-foot Life Skills Center that will provide a caring and positive environment for children and their families who have experienced a variety of crisis situations. These can include fire, flood, the death of a spouse, loss of a job, an eviction, or a foreclosure of a home.

The Center, named The Promise House will offer individual counseling, higher education and training classes, mentoring and admin offices. Families will have access to bath facilities, a family room, a teaching kitchen, childrens playroom and a dining room. The Promise House will also provide a safe haven for the four-legged family members as well thanks to the PetsSmart Foundation that is building a Pet Condo on the property. This will be the first homeless shelter that also provides accommodations for the entire family unit, including the furry ones.
Brian T. Kelly, CPA and Associates LLC

Kate Walker Rogan, CPA, of Dunmore, has joined the public accounting firm with offices located in Carbondale, Honesdale and Old Forge. Rogan has more than six years of public accounting experience with auditing, bookkeeping, corporate and individual taxes. She will be working out of the firms Carbondale office.

Dime Bank

Brian C. Urbas has been hired as a new vice president, commercial lending officer.

Urbas has 20 years of progressive banking and lending experience working at Northeast Pennsylvania financial institutions serving Wayne, Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties. Urbas enthusiastic and driven leadership skills coupled with his extensive experience yielded long-lasting customer relationships and strong business partnerships.

Urbas responsibilities will be garnering new commercial customer relationships in the area as well as maintaining existing commercial relationships.

He resides in the Forest City area.

Everhart Museum

The Board of Trustees has announced Kathy Johnson Bowles has been selected as the new executive director. Johnson Bowles brings with her 32 years of experience in museum management and higher education, specializing in fundraising, strategic planning, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability.

She has worked extensively with educational and not-for-profit institutions creating philanthropic and revenue-generating solutions as the CEO of Gordian Knot Consulting, as a senior executive in higher education, and as a museum director.

Johnson Bowles has provided service to national, state and regional boards.

Riggs Asset Management

Robert Bobby Graham, marketing coordinator and advisor with the Wilkes-Barre firm, broke down how a personal savings plan could generate $1 million or more over time, during his presentation to the Young Professionals Conference earlier this month.

Graham, a third-generation wealth advisor and millennial himself, discussed the basics of compounding interest, and why relatively small, consistent contributions to investment accounts offer the greatest chances for success.

The Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Wyoming Valley hosted the virtual conference for young professionals on March 3.

Scranton Counseling Center

For more than two decades as president and CEO, Edward F. Heffron, Ed.D. has overseen the operations of the center, the largest, fully integrated, comprehensive behavioral healthcare center in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Heffron has announced his retirement effective March 31.

In addition to managing the center since 1999, Heffron has managed a specialized 54-bed personal care home and a large, freestanding outpatient psychiatric private practice, both under the umbrella of the Counseling Center. Those responsibilities encompass a workforce of more than 250 employees and generate almost $18 million in annual revenue.

Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center

The center hired two new instructors for its Health Care Technology program for the 2020/2021 school year. Both instructors were actively practicing in the medical field before starting in the classroom. They have utilized their many and varied experiences in the workforce to enhance the Health Care program.

Ashlynn Bush graduated from Mansfield University with a Bachelor in Nursing Science and is a registered nurse in both New York and Pennsylvania. She has experience as a classroom and clinical instructor for both practical nursing and certified nurse aide programs. Bush also has clinical experience in hospital settings as a perioperative and obstetric nurse as well as serving as a school nurse.

Jane Osborn graduated from Penn State with both her associates and bachelors in nursing science. Osborn then attended Mansfield University to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing. She also has experience as an emergency room technician and nurse, public health nurse and early in her career she was an EMT and a hospital admissions clerk.

Wayne Bank

Kristen E. Lancia has been promoted to assistant vice president.

Lancia began her career with the bank in 2012 and currently serves as the banks marketing officer. She earned a BS in design and merchandising with a writing concentration from Drexel University and is currently working toward her certified financial marketing professional designation.

She resides in Scranton.

Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers

Board-certified family medicine physician, Traceyan Mendez, M.D., has joined the Highland Physicians Family Health Center located at 1839 Fair Ave., Honesdale. Mendez treats patients age one through adult for the management of acute and chronic conditions.

Throughout her 15 years as a family physician, Mendez served in roles from staff physician to practice lead physician to chief medical director.

She was most recently employed at Lehigh Valley Physician Group headquartered in East Stroudsburg.

Mendez earned her medical degree from the New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's father and Sisir Adhikari and his brother Dibyendu Adhikari who are Trinamool Congress MPs will remain present at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's election rally in Egra on Sunday.

Earlier, Sisir Adhikari said that he is ready to join the BJP if his son, asks him to.

Suvendu Adhikari, former TMC Minister is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, the seat going to voting on April 1.

Elections to the 294-member 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.)
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Motorola earlier this month launched G10 Power and G30 smartphones. The company is now looking to expand the G-series with multiple new phones. Already, we have come across details about the upcoming Moto G100 , G20, and G50. Now, a new leak has revealed the company is also working on a Moto G60 handset.

Moto G60, also codenamed Hanoip, will launch with Android 11 out-of-the-box in Latin America and Europe, reports XDA Developers. The phone will be available in multiple variants with model numbers -- XT2135-1, XT2135-2, and XT2147-1. A recent BIS listing also suggests the phone is also headed to India. The global and Indian versions may come with slightly different specifications, according to a Gizmcohina report.

That said, Moto G60 will have a large 6.78-inch display with Full HD+ resolution. The screen will support up to 120Hz refresh rate and have a punch-hole cutout to house a 32-megapixel selfie camera. There is no clarity on whether the display will be an LCD panel or an AMOLED. On the back, the phone will house a 108-megapixel primary sensor (Samsung ISOCELL HM2), a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel sensor.

ALSO READ: Moto G 5G review: The budget 5G phone

For performance, Motorolas upcoming Moto G60 will have a large 6,000mAh battery. It is likely to run on Qualcomms Snapdragon 732G processor. The handset is said to be available in multiple RAM and storage combinations  4+64GB and 6+128GB.

As of now, there is no word on the price of the handset. Considering the leaked specifications, the handset will target the budget segment. We are likely to find out more about this G-series phone in the coming days. Until then, stay tuned.
Brian van der Brug-Pool/Getty Health-care worker receives COVID-19 vaccine

A new survey has found that almost half of health-care workers haven't received a dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Conducted by The Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation, the poll was taken from Feb. 11 to March 7 by 1,327 people who work on the front lines within the heath-care industry, 597 of whom have not gotten at least one dose of the shot.

Of those 597  who represent 45% of the total number surveyed  232 have either scheduled a time to get the vaccine (50) or are planning to do so (182), while 137 are undecided and 228 don't plan to get the vaccine at all.

"As many as 1 in 6 health workers said that if employers required them to get vaccinated, they would leave their job," The Washington Post reports.

Speaking with the outlet, president of global immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Bruce Gellin, noted that "Health-care workers are everybody"  meaning anyone from infectious-disease physicians to home health aides.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Joe Raedle/Getty Health-care worker receives COVID-19 vaccine

RELATED: More Than One-Quarter of Americans Are "Vaccine Hesitant" About COVID-19 Shot, Survey Finds

Broken down by demographics, 58% of male health-care workers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 50% of females.

The percentage is highest among the "other" race category, while among white, Hispanic and Black poll participants, 57%, 44% and 39% have received at least one dose, respectively.

Furthermore, hospital workers were the most likely to have gotten at least one vaccine dose (66%), followed closely by those working at outpatient clinics (64%).

Fifty-two percent of doctors' office employees have received the vaccine, while 50% of those working in nursing homes/assisted-care facilities and 26% of survey-takers working within patients' homes have done so.

Story continues

APU GOMES/AFP via Getty COVID-19 vaccine

RELATED VIDEO: Women Changing the World: Meet These 3 Doctors Who Are Key Developers of the COVID-19 Vaccine

As of Friday afternoon, 118,313,818 doses have been administered in the U.S. since the first vaccine, from Pfizer, was approved for emergency use in December, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About one in four Americans  77,230,061  have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than one in 10 (41,879,357) are now fully vaccinated.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would announce a new goal for vaccinations next week, after hitting his goal of 100 million doses during his first 100 days in office by just his 58th day, and urged anyone who is still hesitant to get their shot.

Biden, 78, emphasized that vaccines will help end the pandemic, noting that some states are seeing a rise in cases as newer variants spread through the country. "Getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to fight back against these variants," he said.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.
FOX News-- Indiana police are searching for brazen thieves who stole four motorcycles by riding them right out the dealerships front door.

The Kokomo Police Department posted surveillance footage from a local Harley-Davidson dealership, showing the late Wednesday break-in.

The thieves entered the dealership at around 3:22 a.m., wearing "concealable clothing and motorcycle helmets." They then selected motorcycles worth a total of about $95,000: a 2020 Street Glide Special and three 2021 Street Glide Specials, according to police.

As of Saturday, no arrests had been made and further details were not available, a police spokesperson told Fox News.

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Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, today (March 21) celebrated the 28th anniversary of its first ever flight, which took place between Muscat and Salalah in March 1993.



The inaugural flight, operated by Boeing 737-300, saw the beginning of the airlines regional footprint in Oman, and launched four months ahead of its first international flight to Dubai in July the same year.



Oman Air has come a long way since our beginnings as a regional carrier, remarked Abdulaziz Al Raisi, CEO of Oman Air. From connecting local communities here at home, weve since expanded our reach to connect Oman to the rest of the world, uniting families and loved ones for 28 years. Its a milestone that were proud to celebrate, and we look forward to continuing our remarkable journey in the years ahead.  TradeArabia News Service


Chandigarh, March 21 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP Punjab unit chief Bhagwant Mann were hand in glove with the BJP-led Centre.

He said Mann had given his assent to the implementation of the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 in a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs with Kejriwal's approval.

In a statement here, former Minister and SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said Kejriwal should have apologized to the farmers for the sin committed by Mann.

"The very fact that he did not do so proves that Kejriwal sold off the interests of farmers to the BJP-led central government".

Stating that the actions of the AAP leadership had irrefutably proved that both Kejriwal and Mann were partners in crime in the conspiracy against the farming community, Cheema said it was also now clear that Mann indulged in this devious act with the approval of the Delhi Chief Minister.

"AAP has struck a deal with the Centre at the cost of the welfare of the farmers of the country. It stands thoroughly exposed." Asserting that earlier also Mann, who is an MP from Punjab's Sangrur, had obliged the BJP government on the same issue, Cheema said Mann had walked out from the Lok Sabha when the Essential Commodities Act was tabled for amendment.

"At that time Mann made a false claim that the Bill was not put to vote. Now he has supported the same Act which proves that he is mixed up with corporate houses and did all this purposely to benefit them as well as the Central government." The SAD leader also took on the AAP convener for trying to mislead Punjabis' with mischievous propaganda during the course of the Baghapurana function in Moga district on Sunday.

He said Kejriwal had made a great show of allegedly refusing permission for use of stadiums as jails for farmers.

The Delhi Chief Minister should first explain why he allowed fortification, including construction of concrete walls, barbed wire fencing and iron spikes to be installed in his territory on the border with Haryana.

"It is clear that you cooperated with the Centre to keep farmers out of Delhi." Cheema also condemned Kejriwal for persecuting Sikh youth who were jailed in Delhi as part of the Kisan Andolan.

"Sikh youth have given accounts of how their articles of faith were insulted in Tihar jail which is under your supervision as well as how advocates from the Delhi government's Advocate General office opposed their bail application".
Dr Bernard Shius medical practice in the Geelong suburb of Newcomb is one of more than 1000 GP clinics, big and small, which will start vaccinating Australians from Monday as part of the second phase of the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

And it is no simple task. Administering the vaccine takes a total of 23 steps, each performed as diligently as the last, for Dr Shiu and his team to deliver their first doses.

Dr Bernard Shiu and his employees are ready to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to patients at their Geelong clinic from Monday. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Every vial contains eight doses  meaning if a patient does not show up for an appointment, Dr Shius team must scramble to bring someone else in before the vial goes bad.

There are also multiple hand-hygiene steps. A four-page set of consent forms for each patient must also be signed and dated.
To prevent the canals from drying up, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had allocated Rs 5,000 crore in the Budget for the construction of check dams. 

Karimnagar: Agriculture in the past was completely different compared to what farmers were doing today. Current-day farming situations require a lot of investment, said minister Etala Rajendar on Satudray. Even though farmers were getting good yields, they were unable to repay their debts as the cost of production has increased enormously.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Rythu Vedika at Medipally in Jammikunta mandal of Karimnagar district.

To reduce the burden on farmers, the TRS government had taken the initiative for construction of Rythu Vedikas. They will function as research centres and will be useful for the farmers. After holding discussions in the Rythu Vedikas, farmers can cultivate crops which will give them better yield with less investment, Rajendar said.

He pointed out that the region was historically neglected in the past, and was dry. After the formation of Telangana state, 18 check dams had been constructed in the Huzurabad region which was now getting sufficient quantities of water for irrigation needs and had turned into a fertile area.

To prevent the canals from drying up, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had allocated `5,000 crore in the Budget for the construction of check dams. The construction work on six check dams will be taken up soon from Huzurabad to Patarlapally village, he assured.

Saturday was also Rajendars birthday and TRS leaders and cadres marked the day by the cakes, conducting the Annadhanam programmes and distributing fruits to the children at orphanages in the undivided Karimnagar district area.
Palmdale, CA (93550)

Today

Sunny skies with gusty winds developing later in the day. Hot. High near 100F. SW winds at 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 68F. SW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph.
Hero SES volunteers have to come to the rescue of a family trapped in raging floodwaters, including a five-month-old baby.

Members of the NSW SES Ryde Unit waded through a torrent of water to save the family who were forced to leave their home in Londonderry, Sydney's west, as the area was hit by the worst flooding in 60 years.

The five-month-old was rescued alongside a child, four adults and three dogs, in what as described as a 'challenging' operation to bring the family to safety.

A photo showing the infant wrapped in the arms of a SES volunteer was posted to Facebook, alongside the caption 'It doesn't get much better for a volunteer than saving a beautiful baby boy'.

'With his mum's permission, we are very proud to share a photo of this little tacker in the arms of a NSW SES Ryde Unit volunteer. The challenging but successful Londonderry rescue saved the five-month-old infant, a child, four adults and three dogs,' the Western Sydney SES posted.

Members of the NSW SES Ryde unit saved a five-month-old baby from raging floodwaters in Londonderry, Sydney's west on Sunday night

The rescue came as communities along the nearby Hawkesbury River braced for a once-in-a-generation flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects Monday to bring the worst flooding event to the area northwest of Sydney since November 1961, nearly 50 years ago.

Floodwaters are expected to rise to major levels on Monday morning and inundate places such as Windsor, Pitt Town, North Richmond, Freemans Reach and Colo.

The Hawkesbury is predicted to reach peaks of up to 15 metres and the SES says homes and properties will be flooded, some up to roof height.

The floods will cut off evacuation routes and cause lasting outages to utilities, the SES said as it urged residents to prepare to evacuate.

'Extensive outages of water, electricity, sewerage, telecommunications and gas are expected to last many weeks or months,' the SES said early on Monday.

Hundreds of Penrith residents spent the night in evacuation centres or alternative accommodation after their homes came under threat from floodwater. Pictured are residents wading through a submerged Ladbury Ave in Penrith

Warragamba Dam (pictured on Sunday) has began overflowing at the rate of 450 gigalitres a day, which would almost fill most of Sydney Harbour

Rivers will hit their highest levels in 60 years on Monday morning with moderate to major flood warnings issued for the Hawkesbury, the Nepean (pictured), and the Colo, threatening homes in the suburbs of Penrith, North Richmond, Windsor, and Sackville

The event is likely to exceed the capacity of emergency crews, who have already responded to some 8000 calls for help, the SES said.

Flooding along the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers comes after the Warragamba Dam spilled over, prompting some concern.

Parts of Penrith and other areas along the Nepean were ordered to evacuate on Sunday as NSW battles devastating floods after days of unabated rain.

Scores of people have already been rescued from floodwaters, while prison inmates have been evacuated and more than 100 schools remain shut.

Those saved include an 80-year-old woman who became trapped in her car at Wyong on the Central Coast on Sunday.

Police spotted the half-submerged car while attending to another incident nearby and realised the driver was still inside.

An officer waded out into the waters on foot and freed the woman before the car was pushed by the fast-moving waters into the nearby Wyong River.

Rising flood waters opposite Governor Phillip Park in Windsor are so high they have almost covered a traffic sign

People look on as flood water rises over the New Windsor Bridge on The Hawkesbury River in Windsor

A police car was inundated in floodwaters in Freemans Reach in Sydney's north-west on Sunday

BOM's Agata Imielska said the severity of rainfall in greater Sydney would ease on Monday but the mid-north coast would continue to be drenched and inland NSW would be pounded by rain.

She said the NSW northwest slopes and plains would receive four times more rain in two days than the entire March monthly average.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian earlier said the floods in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley could prompt an additional 4000 evacuations.

Parts of Port Macquarie, Taree and nearby towns have also flooded in what Ms Berejiklian labelled a 'one-in-100-year event' for the region.

The federal government's natural disaster arrangements have been activated for 18 local government areas across NSW.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the "Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain" campaign on the World Water Day on Monday.

The historic MoU to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project, the first project of the national perspective plan for interlinking of rivers, will also be signed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers at the event.

The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said in a statement that the campaign will be undertaken across the country in both rural and urban areas with the theme "catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls."

It will be implemented from March 22 to November 30 - the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country.

It will be launched as a 'Jan Andolan' (public movement) to take water conservation at the grassroot level through people's participation. It is intended to nudge all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to climatic conditions and subsoil strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater, the PMO said.

After the event, gram sabhas will be held in all gram panchayats of each district (except in poll-bound states) to discuss issues related to water and water conservation. Gram sabhas will also take 'Jal Shapath' (oath) for water conservation, it added.

The Ken Betwa link project agreement heralds the beginning of inter-state cooperation to implement the vision of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to carry water from areas that have surplus water to drought prone and water deficit areas through the interlinking of rivers, the PMO said.

This project involves transfer of water from Ken to Betwa River through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the lower Orr project, Kotha barrage and Bina complex multipurpose project.

It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectare, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower.

The PMO also said the project will be of immense benefit to the water starved region of Bundelkhand, especially to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.

It will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country.
World Heritage status for Kandy Esala Perahera: UNESCOs Sri Lanka National Commission submits proposals By L. B. Senaratne View(s): View(s):

UNESCOs Sri Lanka National Commission has submitted proposals to declare the Kandy Esala Perahera as a UNESCO World Heritage.

This follows UNESCOs decision to declare the original copy of the Mahawamsa as a World Heritage.

At the 2006 International Buddhist Conference held at the International Buddhist Conference Centre at Pallekelle in Kandy, discussions were held to recognise the Kandy Esala Perahera as a UNESCO World Heritage.

The 2006 International Buddhist Conference was one of the main events of the 2550th Sambuddha Jayanthi celebrations.

An official from the Dalada Maligawa said the National Commissions move should not go unnoticed.
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A ban can directly affect either supply or consumption of a product, in this case natural gas. Attempts to curtail gas supply have met with partial success: methane rules, drilling restrictions on public lands, opposition to new pipelines are examples.

The ban receiving the most recent attention focuses on end-use consumption in municipal jurisdictions, which believe they have legal authority to enforce the ban. In July 2019, Berkeley initiated municipal efforts to electrify its building sectors by prohibiting natural gas in new buildings. Since then, several cities throughout the country have sought to restrict the use of gas in new buildings.

It wont be long before someone proposes a gas ban for New Mexico municipalities. The major purpose of these efforts is to mitigate climate change by making buildings zero carbon.

Banning natural gas is a government action that forces consumers to find a substitute, namely electricity, that presumably is inferior to the product that is banned (or else such action would not be necessary). Energy consumers may find natural gas cheaper, in addition to providing more heating comfort and better cooking performance than electricity.

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Strange bedfellows support electrification: electric utilities and environmentalists, which have different objectives. This represents a particularly strong coalition to reckon with for electrification and portends its growing popularity in the years ahead.

The problem is that the efforts of vocal minorities who stand to gain economically or ideologically drive government action over majorities who individually lose little, but collectively lose a lot.

A gas ban fails miserably, with virtually zero benefits; as a public policy, a ban is exceptionally bad. From a global perspective, the results are similar.

Here is why.

Less than 9% of carbon emissions in the U.S. comes from the direct use of natural gas in homes and buildings. The U.S. emits about 15% of the worlds carbon emissions; thus, converting all buildings to electric and assuming that all electricity is produced from clean sources, the reduction in worldwide carbon emissions would be less than 1.5%, which, according to most computer-based forecasting models, would have no detectable effect on global climate.

A ban can look good politically by giving the appearance that a problem is severe, and requires immediate and absolute attention to soften the burden on citizens. This is unlike a carbon tax or the adverse effects on public budgets from subsidies. But at least those two approaches preserve consumers ability to choose their energy source, rather than being precluded from doing so with a ban.

A ban represents a command-and-control policy at its worst. It is a blunt instrument, draconian and highly costly relative to the alternatives in terms of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

The good that flows to energy consumers and society from natural gas far exceeds the bad. Natural gas has plenty going for it: (1) abundant domestic availability; (2) low price for the foreseeable future; (3) relative cleanliness when compared with other fossil fuels; (4) promising technological prospects for a more benign environmental footprint in the future; and (5) flexibility in electric power production, one use being as a backup to renewable energy.

It seems absurd to ban or even restrict a product that has done  and is expected to do in the future  so much good for both energy consumers and the economy.

We cannot avoid asking: Is it only because of special interests that we would even consider prohibiting consumers ability to choose natural gas as an energy source to meet their space and water heating needs? After all, in most parts of the country where gas is available, including New Mexico, it is the most economic source of energy.

Gas bans seem no more than symbolic, reflecting a we have to do our part stance or, perhaps more accurately, whatever it takes, even if, in reality, bans have no effect on climate change and fail a cost-benefit test resoundingly.

Good policy balances economic and environmental consequences in achieving an outcome that is in the public interest. Because a gas ban has virtually no effect on climate change and would increase energy costs for consumers, one would have to look far and wide to find a government action that is so intrusive, imbalanced and detrimental to societys welfare.

Kenneth W. Costello is a regulatory economist/independent consultant who worked previously for the National Regulatory Research Institute, Illinois Commerce Commission and Argonne National Laboratory. He resides in Santa Fe.
A vicious street prowler has been jailed for six weeks for harassing a woman as she walked home - just a mile from where Sarah Everard went missing.

Max Ronaldson, 25, leered at the woman and followed her as she walked home on Balham Hill near Clapham Common in south London.

He then threatened to break into her home and rape her before walking away.

After being subjected to multiple attacks, the woman took photos of her attacker as he tried to film her which eventually led to his arrest.

Max Ronaldson, 25, from Clapham Common, pleaded guilty to harassment and threatening behaviour and was jailed for six weeks at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

Ronaldson, of Clapham Common, pleaded guilty to harassment and threatening behaviour and was jailed for six weeks at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The attacker first struck on January 25 when he leered at the woman and threatened to break into her home and rape her as she walked home by Clapham Common.

Two weeks later on February 12, the woman was walking again on Balham Hill when Ronaldson spotted her and jeered at her as she crossed the road.

But as she moved towards a pair of passersby, he moved away from the scene.

On February 21, Ronaldson approached the woman for a third time and started filming her while hurling offensive comments at her.

The woman then got her own phone out and took four pictures of the man who was later identified as Ronaldson.

Officers circulated the photos which led to his identification and he was arrested and charged with threatening behaviour and harassment without violence.

He pleaded guilty to both offences at court.

The incident took pace as the woman walking on Balham Hill near Clapham Common

Detective Constable Richard Roberts, of South West CID, said: 'We take this kind of behaviour very seriously.

'The victim was simply walking along the street when she was subjected to unwanted and unpleasant harassment. She had the strength of character to challenge this outrageous behaviour and to report it to the police.

'When she was harassed again, she was calm and had the presence of mind to take photos of the man which helped the investigation enormously.

'I would urge anyone being targeted to immediately report it as this type of behaviour is unacceptable and it is a criminal offence.

'Your report will be taken seriously and investigated as far as the evidence will take us.

'This will help us to take offenders like Ronaldson off the streets of London and make our city a safer place for all.'

The incident comes after Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was abducted in Clapham, South London, on March 3 as she walked home after having dinner with a friend.

Her body was found in woodland near Ashford, Kent, a week later and ignited a fierce debate about the safety of women on Britain's streets.
IndiGo on Saturday handed over a passenger from its Bengaluru-Kolkata flight to security agencies at the destination airport for not wearing a mask despite repeated warnings from the flight crew, government officials said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had last Saturday asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear masks "properly" despite repeated warnings.

The passenger on IndiGo's 6E938 Bengaluru-Kolkata flight on Saturday refused to wear a mask despite repeated warnings from the flight crew, the officials noted.

The passenger was handed over to the security agencies at the Kolkata airport, they added.

Earlier this week, AirAsia India offloaded two passengers from its Goa-Mumbai flight and IndiGo handed over two flyers to security officials for not following the COVID-19 rules.

Also read: Passengers not wearing masks properly to be de-boarded, treated as 'unruly passengers', says DGCA
Italian families are known for their food and the long-standing traditions that come with each dish. Toni Ann DiVizios family is no different.

And the Dunmore residents recipe for Pizza Piena, aka Italian Easter Pie, a tradition passed down through her family, holds as much importance as it does deliciousness.

The dish goes by several other names, too, such as Easter Pizza, Holiday Pizza, Pizza Rustica and Pizza Gaina. At first glance, people might mistake the dish for a fruit pie thanks to its golden crust. However, inside sits a mixture of meat and cheese that differs by region, family and recipe.

DiVizios cherished recipe  passed down by her mother, Angeline Manci  is made with hot and sweet sausage, hot soppressata, different cheeses, a dozen eggs (six mixed in and six hardboiled) and more. The special dish earned DiVizio a $50 gift card to Riccardos Market, 1219 Wheeler Ave., Dunmore.

While her mother used to make a pie crust from scratch, DiVizio said she and her mom use Pillsbury Pie Crust these days, which lets them focus on the filling inside the pie. Although, she said that if cooks have their own recipe for pie crust, theyre more than welcome to use it. The recipe makes four 10-inch pies, but DiVizio said cooks can cut the recipe in half for smaller portions.

Since Pizza Piena is an Old World dish, it isnt quick to make, but DiVizio said its worth it to spend time with loved ones creating this special dish. She typically preps the ingredients the day before, such as slicing up the meats and cheeses and browning the sausage so assembly goes smoothly.

The whole process, its really a labor of love, she said.

DiVizio has fond memories of her mother making the pie around Easter, though the familys experience making Italian delicacies stretches back even further. Both sets of DiVizios grandparents immigrated to the United States from different parts of Italy, and her grandmothers in particular passed down dozens of special and holiday recipes.

Manci often created her own custom recipes as well, so there always was a chance to get in the kitchen with family and bond over cooking and baking, DiVizio said. And just like most Italians, the familys homes always had two kitchens  an upstairs one for relaxing and enjoying company, and a downstairs kitchen, where most of the meal preparation and cooking happened.

Name any Italian dish, and DiVizios family had a special recipe for it, including scratch-made ravioli, pasta, manicotti, gnocchi, cappelletti, polenta and more. There also were sweet treats like sweet breads, which DiVizio described as light and fluffy, similar to Paska bread without raisins, to dozens of varieties of cookies.

She was so influenced by her grandparents and cant wait to carry on the traditions  like cooking together and enjoying Sunday dinners  with her own family, including her daughter, Gina DiVizo ONeill, and granddaughters, Mia and Gianna.

Much of the Italian heritage revolves around food and family, DiVizio said.

I appreciate that connection with grandmothers and my mother so much. Those memories are so special to me, she said. Those are such wonderful times, and I want to pass them down to my own daughter and granddaughters. Thats really what its all about.
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On blood-clotting incidents, vaccines and variants By Kumudini Hettiarachchi, Ruqyyaha Deane & Meleeza Rathnayake View(s): View(s):

With concerns rising over the alleged drop in the platelet count and blood-clotting in a few cases, the Sunday Times sought the opinion of the Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Neelika Malavige about this and other questions on vaccines and variants.

Setting down the facts, Prof. Malavige said that reports from some European countries which have rolled out the AstraZeneca vaccine had indicated that in some vaccinated people, there had been a drop in their platelet count and formation of blood clots leading to death.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reported this extremely rare side effect in younger people (20-50 year-old group) than in older people (especially those over 60), with a female preponderance, she said, stressing that the important thing is to assess the benefit-risk ratio of the vaccine. The exact incidence of this very rare side-effect is not known.

Quoting the EMA, Prof. Malavige says that it had investigated 25 cases, particularly involving rare blood clots after vaccination and ruled that AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective.

However, the EMA has said that it could not rule out a link to a small number of rare and unusual blood clot cases  an assessment that opened the way for European countries to restart paused inoculation programmes, while not fully allaying fears surrounding side-effects.

Prof. Malavige said that these seem to be very rare complications resulting from the persons immune response, rather than the vaccine. This seems to be happening 6-14 days after vaccination and not immediately.

It is essential to have a mechanism to monitor vaccine safety and if or when severe adverse effects are reported to thoroughly investigate them, although a majority of such complaints may not be related to the vaccine, she stressed, adding that in COVID-19, when a person gets the disease, there seems to be blood clotting too, so it is important to monitor people who may be predisposed for clotting.

In the United Kingdom (UK), even though 11 million people have been given the AstraZeneca vaccine, no such complication has been reported. This is while many of the European countries that suspended the AstraZeneca shots  including Germany, France, Italy and Spain  said that they would resume vaccination on Friday or next week as some like Sweden and Norway said they would need time to make their own scientific evaluations.

Q. How does a vaccine work?

A. The World Health Organization (WHO) has so far given emergency-use listing to the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines against COVID-19, while Sri Lanka has done so for AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.

These vaccines fall into two groups  adenoviral vector vaccines and mRNA vaccines.

Some of the adenoviral vector vaccines include AstraZeneca (chimpanzee adenovirus vector) and Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson (adenoviral vector).

The mRNA vaccine is the Pfizer vaccine.

When we look at the adenoviral vector vaccines, it is similar to a tool which can be used to deliver different types of items depending on the need. The delivery mechanism (tool) is the adenovirus vector, but the item being delivered can be various types of protein for the different types of vaccine.

When considering the Sputnik V, adenovirus human vaccine trials have been carried out from 2005 to 2018 for HIV but because the efficacy was less, it had not been registered. This is while between 2015 and 2018, adenovirus vector vaccines were also under clinical trials for Ebola.

The clinical trial phases are:

Pre-clinical studies 

safety studies/animal model efficacy studies

Phase 1 clinical studies 

vaccine safety and dosage assessment

Phase 2 clinical studies 

vaccines in expanded safety trials

Phase 3 clinical studies 

vaccines in large-scale efficacy trials

With regard to the AstraZenecas vaccine, the ChAdOx1 is the tool or mechanism which has been used in clinical trials for advanced prostate cancer between 2015 and 2017 (Phase I) and 2017 and 2020 (Phase II). As such, they have known this vaccine platform for a while.

With these platforms being known for both Sputnik V and AstraZeneca, the data on how they worked in humans have been there from then.

The item delivered has varied from the prostate cancer antigen to protein from HIV and Ebola. When the new coronavirus began spreading across the world, instead of the prostate cancer antigen or the protein from HIV or Ebola, what was substituted to be delivered through this platform or tool was the spike protein of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the Pfizer vaccine uses mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid). Here a lipid envelope contains a piece of mRNA with codes for the spike protein of the coronavirus. When the vaccine is injected into a human, this lipid nano-particle goes into the muscle cell. These tiny particles of the virus or ribosome that function to synthesize proteins, have nothing to do with the persons cell nuclei or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).

The spike protein is synthesized in the human cell, released to the body and results in the development of antibodies and a T-cell response (T-cells are important white blood cells of the immune system and play a central role in the adaptive immune response).

Our genome is DNA and there is no way that any vaccine can be incorporated into our DNA as it is RNA. While DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other living organisms, RNA is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. The vaccines do not cause infertility or impotence.

Q. What are variants?

A. It is natural for all viruses to mutate. Around 99.9 % of the time, these mutations are insignificant. They become significant if such a mutation increases transmissibility and severe disease and escapes vaccine efficacy.

Virus mutation is due to the law of natural selection. Viruses mutate to stay longer and these are called escape mutations because usually when a virus is there for a while, people can develop immunity. Then the virus mutates to escape the immunity developed by people and keep spreading disease.

Two of the variants which are causing worry are the South African and Brazilian variants.

However, there is good news because the vaccines that have been developed do prevent severe disease and death. The next step, therefore, is to update these vaccines to meet these new mutations.

In an mRNA or vector vaccine, what they have to do is to introduce new spike proteins of the new mutation because the fundamental vaccine is already there. They can be rapidly modified to meet the challenges being posed by the new variants and that is what is happening currently.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico - On March 20, Sunset World Group celebrated one more year of warm hospitality and great service at Sunset Fishermen resort, with a lively Hawaiian-style daytime cocktail party at El Pescador beach restaurant. During the event, attendees enjoyed canapes, tropical drinks, a cake prepared especially for the occasion and a hula show and music.

For 22 years Sunset Fishermen has been recognized by prestigious organizations like RCI and TripAdvisor for the excellent service it offers to members and guests, and institutions like the Secretariat of Tourism and the Secretariat of Health for meeting all food and beverage hygiene standards, which is why Sunset Fishermen has become a favorite of the Sunset World Group among members and guests.

Also because of its location in the exclusive Playacar residential area, a few blocks from downtown Playa del Carmen, it offers visitors security and the ability to walk to shopping or dining options. In addition, it has almost private access to a beautiful white sand beach right off the pool area.

As a part of Sunset World Group, Sunset Fishermen also provides a complete program of daytime activities, themed dinners, access to special Sunset World events and benefits inside and outside the hotel, including preferential rates on services like diving, catamaran tours, jungle tours, snorkeling, restaurants, cultural excursions and more.

"It is a pleasure to celebrate another Sunset Fishermen anniversary. Our members and guests love this hotel," said Martha Richardson, Sunset World Group Corporate Director of Operations, "There are many who have known each other for years and book their stays for the same dates so they can vacation together. We are one big family! she added.

Sunset World Group is a family-owned Mexican company and a leader in the hospitality industry, offering authentic and unforgettable vacation experiences in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. It was founded more than 30 years ago and has grown to offer six resorts, world-class travel services, amenities and a diverse network of operational and marketing solutions that focus on providing the best vacation experiences for its Members and guests. From cultural excursions to water sports, the Members of Sunset World are never far from their next great adventure.


Rebel Wilson is in London at the moment.

And on Sunday, the actress proved she was happy to be in weekend mode.

Taking to Instagram, the Bridesmaids star shared a photo of herself in a white robe standing in front of a door.

Star power! Actress Rebel Wilson (pictured) slipped into a white robe as she celebrated 'Sunday style' after arriving in London for a special project earlier this week

She appears to have just rolled out of bed wearing her blonde tresses up as she poses in the photo in a pair of fashionable sunglasses.

'Sunday style,' she captioned the photo.

Rebel is in the city to work on a secret project. On Saturday, she spent time with old friend - British comedian Matt Lucas.

The actors, who played warring sibling roommates in the 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids, posted photos of themselves wandering the city.

'Love you Matt, you're always there for helpful roommate/brotherly advice': Rebel caught up with her long-time friend, British comedian Matt Lucas, while in London

Reconnecting: The actors, who played warring sibling roommates in the 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids, posted photos of themselves wandering the graffiti-covered streets of London

In her caption, Rebel wrote: 'Only gays in the village' - a cheeky reference to Matt's character Daffyd Thomas in Little Britain.

'Love you Matt, you're always there for helpful roommate/brotherly advice,' she added.

Matt, meanwhile, shared a heartfelt caption that read: 'Reunited after a year apart. A lovely weekend walk with an old friend who is here filming a movie. #roomies.'

The pair previously lived together in West Hollywood back in 2012, after becoming close friends on the set of Bridesmaids.

Fast friends: The pair previously lived together in West Hollywood back in 2012, after becoming close friends on the set of Bridesmaids (pictured together in Bridesmaids)

Rebel moved out of their share house in 2015 to further her international acting career.

'We lived together for three years, had the best time and a great friendship has come out of it,' Matt told BBC at the time.

'[Rebel leaving] means she's no longer sneezing because I think she was a bit allergic to my dogs, but we had fun and we are still bosom buddies,' he confirmed.

Inspired: Her post follows her announcing plans to take on her first role as a director

It comes after Rebel announced her plans to take on her first role as a director on Monday - revealing she felt inspired to make the career move in 2022.

Rebel shared a photo of a Hollywood Reporter article detailing how female directors broke the record for most Oscar nominations.

'Biggest congrats ladies,' Rebel wrote beneath the image. 'You've inspired me to take my first ever directing job in 2022.'
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(Newser)  President Biden added his voice Sunday to the international criticism of Turkey's decision to drop out of an agreement designed to prevent violence against women. "Countries should be working to strengthen and renew their commitments to ending violence against women, not rejecting international treaties designed to protect women and hold abusers accountable," Biden said in a statement posted on whitehouse.gov. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dropped out of the treaty without giving a reason, a move Biden called "deeply disappointing." European Union officials called on Erdogan to reverse his decision, as did demonstrators Saturday. "The Istanbul Convention was not signed at your command and it will not leave our lives on your command," an official for a rights group told Erdogan in a tweet, the Guardian reports.

story continues below

Biden has not talked to Erdogan since taking office, and US-Turkey relations are at a low point, per the New York Times. Adminstration officials have raised human rights concerns with Erdogan's government, and Turkey faces US penalties for buying a Russian missile system. Erdogan wants to join the European Union, but senior EU officials said Friday, the day before Turkey left the treaty, that they want to see tensions reduced. At least two recent polls found a majority in Turkey opposed abandoning the domestic violence agreement, per the Washington Post. Analysts say that Erdogan is trying to appeal to small segments of voters, though he's not up for reelection until 2023. The result, an activist said, is that Erdogan's party is giving its "attention to a very small fraction of society and putting the lives of millions of women at risk." (Read more Turkey stories.)
By Peter Cziborra

BRISTOL, England (Reuters) - Two police officers were seriously injured and at least two police vehicles were set on fire in the city of Bristol in southwest England during violent scenes after a peaceful protest, police said.

Thousands of demonstrators had converged on the city centre, ignoring COVID-19 restrictions, to protest against a government bill going through parliament that would give police new powers to restrict street protests.

The local force, Avon and Somerset Police, said the demonstration began peacefully but was later turned into a violent disorder by a small minority.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, the interior minister, said on Twitter that the scenes in Bristol were unacceptable.

"Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated," she said. "Our police officers put themselves in harm's way to protect us all. My thoughts this evening are with those police officers injured."

Two officers were taken to hospital, one with a broken arm and another with broken ribs, while others were subjected to violence and verbal abuse. The outside of a police station in the city centre was vandalized.

Avon and Somerset Police said it had requested help from neighbouring forces to bring the situation under control.

"All those involved in this criminal behaviour will be identified and brought to justice. There will be significant consequences for behaviour such as this," Avon and Somerset's chief superintendent, Will White, said in a statement.

A Reuters photographer at the scene saw some demonstrators launch fireworks towards police officers, try to knock over a police van, scale the outside wall of a police station and spray graffiti on it.

He also saw police, some in full riot gear, using batons and shields to try to repel protesters.

Some demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as "Kill the Bill", "The Day Democracy Became Dictatorship" and "We Can't Be Silenced That Easy".

Story continues

The government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill would give police new powers to impose time and noise limits on street protests.

That has angered activists, particularly since a heavy-handed police response to a London vigil for murder victim Sarah Everard on March 13 caused widespread outrage and criticism of the police.

A serving police officer has been charged with Everard's kidnap and murder, and the case has unleashed an outpouring of grief and rage over the issue of violence against women and girls.

The government bill pre-dated the Everard case and covers a wide range of policy areas as well as the policing of protests. However, the two became connected in many people's minds because, by coincidence, the bill was up for debate in parliament two days after the London vigil.

(Reporting by Peter Cziborra in Bristol and Estelle Shirbon in London; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Daniel Wallis)
Jammu: The Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir is feeling betrayed as the central government has "failed" to keep its promise of implementing the 'Anand Marriage Act' in the Union Territory post abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, senior BJP leader S Varinderjeet Singh has said.

Singh discussed the matter with the national president of BJP minority morcha Haji Jamal Sadiqui during his two-day visit here, the BJP said in a statement here on Saturday (March 20).

Singh led a delegation of the members of the minority community and informed Sadiqui that soon after the abrogation of Article 370, it was assured that the 'Anand Marriage Act' would be implemented in letter and spirit besides setting up a minority commission in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Union government's this assurance was widely advertised but unfortunately nothing has been done in this regard so far, for which the (Sikh) community is feeling betrayed," the statement said quoting Singh.

He also said that the Sikhs, in particular, are not given any representation in important positions in government departments as a result of which there is resentment among the community.

Singh also raised various other issues related to the welfare and economic upliftment of the Sikh community, the statement said.

He expressed grave concern and resentment over discrimination with the non-migrant Kashmiri Sikhs in matters of reservation in professional and technical courses and government jobs.

Sadiqui listened to the BJP leaders belonging to the community and assured to table their issues before the national leadership, the statement said.

He also invited them to visit Delhi if they want to take up the grievances themselves with the BJP national president or other leaders.

Live TV


To better understand the potential impacts of coastal erosion, Auckland Council has released a new report, Predicting Aucklands Exposure to Coastal Instability and Erosion, that assesses the areas of Auckland that are susceptible to both erosion and cliff instability.

The report explains the methodology used in a scientific study to estimate erosion rates for Aucklands beaches and cliffs and includes regional-scale maps that identify which of Aucklands coastal areas may be susceptible to coastal erosion and instability over a range of time periods. Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the councils Environment and Climate Change Committee, says that uncertainty about sea-level rise means coastal erosion rates have historically been difficult to predict.

Our new Coastal Instability and Erosion report gives us stronger guidance using up to date data, he says.

To read the report online, visit www.knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publications/predicting-auckland-s-exposure-to-coastal-instability-and-erosion/
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New Delhi, March 21 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday pushed his party leaders and volunteers to prepare for the Punjab Assembly elections to be held next year.

Addressing a large Kisan Mahapanchayat in Punjab's Moga district, the Delhi Chief Minister said the party should get ready for the Assembly elections in 2022.

"You have one year's time, reach out to every single person in Punjab and tell them how they have been cheated for several years on the pretext of false promises by both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Keep a card higlighting the promises made by the ruling Congress in the last state Assembly elections in your pockets and remind the people while meeting them that they have been cheated. The people of Punjab voted for development, job, electricity and subsidised schemes, but Congress' promises could not see the light of the day till now," Kejriwal said.

The AAP convener also urged the people of Punjab to support the AAP in the next Assembly elections, saying that his party came to power with full majority in Delhi for two consecutive terms and within six years, the AAP-led Delhi government has effected many changes in education, health, electricity and other sectors.

Reiterating all the achievements of the Delhi government in the last six years, Kejriwal asked the party workers to set a vision for the people of Punjab.

"We have to create a long-term vision for the welfare of the people of Punjab. You have one year, go and meet the people and note down their problems. The people of Punjab have made up their minds to elect the AAP government in the next Assembly elections. We will work with a vision of forming a new Punjab once the AAP government is formed in the state," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal also hit out at the Narendra Modi-led Central government for bringing the alleged 'anti-farm' laws in the agriculture sector. He expressed his gratitude to the farmers protesting against the three farm laws which were enacted in September last year.

Before addressing the Kisan Mahapanchayat, Kejriwal visited the grain market in Bagha Purana in Moga district.

AAP sources in Punjab claimed that before Kejriwal's visit to Moga, the boards and hoardings of the party were removed by the civic authorities during the early morning hours for which the officials had to face the wrath of the AAP workers, who raised slogans against the civic administration.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 20:10:15|Editor: huaxia

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File photo taken on March 5, 2015 shows then Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Anatoly Antonov holding a press conference in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Pavel Bednyakov)



Responding directly to Biden's "killer" remarks, Putin said that "I would say to him: I wish you good health. I say that without irony or joking."



WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov on Saturday returned to Moscow for consultations, according to an announcement by the Russian Embassy in Washington.

"Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on rectifying Russia-U.S. relations," the embassy said in a post on its official Facebook page.

The embassy also posted two juxtaposed pictures, one showing Antonov, in a black jacket, at an airport and the other, an airplane -- which appeared to be the one Antonov will fly in -- with a Russian flag on the outside surface of the cockpit.

Antonov flew from New York, as there is no direct flight between Washington and the Russian capital amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Russia's TASS news agency. He will arrive in Moscow on Sunday.

Russia recalled its top envoy in the United States after U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview with ABC News that aired Wednesday that Russia will "pay a price" for its alleged interference in the 2020 U.S. election.

A policeman stands guard outside the Russian Embassy to the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Dec. 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

A U.S. intelligence report released Tuesday directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering a wide-ranging influence operation to interfere in the 2020 U.S. election, intending to hurt Biden's campaign.

In the ABC News interview, Biden also agreed with the interviewer's claim that Putin was "a killer."

Responding directly to Biden's remarks, Putin said Thursday: "I would say to him: I wish you good health. I say that without irony or joking."

"I would like to offer President Biden (the opportunity) to continue our discussion, but on condition that we'll do so what is called live, online. Without anything pre-recorded, in an open and direct discussion," Putin said. "It seems to me, it would be interesting both for the Russian people and for the U.S. people, as well as for many other countries."

Asked by reporters whether Biden regretted the "killer" statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing Thursday, "Nope. The President gave a direct answer to a direct question," adding Washington still wishes to develop its relationship with Moscow.

"The current U.S. administration never ceases to surprise us with its absurd public statements. It's not just about the unseemly attacks against Russia's top officials, but also the absurd accusations of Russia's interference in last year's presidential election in the United States," Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said in comments posted Friday on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Washington. 
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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Almighty God,

you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners:

Grant your people grace to love what you command

and desire what you promise;

that, among the swift and varied changes of the world,

our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God,

Now and for ever.

Amen.
Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during a joint news conference with at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 19, 2020. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Pakistan PM Khan Tests Positive for COVID-19

ISLAMABADPakistan 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.

While it was not clear which vaccine the prime minister was given, the vaccine produced by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) is the only one available in Pakistan.

Khan expressed concern after his positive test result that it could deter ordinary people from getting vaccinated, his advisor Shahbaz Gill told local television.

He said Khan had mild symptoms.

Asad Umar, the minister in charge of the countrys COVID-19 operations, said in a tweet it was certain that PM had been infected prior to vaccination.

Another government official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters Khan had told him on Friday that he had a fever after getting the shot.

Vaccine hesitancy is common in Pakistan, which is one of two countries in the world where polio remains endemic due to widespread concerns about inoculation.

Earlier this month, a poll showed that hesitancy against the COVID-19 vaccination was also high among healthcare workersparticularly over Chinese vaccines.

Khans positive test comes as Pakistan sees a steep rise in infections.

According to numbers released by the government, 3,876 people tested positive in the last 24 hoursthe highest number of daily infections since early Julytaking the total number of infections in the country past 620,000.

There were also 42 more deaths, taking the total to 13,799.

By Asif Shahzad
India must take a stand against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council session vis-a-vis the accountability and reconciliation resolution, political parties in Tamil Nadu urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Pointing to news reports that Lanka was hopeful of India's support at the UNHRC session on Monday in connection with the resolution, DMK president M K Stalin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'silence' over it has caused a big 'shock' among the Tamil diaspora and people in Tamil Nadu.

MDMK and PMK also sought India's support to the resolution.

Recently, Sri Lanka expressed hope that India would stand by it when the UNHRC took up its latest accountability and reconciliation resolution.

This follows a UN report that called for drastic measures against those allegedly responsible for rights violations during last phase of the armed conflict with the LTTE (2009).

Stalin said India must not take a stand favouring Sri Lanka, which would be "an injustice" to Lankan Tamils. India should vote in favour of the accountability and reconciliation resolution against Sri Lanka, he said in a statement.

Read | India must vote in favour of UN resolution against Sri Lanka: Chidambaram

Also, Modi should take steps to see that support was canvassed in the UN body to bring amendments to that resolution to facilitate initiation of proceedings in the international criminal court against Lanka over war crimes, he said.

MDMK chief and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko said India must support the resolution against Sri Lanka adding the BJP-led Centre should not ignore the sentiments of Tamil people.

PMK leader and former union minister Anbumani Ramadoss also appealed for India's support to the UNHRC resolution, saying it should stand for human rights and peace in Sri Lanka.

Noting that justice continued to 'elude' Tamils killed in the Eelam war, he recalled Modi's Feb 14 speech at a public meeting here where he promised that India was always committed to ensuring that the Tamils in the island nation lived with equity, equality, justice, peace and dignity.

The resolution accuses Lanka of war crimes with threats to take those responsible to the International Courts and impose targeted sanctions against officials allegedly responsible for human rights violations.
It was one year ago Sunday that Anup Singh, a retired electrical engineer, died of COVID-19  the first resident of Berkshire County to be taken by the disease.

Quote He was a truly humble, hard-working, simple and a quintessential family man. He told us dont aspire to be the very best but rather to do your best and to live a balanced life.  Gagan Singh, writing last year about his father, whose death of COVID-19 on March 21, 2020, became the first such fatality in Berkshire County

In Massachusetts, the toll stands at 16,498 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, with an additional 334 listed as probably the result of the disease.

The Eagles Heather Bellow interviewed members of Singhs family for a story last March that captured the new realities of pandemic grief.

Barred from seeing their beloved father and spouse, members of this Hindu family, including Rita Ghai, the deceaseds wife, watched on a WhatsApp video call as his remains were consigned to flame. Anup had fallen ill in early March 2020 and was first told, in a March 12 visit to urgent care, to take over-the-counter painkillers. On March 16, he ran a high fever and was taken to the hospital.

From BMC, Singh sent a photo to family from his hospital room and seemed upbeat about his condition. Family last spoke with him March 17. The next day, he was placed on a ventilator. He died at 11:11 p.m. March 21.

In a written remembrance, Anups son, Gagan Singh, spoke of his fathers selflessness.

He was a truly humble, hard-working, simple and a quintessential family man, he wrote. He told us dont aspire to be the very best but rather to do your best and to live a balanced life.

He also recalled his fathers grace and sense of humor. Gagan Singh said his dad would find humor and a spiritual acceptance in the toughest of life situations.

As The Boston Globe reported, the pandemic was shattering customs that long have defined bereavement and grief. The newspaper later interviewed members of the Pittsfield family for a story headlined, It was pure devastation.

The story quoted from one of Anups text messages: The high spirits of all of you have boosted my spirits to great heights! I do believe that very soon I will become hale & hearty to join you all in our happy family!

But, within a day, as his health failed, he was sedated and intubated. With death imminent, someone at BMC called Samta Ghai, his daughter. As The Globe reported, Samta and her mother rushed to the hospital and made it to the intensive care unit, clad in protective clothing. They were trying to revive him, Samta Ghai told The Globe.

 Papa, wake up, wake up, Im here,  she recalled saying.  Im here, I love you so much. 

Here is the story members of the family shared with Bellow last year about Anup Singh.

Family of first Berkshires resident to die of COVID-19 grieves the trauma of his swift death and a funeral at a distance PITTSFIELD  In the parking lot at Vongs Thai Cuisine, Anup Singhs family stood outside their cars, masked and distanced. It was as close as they could get to Singh, to watch as his body was placed into a hearse across Wahconah Street at the hospital.

The story that members of the family shared with Bellow last year about Anup Singh can be found at bit.ly/2QpRNZL.
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Women have paid the price for being renegades across millennia.

Some of the most acclaimed women artists of this or any time battled sexual, social, racial and even physical oppression in order to find their creative voice.

Renegades: Women Artists of Historic Consequences, open at Santa Fes Turner Carroll Gallery, aims to honor that legacy during Womens History Month. The show features works by Camille Claudel, Judy Chicago, Hung Liu, Swoon, Lien Truong, Monica Lundy, Agnes Martin and more.

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................................................................

For gallery owner Tonya Turner Carroll, it all begins with Claudel, the French sculptor and collaborator/lover to the great Auguste Rodin. The exhibit features the unveiling of LImplorante, (1899), widely considered her most important work.

Born in 1864, Claudel convinced her family to move with her to Paris to study at the only art academy that accepted women at the time. When Rodin grew smitten with her independence and skill, she insisted on being her own artist, not merely a reflection of him. When Claudel finally agreed to a relationship with the sculptor, it was on her terms: she demanded he sign a contract agreeing to renounce other women, to bring her on his travels and to marry her. He eventually returned to a previous mistress, so the deal was off.

Today art experts agree that Claudel was more than an assistant; she worked on many of Rodins sculptures, specifically his hands.

We have proof that she sculpted many pieces attributed to Rodin, Turner Carroll said. He put his signature on them. So she was intimately involved in his work and got very little of the credit in her lifetime.

LImplorante is Claudels autobiographical piece. Sculpted after Rodin left her, it depicts the artist begging him to return.

In 1913, her family committed her to a mental institution, where she spent the last 35 years of her life.

She was loud, she was bold, she was a woman ahead of her time, Turner Carroll said. She never made another sculpture.

Hung Liu was born in Changchun, China. She came from a long line of intellectuals and her father was an officer in the Nationalist army of former Chinese president Chiang Kai-Shek. He spent the rest of his life in a labor camp. Liu and her mother burned all their family photographs, including him, to escape retribution and fled to Beijing. Liu attended the top high school there, with Mao Zedongs daughters as her classmates. She witnessed her principal being beaten to death by Red Army zealots. Liu endured re-education during Maos Cultural Revolution, forced to work in the fields 364 days a year. Still, she was driven by her pursuit of an artistic career. She hid a camera and a watercolor set beneath her bed.

Liu left China to study contemporary American art at the University of California San Diego. An only child, she left behind her mother with her 2-year-old son.

She literally had two suitcases and $20, Turner Carroll said.

The portrait Salvation I emerged when Liu discovered a box filled with prostitute photographs.

She refers to them as calendar girls, Turner Carroll said. They were calendars men could flip through in a brothel and say, I want Lily. Shes painting a place of sanctity for their memory.

Today Liu is a professor of art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Liu also is the mentor of Monica Lundy and Lien Truong, artists of Italian and Vietnamese progeny. Both artists have proselytized for the disenfranchised in their artwork. Lundy uses traditionally feminine media like porcelain, coffee and burned paper in her depictions of women incarcerated for their rebellion. Truong singes antique silks and exotic textiles, blended with 22-karat gold threads and abstract painting to tell the stories of racial and gender-based injustice.

Gabriella (2018) is a portrait of one of the women incarcerated during Fascist Italy.

They were locked up for things like promiscuousness or for disobeying their husbands, Turner Carroll said.

Chicagos story circles back to Claudel. Like the French sculptor, Chicago was fiercely independent and determined to pursue an artistic career. She embraced vulvic imagery and colors that were descriptively female, especially pinks, purples and pastels. Her collaborative work The Dinner Party was inclusive; she invited women from across the globe to join in her project. Today she devotes a portion of her career teaching and mentoring women artists. She recently adopted as her radical daughter the street artist known as Swoon, born Caledonia Dance Curry.

If you go

WHAT: Renegades: Women Artists of Historic Consequences

WHERE: Turner Carroll Gallery, 725 Canyon Road, Santa Fe

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; open at 25% capacity. Through May.

CONTACT: turnercarrollgallery.com, 505-986-9800
There are over 700,000 people in America, right this moment, who have no senators to call when they need a voice on issues. But this week, the House will hold a hearing on H.R. 51, the bill that would right that wrong and make Washington D.C. the 51st state.

The hearing marks notable progress in the over 200 year-long fight for statehood. In that time, statehood has gone from being a fringe issue to having over 220 House and 40 Senate co-sponsors in this Congress. Thanks to the tireless work of 51 for 51 young advocates, nearly 20 former Democratic presidential candidates and leaders have endorsed passing D.C. statehood with a simple Senate majority  including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

D.C. statehood affects everyone. If you are an American who strives to see a more representative Senate  a body that in its 232 years has only had 11 Black senators  then you care about forming the only state that would have a plurality of Black residents. If you care about racial justice, then you care about granting full voting rights to Black Americans. If you care about issues everyday Americans are facing, then you care about having two more votes in the Senate for civil rights, gun violence prevention, environmental justice, economic equity and more issues that affect communities across the country.

We pay taxes and serve on juries

The reasons for Congress to make D.C. a state are fundamental, inarguable and plentiful. To start, D.C. residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the country, yet have little influence on how that money is spent. Just look at the CARES Act passed last year: D.C. was shortchanged $750 million in economic relief, even as Black and brown communities were hit disproportionately hard by COVID.

We serve on juries and in the military, yet we have little control over our own court system or whether America deploys its troops, including D.C.s service members. D.C.s local laws are subject to congressional approval and often used as political cudgel for politicians to seem tough back home.

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Taxation without representation: Wyoming, Monaco, voting rights and taxes: All the reasons Washington, DC should be a state

Perhaps starkest among those reasons is how we keep our own community safe. Last summer, as peaceful protesters took to the streets to protest police violence and racism, unidentified federal law enforcement officers dressed in tactical gear cleared streets with tear gas and batons while D.C. had no authority to tell them to stop.

Jamal Holtz with his late grandmother Valerie Holtz (left) and his mother Yvonne Holtz (right) at his 2016 high school graduation at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.

And just weeks ago, as rioters stormed the Capitol and threatened our city and democracy, our leaders had to ask permission to call the National Guard. Now a militarized fence runs through the middle of D.C. Security may be eased soon, but as in all decisions, since we have no senators, we must depend on lawmakers who represent people far away from our home.

Free DC residents from tyranny

This hopelessness is unfortunately too familiar. Im the youngest in a long line of D.C. natives in my family, Ive taken up the struggle of generations before me to realize the rights this country promised my family. My mother and grandmother lived in D.C. before and after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They both watched as civil rights legislation made its way through Congress in the 1960s, while the Black residents of D.C.  then a majority  remained locked out of democracy. D.C. statehood was never on the agenda. Right now, they face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finish the most urgent civil rights fight of our lifetimes.

Voter suppression: Being in college shouldn't disenfranchise me from democracy. H.R. 1 defends voters like me.

As historic democracy reform heads for a vote in Congress in the coming weeks, our ask is simple: Make my generation the last to be denied equal representation in Congress. Fight for affordable health care, gun violence prevention and voting rights  and fight for D.C. statehood. We have an opportunity and responsibility to make sure my kids wont grow up in the shadows of democracy like my mom and grandmother before me.

Jamal Holtz at the People's Watch Party in Washington, DC on Nov. 8, 2020.

People nationwide must call their senators and ask that they support D.C. statehood. Call for my late grandmother, for my mother, for me and for my future children. Call for the 700,000 residents of D.C. who have no senators to call, and whose House delegate has a floor vote that comes and goes depending on who controls the chamber.

If were the Land of the Free, Home of The Brave, then its time for this Congress to be brave and free D.C. residents from this. Let us be full citizens, not second-class citizens. This is the moment for Congress to right the wrongs of our past and live up to our founding creed: that all people are created equal.

Jamal Holtz, 22, a 2020 graduate of the University of Rochester, is a D.C. native and a lead organizer for 51 for 51, a statehood advocacy organization urging the Senate to make D.C. the 51st state with 51 votes in the Senate. Follow him on Twitter: @Jamal Holtz

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DC is locked out of democracy. We deserve statehood and senators.
Demonstrations took place in Minsk, towns outside the Belarusian capital, and in Warsaw on March 21 as part of ongoing protests sparked by the August presidential election that the Belarusian opposition says was rigged.



Women marched peacefully in the Sukharevo district of Minsk to express solidarity with other women protesters and unprecedented daily demonstrations since the election that have called for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, a fresh election, and the release of people detained in the governments violent crackdown on demonstrators.



Small demonstrations were also held in towns near Minsk. Photos on social media showed people holding up the oppositions red-and-white banner and promoting renewed pro-democracy protests set to kick off on March 25, the anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic, which existed for less than a year in 1918.



In Poland, a small group of demonstrators gathered on the steps of Warsaws Palace of Culture and Science on March 21. They waved Belarusian opposition flags and held banners with slogans indicating their solidarity with demonstrators in Belarus who have been waging the anti-Lukashenka campaign for more than 220 days.



One of the signs had the number 25 in an apparent reference to the upcoming demonstrations, which opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has promoted as a "second wave of protests."

The March 21 rallies came a day ahead of a forum hosted by the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) in cooperation with Tsikhanouskayas office.



Participants in the forum on March 22 will discuss how to help Belarus emerge from its current political crisis, how to organize negotiations and international mediation, and how to influence authorities in Belarus.



Tsikhanouskaya will participate in the event along with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and David McAllister, chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.



Lukashenka, who is not recognized by many Western governments, has refused to meet with opposition leaders to discuss their demands for his exit and a fresh election.

The authoritarian leader was declared president for a sixth straight term after the August 9 election despite the opposition's belief that Tsikhanouskaya was the rightful winner.



The brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations has included tens of thousands of detentions and thousands of criminal cases.

About 1,000 cases of torture have been documented by human rights NGOs, 290 people are currently being held as political prisoners, and at least eight protesters have been killed, according to Tsikhanouskaya.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
The West Bengal chief minister said she will get the allegations investigated once she is voted to power

Taking on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his promise to implement the seventh pay commission for West Bengal government employees, Banerjee questioned the rise in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices. (Photo: PTI)

Kanthi/Nandakumar: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday blamed herself for being a simpleton and for not recognising the "true face" of the "influential" Adhikari family, without naming it. She called herself a "big donkey" for being unable to do so.

Apparently venting her ire against the Adhikari family of Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee said at an election rally here that she had even heard rumours that "they" had built a huge empire. Banerjee's protege-turned-rival Suvendu, considered the most important member of the Adhikari family and described as its spokesman by patriarch Sisir Adhikari, is pitted against the TMC leader from Nandigram constituency for the coming assembly polls.

He had left the TMC in December last to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sisir Adhikari, TMC MP and Suvendu's father, joined the BJP in the presence of senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the day.

"I say I am a 'big donkey' (Ami ekta boro gadha) for having failed to recognise them, I am sorry for being such a simpleton. I don't know (about it), but people say they have built a huge 'empire' and they will use money to buy votes. But don't vote for them," Banerjee, who addressed three public meetings in Purba Medinipur district on Sunday, said.

The West Bengal chief minister said she will get the allegations investigated once she is voted to power.

Most members of the Adhikari family, which holds considerable political clout in the district, have either joined the BJP or expressed a desire to join the saffron party.

She compared "the family" with "Mir Jafar" (traitor) and said the people of the region will not tolerate it and give befitting reply in the elections.

Mir Jafar, the military general of Bengal's last independent nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, is considered a traitor for deceiving the besieged Nawab during the Battle of Plassey in 1757 which paved the way for British rule in India.

In all the three meetings, she blamed "the family" for ruling the district like "zamindars" (landlords) by taking full control of the area, claiming that even she could not enter the district or allowed to hold public meetings there without their permission.

"Now I am independent and can go anywhere in the district," she said.

While Suvendu Adhikari was a minister in Mamata Banerjee cabinet, his father and brother Dibyendu are Lok Sabha MPs and youngest sibling Soumendu was the chairman of Kanthi municipality.

Except Dibyendu, all the other three have joined the BJP.

Banerjee claimed that she did not understand that the "traitors" will go to the BJP after getting everything in the TMC.

Taking on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his promise to implement the seventh pay commission for West Bengal government employees, Banerjee questioned the rise in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices.

"The Modi government has hiked cooking gas prices to Rs 850 per cylinder, it will reduce the price by Rs 100 just before the elections and then increase it again and these people are talking about implementing the seventh pay commission," she said, demanding that cooking gas be given for free to people.

"I have seen many prime ministers, but have never seen such an unkind PM," she said, adding "BJP is a party of evils." The TMC chief also described the BJP as a party of "rogues and goons". Alleging that people of the saffron party are the "biggest thieves", she said that they are now questioning the conduct of leaders of her party.

Urging voters to support the TMC at the hustings, Banerjee claimed that state government schemes like 'Kanyashree' will get stopped if the TMC loses. She promised to build 30 lakh residences under a free housing scheme for the poor people in the state. Banerjee questioned whether anyone has got Rs 15 lakh in their accounts that Narendra Modi had promised before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Claiming that perpetrators of crimes against women go scot free in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Banerjee alleged that law and order is absent in UP.

Highlighting that all works like health, roads and other schemes in Purba Medinipur were undertaken by the state government and not by one particular family, Banerjee urged the crowd to keep the BJP out of West Bengal to maintain peace and further the pace of development. Banerjee left her Bhawanipur constituency in Kolkata to contest from Nandigram, where an anti-land acquisition movement catapulted the TMC to power in the state in 2011.
Englands Jordan Vucenic went toe to toe with rising French star Morgan Charriere for five rounds and came out victorious as the man known as The Epidemic claimed a split-decision win, and the featherweight title, at Cage Warriors 122 in London.

Vucenic (8-1) started strongly and used his range and jab to good effect to bank the early rounds against reigning champion Charriere (16-8-1), who was making his first defense of the title. The Frenchman upped his intensity through the middle rounds and briefly stunned the challenger, but he was unable to shake the composure of the 25-year-old, who dealt with everything the champion threw at him and kept firing back over the full five-round duration to earn the split-decision win with scores of 46-49, 48-47, 48-47 from the cageside judges at York Hall.

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I put everything that Ive got into this sport. I love it, man. I dont have a life outside of it. I put so much into it, its nice to get (the belt). Its been a lifelong dream, he said after his victory.

I just treated it like sparring. It might look like I was being cocky to people at home when I talk and smile, but I just love being in there. It was just amazing to be in there. That was the best Ive ever felt in there, as well. No pent-up emotion, no nothing.

When it was suggested that a potential matchup with former featherweight champ Paddy Pimblett could be a possibility, Vucenic instead highlighted the fighter he thinks should get the first shot at his title.

Vucenic defeated Paul Hughes via split decision at Cage Warriors 119 to earn his shot at the title, and the Irishman bounced back from that loss on Thursday with a unanimous decision win over James Hendin. Now Vucenic says the time is right for a rematch, with the title on the line.

Listen, Im the champion, Ive gotta fight whoever, he said. I like Paddy, but I think we all know whos next in line, and Im not going to deny whos next in line, and it is Paul Hughes. Im not going to shy away from anybody, Im not scared of defending it against anybody. He deserves it, so hell get the shot.

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Pimblett delivers 97-second masterclass, calls for UFC shot

Former featherweight champion [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] declared that his fight against [autotag]Davide Martinez[/autotag] at Cage Warriors 122 would be his last for the U.K. promotion, as he predicted he would be snapped up by the UFC after the event. He then stepped into the cage and delivered one of the most impressive performances of his lightweight career. Pimblett (16-3) finished Martinez (8-3) in just 97 seconds after a remarkable combination of techniques that started with a head kick, then, after a flurry of punches, a flying knee and a judo throw, finished with a rear-naked choke submission. https://twitter.com/simonhead/status/1373391179925106689 It gave Pimblett his second straight Cage Warriors victory, a year to the day after his first-round TKO finish of Decky Dalton at Cage Warriors 113, and backed up his pre-fight confidence as he delivered a clear statement to the UFC's top brass that he's ready and waiting for their call.

Harila makes big statement on Cage Warriors debut

Swedish lightweight [autotag]Tobias Harila[/autotag] made quite the impression on his Cage Warriors debut as he scored a hugely impressive first-round knockout of Scotland's [autotag]Aidan Stephen[/autotag]. The action quickly made its way to the mat, with Harila (9-1) establishing top position and settling into Stephen's half-guard. After freeing his arms, the Swede then unloaded a swift salvo of heavy ground strikes that separated Stephen (8-4) from his senses as referee Dan Movahedi dived in. It gave Harila a dream debut win as the 27-year-old known as "Bad Intention" lived up to his moniker with a swift, powerful finish to put the rest of the Cage Warriors lightweight division on notice. https://twitter.com/CageWarriors/status/1373380213548126212

Bouland weathers early storm, fires back for big TKO

[autotag]Liam Gittins[/autotag] came out of his corner like the Tasmanian Devil, but walked into a huge right hand from Belgium's [autotag]Brian Bouland[/autotag] as he paid for his over-aggressive start to their bantamweight clash. Gittins (6-2) came out all guns blazing at the start of the fight as he charged across the cage and let fly a blistering salvo of punches as he growled, roared, and shouted at Bouland (10-3), who was forced to back up to the cage and circle away from his opponent's wild punches. But then, 52 seconds into the round, Bouland planted his feet and fired back with a huge right uppercut that connected perfectly with Gittins' chin and sent him crashing to the canvas. Referee Rich Mitchell dived in to spare the Englishman further punishment and, despite Gittins' protestations, the fight was stopped to hand Bouland the 10th win of his career. https://twitter.com/CageWarriors/status/1373374253718994946

'The Show' Jean N'Doye lives up to his nickname with highlight-reel knockout

The featherweight main card opener saw a huge knee knockout from Frenchman [autotag]Jean N'Doye[/autotag], who starched England's [autotag]Corrin Eaton[/autotag] to score a stunning highlight-reel knockout. N'Doye (9-2), who was competing for only the second time since 2013, looked sharp in the striking exchanges throughout the matchup, but had to be wary through a grueling first round as Eaton (10-4) applied plenty of forward pressure as he mixed up striking with takedown attempts and grinding clinch work against the cage. After a back-and-forth opening round, N'Doye sharpened up his strikes in Round 2 and hit the jackpot with a perfectly timed knee that caught Eaton flush on the chin as the Englishman changed levels to shoot for a takedown. It gave N'Doye a spectacular knockout victory, with the fighter known as "The Show" claiming his first knockout victory since June 2011. https://twitter.com/simonhead/status/1373371198273417216

Preliminary card recap

In the night's featured preliminary card bout, England's Nathan Fletcher prevailed in a battle of unbeaten bantamweights that almost went all the way to the scorecards. Fletcher and Italy's Michele Martignoni battled back and forth through almost the entirety of their three-round bout, but Fletcher's relentless pursuit of a submission finally paid off in the final minute of the fight when he took Martignoni's back, locked up a rear-naked choke and applied the pressure to force the tap with just 38 seconds of the fight remaining. https://twitter.com/CageWarriors/status/1373359606739697667 The event kicked off with a bang, as French flyweight [autotag]Nicolas Leblond[/autotag] (6-3) unleashed a howitzer left hand to knock out [autotag]Darren O'Gorman[/autotag] (6-6) and claim his first win as a Cage Warriors fighter. https://twitter.com/simonhead/status/1373345974899376131 Also on the prelims, French lightweight [autotag]Yassine Belhadj[/autotag] (7-3) picked up a hard-earned unanimous decision win over England's gritty [autotag]Tom Mearns[/autotag] (6-7).

Cage Warriors 122: Full results

MAIN CARD

Jordan Vucenic def. Morgan Charriere via split decision (46-49, 48-47, 48-47)  for featherweight title

Paddy Pimblett def. Davide Martinez via submission (rear-naked choke)  Round 1, 1:37

Tobias Harila def. Aidan Stephen via knockout (ground strikes)  Round 1, 1:14

Brian Bouland def. Liam Gittins via TKO (punches)  Round 1, 0:52

Jean NDoye def. Corrin Eaton via knockout (knee)  Round 2, 1:30

PRELIMINARY CARD

Nathan Fletcher def. Michele Martignoni via submission (rear-naked choke)  Round 3, 4:22

Yassine Belhadj def. Tom Mearns via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Nicolas Leblond def. Darren OGorman via knockout (punch)  Round 2, 3:20

1

1
As part of its Corporate social responsibilities management of Lysaro 3L ventures have supported the Akuapem Akropong School for the blind with 2 Desktop Computers, and consumables such as 10 bags of rice, 15 gallons of Cooking oil, 5 bags of sugar, 4 bags of flour, biscuits, drinks, 15 Gallons of liquid soap and PPEs. The items worth Thousands of Cedis.



Making the presentation,the CEO for Lysaro 3L Ventures and a Philanthropist, Mrs. Cynthia Adjei stated that, it's part of the company's CSOs and they have been supporting the school in several ways and the company's duty to support the less privileged in the society. She also added that society has not done much to support the less privilege and the vulnerable ones, urging individuals and organisations to join resources to help the disadvantaged in the society to give them hope especially those on the streets.



She however appealed to the school authorities to use the items to the benefit of the students who were the very reason for the donation.



Receiving the items , the assistant headmaster of the school Mr. Joseph Hormedzi commended the company and its CEO Mrs. Cynthia Agyei for their tremendous support to the institution all the time.



He appealed to corporate bodies and benevolent organizations to support them equip its vocational training department with basic materials and logistics to help trained the visually impaired students to acquire handicraft skills during their stay in the school and make them gain some self employable skills in Future in order not to become a burden to the society.



According to the Mr. Hormedzi, the absence of some of these Vocational materials and equipments affects the efficiency of the training of students in the vocational skills.



The Akropong school for the blind was established several years ago to cater for the educational needs of the visually impaired ones in society.



In thinking about giving them theoretical education, vocational training was also considered to equip the students with some employable skills for their future.



However, the department which train these students is saddled with some challenges which makes it difficult for them to fully achieve its purpose.



Speaking to Michael Akrofi in Akuapem Akropong, the Assistant Headmaster of the School, Master Joseph Atsu said, their mandate of training the students to acquire employable skills has become difficult since most of the materials and logistics needed for efficient work has not been met.



He therefore used the opportunity to appeal to corporate bodies, benevolent organizations and individuals to support them address the problem.

Source: Michael Akrofi/Peacefm Correspondent









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As more people get vaccinated and states begin to roll back some of the restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic  schools, agencies and workplaces are working on a plan on how to safely return to normal.
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




HARTFORD  A Berlin man was sentenced to six years in prison after investigators said he was selling heroin out of an apartment in Hartford in 2018.

Randy Texidor, 31, of Berlin was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to six year in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to a statement from Tom Carson, spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Connecticut. Texidor pled guilty on Oct. 30, 2020 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He has been detained since his arrest on Feb. 13, 2018.

In 2017 the FBIs Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department received information that Texidor was selling significant quantities of heroin, Carson said in the release.

Investigators made eight controlled purchases of heroin and/or fentanyl from Texidor between October and December 2017. The quantities of drugs purchased increased throughout that timeframe, Carson noted. Texidor and another person used an apartment on Wadsworth Street in Hartford to process, package and store the drugs, the investigation showed.

On February 13, 2018, a search of the apartment resulted in investigators finding about 92 grams of fentanyl, 23 grams of heroin, 500 dose bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, items used to process and package the drugs, a .380 caliber pistol, and $5,981 in cash.

lsellew@record-journal.com203-317-2225Twitter: @LaurenSellewRJ
For Rogelio, who requested only his first name be used because he is in the process of applying for citizenship, the financial loss is a titanic one. In its wake, he and his partner, Maria Pizano, have struggled to keep their heads above water, especially as a chronic illness has in recent months forced Pizano to step away from her work in eldercare.

Were behind on rent, on bills  we just dont have the money, Rogelio said in Spanish. Like Eduardo, theyd been partially reliant on a local food bank. In February, the pair managed to pay only half of their $2,000 rent they share with Marias teenaged daughter; the rest, they knew, would come due eventually.

We had to take out a loan, and were paying it back little by little, Pizano added in Spanish, describing how she and Rogelio had qualified for a loan from a small-dollar loan company.

For Rogelio, the impact of the shortened harvest on his wellbeing has gone far beyond the financial: he has bouts of depression and anxiety, Pizano said, seated across from him at their dinner table. Sometimes he might suffer from seemingly worry-induced headaches, or go a whole day without eating very much at all  the stress strips him of his appetite, according to Pizano.

We are more indebted than we have ever been, she added.
Approximately 8 out of every 10 health professionals in Spain are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a study led by researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Published in the open-access journal Vaccines, the study assessed for the first time this population segment's willingness to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and concluded that the level of acceptance is higher among physicians than among nursing staff. Among the reasons given by health personnel for not wanting to be immunized, fears about the vaccines' safety and the potential side effects stood out.

Although vaccination is considered to the most effective method for preventing and eradicating viral infections and stopping their transmission, a significant percentage of the population is sceptical about the role played by these preventive drugs in immunity. One of the consequences of this has been a drop in the number of vaccinated people, leading to outbreaks of diseases that were controlled or even eradicated, such as measles. In fact, the growth of anti-vaccine groups led the World Health Organization (WHO) to include resistance to vaccination as one of the 10 global threats of 2019.

One of the main channels for propagating fake or scientifically unfounded information against vaccines are social media, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Twitter. In view of this, the researchers, led by Hans Eguia, a doctoral student enrolled on the UOC's doctoral programme in Health and Psychology, recruited 1,002 volunteers from Twitter between 10 September and 23 November 2020, most of them healthcare workers, and asked them to complete a questionnaire in which they were asked whether or not they would accept the vaccine and why.

Of the 731 people who were Spanish, 164 answered that they would not receive the vaccine. Of these, 17.5% were physicians, 35% were nursing staff and 31.5% were other healthcare professionals. Among the main reasons given for not vaccinating, they mentioned concerns about a possible lack of effectiveness, a lack of safety and possible adverse side effects.

"It is an extraordinary thing that the vaccines have been developed in less than a year. This has never happened before and it may give grounds for scepticism, even among some health professionals," explained Francesc Saigi, professor of Health Sciences at the UOC and a researcher at the I2TIC research group, which led the study.

"However, we can be sure that all the approved vaccines are safe. The fact that they been developed in such a short time is because they have received an enormous amount of resources. The criteria applied by the regulatory agencies in approving medicines are very strict," he added.

The results were obtained when the second wave was just starting in Spain and the vaccines' phase III clinical trials had not yet been completed.

There were no data and this perhaps might explain why some health professionals preferred to wait until more information was available. Perhaps if we repeated the survey today, the results would be different." Marina Bosque, Researcher, GRESP research group (University of Manresa, UOC)

The paper's authors consider that the fact that twice as many nursing staff as medical staff were unwilling to be vaccinated is worrying, because "they are the people who are closest to the patients and, therefore, more likely to influence their opinion, as is already the case in the flu vaccination campaigns," Saigi observed.

Although the study was carried out with a small sample before vaccination started, the authors believe that the results are a warning bell that shows that more interventions are needed to improve communication with the public in general and with health professionals in particular. Previous studies have shown that when people have doubts about vaccines, the reluctance diminishes and tends to disappear if they are given clear, powerful messages. A second study is in progress to determine the opinion and willingness to be vaccinated among the general population and health professionals, now that the vaccination process is in full swing.

"By understanding the reasons why people do not want to be vaccinated, especially health personnel, it will be possible to design communication and education strategies and even use social media to settle doubts, improve the vaccination rate and, ultimately, achieve the desired herd immunity effect," the authors concluded.

This UOC research supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, on good health and well-being, and 10, on reduced inequality.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has refuted the allegations against him and asserted that former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh made the claims to save himself as his involvement in the Ambani bomb scare case and Mansukh Hiran death case was getting clearer.

Deshmukh said he is going to file a defamation case against the former Mumbai police commissioner. He has also issued a point-by-point rebuttal of former Mumbai cop Param Bir Singh, who in his explosive letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray, accused Deshmukh of demanding Rs 100 crore collection from the police every month.

While the opposition has demanded the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader's resignation, his party members and alliance partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government have termed the matter as serious but have ruled out replacing him. Several other political leaders have also given their reactions.

Here's everything about Anil Deshmukh's letter

Anil Deshmukh, in his statement, has written that the unsigned letter of Param Bir Singh to CM Thackeray comes as a surprise. His assertions in the letter, if written by him and true, seriously implicate him for the allegations that he has made. Citizens may go through the untenable claims allegedly made by Param Bir Singh as below:

1. About the transfer: He contends that it was a routine transfer, and it was not for his dubious conduct. Section 22 N (2) specifically talks of 'exceptional cases' - and in the present case as per Param Bir, it was to conduct a free and fair trial of the Antilla Case.

Fact that section 22 N (2) talks of exceptional cases dubious conduct is included in this exception. Notings on file as indicated by Param Bir also indicate an exceptional case of ensuring free and fair investigation. By this very fact, it is clear that the presence of Param Bir as Commissioner of Police (CP) would have caused due harm to the investigation and hence is covered under the definition of dubious conduct.

2. Communications regarding misdeeds of State Home Minister: As Param Bir allegedly claims, he had briefed the CM and also NCP leadership - it is surprising why he did not put it in writing and as CP being fully empowered why he did not initiate action. Getting an FIR done does not require any sanction. This shows the allegations being made now are an afterthought.

3. Collection from hotels and bars and instructions to Vaze: Param Bir has alleged that it was in February, and as he says last several months it is presumed, he is talking of February 2021. If this being true, as CP Mumbai it was his duty to record this in writing and initiate or requite for enquiry.

Making this revelation now clearly shows that while the going was good, he never talked about it and now since he is transferred, he is raising this issue. It is surprising that the Home Minister who was in charge when Param Bir was made CP would wait so long as one year to make these suggestions of collections to Vaze.

About meetings and suggestions made to ACP Patil and DCP Bhujbal: Again, Param Bir lacked in his duty to report and respond till he was transferred. If this happened on March 4, as alleged by him, he should have brought this to the notice of CM or initiated action and reported it to Anti-Corruption. He is fully aware of the process as he himself was DG anti-corruption.

4. His message exchange with ACP Patil of 16th and 19th clearly shows how we wanted to build up this plot after his transfer. It is surprising why he needs a confirmation form ACP Patil when he himself says that he was informed by ACP Patil and Vaze both in February and March. Need to get this message as an exhibit is to try to build evidence after his transfer.

5. Home minister calling officers: Home Minster is fully empowered as head of the department to call any officer for discussion and meetings. In fact, Param Bir raising these issues clearly amounts to insubordination. As about the targets, Param Bir is making an allegation without supporting facts and dates... so this too calls for behaviour unbecoming of a police officer and make Param Bir libel for departmental action.

6. Mohan Delkar Case: Here Param Bir's logic of not registering a case in Mumbai is completely against CRPC. Cognisance of the case has to be taken where the incident took place this was the same complication which was also created in Sushant Singh case which led to Maharashtra government getting a lot of flak both in media and by the judiciary. In fact, his not obeying legal directions amounts to insubordination and needs to be enquired into departmentally.

7. Non-existence of any proof against Param Bir: His assertion here is premature as both investigations on the planting of explosives and murder of Hiren are far from over.

8. Extraneous and vindictive: This allegation for extraneous reasons is a wild allegation without substantiation by a member of the police force and liable for action.

Similarly vindictive is also not borne out by the alleged letter except for not registering Delkar case which is actually illegal on part of Param Bir -- no other case of vindictiveness is made out and hence is liable for action against Param Bir for insubordination and making false allegations against the head of the department.

Following the rebuttal, Deshmukh has also listed out a series of action Param Bir Singh now faces after his letter to CM Thackeray. Anil Deshmukh's statement further adds that from the allegations made, Param Bir is liable for:

A. Departmental action for insubordination- and behaviour unbecoming of a police officer

Where he admits not registering suicide case in Mohan Delkar case.

His questioning the authority of HM in calling officers and giving directions.

Making false allegations of vindictiveness and extraneous reasons and putting them to the media.

Also, false fabrication of evidence in a purportedly criminal case of illegal demand of money as per WhatsApp messages.

B. Criminal action for

Not reporting/initiating the matter pertaining to demand of money shows his being complicit in the alleged crime within the provisions of Prevention of Corruption act for attempted abetment of illegal gratification without reporting the same.

For not registering a case of suicide in Mohan Delkar case as per provisions of 166A (c) for refusing to register an FIR.

Deshmukh further said: Citizens demand immediate action --

1. Param Bir be placed under suspension as per provisions of Rule 3 of All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

2. Departmental action be initiated, and also criminal action be proposed as mentioned above- criminal action will look into details of all the allegations of demand as alleged by Param Bir.

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Hyderabad, March 22 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao asked the Water Resources Department officials to complete the works on Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme by December this year.

He also wanted officials to complete works on the pending projects in Krishna Basin. He said the time has come for the Water Resources Department officials to work with total commitment.

"There are some unfinished works to be completed. Think on how fast can we complete these works. Works should be continued taking inspiration from the Kaleswaram Project. In any case, the works on Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme should be completed by this December," the Chief Minister told a high-level review meeting on the progress of works on the project on Sunday.

In this meeting, ministers, MLAs and other public representatives from Palamur district (undivided Mahabubnagar district) participated. They included minister S Niranjan Reddy, V Srinivas Goud, State Planning Board Vice Chairman B Vinod Kumar, MLAs and senior officials.

KCR recalled that during the separate Telangana statehood movement, his speeches never concluded without mentioning the water crisis in Mahbubnagar and fluoride problem of Nalgonda. "The then rulers have intentionally kept Telangana projects in pending. After formation of the State, the ongoing pending projects are being completed one by one. Certain vested interested have created problems and obstacles for the completion of the Palamuru Rangareddy project by filing cases in the courts and getting stay orders. But yet we are going ahead with the works with more determination. We have completed on going pending projects like Kalwakurty, Nettempad, Bhima and also Jurala and turned 11 lakh acres in southern Palamuru as fertile lands," he said.

The CM analyzed that there is a difference between the flow of Godavari River and Krishna. The Godavari river flow would be more while it traverses while the flow from Krishna will be less. Moreover, with upper riparian states of Krishna River like Karnataka and Maharashtra constructing projects and the neighbouring State taking away water through pipes and due to lack of rain, availability of water in Krishna has been on the decline and reached danger levels. Against this backdrop, the rightful share of the State in Krishna water should be utilised to the last drop. For this, all the pending projects on Krishna River including Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme should be completed on a war footing, the CM told officials.

He said Krishna water should be diverted to make Palamuru full of fertile and crop yielding land. The faster the project is completed the better for the farmers and the agriculture sector. He said this project could be linked to the Jurala project.

The CM discussed with the ministers and officials about the land acquisition to be taken up for the Lift Irrigation Scheme, rehabilitation measures, construction of the Sub stations, digging of the canals, setting up of the pumps and related works.
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Six police officers have been seriously injured after a 'mob of animals' turned on officers, smashing through the windows of a police station and setting police vehicles alight during a 'Kill The Bill' riot in Bristol.

Around 5,000 activists, claiming to protect the right to demonstrate peacefully, had gathered in the city centre on Sunday for the demonstration to oppose plans to give police more powers to deal with non-violent protests.

But footage captured the descent into anarchy as protesters clashed with police armed with batons and pepper spray.

Mounted officers were seen attempting to disperse a large crowd gathered outside Bridewell Police Station.

Later a group of hooded protesters tried to smash the windows of the glass-fronted police station and another mob set fire to a police van parked in nearby Bridewell Street.

Protesters managed to get up onto the roof of the first floor of the police station and rained down missiles on the police, who lined up to defend the entrance of the police station.

Three police vans were driven into the area, but one was damaged, had its tyres let down and then a fire was built underneath it, burning it out completely as darkness fell.

In other scenes, officers with police dogs were seen attempting to hold back large crowds as demonstrators scaled the walls of the police station and threw fireworks.

Other videos and pictures on social media showed dozens of officers in riot gear guarding the entrance to the station and protesters trying to roll a police van daubed with graffiti.

Andy Roebuck, chairman of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: 'Disgusting scenes in Bristol by a mob of animals who are injuring police officers, members of the public and damaging property.

'Avon and Somerset Police Federation are attending stations to support officers. We have officers with suspected broken arms and ribs. This is so wrong.'





Chief Superintendent Will White of Avon and Somerset Police said: 'What started out as a peaceful protest has been turned by a small minority into violent disorder.

'Officers have been subjected to considerable levels of abuse and violence. One suffered a broken arm and another suffered broken ribs. Both have been taken to hospital. At least two police vehicles have been set on fire and damage has been caused to the outside of the station.'

He added: 'We have requested mutual aid from neighbouring forces to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.'

Rioters set police vehicles on fire as protesters clashed with officers in the shocking scenes last night

Demonstrators stand near a burning police vehicle during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol

A demonstrator skateboards in front of a burning police vehicle during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol, Sunday

A demonstrator gestures in front of a burning police vehicle during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol

A vandalised police van explodes outside Bridewell Police Station, after protesters set it on fire

A demonstrator gestures near a burning police vehicle as two other vans arrive at the scene to drive protesters away

People watch a burning police vehicle during the protest, which has become violent with protesters attacking a police station

A vandalised police van on fire outside Bridewell Police Station, as other police vehicles arrive

Riot police, with police horses and police vehicles, move down Rupert Street in Bristol towards protesters

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees condemned the violence which has marred a protest about the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

'Smashing buildings in our city centre, vandalising vehicles, attacking our police will do nothing to lessen the likelihood of the Bill going through,' he said.

'On the contrary, the lawlessness on show will be used as evidence and promote the need for the Bill.

'This is a shameful day in an incredible year for Bristol.'

He added: 'The violence and damage that have emerged from today's protests are unacceptable and have nothing to do with the real work we are doing to tackle political, economic and social inequality.

'I recognise the frustrations with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

'I have major concerns about the Bill myself, which is poorly thought-out and could impose disproportionate controls on free expression and the right to peaceful protest.

'It also misses as much as it includes, such as measures that could reduce violence against women and girls. We will raise our concerns.

Protester kicks a smashed Bridewell Police Station window as police officers inside barricade the way , in Bristol, Sunday

Protester smashes a Bridewell Police Station window as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol, demonstrating against the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill

Police officers inside Bridewell Police Station recording protesters on the roof outside

Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol, Sunday

Protestor uses a skateboard to protect himself from a police officer's baton in Bristol during a confrontation Sunday

'We have faced times of great confrontation, particularly surrounding Black Lives Matter and the events that followed. We have had numerous protests.

'Our police, city representatives and I have been able to point out with pride that we have faced these moments of conflict without the physical conflict that others have experienced.

'Those who decided to turn today's protest into a physical confrontation and smash our city have robbed us of this.

'What they have done has more to do with self-gratification than it has to do with the protection and advancement of those of us from communities most likely to be marginalised and mistreated by our political and legal systems.'

Thangam Debbonaire, Labour MP for Bristol West and shadow secretary of state for housing, said: 'This is absolutely unacceptable.

'The scenes of violence and direct attack on the police in Bristol city centre will distress most people including anyone who believes in defending the right to peaceful democratic protest.'

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: 'This is not about protecting the right to protest, it's violent criminality from a hardcore minority who will hijack any situation for their own aims.

'My colleagues, some of whom are now in hospital, face the brunt of that hatred. Thoughts remain with my colleagues.'

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police tweeted: 'Officers have had projectiles thrown at them, including a firework, and have been verbally abused. This is unacceptable behaviour and those responsible for offences will be identified and brought to justice.'

Demonstrators throw objects from the top of Bridewell Police Station in Bristol which has been defaced during the protest

A close up of protesters on the roof of Bridewell Police Station as police watch from inside

Demonstrators graffiti a police shield during the Bristol protest against a new proposed policing bill

Protestors attack a police van which is then set on fire as police clash with protesters outside Bridewell Police Station

Demonstrators stand near a police vehicle which has been defaced, during the protest against a proposed policing bill

Mr Roebuck later told the BBC: 'This is the worst violence in Bristol for many, many years. It's really unprecedented violence. Between four and six or possibly more officers are seriously injured and some have broken bones. No one had any indication it would erupt this way.'

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, introduced to the Commons this month, would give officers in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Those convicted under the proposed legislation could face a fine or jail. The Bristol protesters were carrying signs reading 'say no to UK police state' and 'freedom to protest is fundamental'.

Police had advised people not to attend the protest due to coronavirus legislation, which bans mass gatherings.

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted Sunday evening: 'Unacceptable scenes in Bristol tonight. Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated.

'My thoughts this evening are with those police officers injured.'

Riot police, with police horses and police vehicles, move down Rupert Street in Bristol towards protesters as violence continues into the evening

Riot police, with police horses behind them, move down Rupert Street in Bristol towards protesters

A demonstrator graffitis a police vehicle whilst another lies under the van, in Bristol Sunday

Police officers with police dogs face protesters outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest

Hundreds gathered in Bristol city centre to demonstrate against a controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which would give the police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

The demonstration, which begun on College Green, turned violent after protesters set a police van alight and threw fireworks and 'projectiles' towards officers.

Police donned riot gear and brought in dogs and horses to control the growing crowds as tensions rose into the evening.

The 'mob' then gathered around Bridewell Police Station where protesters were filmed smashing through the building's windows with a baton and rocks. Police were seen protecting the station from the inside whilst filming perpetrators.

Those convicted under the proposed legislation could face a fine or jail. Mass gatherings are currently banned under coronavirus legislation and anyone breaching the regulations could be fined.

Protesters carried placards with slogans such as 'The Day Democracy Became Dictatorship' and 'We Can't Be Silenced That Easy'.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police tweeted: 'Officers have had projectiles thrown at them, including a firework, and have been verbally abused. This is unacceptable behaviour and those responsible for offences will be identified and brought to justice.'

Avon and Somerset Police had urged people not to attend the demonstration - warning that enforcement action could be taken.

The government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill, currently going through parliament, would give police new powers to impose time and noise limits on street protests.

That has angered activists, particularly since a heavy-handed police response to a London vigil for murder victim Sarah Everard on March 13 caused widespread outrage and criticism of the police.

Demonstrators launch fireworks at police officers during the protest in Bristol, with footage showing some protesters fleeing to safety

Fireworks are launched as police officers with dogs arrive to the protest in Bristol city centre

Demonstrators stand in front of a police station's smashed windows during the Bristol protest as officers protect the building

Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol

Demonstrators stand in front of a police station during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol

Protesters set fire to a vandalised police van outside Bridewell Police Station

The man suspected of Everard's murder is a police officer, and the case has unleashed an outpouring of grief and rage over the issue of violence against women and girls.

The government bill pre-dated the Everard case and covers a wide range of policy areas as well as the policing of protests. However, the two became connected in many people's minds because, by coincidence, the bill was up for debate in parliament two days after the London vigil.

Footage taken in Bristol city centre showed the moment protesters almost overturned a police van they had defaced with graffiti, before officers in riot gear pushed them back with batons.

Earlier today a spokesman for the force said: 'Officers are engaging with a number of people who've turned up at the protest. We'd like to thank those who've agreed to leave for their understanding of why it's still important to follow Covid-19 restrictions and protect all our communities from this virus.'

A separate event for Reclaim the Streets - who are protesting violence against women in the wake of Sarah Everard's death in London - took place in Newcastle.

Pictures show a large group gathering and a female protester being pinned to the ground by four police officers.

She was told to move and when she refused, police responded by taking her to the floor, where she was handcuffed before being put in a van.

In a video shot at the scene close to Grey's Monument in the city, the woman is visibly distressed and screaming as she is bundled into the back of the police vehicle.

It is understood the woman was standing on her own when she was approached by the police more than an hour before it was set to start.

It also comes after dozens of people were arrested last night as police attempted to halt thousands of anti-lockdown protesters marching through the centre of London.

The protests come after Home Secretary Priti Patel defended the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in Parliament earlier this week.

Demonstrators attempt to push over a police van as they take part in a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give the police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance

People take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol, demonstrating against the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill, today

Protesters film as they speak to police in riot gear outside Bridewell Police Station in Bristol this afternoon

Demonstrators climb a police van as they take part in a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol, today

A police officer uses pepper spray during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol, this afternoon

Police horses are deployed as they hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station at the 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol

A police officer holding a camera tries to detain a demonstrator during the Bristol protest this afternoon

The protest is taking place on College Green in Bristol city centre, where hundreds of people had gathered - despite lockdown laws being in place

Police officers arrest a female protester near the Monument in Newcastle city centre this afternoon as Northumbria Police take pre-emptive measures after the force became aware of a 'Reclaim the Streets' protest that took place at 2pm today

Hundreds of people gather in Newcastle city centre this afternoon to join a Reclaim These Streets protest in response to the death of Sarah Everard, in spite of Northumbria Police deploying dozens of officers to stop protests taking place

Hundreds of people have gathered in Bristol for a demonstration against plans to give the police more powers to deal with non-violent protests

Mass gatherings are currently banned under coronavirus legislation and anyone breaching the regulations could be fined

Thousands descended on the streets of Bristol exercising their right to protest and holding signs reading 'kill the bill'

Many were wearing face masks and carried placards saying: 'Say no to UK police state', 'Freedom to protest is fundamental to democracy' and 'Kill the Bill', in Bristol

'Kill the bill' is written on the road as thousands of protesters march the streets surrounding College Green in Bristol today

Avon and Somerset Police had urged people not to attend the demonstration - warning that enforcement action could be taken

A police spokesperson said: 'We'd like to thank those who've agreed to leave for their understanding of why it's still important to follow Covid-19 restrictions and protect all our communities from this virus

A separate event for Reclaim the Streets - who are protesting violence against women in the wake of Sarah Everard's death - is taking place in Newcastle

Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol

The bill will see new powers given to the police and Home Secretary to deal with protests that are deemed to have caused 'serious unease, alarm or distress'

The bill will also raise the maximum sentence for defacing statues to 10 years, while new measures are also expected to crack down on knife crime. It has garnered controversy, particularly after Met Police officers were seen restraining women attending a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard in Clapham Common last month

The bill will mean that home secretaries will be able to create laws to define what 'serious disruption,' to communities and organisations means

The bill passed its second reading earlier this week, despite Labour voting against it. MPs voted 359 to 263, a majority of 96, at second reading, the first significant Commons test of a bill

However MPs including Theresa May raised concerns over the impact it will have on freedom of speech.

The bill will see new powers given to the police and Home Secretary to deal with protests that are deemed to have caused 'serious unease, alarm or distress'.

It will also raise the maximum sentence for defacing statues to 10 years, while new measures are also expected to crack down on knife crime.

The bill has garnered controversy, particularly after Met Police officers were seen restraining women attending a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard in Clapham Common last month.

The bill will mean that home secretaries will be able to create laws to define what 'serious disruption,' to communities and organisations means.

Speaking at the debate, on Monday night Ms Patel said peaceful protest was a 'cornerstone of democracy,' before adding: 'The current legislation police use to manage protests, the Public Order Act 1986, was enacted over 30 years ago.

'In recent years we've seen significant change in protest tactics, with protesters exploiting gaps in the law which have led to disproportionate amounts of disruption.

Ms Patel said: 'Last year we saw XR (Extinction Rebellion) block the passage of an ambulance on emergency calls, gluing themselves to trains during rush hour, blocking airport runways, preventing hundreds of hard-working people from going to work.'

Ms Patel said peaceful protest was a 'cornerstone of democracy'. Here protesters climb onto the roof of a cafe in Bristol

People sit down in front of Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol

Crowds, some masked, gather on Bristol's streets to protest the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill

Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol, demonstrating against the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill

Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol

However, former prime minister Theresa May argued: 'Freedom of speech is an important right in our democracy, however annoying or uncomfortable sometimes that might be and I know there will be people who will have seen scenes of protest and will have said, 'why isn't the Government doing something?', to which the answer in many cases may simply be because we live in a democratic, free society.'

Ms May added: 'It's tempting with the Home Secretary to think that giving powers to the Home Secretary is very reasonable because we all think we're reasonable, but actually future home secretaries may not be so reasonable and I wonder if the Government would be willing to publish a draft of those regulations during passage of the Bill so we can actually see what that is going to be and make sure that it is not also encroaching on the operational decisions of the police.

'So there are very important elements of this Bill, but I would urge the Government to consider carefully the need to walk a fine line between being popular and populist. Our freedoms depend on it.'

The bill passed its second reading earlier this week, despite Labour voting against it.

MPs voted 359 to 263, a majority of 96, at second reading, the first significant Commons test of a bill.

As the bill was voted through, protesters had gathered outside the Palace of Westminster to rally against both the legislation and also the police.

But it has been reported by Cambridgeshire Live that it has since been delayed.

According to the Labour MP Victims and Youth Justice Shadow Minister Peter Kyle, the bill committee has been 'pulled' and 'won't start until later in the year'.

Priti Patel defended new powers that would be given to police and the Home Secretary to curb protesters, should the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill be approved on Tuesday

Politicians, including former prime minister Theresa May, have raised concerns with the bill, following Met Police's handling of a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard in Clapham Common on Saturday

The Policing Bill was part of the Conservative 2019 manifesto but elements raised eyebrows from MPs on the party's libertarian wing.

The draft legislation includes an offence of 'intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance', and someone will be judged to have committed this crime if they cause 'serious harm to the public', which can include 'serious annoyance, serious inconvenience or serious loss of amenity', with those convicted potentially facing a fine or jail.

The 'serious annoyance' element of the criteria has prompted a furious backlash from critics who warn the laws could pose a threat to free speech rights and the right to protest.

Labour voted against the bill, and shortly after the vote Sir Keir Starmer railed against it in a Twitter video, branding the Government's priorities 'completely wrong'.

He said: 'The Conservatives have just voted for legislation to increase prison sentences for those damaging statues. But does nothing to address violence towards women and girls.'

A spokesperson for the Home Office told MailOnline that people should not currently be protesting due to lockdown laws. Blanket restrictions on protesting are due to be lifted later this month.
New Delhi, March 22 : In another gaffe within fortnight after assuming office, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said the "United States ruled India for 200 years".

It was the third comment in a week for which Rawat has been trolled.

Earlier, Rawat was trolled for his comment on ripped jeans and equating Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Lord Ram.

"Who knows what would have happened to India had anyone else been the Prime Minister instead of Narendra Modi during this time. We would have been in a bad state. But the Prime Minister has gave us relief," Rawat said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister said: "As compared to other countries, India is managing Covid 19 crisis better. America, who ruled us for 200 years and ruled the world, is struggling during pandemic. Over 3,75 lakh people died in USA. In Italy, having best health facility in world, lost over 50 lakh people lives and heading for another lock down." Rawat further stated that Prime Minister Modi worked to save us and people also followed his (Modi) instructions of wearing masks, sanitising, washing hands and following social distancing.

"Just another BJP leader reminding us about the value of quality education," Congress party office tweeted.

Samajwadi Party leader Juhie Singh asked, "America colonised India for 200 years ?When?".

Rawat, who assumed office on March 10, faced criticism for his ripped jeans comment and was badly trolled on social media. Girls and women from all age groups flooded social media with pictures of them wearing ripped jeans.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Gladys Berejiklian has opened up about her personal struggle through the Covid and bushfire crises, and reveals how she actually felt more loved after coming under scrutiny about her relationship with 'dodgy' Daryl Maguire.

In a recent interview with former Liberal minister Christopher Pyne on his podcast, 'Pyne Time', the NSW Premier revealed that she followed a simple creed in order to get through what Pyne described as a horror year.

Ms Berejiklian told Pyne that the Covid outbreak early last year was 'quite scary'. But she lived by a simple creed of getting on with life by putting 'one foot in front of another' and pushing through the dark times to get to better days.

'You don't realise how strong you are ... 'Even with the bushfires and the pandemic and the personal issues that I've had.

'I never thought I'd be able to do the things that I had to do but you find that inner strength and that resilience,' she said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed how she battled through the trio of crises that defined her 2020 - the bushfires, Covid and the ICAC investigation into her secret ex-boyfriend Daryl Maguire

Ms Berejiklian said that she actually felt more 'loved' after she testified in front of the corruption watchdog and revealed she had been in a 'close personal relationship' with Daryl Maguire (above)

In the interview, Pyne suggested that the public was sympathetic to Ms Berejiklian when she faced the Independent Commission Against Corruption late last year because the public had gotten to know her so well during the previous crises.

Ms Berejiklian agreed, claiming she felt more 'loved' after she faced the ICAC following revelations she had been in a 'close personal relationship' with the backbencher.

'I know this sounds not logical but I actually felt loved after the event than before the event,' she said.

'I felt very fortunate but I also felt the bushfires and Covid gave people a chance because normally they only see ten seconds of you.

'It gave people a chance to know who I am which is really hard in public life because its easy to be painted into a box or a corner, its an easy way to define people like us.

Because I had to deal with those things we didnt expect, and whether people liked me or didnt like me, I hope they feel they know me and I feel thats why I was given that support which Ive been overwhelmed by.'

The Premier said she told herself not to worry about what commentators, journalists and opponents would say about her decisions - just 'do what is the right thing to do.'

'The bushfires taught me that as well ... even if the news you're giving isn't good you have to arm people with the information and tell them why you're asking them to do something. And that engenders trust.'

Gladys Berejiklian (centre) with her sisters Rita (left) and Mary (right). The latter made headlines at the last election for telling a troll to 'grow some pubes'

Berejiklian (back row) is the oldest of three sisters. The NSW Premier only revealed last year that she had a twin sister who was stillborn, who she learned of as a child

Escaping genocide

Throughout the podcast, the pair also discussed how her grandparents fled to Australia as refugees from Armenia, a landlocked Caucasus nation.

They were 'survivors of genocide', she said, with her extended family fleeing from the landlocked Caucasus nation for the Middle East.

According to her mother's history, some 43 relatives were tragically lost in the first genocide of the 20th century.

Ms Berejiklian has previously recounted in a speech to the Sydney Institute how all four of her grandparents were orphaned by the crisis.

Her mother, Arsha, was born in Israel and her father, Kirkor, in Syria, before each clan separately migrated to Sydney's north shore.

A historical photograph of Armenians killed in the genocide of 1915, more than a century ago

Men stand by skulls and bones of victims of the massacre in this undated historical image

Berejiklian (bottom right) with her parents Arsha and Krikor and sisters Rita and Mary

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Berejiklian was the school captain of Peter Board High School

The future Premier was the oldest of three sisters Rita and Mary, attended public schools and was elected school captain of her high school.

She went on to study at university and became the president of the state's Young Liberals, worked at the Commonwealth Bank and was elected to the NSW Lower House in 2003, before becoming transport minister in the O'Farrell government, and prior to becoming Premier, Treasurer.

Driven by the loss of her secret twin

Berejiklian (pictured this week) told a reporter last year: 'I had a twin sister and she didn't make it... I feel like I've got to justify my existence by sacrificing'

The other personal revelation Berejiklian has only made in recent years was the fact that she was a twin - but her sister tragically died at birth.

'I'm very lucky for me every day in life is a bonus,' Berejiklian told The Weekend Australian in an interview before the 2019 state election.

'I had a twin sister and she didn't make it. It was just luck that I came out first.

'Imagine if you had a twin; you came out first, they didn't make it, I feel like I've got to justify my existence by sacrificing. So I don't care if I'm not happy all the time. I feel like I've got to work hard.'

Berejiklian told the newspaper that she only had learned she had a twin when an acquaintance came over when she was a child and asked: 'Where's the other one?'
The three Japanese banks in Jemulpo in the early 20th century. Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection



By Robert Neff



One of the first bank robberies in Korea took place in Jemulpo (modern Incheon) on June 25, 1892  a dreadfully hot day. A young Japanese employee of the First National Bank of Japan went to the Korean Customs Office to collect the daily duties on goods being imported and exported through the port. It was a fairly substantial amount of money  nearly 700 dollars.



As was the standard operating procedure at the time, the employee had a Korean coolie (laborer or porter) with him to carry the trunk containing the money. On this particular day, the port was busier than normal as the Japanese steamer, Owari Maru, had just arrived and a large crowd of coolies, passengers and merchants had gathered in the streets.



As the Japanese employee arrived at the bank, he noticed that the coolie and the trunk were nowhere to be seen. It was suspected that the coolie  who had been hired before by the Japanese employee  had planned this caper well in advance. A search ensued looking for the man and the missing money. But it isn't clear if they were ever found.



Of course, not all robberies were so obvious. In 1899, Homer Hulbert  an American teacher who later became the editor of The Korea Review, an English-language monthly magazine published in Seoul  returned to the United States for a short time. Prior to his departure, Hulbert gave one of his Korean employees a small check for 8 yen.



Once Hulbert was safely gone, the Korean employee carefully added two zeros to the check. When he took it to the bank and tried to cash it, the teller became suspicious and the Korean police were summoned and the man was arrested.



At his trial, the forger claimed that he had a 10-year contract with Hulbert and that he was not trying to defraud his employer, but was merely anxious to draw the whole amount at once. Surprisingly, "the explanation was so plausible that the case was forthwith dismissed."





Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books including, Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.


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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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By Derrick Darby

Meagan Markle exposed a skeleton in the British royal familys closet in her Oprah Winfrey interview. The revelation of family conversations about how dark Archies skin might be are surprising only if we forget the United Kingdoms racist and exploitative imperial legacy. Darker-skinned people in Caribbean nations such as Trinidad were colonialized by Britain. Their land, natural resources, and labor were exploited to enrich the British crown.

Journalist Claudia Jones, born in Trinidad and buried to the left of Karl Marx in Britains Highgate Cemetery, observed that these Black colonial subjects were portrayed as lesser breeds, inferior coloured peoples and savages. For British colonial subjects in the Caribbean, Africa, India and parts of Asia, darker skin was a visible badge of inferiority.

Winston Churchill, the former British prime minister, believed there was a social hierarchy and that whites occupied a much higher position than Blacks. He and others believed British colonialism took up the white mans burden to help civilize and guide the inferior darker races. Jones said this was nothing more than a rationalization for exploitation and imperialism.

The Caribbean immigrants, known as the Windrush generation, who migrated to England from 1948 to 1971, came to help rebuild after World War II and to address labor shortages. Instead of receiving gratitude, many experienced racial mistreatment  police brutality, detention, denial of services and even deportation  because of their darker skin. Jones described colored immigrants as second-class citizens.

Much has changed in Britain since then. In 1965, ethnic and racial discrimination in public places was outlawed; in 1968, it was banned in employment, housing and financial services; in 1976, indirect discrimination was also outlawed; and in 1981, the controversial Sus Law  allowing police to racial profile people they believed were likely to commit crimes  was repealed. Last year, Prince Charles said his country owes the Windrush generation and their descendants gratitude for their service to the nation. The British government apologized for their mistreatment.

Prince Williams response to the shocking interview with Oprah was that his family was very much not a racist family. It is tempting to conclude that Afro-Caribbean Brits are no longer second-class citizens. But there can be racism without racists. It shows up in racial disparities in income, employment, mortality rates and arrest rates. Black Britons earn 7.7 percent less than whites. They are unemployed at twice the rate of whites. Mortality rates for Black Caribbean infants are 5.8 per 1,000 versus 3.2 for whites. And Black youth are nine times more likely to be incarcerated than whites. These inequalities are signs that institutional racism persists in the UK despite the expression of gratitude, the apology and the denial of royal racism.

The royals who allegedly worried that Archie might have darker skin may not have been racist. Who knows? But they were aware of Britains racist history, which contributed to Blackness becoming a visible badge of inferiority. Perhaps, they worried that a dark Archie would defile the purity of the royal family with evidence visible to the naked eye. Meagan worried that Archie would be denied a royal title and other benefits of being a British royal.

Descendants of the Windrush generation from Jamaica, Trinidad and other Caribbean nations worry about the ongoing burdens that Britains imperial legacy  rooted in racist exploitation of darker-skinned peoples  imposes on their lives and well-being.

If Archie had darker skin, perhaps the United Kingdom would have found it much more difficult to avoid coming to terms with its imperial legacy.

Former American first lady, Michelle Obama, prayed for forgiveness and healing for Britains royal family after the racism claims. The difficult path toward both will not be possible without a public reckoning with the economic violence perpetrated against former British colonies of color and those persons who migrated to Britain.

A good place to start would be with a truth and reconciliation commission that offers Windrush descendants an opportunity to tell their stories. The South African model provides direction for Great Britain. It needs to let the full story be told: what forms of economic violence did the Windrush victims suffer? How did it impact their lives? How does it explain the persisting disparities? Members of the royal family and agents of British imperialism and racist immigration policies should also be heard, so their motivations can be better understood. Amnesty would be extended in the interest of getting to the truth.

Britain has resisted past calls to take such action. But they should be renewed now. And unlike the South African model, which focused on racial violence, a UK truth and reconciliation commission needs to address the legacy of economic violence. The stigma of Black inferiority  at the center of the current controversy  was, after all, the pretext for exploitative colonization of the Caribbean as well as for the unequal treatment endured by the Windrush generation and marked by persistent racial disparities.

Getting at the truth needs to be a public priority before real forgiveness and healing can happen. And it would also show why the royal concerns about Archies skin color are not surprising given its history.

Derrick Darby is the Henry Rutgers Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University. He writes about race, democracy and justice issues.

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By Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Hundreds of people from Taiwan's Myanmar community rallied in central Taipei on Sunday to denounce the coup there, singing defiant songs and holding white and red roses in mourning for those who have died protesting the military.

Taiwan is home to around 40,000 people originally from Myanmar, most of whom are ethnic Chinese. Some are descendents of Nationalist troops trapped in Myanmar, then called Burma, at the end of China's civil war in 1949. Others have come more recently, fleeing repression and anti-Chinese sentiment.

Dressed in white, the colour of mourning, holding pictures of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and signs condemning the coup, around 400 people protested at Taipei's Liberty Square, mainly Sino-Burmese but also non-Chinese Myanmar citizens, Taiwanese and Hong Kongers.

"People in Myanmar are once again forced to live under the dark shadow of the military regime. As an emigrant from Myanmar, today we gather here to pay tribute to our fellow countrymen and those fallen heroes," Yangon-born Thomas Chen, 28, a teacher of Burmese at Taipei's Soochow University, told the crowd.

People sang "We Won't Be Satisfied Until The End Of The World", the Burmese-language anthem from the country's 1988 pro-democracy uprising, brutally put down by the military government of the time, and bowed their heads in prayer to remember the dead.

Hung Sun-han, a lawmaker for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, criticised China for supporting the coup. Beijing denies this, though many people in Myanmar view China as supporting the junta that seized power on Feb. 1.

"We know that behind this military coup there are forces from Chinese Communist. This is the thing that people can't stand the most," Hung told protesters.

Last Sunday saw arson attacks against 32 Chinese-invested companies in the Yangon suburb of Hlaingthaya, though demonstrators in Taipei who spoke to Reuters played down fears of wider anti-Chinese feelings.

"Many ethnic Chinese are on the streets protesting against the coup," said Wei Lin, who lived through anti-Chinese riots in Yangon in 1967. "People know how to distinguish between Chinese-Burmese and the Chinese government."

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard)
The West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees call for Los Angeles and Oakland teachers to vote no on their unions sellout agreements and refuse to return to classrooms until conditions are completely safe. The efforts of the politicians and teachers unions across the West Coast to return students and staff to schools under deadly conditions must be resisted in order to save lives.

We reject the governmental attempts to classify teachers as essential workers in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in order to push them back into unsafe classrooms. Despite the recent decline in case numbers with a small but slowly increasing minority of the population having been vaccinated, coronavirus infections and deaths are poised to increase. More infectious variants of the virus are now circulating with state and local governments instituting drastic rollbacks of lockdown measures that will guarantee a renewed explosion of infections and deaths.

Striking LA teachers in January 2019

The decline in cases has already stalled across the US, with some regions in the country, especially the Northeast, now seeing renewed increases. A decisive factor in community spread has been the reopening of schools. In Illinois, where the Chicago Teachers Union worked with the district to reopen schools in the nations third largest district, school sites are now the number one source of coronavirus transmission. Similarly, schools are now the number one source of coronavirus cases in the state of Michigan as well.

The overwhelming preponderance of scientific evidence shows that keeping schools closed and learning remote is one of the most effective measures that can be taken to stop the spread of COVID-19. A study published in Nature in late 2020 found that school closures in the United States have been found to reduce COVID-19 incidence and mortality by about 60 percent.

The false classification of teachers as essential workers and the attendant school reopenings has perhaps had its most devastating impact in Brazil, which is now threatened with a total collapse of its healthcare system. The explosion of cases in that country is decisively linked to school reopenings that took place only one month ago, already claiming the lives of over 20 educators.

In Sao Paulo, Brazils largest city, 66,000 people have died of COVID-19, teachers have been forced to go on strike, not for better wages and benefits, but for their very lives. While the Sao Paulo teachers union, SINPEEM, and the state teachers union, APEOESP, work assiduously to shut down the strike for our lives by the teachers, the West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees fully support the struggle of Sao Paulo teachers and call for broadening the struggle across Brazil, the United States and throughout the Americas.

Educators across the West Coast of the US are in a fight for their lives as more districts attempt to force open schools in the coming weeks. In California, school districts and teachers unions seized upon the reclassification of counties into the still deadly red tier of coronavirus infections to quickly reopen schools. Such plans are now well underway in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, Las Vegas, Oregon and Washington states and across the entirety of the state of California.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has played a critical role in legitimizing this deadly policy, and on Friday utilized faulty science to issue guidelines that state three feet of distance between students is safe. This followed previous politically-motivated guidance by the CDC last month that schools were safe to open at any level of community transmission.

School reopenings in San Diego, set to begin on April 12, reduce the allowable distance from six feet to five feet among students. In Las Vegas schools, the CDCs three-foot distancing mandate is already in place. Far from opposing the deadly resumption of in-person learning, the Clark County Education Association celebrated it, wishing all educators a great first day back with students in the building.

Under pressure from the Biden administration, districts and unions along the West Coast have been working overtime to roll out sham tentative agreements (TAs) and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to reopen schools, with deadly implications for educators, students and their families. Teachers in both Los Angeles and Oakland are voting this weekend on TAs to return to school. Both the Oakland Educators Association (OEA) and United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) reached agreements behind closed doors with their districts and are fraudulently claiming that it is now safe to return to schools.

The UTLA released a promotional video in advance of the LA vote, claiming that their agreement represented the gold standard for a school reopening plan, and that while other teachers unions and districts such as in New York and Chicago were pressured into returning to school too soon, the UTLA held the line until it was safe to return.

These are obscene lies. A return to school in LA under present conditions is no safer than it was when the CTU and the UFT in New York reached their rotten agreements earlier this year. The gold standard is in fact to not return to school at all until the pandemic is genuinely brought under control.

The OEA, UTLA and all the teachers unions are consciously utilizing the temporary lull in coronavirus infections to quickly reopen schools and present teachers and students with a fait accompli once cases rise again.

This tactic has been aided and abetted by the hasty revision of coronavirus infection rate metrics in the state of California to push through the reopenings, along with the announcement of governor Gavin Newsom that more than $2 billion in funds would be allocated to those schools that quickly open their doors to students in April. The state of California revised the threshold for red tier coronavirus infection classification from 7 cases per 100,000 to 10 cases per 100,000. It also allowed counties to immediately enter red tier status after a statewide 2-million-person vaccination threshold was reached.

The only fight the unions have been engaged in is the fight to reopen schools, isolating educators by district and silencing teacher opposition. Fearing that teachers will begin organizing mass opposition to this homicidal policy, the UTLA and OEA have resorted to bribery and threats. The OEA agreement provides a one-time $2,000 stipend to teachers who return back to school on time, while the UTLA is claiming that should teachers vote down its agreement, they will have no choice but to accept the districts terms for reopening, ignoring the fact that the UTLA simply agreed to the districts terms for reopening in the first place.

The UTLA has told teachers, A no vote means that we dont have an agreement and that LAUSD would be allowed the directive to unilaterally reopen physical school sites without our enforceable safety conditions in place.

These intimidation efforts must be opposed! In their struggle against school reopenings, rank-and-file educators in LA and Oakland will find support among educators in numerous other districts across the West Coast, throughout the US and internationally.

There is overwhelming opposition to these deadly policies not only among educators, but also parents and students, the majority of whom rightly fear that putting their children back into classrooms will expose them and their families to COVID-19. A number of petitions are being circulated online among parents and teachers who refuse to return to unsafe classrooms.

Already, significant numbers of parents in schools across the country have adamantly refused to bring their children back into classrooms. Numerous parents across the West Coast will inevitably follow suit if schools are reopened here.

Such resistance, however, will not be successful if left at the individual level. It must find a conscious and coordinated expression guided by a political perspective and program that is completely independent of the Democrats, the Republicans and the trade unions, which have done everything in their power to subordinate the interests of the workers they nominally represent to the interests of profit.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, who draws a salary of nearly $500,000 per year, made the unions position quite clear in a recent response to a teacher on the Texas Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee who demanded schools remain closed. Weingarten bluntly replied, Were not going to fight to keep the schools closed.

The reopening disaster can and must be stopped! Through rational and scientific action on the part of the working class, infection rates can be slowed. Every measure must be taken to immediately contain the virus and save as many lives as possible until the vaccine becomes widely available.

We are fighting for the closure of schools and the economic security of all workers while the pandemic is contained. We call on all educators and support staff, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, nurses, secretaries, classroom aides, janitors, cooks, school psychologists, social workers and workers from all industries, to join our network and build rank-and-file safety committees in your school or workplace. We have outlined our demands in our previous statement here. Fill out the Join form at wsws.org/edsafety to get involved today!
It began as a brush fire during one of Connecticuts most dangerous forest fire seasons and ended with two residents injured and displaced when the flames spread to their homes.

When the call to Maiden Lane in Seymour came in Tuesday night, arriving units quickly found this wasnt one of the towns typical brush fires.

Several departments were called in to help put out the fire, which spread to the home, officials said.

Connecticut typically sees high forest fire danger in the spring from mid-March through May. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also issued a red flag warning for Southern New England several times in March.

So far in 2021, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been made aware of 32 fires spanning roughly 50 acres in total, according to spokesman Will Healey.

Last year, he said, there were 626 reported fires that covered a total of nearly 340 acres. In 2019, there were 107 reported fires that spanned 86 acres.

We had a wet year in 2019, so conditions didnt promote a lot of fires that year, Healey said about the massive jump in fires between the two years. Conversely in 2020, conditions were very dry with the drought, promoting a much higher number of fires.

Healey said DEEPs data does not reflect the full picture, but only fires reported to the agency. The DEEP website indicates that in an average year, the state sees about 500 acres of woodland burned by forest fires.

The states risk for forest fires is monitored daily by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Division of Forestry to keep an eye on Connecticuts 1.8 million acres of forested land.

William Healey, a spokesman for DEEP, said the spring brush fire season is the most dangerous because of all the surface fuel on the forest floor, including leaves, dead tree branches and limbs.

He said despite all the snowfall the state saw this winter, the ground is still dry as it continues to recover from the drought last year, Healey said.

More Information Prevention tips from DEEP: Don't leave a fire unattended Drown all fires; leave them wet to the touch If you have a cookout with charcoal, make sure the charcoal is completely out Soak ashes in water to ensure they're extinguished Homeowners should clear their yards and gutters of any dead leaves, tree limbs, etc. Click here to view more prevention tips. See More Collapse

When you combine that with the high winds and the low humidity in the air, it is all a recipe for a very dangerous situation, Healey said. These fires can spread very rapidly.

Roughly 30 acres burned in Southbury on March 12 during a quick-spreading brush fire, according to DEEP.

Southbury fire officials said crews battled the flames for more than seven hours over rough terrain. The flames did not threaten any homes or structures.

Dan Tomascak, Southburys fire marshal, said recent brush fires have been started by people dumping hot ashes and a recreational fire that got out of control from the wind.

We tend to find them with camp fires, he said Thursday.

Downed trees and limbs from major storms and tornadoes  particularly the macroburst of 2018 which caused widespread damage in the region  have also built up dead wood that can dry out and fuel brush fires, according to Tomascak. That also poses a challenge to crews who have to get to the fires to put them out.

Without leaves on the trees, Tomascak said, the sun beats down on that debris, drying it out despite the recent snow cover.

So far its been a busy season, he said, noting that while Southbury doesnt typically see a lot of brush fires, it seemed like the state has seen a recent increase.

Theres also concern that collapsing trees killed by emerald ash borers and gypsy moths  both invasive species  could add to the fuel load in some areas, said Thomas Worthley, an associate extension professor at the University of Connecticut. However, larger limbs and trunks do tend to retain moisture unless split apart, so a fire would need to be pretty hot for these to be more than just smoldering, he said.

Kevin Catalano of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department said this years brush fire season kicked off with some extra power because of the weather. Catalanos department helped Southbury firefighters on March 12, while also extinguishing two small brush fires in town in the past week.

This year, those very heavy winds we experienced were further adding to the risk of brush fire season and contributed to the fast spread that occurred throughout the area, Catalano said. I think people also dont realize how dry the ground actually is despite all the snowfall we had, and combined with the atmospheric and wind conditions, was causing small outdoor fires to spread rapidly.

Assistant Fairfield Fire Chief Rodger Caisse said crews responded to two brush fires on March 12.

The first fire was small, but it was found about 25 feet from a day care center and about two feet away from a garage. Although some smoking material were found discarded in the area, officials couldnt say definitively that it was the cause of the fire. The cause was ruled undetermined.

Another call came in later that night after wind picked up some embers from hot coals in a backyard fire pit. Caisse said the embers ignited the deck, the house and two home next door.

Caisse said throughout the annual brush fire seasons, the department primarily handles fires in open spaces that are quickly contained. Caisse said the best practice is for residents to avoid any outside burning any time the wind is forecast to pick up. He said a fire is deemed wind driven with gusts as low as 10 mph.

It doesnt take much, Caisse said. When the wind picks up, the speed at which a fire can spread intensifies.

The state also participates in prescribed, or controlled burns, of forested areas to promote re-growth.

Earlier this month, for example, Healey said a crew burned 122 acres in Pachaug State Forest to promote the regrowth of oak and pine trees.

Its really a forest management practice to promote the overall health of the forest, he said. It also burns surface fuels on the ground and can reduce the severity of a forest fire were one to occur there.

He said the burn in Pachaug was the first of four planned for this year. The remaining three will cover about 40 acres: three in Mohawk State Forest, 20 in Tunxis State Forest and 17 in Nehantic State Forest.

In 2020, he said fire crews across the state  not just DEEP  did prescribed burns on 32 acres. Healey said in 2019, 69.5 acres were burned statewide.

Anyone who sees a brush fire is asked to call 911.
Gardai have raided and shut down a suspected shebeen operating during Level 5 lockdown restrictions.

As part of Operation Navigation, Gardai at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick searched a private premises in the city on Saturday, March 20 in relation to alleged breaches of liquor licencing legislation in support of current public health measures.

"Gardai discovered a fully operational, unlicensed bar in a garage adjacent to the premises.

"When Gardai had arrived, there were a number of glasses on the tables with the remnants of alcohol inside them. The premises was found to be equipped with a fully functioning toilet, a television and a dartboard. More below picture.

"A significant amount of alcohol, including six beer kegs, was seized during the operation along with refrigeration units, four beer dispenser taps, gas regulators and optic dispensers.

"No persons were present at the time of the search," said a garda statement.

Gardai say enquiries are ongoing and a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai add that the Covid-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to all citizens to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to save lives.
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New Delhi: China has the strongest military force in the world while India stands at number four, according to a study released on Sunday by defence website Military Direct.

"The USA, despite their enormous military budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and then France with 58. The UK just about makes the Top 10, coming in 9th place with a score of 43," said the study.

The study said "ultimate military strength index" was calculated after taking into consideration various factors including budgets, number of inactive and active military personnel, total air, sea, land and nuclear resources, average salaries, and weight of equipment.

China has the strongest military in the world, scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index, it noted.

"Based on these scores, which account for budgets, men, and things like air and navy capacity, it does suggest that China would come out as top dog in a hypothetical super conflict," it mentioned.

The world's biggest military spender with a budget of $732 billion per year is the USA, it noted, adding that China comes second with $261 billion, followed by India at USD 71 billion.?

"China would win by sea, USA by air and Russia by land" in this hypothetical conflict, it said.

"USA wins in an aerial war with 14,141 total airships vs Russia with 4,682 and China with 3,587. The Russian Federation wins in a land war with 54,866 vehicles vs USA with 50,326 and China with 41,641," it mentioned.

China wins in a sea war with 406 ships vs Russia with 278 and the USA or India with 202, it said.
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India, Pakistan, China to participate in SCO joint anti-terrorism exercise this year

India

oi-Deepika S

Beijing, Mar 21: India, Pakistan, China and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year, the eight-member bloc said.

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 on March 18.

At the meeting, representatives of the SCO member states also approved the draft program of cooperation for 2022-2024 to counter-terrorism, separatism and extremism.

"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," China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported, quoting a RATS statement.

Delegations of the competent authorities of India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the RATS Executive Committee attended the meeting, Xinhua reported.

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 SCO is an economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017. Its founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The next meeting of the Council of the RATS SCO is scheduled to be held in September in Uzbekistan.

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A national research institute based at the University of Waikato responsible for understanding New Zealands population and helping to shape our societys future through its research has celebrated its tenth anniversary.

The National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis was launched in November 2010 as an extension of the Universitys population and migration studies centres.

Its establishment recognised the need for a national centre of research focused solely on understanding New Zealands population to help in planning for its future.

Institute director, Professor Francis Collins, said the institutes core business has been providing vital research to inform both local and national policy makers and planners on topics ranging from how and where people live, to how we address our aging population, manage migration, or how we provide health services and operate our schools.

As we reach our 10th anniversary those functions are still vital and relevant to informing responses to our changing population, but the institute has also become more focused on driving the critical conversations we need to have on the future of our population, says Professor Collins.

He says as a national institute they had a responsibility to be at the forefront of leading challenging discussions as a nation. This included how we address racism in New Zealand to how we rethink technology use within our society from an indigenous perspective.

There are significant challenges on the horizon for New Zealand from how our population is distributed and how we manage migration, to our current fertility rates and they are all interconnected, says Collins.

For example, Professor Collins said current fertility rates in New Zealand had the potential to amplify societal inequalities in the future as Maori and Pacific Island populations grew significantly faster than other segments of our population.

As our population rapidly changes it amplifies the need to address the existing societal inequalities we currently face. The research we carry out here at the institute is at the forefront of working with communities to provide both the information needed and drive the conversations around that, he said.

The institute is playing a leading role in WERO, Working to Understand Racial Oppression, a government-funded research project focused on understanding how racism operates in Aotearoa.

We are seeking to understand what the systems are that underpin racism in New Zealand, how we can go about addressing that and how we can alter the conditions under which racism happens in New Zealand. Part of the responsibility of being a national institute is about driving critical conversations and WERO is a good example of this in practice.

He says the research was still in its early phase, but they have been granted $10 million over five years to carry out the work.

Another key project is Tikanga in Technology: Indigenous approaches to transforming data ecosystems. Led by associate professors Maui Hudson and Te Taka Keegan, and Professor Tahu Kukutai, their research is developing data schemas, methods and tools to help Indigenous peoples realise sovereignty over their data in order to protect against data harms and generate wider benefits for their communities.

Tikanga in Technology is not only looking at how we do demography differently or population studies differently with an indigenous lens, but it is also looking at who owns that indigenous data and how it is used for the benefit or detriment of indigenous populations.

Professor Kukutai who is involved in that project gave the keynote address at the anniversary celebration speaking about the need for a holistic, intergenerational Te Ao Maori approach to addressing Aotearoas population challenges and opportunities: What is the legacy that we wish to leave for our mokopunas mokopuna? Thats the long-term mindset that is desperately needed but is currently missing in discussions about population. There were also panel sessions on the future of migration and regional population issues in the Waikato.

Professor Collins says the other major research project the institute was involved with is called CaDDANZ, Capturing the Diversity Dividend of Aotearoa New Zealand. This work is led by Professor Collins and investigates how Aotearoa New Zealand can better prepare for, capture and maximise the benefits of an increasingly diverse population.

Were extremely proud of all the work our researchers are involved in. Their work is at the forefront of helping to shape the future of New Zealand.
A former pupil at Dulwich College claims the 21,000 a year school is a 'breeding ground for sexual predators' in an open letter sharing accusations from victims of assault and revenge porn.

The letter was written by 19-year-old Samuel Schulenburg and includes about 250 anonymous stories from girls who went to schools nearby such as James Allens Girls School ( Jags), the Sunday Times reported.

The alleged accusations include assault, revenge porn, sexual violence, 'slut shaming' and claims the school has an 'established rape culture.'

Mr Schulenburg, who now goes to Oxford University, said: 'The behaviour of...students is a testament to their entitlement, to their experience of an institution which has enabled their sexism.

Former Dulwich College pupil Samuel Schulenberg wrote an open letter including the acusations

The letter, addressed to Dulwich master Dr Joe Spence, was posted to the former pupils' Instagram page which included as link to the testimonies

'The submitted testimonials do not present a divide between the many and the few. They describe a community of abusers and their enablers, violently sexist boys whose behaviour is underpinned by a collective understanding that their comfort and status is worth more than the lives of those who fall prey to their abuse.

'In almost every story, experiences of assault, revenge pornography and slut shaming were exacerbated by the aggressor's friends, young men who laughed at stories of sexual violence, who shared illicit photos of teenage girls without consent, who stood by as their mates ruined lives. These accounts are heartbreaking as they are outraging.

'They describe a plethora of victims, female students at nearby schools, fellow Alleynians, female teachers. Their purpose is not to highlight the tragedy of individual cases, but to expose the overarching nature of this problem.

'I believe that the College and its culture can be so much more than this.

'There has to be accountability. There has to be justice. It is long overdue.'

Former pupils from the school include Sir Ernest Shackleton, Bob Monkhouse, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Nigel Farage.

Several testimonies about males from Dulwich College were made by female pupils from other schools.

One wrote: 'I was filmed in a vulnerable position at a party by a DC boy without my consent and he then posted those videos on social media and shared them with friends. Since then, I have been incredibly paranoid in any kind of intimate situation or party, I feel as though I can't enjoy myself without the fear of being watched and ridiculed.

'The DC lad culture is truly one of the most toxic and harmful environments I have ever been exposed to, I can only imagine what others have been through because of the shared mentality of arrogance and thoughtlessness that pervades Dulwich College.'

The open letter includes the harrowing testimonies from former and current pupils at Sulwich College

Another said: 'I was held down and had my top and bra taken off by a group of Dulwich College boys who only gave my clothes back ten minutes later as I cried and screamed.'

Dulwich students are also said to use polling app Waggle It to rate the attractiveness of girls and sex acts they would like to perform.

In a statement issued yesterday to the Sunday Times, Dr Joe Spence, master at Dulwich, 'condemned unreservedly the alleged social and sexual misconduct' by current and former students described in the open letter.

He said the alleged behaviour was 'distressing and entirely unacceptable'.

He added Dulwich plans on holding lessons on issues such as consent, pornography and all forms of casual and overt sexism.

Jags said it remains committed to supporting all students and staff in challenging unacceptable behaviour. Safeguarding our pupils is our priority and we take seriously and act upon any allegations within our community.
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New Delhi:

The University Grant Commission on Thursday informed that Prime Minister will address Student Leaders Convention on theme "Young lndia, New lndia - A Resurgent Nation: from Sankalp to Sidhhi" on September 11.

The commission said it has requested to all vice-chancellors, heads of the higher to provide opportunity and facility to teachers and students to view it.

A couple of days back, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted a new policy for prevention of plagiarism to ensure responsible conduct of research and academic writing.

The draft of "Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2017" seeks to establish institutional mechanism for promotion of academic integrity and develop systems to detect and prevent plagiarism.

PM will address Student Leaders Convention on theme "Young lndia, New lndia - A Resurgent Nation: from Sankalp to Sidhhi" on 11 Sept: UGC pic.twitter.com/um7fEYNG9h  ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2017

"The draft directs every higher education institute to instruct students, faculty, and staff about proper attribution, seeking permission of the author wherever necessary, acknowledgement of source compatible with the needs and specificities of disciplines and in accordance with rules and regulations governing the source," a senior official said.

Request VCs of Universities, Heads of Higher Edu institutions to provide opportunity & facility to teachers & students to view it: UGC  ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2017

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EDWARDSVILLE  Three people were indicted Thursday on multiple counts of home invasion.

Carl Edwards, 36, of Carbondale, was indicted on two counts of home invasion, both Class x felonies.

Michael A. Foots, 28, of Florissant, Missouri, and Ronnie D. Jackson, 25, of Mt. Vernon, were both indicted on three counts of home invasion, all Class X felonies.

The three had originally been charged in January, but the charges had been sealed. Charges against Foots and Jackson had been unsealed some time ago, and the charges against Edwards were made public Thursday.

The cases were originally presented by the Alton Police Department.

According to court documents, on Nov. 3 all three entered a home in the 3200 block of Oakwood Avenue and threatened two residents with a firearm. They also allegedly entered a home in the 900 block of Tremont Street and struck a resident in the head with a firearm.

Foots and Jackson were also indicted in an Oct. 1 home invasion. Court documents alledge the two entered a home in the 2700 block of Powhatton Street and struck a woman in the head with a firearm.

In a separate incident, an Alton man was indicted on multiple drug- and firearm-related felonies.

Dane C. Tannler, 38, was indicted for armed violence, being an armed habitual criminal, and unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, all Class X felonies; unlawful deliver of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, and unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, all Class 2 felonies; criminal fortification of a residence, a Class 3 felony; and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies. He had been originally charged in late February.

According to court documents, Tannler allegedly was armed with a stolen Springfield Armory XD9 9 mm handgun, with prior convictions for residential burglary in 2008, and possession of weapons by a felon in 2003, both out of Madison County.

He was also found to be in possession of between 400-900 grams of methamphetamine, less than 15 grams of both fentanyl and Alprazolam, and had delivered less than five grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.

Tannler is also accused of fortifying his home with the intent to prevent the lawful entry of a law enforcement officer.

Other indictments handed down March 28 by the Madison County Grand Jury include:

 Nadia I. Villegas, 18, of Collinsville; and Derrick W. Anthony, 18, of Granite City, were both indicted for armed robbery, both Class X felonies. The cases were presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 22 the two allegedly used a firearm to take cash from a third person. During the robbery the victim was struck with the gun.

 Rosalio Sanchez, 32, of Mesquite, Texas, was indicted for aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Feb. 26 Sanchez allegedly threw a milk container full of urine on a Madison County corrections officer.

 Larrion D. Shelby, 21, of Affton, Missouri, was indicted on two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, both Class 1 felonies. The case was originally presented by the Venice Police Department. On May 4, 2019, Shelby or one for whose conduct he is legally responsible allegedly fired a gun into a building in the 700 block of Third Street, Venice, and a vehicle in the 600 block of Third Street.

 Larry D. Thompson, 34, of Wood River, was indicted on two separate sets of charges. Both stem from incidents on Feb. 26. In one, he was indicted on residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and two counts of burglary, both Class 3 felonies. In the other he was indicted for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony, and possession of burglary tools, a Class 4 felony. Both cases were originally presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 26 Thompson entered a home in the 1400 block of Schaefer Road, Granite City, to commit theft; entered two vehicles in the 4700 block of Old Alton Road, Granite City, to commit theft; was found to be in possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine; and was in possession of a bolt cutter.
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The police in Lagos have recovered the corpse of a-day-old baby abandoned beside a hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Lagos police spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the security department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH) alerted the police.

The lifeless body of the baby was recovered beside Ayinke Hospital by Airport Road, Ikeja, the police said.

The Police operatives attached to Ikeja Division of the Lagos State Police Command, on 20th March 2021, while responding to a call from the Security Department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, recovered a lifeless body of a day old baby that was lying beside Ayinke Hospital by Airport Road, Ikeja.

The police, having discovered the corpse of the baby, contacted the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit that evacuated the corpse.

The baby was suspected to have been abandoned by his mother and must have been exposed to risks that caused his death, Mr Adejobi said in the statement.

This is coming barely a week after the police rescued a baby boy abandoned at Oladejo Street, Oko Oba, Lagos.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, who showed interest in adopting the rescued baby, earlier condemned the wicked act of mothers dumping their babies.

Mr Odumosu directed the State Intelligence Bureau and Surveillance teams in the command to step up their findings and keep watch on heartless criminals who engage in such heinous crimes with a view to bringing them to book and curb the act in the society, the spokesperson said.
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North Korean Embassy counselor Kim Yu-song speaks to journalists before leaving Malaysia, outside the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, March 21. EPA



North Korean diplomats left their mission in Malaysia on Sunday, just a few days after Pyongyang said it would cut ties with the Southeast Asian country over its citizen's U.S. extradition, local news media said.



According to news reports by Malaysian media, a bus carrying 33 people, including North Korean diplomats, officials and their families, departed for the airport from the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur at about 11 a.m. (local time).



Before leaving the mission, the North Korean Embassy's charge d'affaires Kim Yu-song issued a statement criticizing Malaysia for extraditing its citizen to the United States last week.



He said the deportation case is an outcome of the U.S.-led conspiracy against North Korea and has undermined the basis of the bilateral relationship between North Korea and Malaysia.



Last Friday, Pyongyang said it was severing diplomatic relations with Kuala Lumpur after Malaysia decided to extradite a North Korean man accused of money laundering to the United States.



In immediate response, the Malaysian government denounced North Korea's move and ordered all diplomatic staff at the North Korean mission in Kuala Lumpur to leave the country within 48 hours. It also said it would close its embassy in Pyongyang.





Embassy staff member is seen inside the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 21. EPA
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: In all of 2020, there were only 9,000 immigrants caught at the border without legal status. So far in 2021, 108,000 entered the country.

THE FACTS: A popular Facebook post is spreading false statistics about the number of migrants apprehended at the southern border since President Joe Biden took office compared to the last year of the Trump administration.

SLEEPY JOE NOW SAYING HE INHERITED A MESS AT THE BORDER, says the post, which goes on to claim 9,000 undocumented migrants were caught at the border in 2020 and in 2021 so far 108,000 have entered. The post has been shared thousands of times on Facebook.

But those numbers are not correct. U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not document the number of individuals who were stopped but rather the number of encounters, which can reflect the same person attempting to cross more than once.

Monthly statistics from CBP show that from January 1 to December, 31, 2020, the last full year of Trumps presidency, border officials had 547,816 encounters with people trying to cross the Southwest border.

Biden took office on Jan. 20. In the first two months of 2021, there were 178,883 encounters, according to CBP numbers. It is unclear where the incorrect statistics shared on social media came from. Data from CBP show that more than 70 percent of encounters at the border in February resulted in immediate expulsions.
She welcomed her first child, a son named Rennie, with husband David Foster last month.

And Katharine McPhee said she doesn't feel any pressure to 'bounce back' in shape or 'fit into her jeans'.

The new mum, 36, revealed she thought there would be a need to get back in shape but says she has actually feels 'really good' within herself.

Baby joy: Katharine McPhee said she doesn't feel any pressure to 'bounce back' in shape or 'fit into her jeans' as she talked about becoming a first-time mum to her son Ronnie

Speaking to People Magazine, Katherine said: 'I thought I would have this pressure [to bounce back] but I've just been so grateful and happy that I've had a healthy baby and I've felt really good, emotionally and physically.

'I'm so happy that I don't have this crazy pressure yet to fit into whatever jeans I have in my closet. I don't even think about them right now!'

The new mother, who tied the knot with David, 71, on June 28, 2019 at the Armenian Church of St Yeghiche in South Kensington, London, said it was 'nice to have a break' from working out.

Gorgeous: The new mum, 36, revealed she thought there would be a need to get back in shape but says she has actually feels 'really good' within herself (pictured in February last year)

Wow! Katharine looked simply incredible as showed off post-partum figure in the emerald green slip dress earlier this week on St Patrick's Day

She added: 'In my everyday life, I would have an event coming up or need to work out and it's just really nice to have a break and be happy where I am.'

The Scorpion star has also said that motherhood feels 'so natural' and confessed she is 'so in love' with her little one.

Gushing mother Katharine admitted being a parent is 'really sweet' so far and she feels so lucky to have such a 'good' baby.

She said: 'It just feels so natural. I've had a really good baby, he's been so good. I'm so in love! I'm up at 5 a.m. with him and we listen to his dad's piano album and we have our quiet time.'

Doting mother: The Scorpion star has also said that motherhood feels 'so natural' and confessed she is 'so in love' with her little one (pictured earlier this montH)

On Friday, Katharine joked about her noticeably larger chest as she breastfed her son.

After taking a stroll with her little one, she showed off her ample bosom, which she quipped were created 'by Rennie Foster.'

As she lounged at home, the new mother could be seen smiling softly as she wore a white and blue tie-dye blouse and two gold necklaces by Joy Smith.

In the bottom left corner of her selfie, one of her baby boy's fingers could be seen, which is as much as she's shown of Rennie since giving birth.

Cheeky: Katharine joked about her noticeably larger chest as she breastfed her son Rennie, who she welcomed with husband David Foster last month

On her Instagram Story, the Smash actress also filmed herself wearing a pair of cool aviator sunglasses as she enjoyed some fresh air.

Her post comes less than 24 hours after she put her incredible post-baby body on full display in an emerald green dress in honour of Saint Patrick's Day.

Oozing confidence, the star showed off her gym-honed legs with a thigh-high slit.

She captioned the Instagram picture, in front a lemon tree, with a single four-leaf clover emoji.

Her friends and fans were astonished by her trim figure, including American idol's Michael Orland, who commented there was 'almost no visible sign' she was 'pregnant a month ago.'
There's a tragicomic theme to Promising Young Woman, the film causing the biggest stir ahead of the Oscars next month.

It would be funny, what women have done to themselves in the name of feminism, if it wasn't so serious.

The sisterhood movie that gets five Academy Awards nominations is not a celebration of female empowerment, but a grievance-fest that hammers home the narrative of all men as predators and all women as their victims-in-waiting.

The brilliant and beautiful Carey Mulligan plays Cassandra - her name one of many cliches - in a pop-feminist revenge plot that hinges on the concept of rape culture, the idea we live in a society that legitimises sexual violence at every turn.

She goes out to avenge her friend Nina, who took her own life after her date rape accusation was not acted upon by college authorities.

It starts off with her teaching a few well-deserved lessons to the kind of odious snake who is low enough to prey on a woman in a state of drunken oblivion. It soon descends into a browbeating lesson for those who believe in the age-old principle of audi alteram partem - hearing both sides.

If you want to sell sex in post-#MeToo Hollywood, political correctness permits women to be sexy only through the prism of martyr. Titillation must be virtuous.

I have personal understanding of the trauma of rape and of the justice issues around it as a complex crime. It is abhorrent - in case that needs to be said.

But I hate this modern fetishisation of women as perpetual innocents, besieged by men who only "want one thing" - framing sex as a carnal act inflicted upon us poor maidens.

Not primarily on account of men, who don't need me to fight their battles. But what affects men affects women, considering we are the yin and yang of the human race.

The upshot is we have set the dial back to women being encouraged to believe casual sex is something that can only happen by force or coercion.

Not something they can freely enjoy, without over-thinking it; without hang-up or shame, or even the occasional, benign tinge of mild regret.

Women have fallen into the trap of embracing the role of victim; a pyrrhic victory for feminism, up to recently the most successful civil rights movement, by any measure. It's a weak position patronisingly celebrated as "right-on" in movies like Promising Young Woman.

I preferred it when we rejected paternalism and chose freedom, at the price of risk.

I was lucky enough to come of age in the 1990s, the peak of women's sexual liberation. Now we're hurtling back towards a Victorian era of chaperones; one where women are not autonomous adults.

Who needs male authority figures controlling sexual behaviour when you can get women to limit their own freedoms, through fear?

Cassandra's boyfriend in the movie treats her like she is some kind of fragile womanchild, wooing her with lines like: "I can take it slow, I can barely move, if you like." This apparently means he's a "good guy".

But there are no good guys in Emerald Fennell's directorial debut, just like they don't exist in real life, obviously.

Even if you believe you're one, you're probably an evil raping bastard underneath it all, is the takeaway message.

Every negative male stereotype is wheeled out to bolster the theory all men are dangerous misogynists - the office boors, the entitled frat boys, even the auld building site fellas who haven't so much as wolf-whistled anyone in the last decade for fear of a firing.

No matter what men do, they are protected and given the benefit of the doubt, their crimes absolved. What a neat binary world it is: men, bad, oppressors - women, pure, oppressed.

"Every week, I go to a club and every week I act like I'm too drunk to stand and every week, a 'nice guy' like you comes up to see if I'm OK," Cassandra tells one of her targets. But is this reality? Or a new form of scaremongering?

Yes - of course there's the odd creep who will exploit a vulnerable woman in such a situation. What is depicted in the movie goes beyond taking advantage and is clearly sexual assault.

It would be nice to imagine that such men's eyes might be opened to the possible consequences of such actions.

In my experience, thankfully they're the exception, not the rule. No decent man would ever consider it. I fear it's just another way of telling women: don't go out and get wildly drunk or you'll be raped.

The market for this bubblegum feminist agitprop is the woke generation who are yet to realise they've sacrificed pure freedom for the false promise of security.

But as Germaine Greer said: security doesn't exist, except in a maximum-security prison.
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In a statement released by his office Sarkisian responded to accusations made by Pashinian during a public rally on a visit to the western Aragatsotn province on Saturday.

Addressing scores of supporters in the village of Nerkin Bazmaberd Pashinian, in particular, charged that Sarkisian had driven the negotiations with Azerbaijan on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh to a state where seven districts around the disputed region would be handed over to Baku in exchange for only the restoration of the former autonomous oblast.

Earlier, Pashinian said that his government attempted to change the logic of the negotiations to seek Nagorno-Karabakhs independent status, but failed to do that.

Meanwhile, Sarkisian insisted that it is Pashinians policies that paved the way for last falls six-week war in which Azerbaijan restored control over seven districts around Nagorno-Karabakh (both militarily and under a November 10 ceasefire agreement with Armenia brokered by Russia) and captured a chunk of the former autonomous oblast proper.

Thousands of people have been killed due to your mediocrity or by you malicious intent (the court will soon decide which of the two). You resignedly endure the enemys encroachments on Armenia, flirt with the enemy who tortures our fellow citizens in Baku prisons, destroys our cultural values in Artsakh [the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh]. Nobody believes you anymore, because you lied throughout the war, after it and continue to lie to this day, the former leader said.

Sarkisian reminded that since coming to power in 2018 Pashinian insisted that he was not conducting negotiations with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. According to the former president, however, the lie was revealed when in April 2020 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that back in April 2019 a new draft proposal envisaging a phased settlement was submitted to the parties. No one in Yerevan has officially denied Lavrovs statement, Sarkisian said.

Another lie was exposed when the Russian co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europes (OSCE) Minsk Group, Igor Popov, commented on [Pashinians] notorious article The Origin of the 44-Day War, in which the capitulator claimed that the proposals of the Russian side to resolve the conflict did not concern the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, but concerned only the return of seven districts to Azerbaijan, Sarkisian said.

In his comments, Popov, in particular, said: The statements that Russia offered that [Armenia] simply return seven districts [to Azerbaijan] and forget about the status [of Nagorno-Karabakh] do not correspond to reality.

Sarkisian continued: Representatives of the other two co-chairing countries  the United States and France  have not refuted this [Popovs] statement, revealing the irresponsible and deceitful essence of the person occupying the post of the prime minister in Armenia.

Sarkisian further charged that because of Pashinians starting negotiations from his own point and his populist manner of action all provisions on the right of Nagorno-Karabakhs people to self-determination were pushed out of the negotiations.

The former president again cited Popov, who said that although it was not possible to reach a full agreement, the most important thing was that the negotiations were going on continuously until 2018 when Yerevan put forward new conditions.

Addressing his words to Pashinian, Sarkisian concluded: Your manipulations are endless, but you wont be able to mislead the people. The time has come for you to answer for your actions.
Gunfire erupted at an after-hours party in Nicetown early Saturday morning, killing a 29-year-old man and wounding five people, police said.

Neighbors and law enforcement sources spoke of a chaotic scene that had partygoers fleeing desperately down Germantown Avenue, leaving their belongings behind, after shots were fired around 3:45 a.m. on the 4200 block.

On the residential blocks that abut the avenue, neighbors said they had been woken by gunfire and lay awake, afraid to go to the windows.

I was awakened by gunshots, and when I thought they were over with, there was another round, said Kim Eatman, who lives in a rowhouse directly down the street from where the shooting took place. I thought  I have to move out of here as quick as possible.

A law enforcement source said that a motive in the shooting was unclear but that detectives were interviewing several witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from the area. No arrests had been made.

It just seems like it was chaos after shots rang out, said the source, who did not want to be identified because that person was not authorized to speak publicly about the shooting.

The man who was killed, whose name police did not release, was shot 14 times throughout his body, police said. He was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital 15 minutes after the shooting.

In addition, a 33-year-old man was shot once in the left leg, a 30-year-old woman was shot once in the right leg, a 41-year-old man was shot once in the right knee, and a 40-year-old woman was shot once in the buttocks, police said. All were taken to hospitals in private cars and were in stable condition. A fifth man, 38, was shot once in the right leg and was taken to Temple by medics; he, too, was in stable condition, police said.

The shooting took place inside a catering facility on Germantown Avenue that appeared to be hosting a pop-up party, the source said. It was unclear who had rented or was using the facility for a party, but about 150 people had showed up by early Saturday morning.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw told NBC10 at the shooting scene that the facility had been shut down by police before and that she would ask city leadership to level more sanctions against it. A law enforcement source said the facility would not have been permitted to hold a gathering as large as the one Friday night and early Saturday.

On the avenue Saturday, police taped off several blocks as detectives moved in and out of the storefront where the party had been held. Neighbors peered from front porches and corners, occasionally chatting with officers stationed at intersections.

A man standing outside a bodega, who declined to give his name, said his daughters friend had been at the party the night before, and that his daughter had spent the morning trying to learn whether her friend was among the victims. Eventually, the friend got in touch: She had escaped the gunshots by hiding under a chair.

Its frightening, the man said. Frightening and scary and worrying.

The shooting was one of three that took place between Friday night and midday Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, as detectives gathered evidence on Germantown Avenue and activists across the city hosted two marches against rising gun violence in Philadelphia, a 38-year-old man was shot three times on the 5900 block of Arch Street. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Also, an 18-year-old man was shot in the left ankle Saturday afternoon on the 1300 block of St. Vincent Street in the Oxford Circle area of Northeast Philadelphia, police said. He was taken to a hospital by private vehicle and was listed in stable condition.

Two people were also stabbed in separate incidents elsewhere in the city, according to police.

After a major spike in gun violence last year, shootings in Philadelphia in 2021 have continued to rise. As of Friday, 106 people had been killed in the city this year, a 28% increase over the same period last year. The man killed early Saturday would be the citys 107th homicide victim of 2021. More than 400 people have been shot this year.

For some, the toll is becoming too much to bear. Eatman, the neighbor awoken by gunshots, stuck by the impulse she had when she first heard them.

I want to move out of Philadelphia, period, she said. Because of the increasing gun violence. Its implausible. Unbelievable. And this is just the first quarter of the year.
The Iraqi government implemented March 15 visa on arrival status to citizens of several countries. The move constitutes a profound change to Iraqs visa policy, Al-Monitor reports.

Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union states, Russia, China and other countries can now get a visa upon entering Iraq via an airport or a land or sea border. Those entering will need to pay a fee and their entry is subject to coronavirus-related regulations, the Iraqi government said in a press release.

The measure aims to boost the Iraqi economy. To this end, Iraq included all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on the list. Citizens of the economic powerhouses Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland can also receive a visa on arrival. Iraq wants to encourage investment & support job creation, the government said in a tweet.

Almost all foreigners needed to apply for an Iraqi visa before entering previously and this rule still applies for the states not on the exemption list, including Middle Eastern countries. The new policy will also make it easier for many international journalists to cover Iraqi news.

The Iraqi federal government does not control visa requirements in the entire country. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq implements its own visa regimen. Citizens of the United States, the EU, Turkey, Iran and several other countries can enter the Kurdistan Region without obtaining a visa beforehand, according to the KRG. This policy has been in place for several years.
Light Rail Studios is like a time capsule to a different San Francisco, one where the reels on the Grateful Deads vintage tape recording machines still spin and dozens of local bands rehearse in partitioned practice spaces under a watchful eyeball sculpture created by 70s musical pranksters The Residents.

The massive warehouse is split into a world-class recording studio and 56 rehearsal rooms rented by the month. Its the type of place where any conversation is easily derailed with anecdotes about Neil Youngs session musicians and debates over the sound qualities of their vintage 70s Trident A Range mixing board (one of 13 ever built). The unassuming industrial pocket of the Bayview is one of the last places such a space could exist, with similar San Francisco practice spaces such as Lennon Studios being sold for millions.

Weve been a part of the Bayview for 30 years, says Elton Cunniffe, an owner of the studio who began recording bands in the basement of a Lower Haight Victorian during the 1990s. The operation then moved to a warehouse at 215 Napoleon Street, spent an eight year stint at 18th and Minnesota streets until being pushed out by UCSF development and in 2010 returned to the Bayview at their current location on Toland Place.

"Its the last fully commercial neighborhood. We got kicked out of the old studio because it was live and work, and lofts started going up, and they were like 'get the industry out,'" says China Tamblyn, owner and production manager. "But here I think its going to stay a commercial zone, which artists and small businesses need."

Robby Durler/Special to SFGATE

Whats really cool about this neighborhood is that its such a little gem, says Parker T. Gibbs, a producer and host of the studios live sessions. You are minutes from downtown, if youre a touring band, youre minutes from the airport. Theres plenty of parking, you dont have that in San Francisco. Those rare parking spaces have been utilized by Light Rail for everything from kids band camps to record swaps.

Given their long tenure in San Francisco, Light Rails legacy stems from vintage rock sounds. Their Trident mixing board, which at one point was on sale for half a million dollars and is the size of a small bedroom, is worthy of a feature-length documentary about its journey from Johannesburg in the 70s to a Church of Scientology and then Metallicas studio in Richmond. To show off the Meyer Audio studio speakers, producer Nick Dumitriu cues up a Rush song, which was actually recorded on a Trident. Despite their rock roots, over the years the studio has adapted to changing musical trends. They still host the Doobie Brothers on occasion, but also rappers like Lil Wayne.

Its interesting the ways the cold calls have changed over the years. It used to be, hey man, Ive got my band, and now its all emcees, says Dumitriu. And most of them are right down the street... Its certainly not a financially tenable thing to do to record little up-and-comers, but Im like, drop me a link, if I like it you can come on down.

Robby Durler/Special to SFGATE

In addition to adapting to the changing music landscape, the operation has had to evolve with the pandemic. They had already started to invest in video production in early 2020 with a project dubbed Light Rail Station, a large production studio capable of producing 4K resolution, TV-quality video on a stage meant to invoke a police station from the classic sci-fi film Blade Runner. They initially hoped to serve a similar function to radio stations like KCRW in Los Angeles and KEXP in Seattle, where touring bands drop by for live sets. That idea was derailed at the beginning of the pandemic, but since broadcast stations qualify as essential services, Light Rail was able to continue operating.

We were able to really quickly set up our COVID protocols, stop having a live audience, have a stripped-down crew, and focus more on solo acts. We did a whole literary series with Red Light Lit, says Tamblyn. They also hosted iconic film director John Waters on his most recent virtual book tour, alongside fellow director Jim Jarmusch. The event featured a live Q&A thats become a staple of their broadcasts.

Were here to tell stories. People dont want to just watch a band, they want some interaction, says Gibbs. We started having people calling in or writing questions, that while I was hosting, Id start commenting on. You get the band engaged, and its a totally different dynamic. That interaction was particularly vibrant once they got Grateful Dead alums like Melvin Seals and Dennis McNally involved (shocker, Deadheads like to ask questions).

The streaming sessions have helped bring music to people from around the globe, with Italian residents particularly active viewers in the earliest days of their broadcasts, but Light Rails most essential service during the pandemic may have been their rehearsal space operation. Renting at a surprisingly reasonable $600-1,200 per month gives Light Rail a steady income while recording has slowed, and offers musicians a safe place to practice until live music venues reopen.

Robby Durler/Special to SFGATE

You cant play in your house in San Francisco, its not like the suburbs where you can play in your garage. This is like your garage, says Tamblyn.

Condos reign supreme. The more condos that go up, and theres no place for spaces like this, says Gibbs.

Talk of condo development brings the conversation back to the original days of Light Rail. In the 90s, it was located in a Victorian full of musicians at Webster and Haight, when the neighborhood was what Dumitriu described as a spicy meatball and Fillmore Street was something of a cultural dividing line between the projects across the street.

The roundtable of old school San Franciscans start to reminisce about dancing all night long at Nickies and bemoan the jerks whod park their motorcycles in front of Armadillos (Cunniffe was one of them). Dumitriu tells the story of the Les Paul guitar he bought in the 80s for a few hundred dollars, and Cunniffe describes a violent altercation at an old Mission bar called Chatterbox that involved a Kiss pinball machine.

Its the type of conversation thats relatively rare in todays San Francisco, and basically an endangered species during an era where spontaneous banter with an old friend at a music venue is non-existent. Right now, theres not a lot of other places youll find this type of old-school counter-culture banter than in a sleepy, but very noisy industrial pocket of the Bayview.

-

Its Bayview Month at SFGATE. Well be diving deep into the neighborhood for the entirety of March as part of a new series where well be highlighting a different corner of San Francisco every month this year.
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Emma Roberts showed off the versatility of her pregnancy beauty.

The 30-year-old actress went from blonde to brunette in a stunning never-before-seen photo shoot for beauty brand Violet Grey.

'Team Violet Grey transforms a pregnant Emma Roberts from a laid-back Laurel Canyon blonde in sneakers to an Uptown brunette in six-inch heels,' the retailer captioned an image of the American Horror Story star flaunting her formerly bulging belly.

Baby belly: Emma Roberts went from blonde to brunette in a stunning never-before-seen photoshoot for beauty brand Violet Grey

Transformation: 'Team Violet Grey transforms a pregnant Emma Roberts from a laid-back Laurel Canyon blonde in sneakers to an Uptown brunette in six-inch heels,' the retailer captioned an image of the American Horror Story star, 30, flaunting her formerly bulging belly

The gorgeous black and white snaps were taken before Roberts and boyfriend Garrett Hedlund welcomed son Rhodes in December.

She was photographed in two very different looks for the feature, starting with her California casual attire.

Emma sported a Champion t-shirt, unbuttoned Levi jeans and Nike sneakers for the relaxing look.

She tied up the bottom of her shirt to put her baby belly on full display.

Mood: She was photographed in two very different looks for the feature, starting with her California casual attire, captioning this photo 'mood' when she added it to her Instagram account

California blonde: Emma sported a Champion t-shirt, unbuttoned Levi jeans and Nike sneakers for the relaxing look, tying up her shirt to put her baby belly on full display

Getting ready: 'Ive always loved the getting-ready process both on and off camera of changing my hair and makeup to embody a different vibe and inspire a different personality,' she said in the accompanying interview with her Scream Queens co-star Jamie Lee Curtis

For her second look, Emma sizzled in a flowing brunette wig, showing off her pregnant curves in a black Agent Provocateur minidress.

She accessorized the high-fashion half of the shoot with an emerald necklace from Shay Jewelry, white earrings from Bare Collection and strappy heels by Far.

In the accompanying interview with her Scream Queens co-star Jamie Lee Curtis, she revealed how much she loves getting dressed up.

'Ive always loved the getting-ready process both on and off camera of changing my hair and makeup to embody a different vibe and inspire a different personality,' she said.

Brunette bombshell: For her second look, Emma sizzled in a flowing brunette wig, showing off her pregnant curves in a black Agent Provocateur minidress

Accessorizing: She accessorized the high-fashion half of the shoot with an emerald necklace from Shay Jewelry, white earrings from Bare Collection and strappy heels by Far

Helping hands: The incredible transformation was made possible with the help of hairstylist Adir Abergel, makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua and stylist Jill Jacobs

The Holidate starlet first became interested in beauty as a child exploring all of her mom's products.

'When I was four, I went into my moms bathroom, found the most expensive cream, and smeared it all over my face. I remember being enamored by it all  the products, the scents, the ritual, the transformation,' she told the beauty retailer.

The incredible transformation was made possible with the help of hairstylist Adir Abergel, makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua and stylist Jill Jacobs.

Genetic beauty: The Holidate starlet first became interested in beauty as a child exploring all of her mom's products: 'When I was four, I went into my moms bathroom, found the most expensive cream, and smeared it all over my face'

Enamored: 'I remember being enamored by it all  the products, the scents, the ritual, the transformation,' she told the beauty retailer

Relaxing: The new mom also shared some of the beauty tricks that help her remain calm and centered: 'In the evening, I enjoy a full spa-like moment... The bath is my safe place. I add oil and salts  anything to make it feels special and soothing'

The new mom also shared some of the beauty tricks that help her remain calm and centered.

'In the evening, I enjoy a full spa-like moment. Ill wash my face with the Dr. Barbara Sturm Cleanser, which I love, and sometimes add in her scrub as well. The bath is my safe place. I add oil and salts  anything to make it feels special and soothing,' she confessed.

The star has been spending time at home with her 36-year-old actor beau since Rhodes Robert Hedlund's arrival a few days after Christmas, but is gearing up to head back to work.

Home life: The star has been spending time at home with her 36-year-old actor beau since Rhodes Robert Hedlund's arrival a few days after Christmas, but is gearing up to head back to work

Work: Roberts next lends her voice to the character Sasha Nutwagon in the animated adventure Saurus City. She also has two projects in pre-production, Robots with Jack Whitehall and Now I See You for director Nick Cassavettes

Roberts next lends her voice to the character Sasha Nutwagon in the animated adventure Saurus City.

She also has two projects in pre-production, Robots with Jack Whitehall and Now I See You for director Nick Cassavettes.

The acting couple first struck up their relationship in March of 2019, shortly after she and her onoff boyfriend and American Horror Story co-star Evan Peters ended their nearly seven-year relationship.
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Author Deborah D. Douglas explores history, landmarks and watershed moments for Black rights in Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail travelers guide

From the port where enslaved Africans entered America to the home where Medgar Evers was murdered, a new guidebook helps readers explore for themselves the history, the landmarks and the watershed moments of the Black American struggle for equality and justice.

In Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Travelers Guide to the People, Places and Events that Made the Movement, author Deborah D. Douglas explores destinations like Selma, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee  with historical background, itineraries and maps to help the traveler trace the steps of the heroes of the civil rights movement  and understand the agonies that befell them and the triumphs they achieved.

Exploring the civil rights trail is a way of linking our lived experience to a time when Black Americans became united, committed and stronger, Douglas says in the books preface.

This photo provided by Perseus Books shows the book cover of Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Travelers Guide to the People, Places and Events That Made the Movement. (via AP)

Its release comes as the U.S. undergoes a reckoning on racial injustice in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd last May in Minneapolis.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Douglas said when the opportunity to travel the trail presented itself, she took it.

READ MORE: Prince Harry pens tribute to Princess Diana in new childrens book

The U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a collection of churches, schools, museums and other landmarks in the South where activists challenged segregation in the 1950s and 1960s to advance social justice, according to its website. The trail, announced in 2018, encompasses more than 100 surviving landmarks where major events of the civil rights movement occurred across 15 states.

Douglas book primarily details sites in the South  North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The trail is vast, Douglas said. It goes as far east as Wilmington, Delaware to as far west as Kansas and south into Louisiana and Florida.

Story continues

This photo provided by Deborah D. Douglas shows Deborah D. Douglas, author of Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Travelers Guide to the People, Places and Events That Made the Movement. (Deborah D. Douglas via AP)

We are literally surrounded by greatness and dont even know it, she continued. So many of the places I visited in writing this book are part of the daily fabric of our lives, but we miss opportunities to engage with them from the viewpoint of greatness they represent.

She said her book, released in January, is not only a basic guidebook  its also a history book, a civics book, a road map for activism and engagement with the Democratic experience.

There are snippets of information on some of the people who made the movement in each city she touches. In Charleston, South Carolina, for example, Douglas mentions Denmark Vesey, who bought his freedom using Charleston lottery winnings and in 1816 helped found Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal, the church where nine Black parishioners were shot and killed by a white supremacist nearly 200 years later. And in Atlanta, she highlights the Rev. Martin Luther King and U.S. Rep. John Lewis.

READ MORE: Don Lemon compares new book to James Baldwins writings

Douglas said the trail helps people to understand what righteous people are fighting for.

When essential workers invoked living wage issues as a result of the pandemic, it goes back to the same issues that Dr. King was focusing on back in the day, she said. We are very much implicated in the things now that were happening 50, 60 years ago, she said.

Douglas said she hopes readers will embrace the guidebook by incorporating some of the itineraries created for each city and physically visit the historic sites listed, like the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma and Atlantas Sweet Auburn Historic District. She hopes theyll also get to know the voices, the stories and the culture that shape and celebrate the Black American experience in each city.

The book includes restaurant suggestions and music playlists that include modern classics like Nina Simones Mississippi Goddam, which bewails the racially motivated killings of Emmett Till  a Black teenager lynched by a white mob in 1955  and civil rights activist Medgar Evers, slain in the driveway of his Jackson home.

An award-winning journalist, Douglas also has served as the Eugene S. Pulliam distinguished visiting professor of journalism at DePauw University. She was managing editor of MLK50: Justice Through Journalism and is currently a senior leader of The OpEd Project, a global initiative to amplify underrepresented voices.

I tell you when to go, where to shop, where to hang out and, especially, where to eat, she said, laughing, referring to her guidebook. In the later chapters, I built timelines to tell you about the civil rights movement into 2020. Its a book about the past, but its also all about now.

Kabria Baumgartner, an associate professor of American studies and English at the University of New Hampshire, said the book is very timely.

Amid the wave of Black Lives Matter protests, more people seem to be visiting historic areas and sites that chronicle the history of racial justice movements in the United States, she said in an emailed statement. Once the pandemic subsides, well need to deal with our collective trauma in order to heal from it. In some ways, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail can help guide us, literally and figuratively, and push us along. 

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The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo isn't thrilled with Apple leaving the charger out of the iPhone 12 box. Tilt and MacRumors report that the consumer protection agency Procon-SP has fined Apple nearly R$10.55 million (about $1.92 million US) for removing the power adapter from the iPhone 12 family and newer production runs of older iPhones. Apple's move was a violation of the country's Consumer Defense Code, according to the watchdog.

Procon-SP told Apple about the alleged violation in December. Apple responded by reiterating its environmental angle, arguing that it would reduce CO2 emissions and rare earth mining. It noted that many customers already had spare chargers. The agency clearly wasn't satisfied with that answer, however. In issuing the fine, Procon-SP executive director Fernando Capez told Apple it needed to respect Brazilian law.

The fine also covers allegedly misleading water resistance claims. Apple supposedly declined to repair iPhones that had suffered water damage under warranty despite touting the devices' ability to survive immersion for extended periods.

We've asked Apple for comment. The company can appeal the fine if it continues to object to the decision.

The fine is comparatively tiny and won't dent Apple's finances. However, Apple might not have much choice but to offer a concession if it wants to keep selling iPhones in Brazil. Other companies have bowed to pressure as well. Samsung struck a deal with Procon-SP to bundle a "gift" charger with Galaxy S21 pre-orders, for example. Brazil is one of the world's larger phone markets, and companies that defy the country's rules risk losing out on many sales if they're not careful.
Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.
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Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon hours. High 83F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 76F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
HADLEY  Police arrested a 24-year-old man for possession of a gun without a permit after a routine traffic stop Saturday.

The Springfield man, whose name was not immediately released, was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of ammunition without a permit, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of an open container of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to illegally distribute and driving while under the influence of drugs, police said.

Officers stopped a motorist traveling at 58 mph, nearly twice the posted limit of 30 mph, at about 5:14 p.m. on Rocky Hill Road. They smelled burning marijuana and observed two gun holsters in the car when they approached the driver, police said.

The driver admitted he had a handgun under the seat and did not have a firearms permit. When searching the car, officers found the gun, two 20-round magazines, individually-wrapped bags of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia, police said.

Bail was set at $5,000 and the driver is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday, police said.

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A young man who was trolled after his home was swept away in floodwaters on what should have been his wedding day has been reunited with items that belonged to his late brother.

Joshua Edge and his fiance Sarah Soars, from Taree on the New South Wales mid north coast, thought they were waking up on Saturday morning to celebrate what should have been the happiest day of their lives.

But the wedding didn't ahead due to a catastrophic once-in-a-lifetime storm wreaking havoc on the region.

Their home was filmed as it was washed away due to rising floodwaters and the couple had several pets who all disappeared - and presumably died - in the carnage.

While the community have come together to raise almost $70,000 to get them back on their feet, they've also been subjected to vicious trolling because they rented the home and did not own it.

Joshua and Sarah lost their house on the very day they were supposed to be celebrating their wedding

Joshua Edge and his fiance Sarah Soars, from Taree on the New South Wales mid north coast, thought they were waking up on Saturday morning to celebrate what should have been the happiest day of their lives

They'd lived in the property for a lengthy period of time and everything they'd ever owned was inside when it was swept away, including several irreplaceable belongings Mr Edge was given after the sudden death of his brother, Michael.

Michael was just 20 when he was killed in a tragic car accident in 2014.

His mother, Carrol, said he was only travelling 70km/h at the time, but the 'state of the road' he was on at the time contributed to his death.

Mr Edge was 'devastated at the thought of losing' items that were sentimental to the family.

Hours after the house was swept away, several residents identified an enormous timber chest that had washed up along the flooded Manning River.

They managed to heave the drawers out of the lake and contact Mr Edge, who confirmed it was in fact his.

Carrol later explained the chest that washed up contained some of the personal items belonging to her late son and was overwhelmed that they had been returned.

The young couple's home was seen floating down the Manning River in Taree

While the community have come together to raise almost $70,000 to get them back on their feet, they've also been subjected to vicious trolling because they rented the home and did not own it

Michael (pictured) was just 20 when he was killed in a tragic car accident in 2014

Locals are still on the lookout for anything that washes ashore that could belong to the family.

Within just 24 hours, the community rallied to raise almost $70,000 to help the couple get back on their feet.

Mr Edge's brother, who started a GoFundMe page in their honour, revealed on Sunday that while most of the donors were sympathetic, the couple were getting trolled for failing to reveal that they rented the home and did not own it.

'We need to clarify that Joshua and Sarah did not own the home that floated down the river. They were renting and had been living there for a while,' his brother explained.

'It truly did not enter my mind to state this... I apologise if this has made anyone feel misled.'

Their home was filmed as it was washed away due to rising floodwaters and the couple had several pets who all disappeared - and presumably died - in the carnage

Floodwaters in Port Macquarie are seen as residents are told to evacuate after a freak weather event (pictured on Saturday)

Port Macquarie is now almost underwater as the town is lashed with a huge downpour of rain

A car is seen submerged in water as wild storms continue to batter NSW's coast

He explained that Saturday was 'a hectic and emotional day' for everybody, and that the couple lost everything they owned - including their cars and pets - when the house was destroyed.

The couple have been accused of animal abuse for not doubling back to save their pets, but explained they had no way of knowing what was to come when they left the house a day earlier.

'Joshua's animals... were like his kids. If we thought for a second beforehand... everything would be gone, animals would have been our first priority.'

Harrowing footage captured the moment the house was swept downstream as mini tornadoes, intense rainfall and localised flooding were also reported elsewhere in the state.

The rain isn't expected to ease up at all on Saturday (pictured Port Macquarie)

The Hastings River flooding in Port Macquarie, NSW is pictured on Saturday morning - as millions brace for a weekend of endless wild weather

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra.

Speaking in an emergency press conference, state 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 'mini-tornado' left a huge path of destruction through Chester Hill in Sydney's west, damaging several homes and bringing down a tree

A koala at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital had a bit of a soaking on Saturday morning during the wild weather
Night curfew in 8 Rajasthan cities from Monday; visitors told to carry COVID negative report

India

oi-Deepika S

Jaipur, Mar 21: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Rajasthan government has decided to impose night curfew in eight cities from 11 pm to 5 am and ordered closure of markets by 10 pm from Monday.

The government has also made it mandatory for people coming to Rajasthan from other states to carry a COVID-19 negative test report along with them from March 25.

If passengers do not have the negative test report, they will have to stay in quarantine for 15 days, according to an official statement.

Passengers will also be examined at airports, bus stands and railway stations.

The decisions were taken in a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The night curfew will be imposed in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwada (Dungarpur) and Kushalgarh (Banswara) from 11 pm to 5 am.

The night curfew will not be applicable to those factories which have continuous production and have a system of night shifts.

Coronavirus cases: Laxity shown by people behind recent surge in COVID-19 case, says Harsh Vardhan

Also IT companies, restaurants, medical shops, offices-related to essential and emergency services, wedding ceremonies, medical institutes, bus stands, railway stations and airports will be exempted from the night curfew.

A total of 476 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan on Sunday, while two more people succumbed to the disease.

Of the new cases, a maximum of 86 cases were reported from Jaipur, among others.

At present, there are 3,585 active cases in the state.

The chief minister directed officials for strict implementation of coronavirus-related protocols and to allow a limited number of people in ceremonies and programmes.

In the review meeting, the chief minister said COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in many countries of the world as well as in many states of India.

In Rajasthan also, the daily count has suddenly increased in the last few days. In such a situation, it is necessary to take some steps to save the lives of people from the second wave of COVID-19, the statement quoting Gehlot said.

The government has made RT-PCR negative report (not older than 72 hours) mandatory for all passengers coming to Rajasthan from March 25.

All district collectors have also been asked to restart the institutional quarantine facilities in their districts.

The system of mini-containment zones will be implemented again, according to the statement.

"Wherever there are more than five positive cases, that cluster or apartment will be declared as a contention zone," it said.

Primary schools will remain closed till further orders.

In the classes above primary and in colleges, educational activities will be conducted with the COVID-19 protocol.

Only with the written consent of parents, children will be able to come to educational institutions.

Not more than 50 per cent of the students will be present in the class at a time.

In cities with more than one lakh population, a maximum of 200 people will be allowed in public events at open spaces, according to the statement.

The chief minister appealed to the people to avoid going to crowded places during festivals.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 20:03 [IST]
A Russian national who attempted to steal data from Tesla and use it to extort the company is pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy.

Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, is facing up to 10 months in prison

Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, tried persuading an unnamed employee at the company's electric battery plant in Nevada to join the scheme multiple times, from July 15 to August 22.

Kriuchkov allegedly offered the employee $1 million in Bitcoin if he would help transmit the malware into the company's network.

From there, Kriuchkov hoped to steal the data from the company, only to turn around and extort Tesla by threatening to disclose the data.

There has been no indication that the malware could've been used to hack into the company's cars themselves.

Kriuchkov was arrested in late August while trying to flee the country after the employee he contacted - who he met with once - told company officials, who turned it over to the FBI.

The New York Daily News reports Kriuchkov faces a maximum of 10 months in prison for intentionally causing damage to a protected computer.

Kriuchkov will be sentenced on May 10.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to the news of Kriuchkov's plea by tweeting 'Crime and Punishment,' albeit in Russian.

'The swift response of the company and the FBI prevented a major exfiltration of the victim companys data and stopped the extortion scheme at its inception,' Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid said in a statement about the case.

Elon Musk celebrated the guilty plea by tweeting 'Crime and Punishment' in Russian

'This case highlights the importance of companies coming forward to law enforcement, and the positive results when they do so.'

Kriuchkov traveled from Russia to California before initiating his scheme and according to Engadget, his travels were done at the request of a Russian cybercrime gang.

Last month, more information emerged about how Russian hackers managed to steal data from the likes of the Pentagon and various Fortune 500 companies.

Kriuchkov tried to convince an employee at Tesla's Nevada battery plant to transmit malware

There's no indication that the malware could've done damage to the fleet of electric cars

Around 18,000 users downloaded the Russian malware in the SolarWinds hack, which helped hackers infiltrate various systems, according to the New York Times.

Additionally, one of the rioters at the Capitol on January 6 was accused of stealing Nancy Pelosi's laptop with the intent of selling it to Russia.

The FBI were told by a tipster that Riley June Williams, 22, was going to sell the laptop to the Russian intelligence services, according to NBC News.
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?
SHENANDOAH  The future of Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, northern Schuylkill Countys only remaining Catholic school, is in doubt.

We write to share with you the serious challenges involving the financial operation and future of the school, Trinitys board of pastors said in a letter dated March 19 and forwarded to parents.

The board includes pastors in Shenandoah, Ashland, Frackville and Mahanoy City, among others. The pastors would include Monsignor Ronald Bocian, Shenandoah; the Rev. Brian Miller, Frackville, Ashland, Girardville; the Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher, Mahanoy City; the Rev. Dominic Pham, Ringtown and Sheppton. The letter was signed simply, Sincerely in Christ.

Trinity, according to the letter, opened the current school year with 111 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, down from 209 students just five years ago.

For the next school year  2021-22  there currently are just 84 students registered.

Over the years we have attempted to keep Catholic education affordable for parents, pastors said in the letter. To accomplish this task with the recent enrollment declines, we have used school reserves to make up for yearly budget shortfalls over the last several years. The yearly deficits have grown each year. This school year there will be a budget deficit in excess of $300,000 that school savings will be able to cover. However, in meeting the budgetary shortfall for this year, the school savings will be exhausted by the end of the school year. Unfortunately, the ability of our parishes to support the school has decreased over the last several years and this has been particularly true during the last year with the pandemic. The amount of funding the parishes are able to contribute to school operations, called the parish subsidy, has decreased because of the significant drop in the parish collections over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter states that the Board of Pastors of Trinity Academy requested from the Diocese of Allentown that a feasibility study of Trinity Academy be conducted over the next several weeks. Monsignor David L. James, vicar general of the Diocese of Allentown, granted permission for the study.

The letter continues, We also felt it important to notify the parents of the financial status of Trinity Academy. We are currently exploring various options given the serious financial situation facing the school. From these options, we will need to make decisions soon on the future of the school. ... We anticipate sharing with you the results of the study within the next month.

Trinity Academy is a pre-K through eighth grade school at the northeast corner of Cherry and Chestnut streets in Shenandoah, in a building that once housed Shenandoah Catholic High School and that underwent a more than $1 million renovation in the 1990s. It consolidated Catholic schools that once were prominent in the aforementioned northern Schuylkill communities as well as in Girardville, Ringtown, Sheppton and even McAdoo and surrounding townships.

Contacted Saturday for comment on the issue, Shenandoah Mayor Andrew Szczyglak said he doesnt feel comfortable about commenting until I get all the facts.

At one time, in Shenandoah alone, there were five Catholic elementary schools, largely taught by female members of religious orders and tuition-free. However, declining populations and declining vocations in orders such as the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sisters of St. Casimir, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and others resulted in the widespread consolidations and the need to employ lay teachers, bringing increased salary and insurance expenses into the equation.

Shenandoah Catholic High School, as well as Immaculate Heart and later Cardinal Brennan High School in Fountain Springs, have all been closed, leaving Schuylkill County with just two Catholic high schools, Nativity BVM in Pottsville and Marian in Hometown.

Other Catholic elementary schools still remaining in the county are in Pottsville, Minersville and Rush Township near Tamaqua.

Not only schools, but also Roman Catholic parishes in the region have undergone radical consolidations, from multiple parishes in some communities, such as Shenandoah and Mahanoy City, down to no more than one and in some cases, just a sacred worship center or none.
Mumbai: Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil will play the villain opposite Telugu star Allu Arjun in "Pushpa", the upcoming multilingual action thriller movie.

Written and directed by Sukumar, the film chronicles the red sanders heist in the hills of Andhra and depicts the convoluted nexus that unfurls in the course of the narrative of a man who is taken by avarice.

Producers Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers praised Faasil for his versatility and welcomed the actor to the cast.

"Fahadh Faasil has entertained viewers with varied films and earned tremendous acclaim along with it. It makes us very happy to welcome him into the world of 'Pushpa'."

"We are confident that his portrayal of the villain will engage viewers in a way that's unique to his delivery of performance," the producers said in a statement.

Faasil has featured in acclaimed films like "Bangalore Days", "Kumbalangi Nights", "Super Deluxe", "Trance" and last year's lockdown project "C U Soon".

"Pushpa" also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Dhananjay and Sunil.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Muttamsetty Media, the film will have a theatrical release on August 13 in Telugu along with Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam.
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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.
New Delhi: AAP MP N D Gupta wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday urging for sine die adjournment of Parliament session in view of rising coronavirus cases.

The request comes in the backdrop of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla testing positive for COVID-19.

"This is to bring to your kind notice that there is alarming rise in corona cases nearing a peak situation again nationwide, it is requested to adjourn the Parliament Session as a precautionary measure for safety of Respected Members and the Staff," Gupta said in the letter.

Birla (58) tested positive for the coronavirus infection on March 19. He was admitted to the AIIMS COVID Centre for observation the next day.

"My request stand supported by the fact that average age of members of the house being 62 years mostly consisting of senior citizens and recent news of Speaker of Lok Sabha reported COVID positive.

In facts and circumstances, it is well in public interest to reconsider the decision of conducting the proceedings of the House henceforth. I may remind further that previous sessions were also adjourned sine die under similar circumstances," Gupta added.

"My humble request would be to adjourn the House sine die," the AAP MP said in his letter.

The session is scheduled to conclude on April 8.

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A man has been charged with murdering a woman who was reported missing in Sydney's northwest a fortnight ago.

Min Sook Moon, 49, was reported missing by family members earlier this month after she failed make contact with them.

She was last seen walking along Rawson Street in Epping on March 8, with family members making contact with Ryde Police on Wednesday March 10.

Min Sook Moon, 49 (pictured) was last seen walking along Rawson street in Epping on March 8

Officers established Strike Force Cusso to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the woman.

Strike force officers determined Min Sook Moon entered a vehicle in a car park on Rawson Street at about 1:30pm on Monday, March 8.

A 55-year-old man handed himself in to Eastwood Police Station on Saturday morning, March 20 and was arrested.

Strike force officers attended a park in Silverwater, western Sydney and located a body on March 21

'As part of ongoing inquiries, officers attended a park at Silverwater and located a body just before 4pm, which is yet to be formally identified,' police said in a statement.

The body is yet to be formally identified. A crime scene has been established at the park and forensic analysis is taking place.

The man was transferred to Ryde Police Station and charged with murder.

He was refused bail and is due to face Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, March 21.
Highlights Brazils consumer protection agency has accused Apple of misleading advertising.

The Brazilian regulator has fined Apple $2 million.

Apple has stopped including chargers and earphones with new iPhones.

The Brazilian consumer watchdog, Procon-SP, has fined Apple $2 million for not including a charger in the newly-launched iPhone 12 series, accusing the tech giant of allegedly engaging in "misleading advertising and selling a device without the charger and on unfair terms."

Last October, Apple said that the new flagship would be sent without a charger and earbuds because of environmental reasons. The company said by not making these accessories, it would be able to reduce carbon emissions. According to Apple VP Lisa Jackson, users are replacing power adapters with wireless charging methods, and it seems wasteful to include adapters in the boxes.

The regulator questioned if the company would reduce the price of the new flagship after removing the charger. But Apple didn't respond.

"Apple needs to understand that in Brazil, there are solid consumer protection laws and institutions," said Fernando Capez, Procon-SP Executive Director. Capez also noted that the company must abide by and respect the laws and institutions in the country.

Apple has yet to comment on Procon-SP charges. While the iPhone 12 mini costs $729 in the US, in Brazil the same phone is around $1,200. Apple introduced the iPhone 12 series in October and announced that the phone would only have a charging cable inside the box, without a power adapter and headphones.

Apple has cited that the environmental impact of their decision would lead to a reduction of 2 million metric tonnes of carbon, which is equal to removing 450,000 cars in one year.
NEW DELHI: Rani Mukerji, who turns 43 today, has never failed to amaze us with her stellar acting skills. She has been entertaining us with many avatars that she played on the screen, making her one of the most influential actors in the industry.

A woman with immense talent, a husky voice, deep brown eyes, and determined nature has always stolen our hearts.

We have compiled a list of five of Rani Mukerji's best cameo appearances, where she made a permanent mark on our hearts.

1. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

Released in 2001, starring Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead roles still remains on everyone's favourite list. Rani also made a cameo in this family drama film and was opposite Shahrukh Khan, and also did 'Shava Shava' song for the film.

2. Lucky By Chance

Starring Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen Sharma in lead roles. Rani Mukerji also made a guest appearance in this 2009 released. The film was about the journey of an actor who arrives in Mumbai to become a movie star.

3. Kal Ho Na Ho

The movie, which still leaves viewers in tears and imparts the value of life, featured Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan in lead roles. Rani stole our hearts in the song 'Maahi Ve', with her amazing dance moves. She looked no less than magic in a white saree and open hair.

4. Om Shanti Om

Rani Mukerji made her cameo appearance in the special number 'Deewangi Deewangi' in 2007 released 'Om Shanti Om'. She made us awestruck with her dancing moves as she grooved with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the song.

5. Saawariya

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 'Sawariya' was the debut launch of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Rani's cameo as 'Gulab' in the film was appreciated back then the actress also did a special song in the romantic film 'Chabeela'.
Tuning in to 'deafening chorus.' That time of year when spring peeper and Red Lion Inn belong in same sentence
Protesters threw flares and sprayed slogans at the Ukrainian presidential building in Kyiv late on March 20, demanding the release of activist Serhiy Sternenko from prison. The former leader of the far-right paramilitary Right Sector group in the city of Odesa was convicted on charges of robbery and the illegal handling of weapons. His supporters and a number of Ukrainian nongovernmental organizations have decried the charges as politically motivated.
The scientist behind the first widely used coronavirus vaccine says the technology behind it will soon be used to fight cancer.

Ozlem Tureci, who co-founded the German company BioNTech with her husband, was working on a way to harness the body's immune system to tackle tumours when they learned last year of an unknown virus infecting people in China.

Over breakfast, the couple decided to apply the technology they'd been researching for two decades to the new threat, dubbing the effort 'Project Lightspeed.'

Ozlem Tureci (pictured with her husband), who co-founded the German company BioNTech with her husband, was working on a way to harness the body's immune system to tackle tumours when they learned last year of an unknown virus infecting people in China

Within 11 months, Britain had authorised the use of the mRNA vaccine BioNTech developed with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, followed a week later by the United States. Tens of millions of people worldwide have received the shot since December.

'It pays off to make bold decisions and to trust that if you have an extraordinary team, you will be able to solve any problem and obstacle which comes your way in real time,' Tureci said.

Among the biggest challenges for the small, Mainz-based company that had yet to get a product to market was how to conduct large-scale clinical trials across different regions and how to scale up the manufacturing process to meet global demand.

Along with Pfizer, the company enlisted the help of Fosun Pharma in China 'to get assets, capabilities and geographical footprint on board, which we did not have,' Tureci said.

Over breakfast, the couple decided to apply the technology they'd been researching for two decades to the new threat, dubbing the effort 'Project Lightspeed

Among the lessons she and her husband, BioNTech chief executive Ugur Sahin, learned along with their colleagues was 'how important cooperation and collaboration is internationally.'

Tureci, who was born in Germany to Turkish immigrants, said the company, which has staff members from 60 countries, reached out to medical oversight bodies from the start, to ensure that the new type of vaccine would pass the rigorous scrutiny of regulators.

'The process of getting a medicine or a vaccine approved is one where many questions are asked, many experts are involved and there is external peer review of all the data and scientific discourse,' she said.

Amid a scare in Europe this week over the coronavirus shot made by British-Swedish rival AstraZeneca, Tureci dismissed the idea that any corners were cut by those racing to develop a vaccine.

Within 11 months, Britain had authorised the use of the mRNA vaccine BioNTech developed with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, followed a week later by the United States

'There is a very rigid process in place and the process does not stop after a vaccine has been approved,' she said. 'It is, in fact, continuing now all around the world, where regulators have used reporting systems to screen and to assess any observations made with our or other vaccines.'

Tureci and her colleagues have all received the BioNTech vaccine themselves, she told the AP. 'Yes, we have been vaccinated,' she said.

As BioNTech's profile has grown during the pandemic, so has its value, providing funds the company can use to pursue its original goal of developing a new tool against cancer.

The vaccines made by BioNTech-Pfizer and U.S. rival Moderna uses messenger RNA, or mRNA, to carry instructions into the human body for making proteins that prime it to attack a specific virus. The same principle can be applied to get the immune system to take on tumors.

'We have several different cancer vaccines based on mRNA,' said Tureci, who is BioNTech's chief medical officer.

'It pays off to make bold decisions and to trust that if you have an extraordinary team, you will be able to solve any problem and obstacle which comes your way in real time,' Tureci said

Asked when such a therapy might be available, Tureci said 'that's very difficult to predict in innovative development. But we expect that within only a couple of years, we will also have our vaccines (against) cancer at a place where we can offer them to people.'

For now, Tureci and Sahin are trying to ensure the vaccines governments have ordered are delivered and that the shots respond effectively to any new mutation in the virus.

On Friday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded the wife and husband one of the country's highest decorations, the Order of Merit, during a ceremony attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel, a trained scientist herself.

'You began with a drug to treat cancer in a single individual,' Steinmeier told the couple. 'And today we have a vaccine for all of humanity.'

Tureci said ahead of the ceremony that getting the award was 'indeed an honor.'

But she insisted developing the vaccine was the work of many.

'It's about the effort of many: our team at BioNTech, all the partners who were involved, also governments, regulatory authorities, which worked together with a sense of urgency,' Tureci said. 'The way we see it, this is an acknowledgement of this effort and also a celebration of science.'
Ashley Judd 'could have died' following her devastating fall in Africa last month.

The 52-year-old actress shattered her leg when she tripped over a tree while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in February, and on Thursday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Ashley's mother Naomi Judd revealed just how life-threatening her daughter's injuries were.

Naomi explained that Ashley was getting her stitches out the day after the interview was filmed, but said her daughter is currently still struggling to 'get out of bed'.

Tough fall: Ashley Judd 'could have died' following her devastating fall in Africa last month

A struggle: The 52-year-old actress shattered her leg when she tripped over a tree while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in February, and on Thursday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Ashley's mother Naomi Judd revealed just how life-threatening her daughter's injuries were

She added: 'It was very serious - she could've died. She's surviving. She's very courageous. She can't get out of bed [yet].'

Naomi's comments come after she also explained last week that while Ashley was 'healing,' it was 'really hard to see her' in her condition.

And Ashley herself recently said she's still in 'savage agony' as she continues to recover from her injuries.

Mom: Naomi explained that Ashley was getting her stitches out the day after the interview was filmed, but said her daughter is currently still struggling to 'get out of bed'

Ashley seen recovering after her ordeal

She wrote on social media: 'I do not understand why what has happened has happened. I do understand I have been loved and helped enormously. I understand nights are a savage agony.

'I want to thank Dr Phil Kregor & @hughstonclinic & @todd_rubin_md for seven hours of intensive, brilliant, inspired surgical work on my bones and nerve.

'It took stamina, focus, and humility to consult with some experts around the country, whom I also deeply thank (especially SMc). Everyone at Skyline Hospital, thank you for the shelter. I loved the sweet spirit of the janitor who cleaned my room, my bright-spot-of-the-day-gal from nutrition, and always, my consummate and tender nurses.'

Before the fall: Judd speaks onstage at the 10th Anniversary Women In The World Summit - Day 2 at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in 2019

The men who saved her life: The siren had to be carried out of the wild; seen here on a makeshift stretcher made of a tree limb and a sheet

Ashley went on to thank her friends and family who have rushed to her aid following her injury, including her sister Wynonna, whom she previously credited with helping to wash her hair.

She continued: 'Now, I am in the bosom of a stream of friends and family, too numerous to mention, who have caught me in their soft arms from this precipitous fall.

'They do for me what I cannot do for myself - prepare meals, shampoo my hair, and they also offer the deep spiritual direction and consolation of trying to begin to craft an arc of meaning and purpose. They also offer and meet my need for quiet. I am lost and they are my shepherd's staff. (sic)'
Family, friends give Luis Palau a final farewell during memorial service: 'Simplicity of faith'

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Luis Palaus family and close friends recalled the renowned evangelist's focus on Jesus, his seriousness for holiness, his love for all people and his humility during a livestreamed memorial service Saturday afternoon following his death earlier this month.

Rich McKinley, the founding pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon, said the evangelist told him that he would use every opportunity given by his cancer to preach about Heaven. He said he knew where he was going: to be with the Lord in heaven.

McKinley said Palau was given only about three months to live by the doctors when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, but he lived for three years. In his speech, McKinley said that Palau had a short account with sin and was known for loving and caring for the local church.

He took holiness seriously, not just as a thing to talk about, McKinley told the audience.

The memorial service was attended by a small group of people but was livestreamed on the Luis Palau Facebook page and his personal website.

The evangelist died on the morning of March 11 at the age of 86 after the cancer battle.

Kevin Palau, one of the Argentina-born evangelists sons, recalled how his father loved and cared for his family and gave his wife credit for his ministry as he often stayed away from home to share the Gospel with people around the world.

Palau was known for gathering large numbers of people for outdoor revival events that include music and preaching, often cooperating with local congregations. For example, Palau brought together more than 1,000 New York City churches to organize around 60,000 people in Central Park for an evangelism event in 2015.

Keith Palau, another son, recalled that his father loved to write letters to family, friends and ministry partners. The preacher would end his letters with Psalm 20.

Palaus staff from Latin America, where he was tremendously popular, also shared video messages to pay their respects.

Josh White, the lead pastor of an Oregon-based family of churches called Door of Hope, said Palaus sophistication flowed out of the simplicity of faith.

White said Palau kept the cross at the center of everything, which helped him in holiness. He said Palaus legacy is that he shows the world the simplicity of the Gospel.

As Palau is credited with leading more than 1 million people to Christ, White stressed that Palaus ministry will carry on.

Pastor White recalled that Palau saw everyone with the same eye  from the heads of the state to servers in restaurants  and shared Christ with them all.

Andrew Palau, another son, shared that his father wanted the family to only point to Jesus at his memorial service and not make it a big affair.

Well disobey him for one last time, the son remarked.

Andrew Palau said his father wanted his headstone to say this: Here lies Luis Palau. He wasnt perfect, but he sure loved Jesus.

Andrew Palau, who recently preached at an evangelistic event in Florida, also shared that John 10:10 was his fathers favorite Bible verse.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly, the verse reads.

Wendy Palau, the evangelists daughter-in-law, said that she learned from her father-in-law to never move past the Gospel and always share it.

During his last days, she said, he encouraged her to dream big.

In 2018, the same year that the autobiographical film "Palau the Movie" was released depicting the evangelist's life story, Palau announced his cancer diagnosis.

To me, the first thing you do is cry, Palau stated in the announcement. I think, 'Oh wow, I can be gone in a few months.' And one silly thought that came to mind is that I won't be able to pick up the phone and talk to the boys and hear their voice and talk to my wife.

"So everything is ready, and if the Lord wants to take me home in the next two months or two years, then I'm ready, he assured.

Palau continued to battle over the next couple of years. The evangelist reported in February 2020 that he was actually feeling quite well, with the disease being kept at bay. But at the end of February 2021, Andrew Palau announced that his father entered hospice care since his health condition "took a turn for the worse.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1934, Palau moved to the United States in 1960 to engage in ministry work, eventually headquartering the Luis Palau Association in Portland, Oregon.

Palau is survived by his wife, Patricia; sons Kevin, Keith, Andrew and Stephen; daughters-in-law Michelle, Gloria and Wendy; sisters Matilde, Martha, Catalina, Margarita and Ruth; brother Jorge; and 12 grandchildren.
As NIA digs deeper into bomb scare case, what lies in store for MVA

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 21: There are deliberations on within the NCP, whether to ask Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh to resign immediately or not.

While NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had planned on shifting Deshmukh out of the home department, a sense of urgency has crept in now following the letter by former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh in which several allegations were made.

Singh alleged in his letter to Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray that Deshmukh had pressurised suspended Mumbai cop, Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore a month.

The developments following the bomb scare outside the home of Mukesh Ambani has put a lot of pressure on Sharad Pawar, who is considered to be the architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. While state NCP chief Jayant Patil rejected the demand for Deshmukh's removal as home minister, deliberations are on in full swing within the party about a change of portfolio.

Pawar's first choice for the home portfolio was Patil, but at that time, his nephew Ajit Pawar was keen on the portfolio. However since Ajit Pawar had an anti-corruption bureau probe pending against him, many within the party felt that he should not handle the home portfolio. Pawar had also suggested the name of Rajesh Tope for the post.

Due to these differences, the party decided on choosing Deshmukh and he went on to become a consensus candidate.

In this context the probe by the NIA becomes crucial. While there is pressure on Deshmukh within the party to move away from the home portfolio, the party may wait for the NIA to give its findings. The NIA which took over the probes into the bomb scare and Mansukh Hiren death cases says that it is probing multiple angles. The NIA arrested suspended cop, Sachin Waze.

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

NIA sources say that they are definitely looking into the political angle as well. While initially the NIA learnt that Waze had allegedly staged the incident to regain lost glory, officials say that it may not be as simple as that. There was a bomb scare and then an alleged murder and both these appear to be inter-linked. Was Hiren murdered so that he does not spill the beans? The NIA would look into that as well.

The NIA is also finding out if Waze had acted at the behest of his higher ups or political masters. The letter by Singh clearly indicates that there is an alleged political angle to all the recent happenings in Mumbai.

These incidents have made the MVA vulnerable. The NIA probe would be crucial and the future course of the government would clearly depend on the findings by the central agency. Officials OneIndia spoke with refused to comment on the political angle or the letter written by Singh. The probe is on and if the need be, the former commissioner's statement would also be recorded, the official cited above and did not wish to be named also said.
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GEORGETOWN  Jonathan Angner has been attending Georgetown City Council meetings with his wife for years, and said he continues to see a pattern of issues being discussed, but never solved.

If elected on April 13 to the vacant city council seat previously held by Rudolph Bradley, Angner, the Republican nominee, said he hopes to use his background in business and economics to solve the citys decades-old issues, such as economic development and think shrink, and put it on a path of growth.

(My wife and I) both have servant hearts, weve been able to grow and expand our business and it's kind of on cruise control right now, Angner said. Were very community driven.

This is Angner's political debut, though he owns two local businesses, Omni Services and AHSC. His business mindset and background sets him apart from other council members, Angner said, and his Democrat opponent, Ronald McInnis.

Citing rising taxes and expenses in areas such as utilities and roads, Angner said he wants to find creative ways to push down the forces that are causing these rising costs.

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If we are not (finding creative ways), then were either oblivious to it, were ignoring it or were not qualified to have these conversations, Angner said.

Phillip Brady, a family and business friend of Jonathans and owner of RE/MAX Coast and Country in Georgetown, said he thinks a business-oriented voice is missing from council, and agreed that Angners election would be a good way to fill that spot. Brady also appreciates that Angner understands there is more to Georgetown than just the historical district and west side, and that Angner wants to give attention to communities like Merryville and Willowbank that Brady said are rarely discussed among council.

I dont know that anyone on council has the experience of working with a budget, and I think theres some attention to detail that is being missed that Jonathan would add value to, Brady said.

While Angner understands he may make decisions on council that wont please everyone, he believes he is qualified to make them and therefore can bring a certain level of confidence and trust to the council and his community. He also hopes to be proactive in bringing and keeping development, businesses and bright, young minds in the community.

That is how I built my business  I was out there to the point where I know some of my customers said I finally had to call you back because youd come to my office so many times, Angner said. Im not saying I was selling the best widget, but I was the most determined widget salesman out there.
From the president of the United States to the media echo chamber to every person in my hometown of Boulder, we all agree: Officer Eric Talley
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday called for enhanced participation of women in the field of science and technology.

Kovind, while addressing the 18th convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela here, said, "Growth and excellence of women in the technical area will add a new dimension to our national development."

He said more girls need to get a higher education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Quoting a recent survey, he said enrolment of women in engineering and technical institutions in India is abysmally low at only 20 per cent.

"Our girls should be encouraged to pursue technical education and excel in the same manner as they do in other areas. Our daughters are outshining boys and getting more gold medals in arts and other fields," he said.

Kovind said three of the seven gold medal winners at NIT Rourkela are women and the situation is similar in other central universities.

Around 1,518 of the 7,116 students in the university are women.

He said NIT Rourkela has made a significant contribution in the field of science and technology for over six decades.

"I am pleased to know that NIT Rourkela has students from 33 states and Union territories. I am told that students from 17 countries are also enrolled in various academic disciplines," he said.

In his message to the students, the President said, "I advise you to never judge your success only in terms of material gains. You don't have to limit yourself by the pressures of conventional notions of success and societal norms. You need to figure out what you really want to do in your life."

He suggested the students choose what gives them satisfaction.

"Do what takes you closer to your aspirations. Do what makes your families proud of you. Plan for yourself a fruitful and productive path ahead," he said.

He expressed satisfaction over the institute adopting five villages as part of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.

The President said that one of the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 is to make India a global knowledge superpower and institutions like NIT Rourkela have a major role to play in achieving it.
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.
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.
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov arrived on Sunday in the Russian capital, where he had been earlier invited for consultations, TASS reports.

The plane with the diplomat onboard landed at Sheremetyevo Airport.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on March 17 that Antonov had been invited to Moscow for consultations on ways to mend Russia-US ties. The invitation came after US President Joe Bidens harsh remarks about the Russian leadership in an interview with ABC News.

In the interview, the US leader called Russian President Vladimir Putin a killer and accused Moscow of meddling in the 2020 US election, vowing it would pay a price.
Ben Wallace today refused to be drawn on claims the size of the Army will be cut by 10,000 as he insisted Britain's armed forces will be the 'right size' to counter modern threats.

The Defence Secretary said he was not willing to 'get into the speculation' on the issue after reports suggested soldier numbers could be slashed from 82,000 to 72,500 over the next decade.

Mr Wallace will tomorrow publish the Government's long-awaited Defence Command Paper which will set out how ministers intend to modernise the UK's capabilities.

Any cut in the size of the armed forces is likely to spark a furious backlash from some Tory MPs.

Mr Wallace's comments came after it emerged that Britain's Special Forces will be tasked with countering hostile state activity by the likes of Russia.

The head of the Army, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, said the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) will be put on a 'different trajectory' as part of tomorrow's major shake-up.

Mr Wallace's comments came after it emerged that Britain's Special Forces will be tasked with countering hostile state activity by the likes of Russia. Royal Marine Commandos are pictured during an exercise in Dorset on March 19

What will be in the new Defence Command Paper? Changes are set to include: Additional investment for 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' as well as for electronic warfare

Additional 3billion funding for the British Army

The National Cyber Force will be expanded

New Space Command to co-ordinate military and commercial operation

Royal Navy will get a new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) protect vital undersea cables that are at 'risk of sabotage' by enemy submarines However, while the Army would get an additional 3billion, there are also understood to be cuts with a reduction of around 10,000 troops expected. There will also likely be cuts to armoured fighting vehicles and the last remaining C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. Advertisement

The overhaul could see Special Forces soldiers operating alongside MI6 to mount surveillance operations against Russian intelligence and military units.

The Army chief said some of the traditional roles fulfilled by the Special Forces would now be taken over by a new Ranger Regiment.

Speaking ahead of the publication of the Command Paper, Mr Wallace the UK's Armed Forces must adapt to counter threats which have 'changed beyond recognition' in the past 30 years.

He has pledged additional investment for 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' as well as for electronic warfare.

The National Cyber Force will be expanded, there will be a new Space Command to co-ordinate military and commercial operation and the Royal Navy will get a new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) to protect vital undersea cables.

Responding to the reports that the Army is set to see troop numbers reduced by 10,000, Mr Wallace told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: 'Well look, I am not going to reveal on the media before Parliament the details of numbers of our men and women in our armed forces.

'It is important that I deliver the Command Paper. Parliament establishes the armed forces, that is my obligation to Parliament.

'I am not going to get into the speculation. We had in November a speculative story I remember in the BBC about cutting the Army to 65,000 - I have seen lots of numbers used.

'I think the assurance I can give the viewers is that what I will be doing is making sure we have an Armed Forces that is the right size to meet the threat and the right size to meet the Government's ambition of having a global Britain that can uphold values and support its allies.'

Following Mr Wallace's failure to reject the suggestion of a potential cut to troop numbers, Labour's shadow defence secretary John Healey said: 'After weeks of trying to hide their true intentions, the cat is out the bag  the threats Britain faces are increasing but Conservative ministers are cutting the Army yet again.'

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, the head of the Army, said the SAS and SBS will be put on a 'different trajectory' as part of a wider defence shake-up

The Army chief said some traditional Special Forces roles will now be taken over by a new Ranger Regiment. (Stock image)

Russia blasts UK over nuclear weapons decision Russia's ambassador to the UK has accused the Government of violating its international treaty obligations by raising the cap on its stockpile of nuclear warheads. Andrei Kelin said the announcement in the Integrated Review of foreign and defence policy that it was raising the limit from 180 warheads to 260 had come as a 'big surprise'. In an interview with LBC's Swarbrick On Sunday programme, he said the review had offered no justification for its description of Russia as an 'acute threat' and that the political relationship between London and Moscow was now 'nearly dead'. Mr Kelin expressed bafflement at the decision to lift the cap on the nuclear stockpile, saying it violated the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty  a claim which the Government has denied. 'If UK is going to continue to raise a number of nuclear warheads, and this was a big surprise for the whole world, I will say even for the American experts. So they think 'UK, what are you doing?'' he said. 'You are increasing a number of warheads by 40%. This is a violation of the treaty of non-proliferation and many, many other agreements that are saying only a decline or a reduction in the number of nukes.' Advertisement

General Carleton-Smith set out the planned changes to the role of Special Forces to The Sunday Telegraph overnight, telling the newspaper: 'The most persistent and lethal threats are those associated with hostile state actors.

'So they're tracking a different trajectory and what they leave behind is a vacuum where they need to hand off tasks, missions and responsibilities to a second echelon force. The Rangers will fit neatly into that.'

It is likely that Special Forces units will be tasked alongside MI6 with uncovering the activities of Russian military intelligence - the GRU - thought to be responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Elite units could also be charged with countering the activities of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organisation widely thought to act as proxies for the Kremlin.

Also writing in the newspaper, Mr Wallace added: 'We can no longer take for granted the superiority of Western capabilities. Our enemies have infinitely more options.

'Encryption, precision, and information operations complicate the threat picture. We find ourselves constantly confronted in the 'grey zone' - aggressive actions below the threshold of open conflict.'

While reports suggest the Army will receive an additional 3billion in funding as part of the Command Paper shake-up, cuts to armoured fighting vehicles and the last remaining C-130J Hercules transport aircraft are also expected.

The publication of the Command Paper comes one week after the Government published its Integrated Review on security and foreign policy.

That overarching document set out plans to increase the UK's nuclear weapons arsenal, sparking a political row.

Ministers had previously committed to reducing the stockpile to a maximum of 180 by the middle of the decade but now the number of weapons will be allowed to grow to up to 260.

Labour's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy today said the party 'won't support' the decision until it can be explained by the Government.

She said: 'We are absolutely baffled, as many Tory MPs are as well, about why the Government has chosen this moment  at the point at which the United States has stepped forward to try to deal with nuclear proliferation, signing a new treaty with Russia, at the point we face a growing threat from Iran from nuclear weapons  to do it.

'There may be a reason why they've done this. One of the examples mooted has been perhaps they need to have two nuclear deterrents concurrently.'
The Palestinian Health Ministry began administering its first coronavirus vaccines received through the global COVAX initiative on Sunday.

The World Health Organization and its partners who run the COVAX program delivered 61,400 vaccines to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday; with 21,300 of them were shipped to the blockaded, Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The other 40,000 shots are a boost to the West Bank, where the PA has been struggling to purchase vaccines.

Before the COVAX delivery they had secured only 10,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and 2,000 shots from Israel for almost 5 million residents.

In contrast, Gaza, which has been under Israeli-Egyptian blockade to isolate Hamas, has received more than 80,000 doses, mostly down to a rival of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Mohammed Dahlan, who has been based in Abu Dhabi since falling out with Abbas in 2011, has secured the deliveries of 60,000 shots to Gaza and promised more, embarrassing Abbas ahead of elections planned in May.

At a Gaza City clinic, five WHO workers and five local medical workers, representing priority vaccination groups, were the first to be inoculated with COVAX-donated doses.

Sacha Bootsma, head of WHO's Gaza office, who received the first shot of vaccine at the event has said there are still "absolutely not enough vaccines at the moment in Gaza."

The vaccines delivered under COVAX were Pfizer and AstraZeneca, rolled out in the Palestinian territories for the first time.

Gaza has been hit by the pandemic since August, and has registered 582 deaths and over 58,000 infections.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Rioters attacked a police station and set fire to marked police cars after violence broke out in Bristol at a rally against a controversial policing bill.

Thousands of people had gathered in the city on Sunday for a demonstration against the legislation, which would give officers more powers to crack down on protests.

Police said the Kill the Bill march began peacefully but turned violent when a small minority attacked the police station in Bridewell Street.

Two police officers were taken to hospital with broken bones and ribs and two marked police vans were set on fire, while vehicles parked in a multi-storey car park nearby were also damaged by rioters.

Video footage showed a graffiti-tagged Avon and Somerset Police van being rocked from side to side by protesters.

Other images showed fireworks being thrown and rioters attempting to smash the windows of the police station as mounted officers were deployed to disperse the large crowd.

Read more:

Home secretary Priti Patel described the violence as unacceptable. She tweeted: Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated. Our police officers put themselves in harms way to protect us all. My thoughts this evening are with those police officers injured.

Andy Roebuck, chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, described the protesters as a mob of animals.

He wrote on Twitter: Disgusting scenes in Bristol by a mob of animals who are injuring police officers, members of the public and damaging property. We have officers with suspected broken arms and ribs. This is so wrong.

Chief Superintendent Will White, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: What started out as a peaceful protest has been turned by a small minority into a violent disorder.

These scenes are absolutely disgraceful and they will be widely condemned by people across the city. There can never be any excuse for wanton disorder.

Officers have been subjected to considerable levels of abuse and violence. These are men and women out there with the intention of serving and protecting the public - they should never be subjected to assaults or abuse in this way.

At least two police vehicles have been set on fire and damage has been caused to the outside of the station. Protesters are not inside the building. We have requested mutual aid from neighbouring forces to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

(REUTERS)

All those involved in this criminal behaviour will be identified and brought to justice. There will be significant consequences for behaviour such as this.

Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, said: The scenes in Bristol this evening are completely unacceptable.

You dont campaign for the right to peaceful protest by setting police vans on fire or graffitiing buildings.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give the 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 the proposed legislation could face a fine or jail.

Mass gatherings are currently banned under the coronavirus legislation and anyone breaching the regulations could be fined.

Many protesters wore face masks and carried placards, which read: Say no to UK police state, Freedom to protest is fundamental to democracy and Kill the Bill.

Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Avon and Somerset Police had urged people not to attend the demonstration, warning that enforcement action could be taken.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said that he had major concerns about the policing bill but condemned the violence at the protest as unacceptable.

He added: Smashing buildings in our city centre, vandalising vehicles, attacking our police will do nothing to lessen the likelihood of the bill going through. On the contrary, the lawlessness on show will be used as evidence and promote the need for the Bill.

What they have done has more to do with self-gratification than it has to do with the protection and advancement of those of us from communities most likely to be marginalised and mistreated by our political and legal systems.

Additional reporting by PA
Gardai have visited a number of construction sites around the Donnybrook area of south Dublin following reports of continued building activity and concerns of potential breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.

An industry source told the Sunday Independent that gardai had visited the sites in the Dublin 4 area over the past few weeks.

A Garda spokesman confirmed the temporary restrictions, which have shut down all but essential construction services, are still in force and officers had visited sites in Donnybrook.

"Gardai in Donnybrook have inspected a number of sites and, where necessary, sites have come into compliance with the public health regulations," the spokesman said.

"An Garda Siochana has been consistent in our graduated policing response to supporting public health regulations and guidelines in line with our tradition of policing by consent.

"This has seen Garda members engage, explain, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce."

Councillor Dermot Lacey, a Labour Party representative for the Pembroke ward on Dublin City Council, said he had received reports from local people regarding construction activity at a handful of building sites.

Mr Lacey said he had passed reports directly to gardai.

He added that his understanding was all reports he had made had been dealt with satisfactorily.

Mr Lacey said he "wished people would comply with the regulations".

"The quicker everybody complies, the quicker we are all back to normal," he said.

"It's hard for everybody. The decent people who are complying with the regu- lations should not be made to suffer because of people who aren't. There is no excuse."

Separately, the Sunday Independent was the first to report on continued construction activity in the Donnybrook area.

Last month, this newspaper exclusively revealed that work was being carried out at a site on Shrewsbury Road owned by a trust linked to billionaire Dermot Desmond, despite Covid-19 restrictions halting numerous projects around the country.

The work at 24 Shrewsbury Road, where the house formerly known as Walford had stood, meant it was one of Ireland's few private residential construction sites at that time.

Walford was once the most expensive house in Ireland, selling for 58m in 2005 to developer Sean Dunne.

In 2016, the property was bought for 14.25m by Celtic Trustees Ltd, an Isle of Man-based trust set up by Mr Desmond for the benefit of his children.

Celtic Trustees was given permission to demolish Walford in 2018.

The Sunday Independent visited sites around the Donnybrook area early last week, but could not confirm if any building work was being carried out.

On January 6, Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien confirmed a shutdown in construction activity, with limited exemptions, as part of the national effort to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Among the exemptions announced by the Government were the construction of essential health projects, education buildings and social housing projects within eight weeks of completion.

Other exemptions included essential or emergency repair and maintenance work at businesses or residences on an emergency call-out basis.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
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Paks blueprint for ties with US based on economy not security: Report

Newly wed 22-year-old bride gangraped in front of husband by four robbers in Pakistan

Pakistan bans travel from 12 countries amid spike in Covid-19 cases

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Islamabad, Mar 21: Pakistan imposed a complete ban on travel from 12 countries, including South Africa, Rwanda and Tanzania, in a bid to curb the spike of coronavirus cases as the country on Sunday recorded 3,667 new cases, taking the national tally to 626,802.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) notified a fresh list of countries categorised into A, B and C after emergence of South African and Brazilian strain of the virus and imposed a complete ban on travel from 12 countries, categorised as C.

The travel restrictions and a ban on inbound passengers from 12 countries will remain effective from March 23 to April 5.

Botswana, Brazil, Columbia, Comoros, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia have been placed in category C.

The CAA in its notification said there will be a complete travel ban on inbound travel to Pakistan from category C countries, including withdrawal of exemptions earlier provided to certain categories of travellers like Pakistani passport holders.

The temporary measure is being introduced in continuation to the steps being taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan, it said.

COVID-19: India sees highest single-day spike this year with 43,846 new cases

The CAA also updated its category C, for inbound travellers and shifted the United Kingdom from category C to category B.

The CAA said the international travellers from category A countries do not require COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test before entry into Pakistan.

Australia, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam have been placed in category A.

The international travellers from countries not specified in category A require COVID-19 test before commencement of travel to Pakistan.

The notification said all countries which are not specified in A and C fall in category B.

Meanwhile, the ministry of National Health Services reported that another 8.74 positivity rate was recorded in the last 24 hours, which is lower than 9.47 of the previous day but still high.

It said that 44 more patients died in the last one day, pushing the death toll to 13,843 in the country. Also, 581,852 people recovered so far while 2,900 were in critical conditions.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were tested positive on Saturday for the COVID-19, two days after the Pakistani premier got the first shot of a vaccine.

Khan, 68, contracted the coronavirus on a day when the country saw the highest number of positive cases since July with 3,876 people getting infected.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 12:19 [IST]
Arsenal fought back from three goals down to claim a 3-3 draw with West Ham in a thrilling London derby on Sunday.

David Moyes' side had carved out a three-goal lead with just over half an hour gone as Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek capped off a blistering start.

But a Soucek own goal late in the first half swung momentum toward the Gunners, who set up a thrilling finish by forcing Craig Dawson to put through his own net with 30 minutes remaining.

And Alexandre Lacazette completed the comeback late on as he headed home from close range to steal a share of the points.

Perhaps feeling the physical toll of their midweek Europa League commitments, Arsenal made a slow start to proceedings.

And, after spending the opening 10 minutes penned in their own half, they deservedly fell behind when Lingard controlled Michail Antonio's cutback at the edge of the area and thrashed a beautiful effort into the top corner.

Mikel Arteta might have hoped that setback would wake his team up, but they were two down just two minutes later, Lingard's quick free-kick releasing Bowen to squeeze a low effort past Bernd Leno's weak save attempt.

Soucek made it three with just over half an hour gone, poking Antonio's goalbound header home as West Ham capitalised on more loose passing and poor defending from Arsenal.

To their credit, the visitors responded well, with Lacazette diverting in a powerful effort from just inside the box with the help of a deflection off Soucek that was only apparent on replays.

Bukayo Saka twice went close to reducing the deficit before the break, seeing a one-on-one well saved by Lukasz Fabianski and another shot dribble just wide of the post, but the Gunners could have few complaints over the half-time scoreline given their start.

Encouraged by a strong finish to the first half, Arsenal started the second well, and went close to a second as a Lacazette lob was acrobatically cleared off the line by Issa Diop.

But they got their reward just past the hour mark when Dawson inadvertently turned home a low and powerful Calum Chambers cross from the right-hand side.

And Lacazette brought Arteta's men level 10 minutes from time as headed in a teasing right-wing cross from Nicolas Pepe.

Pepe and Declan Rice traded efforts at goal in an end-to-end finish at the London Stadium, but neither side were able to steal the win at the end of a thrilling contest.
Recommendation by Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers Lux Industries-Buy

Recommendation by Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers

With its healthy growth trajectory, we are upbeat on Lux's long-term growth prospects for its strong brand equity, long-standing operations in innerwear and new launches. Its extension to casual wear and women's wear via the proposed merger would unlock synergies that would further propel growth. We initiate coverage on Lux Industries with a Buy rating and a TP of Rs 2,574, based on 30x FY23e EPS of Rs 85.80.

Cummins India-Buy Recommendation by HDFC Securities

Going ahead, we make a case of PE expansion, given (1) structural changes in emission norms, (2) strong budget roadmap for infrastructure creation aligning with CIL product portfolio, (3) ahead-of-peers leadership in clean energy solutions, (4) recovery in end exports markets and, lastly, (5) probable long-term case for CIL-CTIL merger. We maintain BUY on CIL with a revised TP of Rs 1,068 (SOTP); upgrade P/E from 25x to 30x FY23E EPS.

Dalmia Bharat-Buy Recommendation by HDFC Securities

Dalmia Bharat (DBEL) reported that Supreme Court has restored its siphoned mutual fund units (Rs 3.8 billion currently) to the company. While the amount is relatively small (2 per cent of its consolidated net worth), the ruling broadly casts off any doubt on DBEL's corporate governance (post this event came to light in Feb 19). Given that the company continues to deliver robust earnings and has managed its balance sheet well despite major expansion, this ruling should drive valuation rerating. We maintain BUY with a revised TP of Rs 1,770 (12x its consolidated Mar'23E EBITDA).

Intellect Design Arena-Buy Intellect's focus on capital allocation and profitability remains high with the company settling for a little lower growth aspiration (than in the past) but retaining a strong margin focus. It expects to keep cost structures and R&D investments steady, driving up higher EBITDA. We raise our FY22e/FY23e EBITDA 3 per cent/6 per cent and our target to Rs 700 (from Rs 550) at 26x FY23e adj. EPS (23x earlier). We retain a Buy.

SBI Cards and Payment Services-Buy Recommendation by Motilal Oswal Institutional Equities

The stock has corrected ~11 per cent since our initiation and is trading at 35x FY23E earnings, which is attractive given its strong fundamentals, earnings growth, and long-term structural story. At the CMP, the stock offers ~23 per cent upside to our unchanged TP of Rs 1,200 (43x FY23E EPS). Consequently, we are upgrading our rating to Buy. Our earnings estimates stands unchanged.

Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities-Buy Recommendation by LKP Securities

The company has turned Free cash flow (FCF) positive in H1FY21. We expect the improvement to continue going forward resulting in better returns and growth. We Initiate Coverage on Mrs. Bector's Food Specialities Ltd with a BUY and a target price of Rs 627.

Emami Limited-Buy Recommendation by HDFC Securities

The stock is currently trading at heavy discount to some of its peers. We feel investors can buy the stock at Rs 447-454 band (26xFY22E EPS) for the base case value of Rs 476 (28xFY23EPS) and bull case fair value of Rs 553 (32xFY23E EPS).

Tech Mahindra Ltd-Buy Recommendation by Emkay Global Financial Services

For Tech Mahindra, HLS is a focus vertical (8-9 per cent of revenue) and the Perigord acquisition will augment its domain capabilities and also expand its BPaaS offerings. Given the size of the acquisition (<0.5 per cent of tech mahindra's revenue), we do not expect any meaningful revision to our earnings estimates. we have a buy rating on the stock with a tp of rs 1,170 at 18x fy23e earnings.

Hero MotoCorp-Buy Recommendation by Centrum Broking

Our target price comes to Rs 4,295 and we assume coverage with a BUY rating. Slower economic recovery and rising fuel prices could act as a dampener to its Splendor and HF Deluxe sales.

Visaka Industries Ltd.-Buy Recommendation by HDFC Securities

The stock is currently trading at valuation of 6x FY23E earnings. We feel the base case fair value of the stock is Rs 555 (7x FY23E) and bull case fair value is Rs 635 (8x FY23E). Investors willing to take risk can buy the stock at current levels of Rs 482 and add on dips at the price of Rs 432.

Disclaimer: Views and recommendations given are those of brokerages and analysts and do not represent those of IANS. Users should check with certified experts before taking any investment decision. IANS has no financial liability whatsoever to any user on account of the use of information provided.

--IANS san/ksk/

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Letters to the Editor View(s):

It shouldnt be difficult to reveal all on sugar deal turned bitter

The sugar deal has now become the topic of the day as most politicians of all parties are speaking for or against it. Ironically some public servants holding high ranks are being dragged into it for whatever reason.

We believe there was a very powerful and respected association called the Sugar Importers Association of which Karu Jayasuriya was President in the late 80s. If this is still in existence now we would be pleased to hear something from this association about this rather infamous deal.

We do not think that any investigation on this deal would be difficult as Customs records would show who and who imported what and what quantities. It would also be interesting to note whether there have been any out of the usual importers who imported unusual quantities and at what prices they were sold wholesale, and to which distributers.

There is news that one importer has sold to the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) at a price of Rs. 110 per kg and the CWE had sold it at Rs. 85 incurring a loss! It would be very easy to find who gained and who lost.

The Departments of Inland Revenue, Import Control and the Customs should have records which can be easily tallied with each other through their VAT claims. Whatever comes out of the investigations one cannot overlook the findings and sweep the deal under the carpet if someone made super profits and made the public bear the cost! Even if the CWE suffered a loss that is a loss to the poor consumer as this money had apparently gone to one or more importers and to some dealers in between!

The easy way out may be to appoint a Parliamentary or a Presidential Commission. Then we can hear of a report. Finally, we can drop the matter as the storm would have passed and there may be more important issues purposefully raised by whoever to stage protests against the Government submerging the problems the ordinary citizens are facing!

Concerned citizen Via email

Kudos to Chathuranga and the need to open doors for youth from all walks of life

Recently at the annual award ceremony of the CEB held at the BMICH with the participation of the Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and the higher authorities of the CEB, a young engineer Chathuranga Wickramasinghe won the Best Innovator award (silver category) for his invention of an Image-Based Insulator Condition Monitoring System which identifies the surface changes due to the growth of the leakage currents using an image processing tool.

He has developed it into an Android app that can be used as an online condition monitoring system.

Educated at Uva College and Badulla Central College, Chathuranga graduated from the University of Ruhuna. He works at the Kundasale CEB Depot as an engineer.

At the ceremony top officials of the CEB assured their support for Chathurangas innovation to receive patent rights.

Education opportunities need to be granted for students from all walks of life, so that they can contribute to the countrys development with innovations of this nature.

We wish professionals of Chathurangas calibre all the best to contribute more such innovations and be an example to the youth while making less recognized districts in our country such as Badulla proud.

Kapila Kalansooriya Badulla

Violent teledramas could affect impressionable minds

Most of the teledramas shown on popular channels, we find, are crime-oriented. They are dragged on for months  for whose benefit I wonder.

The villains always have sophisticated weapons and guns. Assaults and gang warfare are carried out with the perpetrators attired in posh western outfits. Gone are the days when we saw criminals with unshaven faces, sarongs tucked up and bare-chested. Today, handsome actors play the part of the villains making them appear as heroes to impressionable young viewers.

These teledramas are shown mainly after 8 p.m. and the programmes go on till late night.

Is there any censorship of these productions? We should bear in mind that the youth tend to imitate what they see.

As an ageing Sri Lankan viewer I appeal to the authorities to have a limit on this type of TV crime. We read in the newspapers of incidents which very much mirror these shows on TV.

Laki Rajapakse Minuwangoda

Crass indifference

I have tried umpteen times to get the authorities to look into the cutting off of fingers of the workers of the meat and fish industry. This happens when their hands slip while cutting up the product. There are stainless steel mesh gloves that are mandatory abroad to be used at the cutting/ chopping machines. Why not here?

I have written to the CEOs of these companies that boast of having the latest ISO and HACCP certification asking if these certificates are just to impress people and proudly display them receiving the awards of excellence; asking why they do not provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their workers, but not a cat has followed through to implement this to their shame.

Profit at whose expense? The owners will have to give account to the Almighty for the pain and loss of their employees future work prospects!!

Rohan Wickramaratne Dehiwela

Manila, March 21 : A Philippine government task force said on Sunday that more than 200 Chinese militia vessels were spotted moored off a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard monitored the vessels on March 7 off Whitsun Reef, which is within the the country's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, according to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

"Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time," dpa news agency quoted report by the task force as saying.

It expressed concern about the environmental damage the ships could cause to coral reefs in the area, as well as the risk to safety of navigation in the area.

According to the Coast Guard, they were fishing vessels manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said he will wait for the recommendation of the military before filing a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of the large number of Chinese militia vessels in Philippine-claimed territory.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory and has built artificial islands with military-capable facilities over reefs and outcrops in the area.

Aside from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims to the area, which is believed to be rich in marine and mineral resources.
A former priest and two women are facing charges for having sex on the altar of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River, La.

The Times-Picayune  New Orleans Advocate reports a passerby spotted lights on inside the church. Looking into the churchs windows and glass doors, the passerby saw Travis John Clark, 37, the pastor there, engaging in sexual activities with two corset-clad women.

The incident happened between Sept. 29-30. On Thursday, the St. Tammany District Attorneys Office charged Mindy Lynn Dixon, 41, of Kent, Wash., and Melissa Kamon Cheng, 28, of Alpharetta, Ga., and Clark with institutional vandalism for knowingly vandalizing, defacing, or otherwise damaging property and causing damage valued at over $500 and under $50,000.

More serious obscenity charges were dropped after attorney Bradley Phillips, who represents the women  called professional dominatrices by the Times-Picayune  argued the act was private and legal as it did not occur in public.

Once again, (the state has) overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals, Phillips said in a statement. Just because you dont like something, doesnt make it criminal. My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation.

Clark was not able to be reached for comment.

The paper reported court documents say the women  in corsets and high heels  performed sex acts on a half-naked Clark as they recorded it with a phone and tripod-mounted camera.

Police seized plastic sex toys, stage lights and a pair of recording devices inside the church, records show.

On Friday, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond acknowledged the charges in a statement, saying, We have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. We are proceeding to the Vatican to petition for their laicization presenting information from both the criminal and canonical investigations.

Our prayers remain with all those who were hurt by the actions of these two men, and in a particular way, we offer our prayers for healing of survivors of abuse.

The paper reports Clark was removed from his post the day after his arrest.

Aymond, the paper reports, ordered that the altar on which the sex acts took place be burned. During a ceremony to consecrate a new one in October, Aymond said the former priests behavior was obscene. The desecration of this church and the altar is demonic  demonic. ... He was using that which was holy to do demonic things.

The three accused are scheduled to arraigned Monday in Covington, La. If they are convicted, they could get up to two years in prison and a fine.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 23:26:11|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN -- One person was killed and three others were injured on Sunday in an explosion in the Southeastern Iranian city of Saravan, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement.

The explosion occurred at 9:30 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) in a public square of the town, and was attributed by the IRGC local headquarters to "terrorist groups affiliated with global arrogance," semi-official news agency Mehr reported. (Iran-Explosion)

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ANKARA -- Turkish forces killed eight members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria after they opened fire on Turkey's troops in the region, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

Turkish commandos immediately retaliated and killed eight YPG fighters after the group opened fire on Turkish troops positioned in the Operation Peace Spring zone, the ministry tweeted. (Turkey-YPG-Syria)

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MANILA -- The Philippines will expand COVID-19 restrictions to four provinces around capital Manila as infections surge in the country, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Sunday.

The provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, along with the national capital region will be placed under stricter restrictions to curb the surge. The new restrictions will be effective from next Monday till April 4, Roque added. (Philippines-COVID-19-Restrictions)

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KATHMANDU -- Nepal's drug regulator has approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by India's Bharat Biotech International Limited for emergency use, the third vaccine to get such approval in Nepal.

By issuing a notice on Friday, the Department of Drug Administration, the drug regulator, said that conditional permission has been granted for emergency use authorization for Whole-Virion Inactivated Sars CoV-2 Vaccine (COVAXIN) manufactured by Bharat Biotech International Limited against COVID-19 in Nepal. (Nepal-Vaccine) Enditem
Chandigarh: More than 6 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been sent to 76 nations, while 4.5 crore doses have been administered to beneficiaries in the country till now, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday.

He also called for making the vaccination drive a 'Jan Aandolan' (mass movement).

"Until this morning, nearly 4.5 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to the people in this country. More than six crore doses have been sent to 76 nations," Vardhan said during a media interaction at the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) here.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party (BJP) president J P Nadda have called for making the vaccination drive a 'jan andolan' (mass movement)," he said.

In a major boost to entrepreneurship in life sciences, Vardhan, the Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, inaugurated

IMTECH Bio-Innovation Centre which is an extension of the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC)-CCMB, Hyderabad.

The aim of the IMTECH Bio-Innovation Centre is to become a hub for life sciences, biotechnology start-ups and MSMEs from all over the country in a short span of time.

Sanjeev Khosla, director, IMTECH apprised the minister about the various activities of the institute and especially the work done by scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic in the last one year.

"Science has the potential to solve many of our longstanding issues, they may belong to any sector. When I see the science happening in all the labs of CSIR and other places, I feel convinced that it (science) has the potential.

"That is why, we have been telling our scientists that we have to have a very people-centric approach and whatever we do in the labs, it should have a connect with the people for the future," Vardhan said.

The minister also urged the scientific community to use their experience around coronavirus to be ready for any unforeseen thing like (the disease) which the future may throw up.

"I have told the scientific community that they developed a lot of experience during COVID pandemic. They rose to the occasion and helped us in a big way. They should be ready for any unforeseen thing like this (coronavirus) which the future may throw up," he said.

Vardhan said the Bio Innovation Centre will help the start-ups as well as MSMEs.

"The Narendra Modi government stands rock solid behind anyone who has got a bright idea and wants to convert that idea into an entrepreneurship, discover or develop something new, which can help solve some of the long-standing unresolved problems of the countrymen and maybe alleviate their sufferings and make their lives better. That is the idea of this 'Start-up and Stand up' movement," he said.

He said a special fund worth almost over Rs 900 crore was established to help the industry expedite research for COVID-19 vaccine.

Vardhan also inaugurated Centre of Excellence for Intelligent Sensors and System at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation here, which is a laboratory of CSIR, as well as a vaccination help desk at Dadu Majra colony here, an event organised by the city unit of the BJP.

At the CSIO here, he also interacted with young scientists who received national awards and fellowships in the past two years.

CSIO is committed to developing indigenous technologies according to the needs of the nation with minimum dependence on imports to provide impetus towards achieving the goal of self-reliant India, Vardhan said.

While referring to the Centre of Excellence for Intelligent Sensors and System, the Union minister said such initiatives will kick-start a lot of synergies to proven strengths in many areas, which are at the heart of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' dream.

Vardhan lauded the efforts of the institute to give a thrust to the activities related to artificial intelligence-based sensing applications, particularly for defence applications.

The institute houses state-of-the-art testing facilities for acoustic, seismic, infrared imaging modalities and other sensors and networks with strong computational facilities to provide artificial intelligence.

He said CSIR-CSIO has a head-start by already having delivered in the complex, multi-disciplinary areas of earthquake monitoring systems which has helped in real-time disaster management for metro rail systems and avionic display systems for the needs of Indian defence.

Later in the evening, Vardhan also inaugurated the 'Advanced High-Resolution Microscopy Facility' at the National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) campus, Mohali, Punjab.

On the occasion, he said research should not be confined to the laboratories and a new, proactive and innovative approach is needed to bring it to the masses.
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Britain's triumphant vaccine rollout could be delayed by up to two months if the EU pushes ahead with its threats of an export ban, it is feared.

In a dramatic move, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, 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.

In response, Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned that 'the world is watching' as leaders in the bloc prepare for a crunch summit on Thursday where they will decide whether to press ahead with the 'Europe First' plan. Mr Wallace also said it would be 'counterproductive' for the EU to impose a ban as 'the one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacturing is that it is collaborative'.

However, an EU official doubled down on the threat this evening, with reports emerging that a factory in the Netherlands which produces Astra Zeneca jabs for the UK will now be stopped from shipping vital vaccine ingredients to Britain.

The Leiden-based plant which is run by sub-contractor Halix is listed as a supplier of vaccines in both the contracts that AstraZeneca has signed with Britain and with the European Union.

The EU official said: 'The Brits are insisting that the Halix plant in the Netherlands must deliver the drug substance produced there to them. That doesn't work. What is produced in Halix has to go to the EU.'

Britain has insisted that contracts must be respected. The EU official hit back to claim the bloc would not be in breach of any contract.

Ministers have been warned that EU action could hit UK supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine in May and June. One source suggested the fall in supply could be as much as 20 per cent, but another said the figure was likely to be lower.

With the pace of the vaccine rollout already set to dip next month because of a shortfall in supply from India, the EU threat will raise fears about the Government's ability to hit its target of vaccinating all adults by the end of July.

An independent analysis last night suggested a total EU export ban could delay the UK's programme by up to two months. Data analytics firm Airfinity said a total ban would pose 'a significant risk'.

It came as an AstraZeneca source accused Europe of failing to 'get its act together' on the jab, adding that the bloc is sitting on up to 12 million unused vaccines.

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, threatened to hold hostage more than 19 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to be shipped to the UK over the coming weeks

A factory in the Netherlands which produces Astra Zeneca jabs for the UK will now be stopped from shipping vital vaccine ingredients to Britain

An independent analysis last night suggested a total EU export ban could delay the UK's programme by up to two months

The source told The Daily Telegraph: 'The EU has not got its act together in distributing the vaccine. The EU is sitting on stockpiles of over 12million doses.

'We really don't understand this threat of an export ban from Ursula von der Leyen. It sounds like political posturing.'

European commissioner Mairead McGuinness yesterday confirmed restrictions on exports to the UK will be 'on the table' at the summit.

She said EU citizens were 'growing angry and upset at the fact that the vaccine rollout has not happened as rapidly as we had anticipated'.

Miss McGuinness told the BBC's Andrew Marr show it was unfair that AstraZeneca was 'supplying the UK but not the European Union'.

Mr Wallace said ministers had no choice but to take seriously the 'alarmist language'. He warned that imposing an export ban would be a 'very damaging thing to happen for a trading bloc which prides itself on the rule of law'.

And he urged the EU to switch to a 'grown up' approach and 'not indulge in rhetoric but to recognise the obligations that we all have, pull together, where can we maximise supply and help roll out that supply'.

Whitehall sources played down the prospect that the UK would impose a tit-for-tat ban on the export of vaccine ingredients to manufacturers based in the EU, such as the lipid molecules vital to the production of the Pfizer jab that come from Yorkshire.

But they pointed out that EU countries are already sitting on millions of doses which many citizens are reluctant to take due to false scare stories spread by their own leaders.

One source accused the European Commission of threatening Britain in order to divert attention from its dismal record on vaccine procurement.

'The more they pick a fight with Britain, the less scrutiny there is of their own actions,' the source said. 'They are causing long term damage to their relationship with us in order to save the political careers of a few. Reckless doesn't cover it.'

Tory MP Michael Fabricant said: 'I suspect even Remainers must now see the EU for what it is  overblown, incompetent, wasteful and vindictive.'

Boris Johnson privately warned European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen against any export restriction in a phone call last week.

The Prime Minister is also trying to build an alliance of EU countries to help block the ban, which has the support of both France and Germany.

EU member states had administered 10.4 vaccine doses per 100 people as of Saturday, compared to the 42.7 jabs administered per 100 in the UK.

Earlier on Sunday, European Commissioner for financial services Mairead McGuinness said 'everything is on the table' and the EU's focus is on 'protecting our citizens'.

She also said there is a need for both sides to 'calm down' amid the escalating war of words over vaccine supply but her decision to repeat Ursula von der Leyen's threat is unlikely to dampen tensions.

The EU continues to face criticism over the glacial speed of its vaccination programme and many of its members have been plunged into fresh lockdowns as Covid-19 cases soared.

Meanwhile, Britain has smashed its vaccine record yet again with 874,000 jabs given in just one day - as the UK's daily death toll fall by 36.5 per cent week-on-week.

The first and second dose figure recorded yesterday - which is equivalent to around 27 jabs a second - marks the second day in a row of record-beating figures, with 711,156 vaccines given on Friday.

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.'

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.

Ms McGuinness told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that EU leaders will 'make an assessment of the current situation' when they discuss the matter.

I think what is terribly important this week, as you say, there is an increase in infections across Europe, alarming for everybody,' she said.

But the leaders will meet this week and they will make an assessment of the current situation about the roll out of vaccines and perhaps make decisions.

But as the President of the Commission said herself, everything is on the table but there is no decision.

Seeking to cool tensions, she added: Frankly none of us have had a great Covid. I think all of us should put our hands up and say we were not prepared for this global pandemic, we did not do our best at the beginning but we are doing our best now to protect our citizens.

I think that is exactly what Europe is focused on is on protecting our citizens and once everyone is protected we are safe.

I think that we all need to, if you like, calm down, look very carefully, if you like, dispassionately at the situation around the raw materials for vaccines, around where they are produced and how we might ramp up that production.'

Government ministers have been scathing in their reaction to the export ban threat and Mr Wallace today added his voice to the chorus of senior figures criticising the EU's approach.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: I will take the President of the European Commissions words that she gave to the Prime Minister a few months ago that Europe and the European Commission and Europe were not going to engage in breaking contracts.

All of us recognise the importance of international law and upholding contract law around the world.

The European Union will know that the rest of the world is looking at the Commission about how it conducts itself.

If contracts get broken and undertakings, that is a very damaging thing to happen for a trading bloc that prides itself on the rule of law, prides itself on following contracts and being an open trading bloc.

The Commission knows deep down the world is watching what happens and also it would be counterproductive because the one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacturing is it is collaborative.

Mr Wallace said the European Commission is 'under tremendous political pressure' and warned its reputation is at stake.

He said: 'I think it is really a matter for them of how they deal with it. But the values that they espouse of the European Union of upholding the rule of law, being a trading bloc, all of that means that you follow those contracts, you honour them that you agreed, and I think it would damage the EUs reputation globally should they renege on those things.

A senior British Government official last night warned any move to ban jab exports 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.

THAT'S how EU do it! Britain smashes vaccine record with 874,000 doses in a day - or 27 jabs a SECOND while Brussels ramps up threats over its own dismal rollout - as UK deaths fall to 33 but cases rise to 5,312

Britain has smashed its vaccine record yet again with 874,000 jabs given in just one day - as the UK's daily death toll fall by 36.5 per cent week-on-week.

The first and second dose figure recorded yesterday - which is equivalent to around 27 jabs a second - marks the second day in a row of record-beating figures, with 711,156 vaccines given on Friday.

And Britain's great vaccine push appears to be working to drive down the country's death toll - as the 33 fatalities recorded today marks a drop of more than a third on the 52 recorded last Sunday.

However, the number of people who tested positive for Covid-19 has gone up compared to this day last week. The 5,312 cases recorded today is 15 per cent higher than the 4,618 cases seen one week ago.

More than half of all adults have now had at least one vaccine dose, with the number equivalent to the entire adult populations of Liverpool, Southampton and Oxford combined.

But as the UK's hugely-successful vaccination drive continues to soar ahead, there are fears the rollout could be slowed in the coming months.

Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), warned that supply delays mean it will take until late July to vaccinate all adults in the UK.

The government initially set the end of July as their end target but the early success led ministers to believe the country would be inoculated by the end of June.

Meanwhile the EU today doubled down on its threat to block jab exports to the UK as the European Commissioner for financial services Mairead McGuinness said 'everything is on the table' and the bloc's focus is on 'protecting our citizens'.

She also said there is a need for both sides to 'calm down' amid the escalating war of words over vaccine supply - as the British Government warned Brussels that 'the world is watching'.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Brussels that going ahead with an export ban would 'damage the EU's reputation globally'.

He said the EU is 'under tremendous political pressure' because of its botched vaccine rollout and insisted 'the rest of the world is looking at the Commission about how it conducts itself'.

In other developments:

Policing minister Kit Malthouse has been accused of breaching Covid-19 protocol at the Home Office after he tested positive at his place of work;

EU doubled down on its threat to block jab exports to the UK - as the British Government warned Brussels that 'the world is watching';

Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman defended Nicola Sturgeon, claiming the First Minister has 'led by example' while accusing her critics of playing 'partisan politics' amid growing calls for her resignation;

P lans for 'Alfresco April' gathered pace with Marston's brewery saying 700 of its pubs would open on April 12 ;

Experts predicted a 11.5 billion wedding bonanza once restrictions eased, while some hairdressers reporting full appointment books until early summer;

Japan announced that in a 'great sacrifice', international fans would be barred from attending the Tokyo Olympics later this year.

Of the 874,000 vaccines recorded in Britain yesterday, 756,873 were in England alone - and 686,424 of England's jabs were first doses.

The UK's triumphant vaccine figures come at the end of a week which saw the highest number of doses delivered since the vaccination programme began, NHS England said.

Chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: 'The speed and precision of the NHS vaccination campaign has been on full display this weekend and yesterday NHS staff across England administered a remarkable 27 jabs a second.

'In just one day we vaccinated the equivalent of the entire adult populations of Liverpool, Southampton and Oxford combined.

'When my turn came earlier this week I was delighted to get my first dose and we have a strong supply of vaccine for the coming week too, so if you are aged 50 plus, don't delay!

'Now is a great time to book your NHS Covid jab - it's quick and efficient, safe and effective, and painless.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned Brussels that going ahead with an export ban would 'damage the EU's reputation globally'

European Commissioner for financial services Mairead McGuinness said 'everything is on the table' and the EU's focus is on 'protecting our citizens'

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

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

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

Meanwhile, tensions with the EU continued to increase. In a dramatic move, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, 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 EU continues to face criticism over the glacial speed of its vaccination programme and many of its members have been plunged into fresh lockdowns as Covid-19 cases soared.

Meanwhile, Britain has smashed its vaccine record yet again with 874,000 jabs given in just one day - as the UK's daily death toll fall by 36.5 per cent week-on-week.

The first and second dose figure recorded yesterday - which is equivalent to around 27 jabs a second - marks the second day in a row of record-beating figures, with 711,156 vaccines given on Friday.

Professor Brown warned that supply delays means government insiders are less optimistic about vaccinating all adults ahead of schedule.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky news: 'I suspect our vaccine programme will be delayed slightly compared to where we hoped it might have been a few weeks ago but then, at that point, we were actually ahead of schedule so we are probably going to fall back to the original schedule and end up with them being offered the vaccine by towards the middle or the end of the summer, I suspect.

'I think July/August, those are the ballpark areas where we hope every adult has been offered their first dose of the vaccine.'

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.'

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.

Ms McGuinness told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that EU leaders will 'make an assessment of the current situation' when they discuss the matter.

I think what is terribly important this week, as you say, there is an increase in infections across Europe, alarming for everybody,' she said.

But the leaders will meet this week and they will make an assessment of the current situation about the roll out of vaccines and perhaps make decisions.

But as the President of the Commission said herself, everything is on the table but there is no decision.

Seeking to cool tensions, she added: Frankly none of us have had a great Covid. I think all of us should put our hands up and say we were not prepared for this global pandemic, we did not do our best at the beginning but we are doing our best now to protect our citizens.

I think that is exactly what Europe is focused on is on protecting our citizens and once everyone is protected we are safe.

I think that we all need to, if you like, calm down, look very carefully, if you like, dispassionately at the situation around the raw materials for vaccines, around where they are produced and how we might ramp up that production.'

Government ministers have been scathing in their reaction to the export ban threat and Mr Wallace today added his voice to the chorus of senior figures criticising the EU's approach.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: I will take the President of the European Commissions words that she gave to the Prime Minister a few months ago that Europe and the European Commission and Europe were not going to engage in breaking contracts.

All of us recognise the importance of international law and upholding contract law around the world.

The European Union will know that the rest of the world is looking at the Commission about how it conducts itself.

If contracts get broken and undertakings, that is a very damaging thing to happen for a trading bloc that prides itself on the rule of law, prides itself on following contracts and being an open trading bloc.

The Commission knows deep down the world is watching what happens and also it would be counterproductive because the one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacturing is it is collaborative.

Mr Wallace said the European Commission is 'under tremendous political pressure' and warned its reputation is at stake.

He said: 'I think it is really a matter for them of how they deal with it. But the values that they espouse of the European Union of upholding the rule of law, being a trading bloc, all of that means that you follow those contracts, you honour them that you agreed, and I think it would damage the EUs reputation globally should they renege on those things.

A senior British Government official last night warned any move to ban jab exports 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.

As summer holidays hang in the balance, Professor Brown today said social distancing rules will need to be kept in place in the UK until 'everybody' has been vaccinated.

Prof Brown said 'some degree of social distancing or protection is going to be required' until the whole nation has had the jab.

He said the rules will need to be retained because people who have not had the jab could still be at 'high risk of disease'.

The Government has not committed to a date for lifting all social distancing rules.

But under Boris Johnson's roadmap ministers have committed to updating advice on social distancing between friends and family no later than step three in the strategy, set for May 17.

Prof Brown was asked during an interview on Sky News what the purpose of a coronavirus vaccine programme is if people are still required to follow mask and social distancing rules.

People walk along a sea promenade in Barcelona, Spain today. Madrid has seen a surge in tourism after city officials refused to follow the government's Covid curfew and let restaurants and bars stay open until 11pm

Professor Jeremy Brown told Sky News 'some degree of social distancing or protection is going to be required' until the whole nation has had the jab

He replied: 'Essentially, until we can suppress infection going around the country, which means vaccinating everybody, then some degree of social distancing or protection is going to be required, just because even if a small proportion of people have not been vaccinated or where the vaccine has not worked very well, we have a high risk of disease if we have no control of infection and the control of infection comes in once a very high proportion of the country have been vaccinated.

'We now know that the vaccine does prevent transmission to a degree but that only works on a population level once you have vaccinated a high proportion of the population, so that's phase two of the vaccine programme.'

Prof Brown said a 'very large number' of at-risk people could develop a 'serious' Covid-19 infection if restrictions are lifted too quickly.

Meanwhile, policing minister Kit Malthouse has been accused of breaching Covid-19 protocol at the Home Office after he tested positive at his place of work.

The Government has not committed to a date for lifting all social distancing rules but under Boris Johnson's roadmap ministers have committed to updating advice on social distancing between friends and family no later than step three in the strategy, set for May 17

Mr Malthouse took a lateral flow test on his way into work last Monday - but the minister reportedly went into the Home Office without waiting for the results.

According to the Sunday Times, Mr Malthouse was asymptomatic and was alerted to his positive test result 30 minutes after taking the test.

The 54-year-old immediately asked those working in his department to wear masks and drove himself home to self-isolate after receiving the diagnosis.

In January, Mr Malthouse told LBC that it is 'preposterous' to think anyone would be 'ignorant' of the rules during the third national lockdown.

He said: 'It seems preposterous that after 10 months anyone could be ignorant to the rules.

'Also, it is frankly ignorant to the perilous state that we find ourselves in with the NHS rammed to capacity, with numbers of infections rising on a daily basic and sadly deaths following them.'

Government guidance states that workers must remain socially distanced at work until they receive their negative test result.
V.Narayan Distinguished - BHPian

Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR Posts: 2,893 Thanked: 32,439 Times

re: 1-crore fine for vehicle recalls in India Why discourage an industry from voluntary self declaration? Automobile, Aircraft manufacturing and Medical equipment are three industries with a healthy, relatively honest approach to self audit and transparency that serves the customers and the industry well and has contributed to significant improvements in the quality and reliability of the end product over the years. This kind of punitive attitude and law will only serve to drive transparency underground and deny customers the benefit of post purchase corrections. Very sad.



In my industry, of aviation, OEMs monitor the actual live performance of the aircraft fleet and engines through its entire 30 to 60 year life in service. And they continuously issue service bulletins, optional or mandatory, for modifications and improvements which the operator must implement. This global practise had led to the safety and efficiency standards we have today.



Unfortunately, several bureaucrats in India know only the tools of ration, cancel, deny, block, punish, license and not the tools of encourage, support, invest, adjudicate, listen.
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Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
2019 eidtorial:

The area around MUSC, Roper Hospital and the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston floods frequently and severely. Its a longstanding problem and a major public safety risk in the event of a major storm.

So South Carolina officials should be open to using $10 million in federal Department of Housing and Urban Development grant funds to build a new pipe and drainage system in the medical district to a larger pump project under the Crosstown.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg made that request of Gov. Henry McMaster earlier this year, and leaders of Roper and MUSC sent letters of support.

This relatively inexpensive fix  at least compared to the $197 million Spring-Fishburne pump system the medical district project would tie into  could make a potentially major difference for a site of obvious public importance. Mr. McMaster should give it the go-ahead.

But there are also a few broader issues that ought to be addressed.

The Spring-Fishburne project has been in the works for a decade, for example. Flooding problems in the medical district have been well-known for far longer. This fix should have been part of the original plan.

An apparent lack of foresight in the earliest stages of the Spring-Fishburne effort also recently contributed to a $43 million cost overrun and a four-year delay in the systems completion.

City officials expect that those costs can be absorbed without too much disruption, but keeping projects on time and on budget will be critical in addressing the citys larger flooding problems.

Its also not entirely clear why MUSC needed to build a new, roughly $400 million childrens hospital, which is expected to open this year, in an area with demonstrated flood hazards rather than elsewhere in the Charleston area.

As The Post and Couriers Mary Katherine Wildeman reported last August, MUSCs existing facilities on the peninsula have faced such severe flooding challenges that on at least one occasion doctors had to arrive at the main hospital by boat.

The combination of the Spring-Fishburne effort and the similarly ambitious Calhoun West drainage project  which doesnt yet have an official timeline  ought to help prevent similar disasters in most cases, at least for the foreseeable future.

There may be some additional benefits to having a hospital system less highly concentrated in a single part of the city, and other locations might merit greater attention as part of MUSCs growth and expansion plans.

Roper has multiple facilities far outside the Charleston peninsula, for instance. MUSC plans to build a new hospital in Berkeley County. But a newer building is expected to eventually replace its main hospital in downtown Charleston.

Thats a potentially risky decision.

For now, a pipe under the medical district ought to provide relatively timely, cost-effective relief to better ensure that vital emergency services remain available even in dangerous floods.

Gov. McMaster ought to facilitate the funding and be open to any other state assistance that can help speed Charlestons efforts to build a safer, more resilient city.
Elsa Pataky is known for always looking her absolute best.

And on Sunday, the 44-year-old Spanish actress revealed the secret to maintaining her incredible figure.

The wife of Chris Hemsworth told Sunday Life that she credits her age-defying bikini body to eating healthy and training hard.

So that's how she does it! Elsa Pataky, 44, (pictured) has revealed exactly how she maintains her age-defying figure on Sunday

'I have learnt to eat healthily over the years and it's just part of who I am,' she said.

Elsa continued: 'I have a few cheat days each week and make up for it by going to the gym or horse riding.'

'Nothing beats the morning endorphins after you've worked out. You feel better and know it's worth it.'

Secrets: The wife of Chris Hemsworth told Sunday Life that she credits her age-defying bikini body to eating healthy and training hard

Elsa lives in Byron Bay, a coastal town in New South Wales, with Chris and their three children - daughter India Rose and twin sons Tristan and Sasha.

The family leads a carefree and active lifestyle, with Elsa's documenting days at the beach and time spent exploring the outdoors.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping in 2018, Elsa said she always strives to make fitness a priority, even if it means taking her three children with her to the gym.

'I have learnt to eat healthily over the years and it's just part of who I am. I have a few cheat days each week and make up for it by going to the gym or horse riding,' she said

'Trust me, most kids can have fun just about anywhere, including a gym,' she said.

Yoga is also a major part of Elsa's fitness routine, with the Spanish actress explaining that the mat-based exercise is 'great for toning your booty'.

The Fast and Furious star will usually end her day with a yoga routine or some more strenuous exercise.
Ann Lininger

Lininger is a Clackamas County Circuit Court judge.

A friend of mine relapsed in his addiction during quarantine, overdosed and died. He was one of my first friends in my own recovery, and I remember him cheering me on as I completed 90 meetings in 90 days. I had dinner with him shortly before he passed, but he did not mention his relapse. I think he was ashamed.

I work as a trial court judge and help run a drug treatment court program. In my work and in my personal life, I have seen too many people suffer or die from untreated addiction. We need to dismantle the stigma that prevents people from seeking treatment and harm reduction help that could save their lives.

Oregonians increasingly see addiction as a health condition. That is clear from voters passage of Measure 110 last November, which decriminalized minor drug possession. It is now a violation with a fine that is waivable if the person obtains a health assessment to learn about treatment and harm reduction options. This is a major shift in approach, but other changes are needed.

The stigmatization of addiction is dangerous because it immobilizes people. By stigmatization I am referring to the scorn and contempt aimed at people with the disorder. Ive felt it myself at health care visits, witnessed it in our community, and even perpetuated it in my own family. Stigmatization creates shame, and shame makes the phone weigh 1,000 pounds; thats too heavy for a person in crisis to lift and reach out for help.

We lost 717 Oregonians to drug overdose in the 12 months from July 2019 to July 2020, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is an increase of over 23% from the preceding 12 months. To save lives, we have to remove barriers that keep people from getting assistance they need. We can do this, even as we hold people accountable for their conduct, including criminal conduct.

We can combat stigma by communicating that substance use disorder is not a moral failing. It is a medical condition that develops in the context of many challenges, including some that are outside a persons control: family history, childhood trauma, abuse and toxic stress.

The leaders of Oregons judicial branch are providing helpful information to judges about addiction. In the last year, we have had the chance to learn from medical and treatment providers, people in recovery, racial equity and anti-poverty leaders, and judges with specialized knowledge. Educational opportunities like this could be useful to people in other fields, too.

We can destigmatize addiction by using language that is direct but humane. In my courtroom, for example, we do not label anyone a drug addict. Instead, we recognize them as a person with substance use disorder. Similarly, a urine sample isnt clean or dirty, its simply negative or positive. The Recovery Research Institute created a great resource to help us speak with more care: its called the Addictionary.

We can also diminish stigma by acknowledging that many people who abuse substances do it to ease the symptoms of underlying mental and physical health conditions. By improving access to affordable, appropriate health care, we can help people find safer ways to feel better.

Those of us in recovery can help dismantle stigma by sharing our experiences. When I was struggling, it helped me to know people who are open about their recoveries. Anonymity can be essential for many, and that is completely appropriate. For others, being open may send a message that we are in this together, and the old stigmas are falling away. That is what I am trying to do here.

My friend is gone. I cant tell him that I wish wed been able to talk and Id been able to help. So, instead, I am telling you. And I am challenging all of us to end the stigma that keeps people from seeking help that could save their lives.

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Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Showers and a few thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 62F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Cyclone Yaas: Amit Shah to hold review meeting with Chief Ministers of states to be affected

TMC MP Sisir Adhikari joins BJP at Amit Shah's rally

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Egra, Mar 21: Veteran TMC MP Sisir Adhikari - father of BJP heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari - joined the BJP here on Sunday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders of the party.

The patriarch of the Adhikari family -- which wields considerable influence in Bengal's Purba Medinipur district -- said that he had to work really hard to rise through the ranks in the TMC, but the treatment meted out to him and his sons, of late, forced him to switch camp.

"The way our family was driven out (of TMC) will be forever written in history. We will rise against all political attacks and atrocities in Bengal. We will work under Modiji and Amit Shahji," the Lok Sabha MP said, chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

Will join BJP, save honour of Midnapore: TMC MP Sisir Adhikari

Earlier in the day, Adhikari had asserted that his son Suvendu, locked in a fierce battle with Chief Minister and TMC boss Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, will bag the seat at ease. "Suvendu will win the elections by a huge margin.

The TMC will be wiped out of East Midnapore," he told reporters. Shah addressed a public meeting at Egra during the day.
Special measures for vaccination rollout for elderly in Colombo city By Kumudini Hettiarachchi, Ruqyyaha Deane & Meleeza Rathnayake View(s): View(s):

Mobile unit taking the jab to elders homes with moves to adopt same mechanism for immobile senior

citizens in their own homes, says Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni

Six vaccination centres across the city for all other citizens over 60 A special mobile unit was launched on Thursday (March 18) with a team comprising a doctor, a nurse and registration personnel to take the COVID-19 vaccine to all the homes for the elderly within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area, while others over 60 can get their jabs at six centres across the city.

We have 28 such homes in the city and we hope to carry out the programme in three of them daily, after which we hope to use the same mechanism to vaccinate those who are home-bound including the bed-ridden, said the CMCs Chief Medical Officer (Public Health Department), Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni.

This is doable, he was confident because the entire city of Colombo is only 37 km2.

Dr. Wijayamuni said that if there are any immobile elderly in their own homes, their relatives should inform the closest Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office and as soon as the elderly homes are covered, they would give the jab to these people.

The CMC area which has 47 municipal wards is divided into the 6 MOH areas of: Colombo North, Colombo Central A, Colombo Central B, Colombo East, Colombo West and Borella. There is a vaccination centre in each of the six areas and the vaccine is administered daily except on Sunday.

The Chief Medical Officer said that even if people are brought to a vaccination centre and are unable to leave their vehicle, the staff would oblige by going to the vehicle to administer the jab.

Our estimation is that we have around 100,000 people over-60 in the CMC area. Under the COVAX global vaccine initiative which has sent the first tranche of 264,000 doses to Sri Lanka, we have secured 80,000 doses for our area. However, we see a reluctance from that age group to get the inoculation, he said.

As the vaccination of those over-60 got into full swing in the CMC area, the Sunday Times learns that under the initial community vaccination drive, 103,269 people over-30 have got their jabs as of Wednesday (March 17).

Within two weeks we were able to vaccinate the 103,269 people which is a great achievement, said Dr. Wijayamuni, during a short interview in his Town Hall office on Wednesday, while his mobile and landline kept ringing and people walked in to get this or that document signed.

He said that now the vaccination programme has slowed down quite a bit because they are only vaccinating those 60 and above as per the COVAX agreement.

COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access) works with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, once they are licensed and approved. It is co-led by GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Looking back and then forward to an unprecedented vaccination drive in Sri Lanka and specifically in the CMC area, Dr. Wijayamuni says that even though officially the CMCs population is 561,314 permanent residents, they think there might be around 600,000. The floating population, those who work in Colombo but live elsewhere, is around 500,000.

He explained that when they began the rollout of the vaccine for those over-30, the two criteria on which they based their decision on what areas it should take place were  the COVID-19 disease burden (the number of cases emerging from a particular area) and the number of COVID-19 deaths in a particular area. This was how they chose 19 of the 47 municipal wards.

When asked, he said that no one among those vaccinated in the CMC area had reported any major side-effects, while CMC officials have been told that there will not be a delay with regard to the second dose. They would get the vaccine doses on time to begin inoculating the second round.

Third wave only if variants begin to circulate There is a probability of a third wave in Colombo if we get the South African or United Kingdom (UK) variants, which spread fast, said Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, adding, however, that there has been no information on these variants being in Colombo. From the beginning up to March 16 (Tuesday), a total of 88,238 COVID-19 cases had been detected in Sri Lanka, 28,809 from the Colombo district and 16,147 (both permanent and temporary residents) from the city of Colombo. Numbers on the decline He said that the numbers are reducing within the CMC area. Of the 85,181 RT-PCR tests done from the start, 77,994 tests were carried out during the latest cluster. Explaining that a reason the number of tests being done has reduced is because people are not showing up for RT-PCRs, Dr. Wijayamuni said there is a huge resistance because they know the strings attached if they test positive, such as being taken away and the family facing challenges. However, all first-level contacts of a positive case are tested as well as random testing performed in high-risk areas such as the bus-stops at Bastian Mawatha, among vendors, achcharu sellers, vadai sellers and more. They have found that the number of positive people has come down drastically. Citing the example of areas such as 2nd and 5th Cross Streets, he said that earlier they got a 45% positivity rate but in the last three days there have only been seven positives among 1,052 samples. Therefore, the positivity rate is only 0.66% now. Dr. Wijayamuni smiles that they say you cannot hide your love or a cough but now I say you cant hide your love, a cough or COVID-19. If cases increase then we would see them. Getting into technicalities, he said that in Colombo, sero-conversion can happen in two ways. Sero-conversion means that a person has developed antibodies which can happen through natural infection or immunization. As the CMCs Chief Medical Officer, he needs about 70-75% of the people to reach sero-conversion as it is then that if among 100 people, there is 1 person who has the infection, 75 people would already have protection. The challenges faced in the vaccination programme The CMCs Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni conceded that there was some confusion during the early days of the vaccination programme in his area. There was a very high demand in a situation where there were limited doses and it was very difficult to control the crowd as people tried various ways, using influence or even coming from areas outside the Colombo city to get the vaccine, he said, adding that they also had to vaccinate both the permanent and temporary residents.
A Naas beauty blogger who has cystic fibrosis (CF) and underwent surgery for cancer last year is still waiting to hear when she will get a Covid-19 vaccine, despite being on a high priority list.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has insisted that people with cystic fibrosis would be given priority as part of the national Vaccine Allocation Strategy.

CF is considered a chronic respiratory disease and patients would be classified into Cohorts 4 or 7.

Speaking about the vaccination roll-out, Aoife Rafter (29) told the Leader: I have not been given any date for a vaccine as of yet.

Aoife believes she is in Cohort 4 which includes around 160,000 people at very high risk due to an underlying condition.

Aoife said on her blog: I have three dangerous infections living in my lungs for the past three years as part of having cystic fibrosis, a progressive life threatening lung disease that gives a medium age of life expectancy of 45 years.

There are 1,300 people living with CF in Ireland, we have all been cocooning for 12 months now.

Highest rate

Ireland has the highest rate of CF in the entire world, so we really should be leading by example in relation to CF care and Covid.

I was discharged from hospital less than one week ago for intravenous antibiotics (through my veins) as one of my CF bugs flared up. Yet I am not sick enough to be pushed up to Cohort 4 for the Covid vaccine. There are hundreds of people being wrongfully excluded from this category also.

Survivor

Aoife also explained that since undergoing treatment for cancer last summer, all tests have been clear.

She explained: I finished radiotherapy in January 2020. My surgery in August 2020 was successful in removing all visible cancer.

I now attend three monthly clinics as an outpatient. So far there has been so sign of recurrence.

Aoife was diagnosed with CF when she was about 10 and later missed several days at school.

However, she did not let the condition get in the way, and qualified with a degree in social care, and was employed as a social care worker for four years.

When she moved to Australia, she went to a doctor in Australia, and got cervical screening.

On the same day that she returned back to Naas in June 2019, she got an email informing her that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and immediately began treatment.
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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
It would be premature to book an overseas summer holiday now, a government minister has said, as he warns gains from the vaccine programme need to be preserved at all costs.

The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, told the BBC he had not booked his summer holiday and warned of the danger of holidaymakers importing new coronavirus variants from abroad.

If we were to be reckless in any way, and import new variants that put out risks, what would people say about that? Mr Wallace told Sky News on Sunday.

Weve got good direction of travel, were getting there, and I think we need to make sure we preserve that at all costs.

In a separate interview with the BBC, he added: I haven't booked my holiday. It would be premature to do that.

It is currently against the law to take a foreign holiday. The governments roadmap for lifting restrictions say they could be allowed from 17 May at the earliest.

Read more:

But the date could be shifted back further if the situation changes abroad, ministers have said.

We cant be deaf and blind to whats going on outside the United Kingdom. If you look in Europe, increases in infections, Mr Wallace said.

The government confirmed on Saturday that half of all UK adults have received at least one dose of their Covid-19 vaccine.

The milestone puts Britain well ahead of all other major economies and neighbouring European countries, which have run into difficulties deploying their vaccines.

A taskforce led by Michael Gove is set to report next month on the question of foreign travel, notably whether vaccine passports will be used.

Mr Wallace suggested people should wait for the review to be published.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Hannah Vitos of the Blenheim Art Foundation, poses for a photograph next to artist Ai Weiwei's Gilded Cage (2017) sculpture in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 1 May 2021 People swim in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool bridge across two exclusive residential blocks standing next to the US Embassy in Nine Elms, in London, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 AP UK news in pictures 31 May 2021 People enjoy the hot weather at Brighton beach Reuters UK news in pictures 30 May 2021 People venture into the sea as they enjoy themselves during a hot day on Brighton Beach AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2021 Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeenshire, which reopens after lockdown restrictions were eased PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Downing Street in London REUTERS UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA

Some travel companies and airlines have continued to push people to book holidays in a bid to stay afloat.

Labours shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy backed the governments approach, telling BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show: I think the government is right to say we should be guided by the science.

Ive been troubled by the fact the prime minister privately seems to be saying to some of his rebels hes keen to get this done quickly.

We do need to be careful, we do need to be cautious and, frankly, Ive not booked a foreign holiday for this summer and I wont be doing so because I dont think were there yet.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain this morning with thunderstorms by evening. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
In east Belfast, tattered Union flags hang from lampposts and murals depicting loyalist gunmen with words of defiance leap off gable walls. Amid the red, white and blue are black-and-white images featuring balaclava-wearing paramilitaries poised for violence.

The slogans hark back to Northern Ireland's violent past, but these days there are fresh tensions over what loyalists rail against as "the new enemy of Ulster": the Irish government.

They are angry over the last government's role in a Brexit deal that has resulted in Northern Ireland being effectively cut off from the rest of the United Kingdom through a sea Border.

The source of their anger is the Northern Ireland Protocol which was negotiated and agreed by the UK government and European Union, including the Irish government.

Security sources say the loyalist threats are all "bluster" and are anxious to play down reports of widespread unrest.

However, security forces continue to monitor the mood within loyalism and report to gardai when threats emerge, such as when sinister grafitti was daubed on walls in isolated parts of Belfast last week.

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Whatsapp NO ILLUSION: David Campbell. Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

As for the loyalists, last week they told the Sunday Independent that "nobody is off-limits" and named Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney as targets in any potential sectarian attack.

A senior member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), an illegal paramilitary organisation, claims the row ove the Northern Ireland Protocol has "sparked an uprising within loyalism".

"If Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar don't get rid of the protocol, they will face the wrath of loyalism," he says.

Last week Varadkar's home address was scrawled beside the banner in white paint - weeks after a death threat appeared elsewhere in Belfast - while Coveney's home address was also painted on a brick wall.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) informed gardai about the incidents.

Hundreds of professionally printed posters and stickers have also appeared throughout the city and are among the 200 Brexit-related cases reported to the PSNI so far this year.

According to a UDA source, loyalists are considering launching "an incendiary campaign and sending letter bombs to Irish politicians" if the Northern Ireland protocol isn't scrapped: "Have loyalists discussed sending letter bombs to the south? Yes. Have they the capacity? Yes."

It is claimed those politicians who "pushed the EU agenda around Brexit and those who are trying to bolster the Northern Ireland protocol" could be targeted by loyalists.

He also suggested the North-South Ministerial Council, which brings together ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, could be targeted if southern politicians cross the Border for one of the joint meetings.

However, security sources question whether the "hand of darker loyalism" was involved in the graffiti threats, or a lone-ranger, and said that the opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol "has been at a fairly low-level".

"If it was one of the big loyalist groups organising the graffiti against Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney why was it not all over Northern Ireland? Why are the tentacles of that group not in many locations as opposed to a few isolated locations?

"If it was coming from one of those main groups you'd see it in other locations," a PSNI source said.

Another loyalist source, aligned with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) - an illegal organisation behind the murders of more than 500 people - claims loyalists are gathering "personal information" on southern politicians.

"Young loyalists are compiling the names, personal information of these politicians because Coveney and Varadkar are seen as the enemies of Ulster," he says.

A PSNI/MI5 assessment says there are 7,500 people in the UVF and 5,000 in the UDA, with the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) warning paramilitary groups still pose a "clear and present danger" to Northern Ireland.

The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), which represents the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, wrote to British prime minister Boris Johnson this month to withdraw its support for the Good Friday Agreement - which effectively ended the Troubles in 1998.

While the LCC, headed up by David Campbell, maintains its objective is to ensure the groups "remain on a peaceful footing", it knows loyalism is frayed and can't control those people who don't agree with democratic means.

"The LCC will have difficulty holding back the militant elements of loyalism," the UVF source adds. That includes South East Antrim UDA, one of Northern Ireland's largest paramilitary gangs which has access to weapons and didn't sign up to the LCC in 2015.

Mr Campbell, a former chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party, says his "working assumption" is that all groups - even those in the LCC - "would still have access to arms".

"All the loyalist groups participated in decommissioning schemes," says Mr Campbell, "But I think anyone would be naive to think they decommissioned everything."

He says the "blame" for deepening tensions should be placed on the previous government in the south.

"Varadkar and Coveney, in our view, were malicious and mischievous in misrepresenting the Brexit agreement to the European Union as completely one-sided," says Campbell.

At the time Varadkar showed fellow EU leaders an Irish Times story which reported on an IRA bombing at a Newry Customs Office in which nine people were killed and six people were injured.

"You had them going to Brussels and saying, 'if there's a hard Border on the island there will be the resumption of a bombing campaign'.

"If loyalists had said that, you'd be the worst in the world, the Irish government says it and it's deemed a negotiating tactic."

In a meeting with Mr Coveney in the past year, Mr Campbell says he "delicately warned," the Fine Gael politician that he needed to "temper his language" but "the very next day after the meeting, he publicly maintained his position and didn't change it one iota".

Loyalists have been "intensely riled" by past remarks by Varadkar and Coveney "to the point relationships between us and them are non-existent" and have considered blocking traffic from the south crossing the border.

Mr Campbell says the onus is on the Taoiseach, to whom he has written, to "re-engage with unionism collectively" saying the success of the Good Friday Agreement "was maintaining dialogue" between Belfast and Dublin.

"Lines of communication had always been open but that has singularly stopped now with Martin," he says, suggesting there is a "window of opportunity to discuss these matters".

He would not quantify the potential loyalist threat, saying: "We don't want to talk in terms of threat, but the anger is such that I haven't witnessed since 1985 and the imposition of the Anglo Irish Agreement  we are approaching a very dangerous situation."

Mr Campbell says he "fears everything", including those who may decide not to play by the rules, suggesting "any crank can do whatever they want how safe are any of us?"

The group met the Democratic Unionists, Northern Ireland's biggest party, on February 26, during which Mr Campbell and others told leader Arlene Foster that if the issue is not resolved, she should bring down the power-sharing institutions by resigning as First Minister.

"We make no secret of the fact we see this ending in the bringing down of the Northern Ireland Executive. Arlene Foster was left under no illusion that this is something she would have to take responsibility for," says Mr Campbell.

"She responded by saying it has to be clearly within the DUP's thinking but now would not be the time to do that. That would be if and when all other avenues were explored and exhausted and if there was still a reluctance in London, Dublin and Brussels to change this protocol."

In a briefing, a senior PSNI source said it has been sharing information with gardai on the intimidation and threats directed at Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney.

"We have statutory obligations that when something like that goes up, we have to share the information with our partners. In respect of the graffiti about Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney, we have already spoken to guards".

He said they will be monitoring the threat level against the politicians and reporting back to their colleagues in the south.

The PSNI source also said there was always danger of myth taking on reality which could lead to a chain of events that did not need to happen.

While the PSNI has had conversations with Mr Campbell's group in the past, the source said "anyone in LCC would be of an interest" as they keep an eye on events.

"Yeah, they might have access to a larger group of individuals, but we can't take our eye off the ball. Is there a lone actor? Is there someone starting to attract 20,000 followers on Twitter? We can't potentially miss a spark that could start a fire."

On the suggestion of loyalist attacks, the PSNI source said it was "surprising for me to hear". "We are watching tensions, the unease and degree of dissatisfaction but the threat level is low."

Yesterday it emerged an official at Larne Port involved in administering the Irish Sea Border checks has been forced out of their home after receiving threats.
The railway group Canadian Pacific announced on Sunday that it has agreed to buy Kansas City Southern for about $25 billion, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: The acquisition would create the first railroad network to connect the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and open up opportunities for increased trade.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

The new USMCA trade agreement, which replaced NAFTA, went into effect last year will likely increase manufacturing and agriculture trade, adding more certainty to the rail deal, per Reuters.

What they're saying: Patrick Ottensmeyer, Kansas City Southern's chief executive, said the deal could reduce the need for trucks to connect production sites, reports the Wall Street Journal.

This company is going to have a North America rail footprint that is truly unmatched, Ottensmeyer added.

What's next: The deal still awaits the approval of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, which has not looked favorably upon previous attempts by Canadian railroad companies to buy U.S. rail companies, per Reuters.

The STB review is expected to finish by mid-2022.

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Sharad Pawar to be discharged from hospital in 2 days

Allegations against Anil Deshmukh serious: Sharad Pawar

India

pti-Deepika S

Mumbai, Mar 21: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the allegations leveled by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Dehsmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe.

Singh has claimed Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

Talking to reporters in Delhi, Pawar suggested that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision in this matter and also action against Deshmukh.

Pawar said neither the chief minister nor the state home minister were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year. The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singh's letter.

"I would suggest to Uddhav Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro's help for looking into the claims made by Param Bir Singh," he added.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tears into Maha govt over Sachin Waze episode

Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.

The NCP supremo said there is no impact on the MVA government because of Singh's allegations. Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but they will prove futile, he added.

In the 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.
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New Delhi:

Indian media fraternity was yet to come over from the shock of the gruesome murder of a senior journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru on Thursday late evening, unknown assailants now have targeted a scribe in Bihar.

According to intial reports, motorbike-borne criminals opened fire at a journalist in Bihars Arwal district on Thursday evening.

The journalist has been identified as Pankaj Mishra. He is associated with a Hindi daily Rashtriya Sahara.

Police have arrested one of the accused, who opened fire at Mishra.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Arwal Dilip Kumar said, It is a case of personal enmity.

Also Read: Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh shot dead in Bengaluru



The SP added that Pankaj Mishra was shot by two people from his village.

He was was leaving bank with Rs 1 lakh cash which was robbed by him, said a police official.

Also Read: Human Rights watch demands prompt probe in journalist Gauri Lankeshs murder



Mishra has been rushed to a local hospital for medical attention where doctors have state his condition to be critical.

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GENESEE COUNTY, MI - A Grand Blanc Township family is safe but their pet is missing after a fire Saturday evening that damaged much of their home.

Firefighters were dispatched around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, March 20 to McCandlish Road, between Manchester and Parkside drives, for a detached garage fire.

Grand Blanc Township Fire Chief Robert Burdette told MLive-The Flint Journal that the portion of the road near the home was closed with assistance from township officers while the department fought the fire.

When we arrived, the fire had spread to a work trailer, two cars, a boat that was in the next door neighbors driveway and into the home, Burdette said. It was an older farmhouse that had been remodeled multiple times, causing void areas in the structure where the fire was hidden and we couldnt get to it very easily.

Several neighboring departments aided Grand Blanc Township fire at the scene, Burdette said. The departments providing mutual aid included the Grand Blanc City Fire, Atlas Township Fire, Mundy Township, Fenton Township Fire and Flint Township Fire.

The department released the home back to the family after about seven hours, but whats left of it is in bad shape, he added.

The home was heavily damaged, Burdette said. We had portions of the building collapse as a result of the fire and the weight of the water we used to put it out. Whats remaining of the home is badly water damaged.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Firefighters unable to search for the familys cat because of the risk of structural collapse and it is still missing at this time, Burdette said.

Read more on MLive:

Man dies after rollover crash in Cass County

1 dead, 1 critical after rollover crash on I-96 in Detroit

DNR fire staff to resume prescribed burns across Michigan
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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.
The Crown's casting directors have reportedly begun looking for a sandy-haired pre-teen boy to play Prince William in the much-anticipated fifth series of the hit Netflix show.

Netflix is said to have already put out casting calls to hundreds of top schools and drama clubs for a youngster to play the future king as preparations to film the fifth series get underway.

A Netflix source told the Times that the hunt for the Duke of Cambridge was in its early days, while the search for his younger brother, Prince Harry, would begin at a later stage.

Casting director Nina Gold is said to be looking for youngsters between the ages of nine and 13 to play Prince William, who was played in the fourth series by Lucas Barber-Grant.

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Netflix have reportedly put out casting calls to hundreds of top schools and drama clubs for a youngster to play Prince William (pictured in August 1995 with his parents and Prince Harry) in The Crown's fifth series

Casting director Nina Gold is looking for youngsters between the ages of nine and 13 to play Prince William, who was played in the fourth series by Lucas Barber-Grant (pictured in series)

The source added that The Crown would not opt for 'colourblind' casting while searching for a boy to play Prince William, which was an approach taken by Netflix's hit series Bridgerton.

Filming for the fifth series is set to get underway during the summer and will reportedly not premier until 2022, leaving eager fans waiting nearly two years for another series.

The next phase will cover the early 1990s, including the Windsor Castle fire and end of three of the Queen's children's marriages, but is is not known whether it will cover the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in Paris in August 1997.

Prince Harry recently addressed the Netflix series, saying it is 'fictional' but 'loosely based on the truth' and captures the feeling of being expected to put 'duty and service above family and everything else'.

'They don't pretend to be news, it's fictional,' Prince Harry said of The Crown on The Late Late Show with James Corden. 'But it's loosely based on the truth.

'Of course it's not strictly accurate but it loosely it gives you a rough idea of that lifestyle and the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else and what can come from that.'

A Netflix source said the hunt for the future Duke of Cambridge (pictured in July) was at an early stage, while the search for his brother, Prince Harry, would begin later

Emma Corrin played Princess Diana (pictured) in the fourth series of The Crown and is set to be replaced by The Night Manager star Elizabeth Debicki for the final two seasons

Emma Corrin played Princess Diana in the fourth series of The Crown and is set to be replaced by The Night Manager star Elizabeth Debicki for the final two seasons.

The actress previously said of her casting: 'Princess Diana's spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many.

'It is my privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.'

The fourth series of The Crown, which premiered last November, showed Charles meeting and marrying an innocent Diana while maintaining his affair with the then-married Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Netflix are yet to announce who will take over from Josh O'Connor playing Prince Charles in the upcoming two final series.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Pryce, 73, will take over the role of Prince Philip and portray the royal through the 1990s.

Other cast members already confirmed for the final seasons of the hit show include Imelda, as the Queen and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.
Tourists, mostly from Mexico City, enjoy Caleta Beach in the port of Acapulco, state of Guerrero, Mexico, March 19, 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP



Tourists writhe their bodies to pumping techno beats on dance floors along Mexico's Caribbean coast  a magnet for people from around the world who want to party during a pandemic.



The Latin American country is among those worst hit by Covid-19 with a death toll fast approaching 200,000.



But such worries seem a world away in tourist resorts like Tulum and Cancun, where visitors can dance late into the night at discos, electronic music festivals and invitation-only parties.



Once a sleepy fishing village, Tulum now attracts international tourists lured by its turquoise waters, Mayan ruins and the chance to party next to lush jungle, freshwater sinkholes and golden beaches.



"The coronavirus thing is nonsense. Life must go on," said Greta from Spain who described the rave she attended in December as "amazing."



"The party in Tulum was magical  a combination of the jungle, rituals, the sea breeze," she said.



But what is a dream for Greta is a nightmare for many others, leaving the town facing accusations that it is putting lives at risk by allowing mass gatherings with lax sanitary measures.



Mexico is one of the few major tourist destinations not to have closed its borders or demanded a negative coronavirus test result on arrival.



That has ensured that the plane-loads of visitors keep coming, making Mexico the third-most visited country in the world last year.



In destinations like Cancun, hotels offer incentives such as free Covid-19 tests and discounts for guests if they are infected and forced to extend their stay in order to quarantine.



'Super-spreader event'



Tulum made international headlines in November when 50 attendees were infected at Art With Me, Mexico's version of the Burning Man festival that was quickly dubbed a super spreader event.



As a result, organizers of the Zamna electronic music festival were forced to pull the plug on the 16-day series of events that was supposed to start in December.



Ticket holders who paid up to $300 for a night dancing to international DJs and techno music acts will now have to wait until April  and bring a mask.



"Sadly, the image of Tulum is being affected, in the eyes of the world, by the negligence of some entrepreneurs to organize events without respecting health and safety protocols," the organizers said.



Lower-key events continue to go ahead, with more than 20 private parties organized in the past two weeks, according to messages in WhatsApp groups promoting them.



Quintana Roo, the southeastern state home to Tulum, Cancun and the Riviera Maya, is now at yellow status  the second highest of four under the country's traffic-light system.



Bars, discos and mass events are  in theory  forbidden from operating in the area, where hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected during the Easter period.



The hotel industry is unhappy that parties continue to be held in secret.



Such events are a "stain" on the area's image, said David Ortiz, president of the Tulum Hotel Association.



An agreement has been signed with the municipal council and a "citizens' initiative" will be presented to the local Congress to toughen punishments for anyone flouting the rules.



'Real battle'



That does not seem to worry the members of the WhatsApp group Eddy's Tulum Party Squad where people can keep up to date with the nightlife events calendar.



Social media users share videos and photos of parties, with little sign of social distancing or face masks.



In Cancun's nightlife district, the music from the discos is deafening even during a pandemic, although there are fewer customers than before.



Venues have found a way around the restrictions by reinventing themselves as "restaurant-bars."



Ecuadorian tourist Alexandra Freire was astonished when the restaurant where she was dining one night suddenly turned up the music and customers began dancing without masks.



"It is the most shocking thing I've seen in the pandemic. It's as if Covid never reached Cancun," said the 35-year-old engineer.



Stopping big parties is a "real battle" that sometimes ends in defeat, said Dario Flota, a representative of Quintana Roo's tourism promotion board.



Some visitors even fly home unaware they have the coronavirus.



This month 44 Argentine high school students tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from Cancun.



They had boarded the plane to Buenos Aires with negative test results from a clinic that turned out to be unlicensed and has since been shut down. (AFP)


Representative Image

Sao Paulo [Brazil], March 21 (ANI/Xinhua): Brazil on Saturday reported 2,438 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 292,752, as healthcare systems continue to collapse across the country, the ministry of health said.

Meanwhile, the country also registered 79,069 new cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 11,950,459.

Oxygen consumption in hospitals grew 121 percent in two months, and the local government has asked the local Federation of Industries to intervene to guarantee the supply of oxygen tanks, Health Secretary of Sao Paulo Edson Aparecido said.

The South American country is experiencing a new wave of infections generated by the P.1 strain that emerged in the northern state of Amazonas in November last year and the movement of people during the summer vacation. (ANI/Xinhua)
Lucero Mitzy Solis was in the Samsung Experience Store at The Galleria in Houston on Saturday afternoon when the sound of shouting emerged and a stampede of people appeared. Then Solis heard two words.

Shots fired!

The employees quickly ran to the back and allowed the few of us in there to run in with them, Solis recounted.

Around 3:30 p.m., Houston police started receiving reports of shots fired at the mall that, by numerous accounts on social media, had been packed with people. An hour later, authorities had not found any gunshot victims or evidence indicative of a shooting. But by then, according to witnesses, chaos, panic, fear and confusion had already run out of stores and onto parking garages and social media, where unconfirmed reports of an active shooter circulated to thousands.

Even after Houston police called the situation stable early Saturday evening, it remained unclear what exactly sparked the alarm.

To this moment, we are still unaware of the situation that caused the chaos, but even if there was or wasnt a firearm involved, Im sure nobody would have stayed put waiting to find out, Solis said. To be honest, I do not wish that fear on anyone.

One witness described what looked like hundreds of people all running in the same direction, some tripping over each other. Several tried making phone calls. Others cried.

Blayne Palomino, a 20-year-old who goes to school in Austin and was visiting the city this weekend, was on the second floor and heading out with friends, walking toward the Apple store.

We hear commotion, Palomino said. Whats going on?

A group of people ran by.

We just didnt know what was going on, Palomino said.

Palomino started running as people screamed. Cuss words, Shooter, active shooter and A fights going on among the bits Palomino remembered.

I was just in flight mode, Palomino said. If some people are running, Im going to run.

A mall spokesperson referred a reporter to a statement from Houston police Chief Art Acevedo about authorities not finding any evidence of shots being fired.

The situation is stable with no injuries, Acevedo said in a tweet. Please always report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Meanwhile, another tweet with a video of people running and yelling had been viewed nearly 400,000 times before it was apparently removed.

At the Samsung store where Solis was shopping for new phones with family, parents held kids and couples clung to each other.

The thoughts in all of our minds was to run, it wasnt until we felt safe that everyone began to check on one another, Solis said. It was terrifying.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon authorities say five wolves were found dead in northeastern Oregon back in February.

Oregon State Police said on Friday, when asked about it by The Associated Press that on Feb. 9, a collar on a wolf indicated a mortality signal in the Mt. Harris area in Union County.

Police Capt. Timothy R. Fox said in an email that arriving officers found a total of five wolves dead. He says the cause of death is unknown. Fox says all the carcasses were taken to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife forensic lab to determine the cause of death.

A state Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman said the incident is under investigation. No further information was released.
Four shootings over the course of little more than an hour across the city overnight Saturday left six people struck, according to the New Orleans Police Department. None were reported to have died as of noon Sunday.

At the same time police responded to two bystanders shot in the 300 block of Bourbon Street late Saturday night, they were called to a shooting in the Seventh Ward.

+2 2 sought after 2 bystanders shot on Bourbon Street Saturday night; see photo The New Orleans Police Department said it was two bystanders who were struck by bullets Saturday night on Bourbon Street, and they released a 

They found a man inside a stolen Nissan Maxima in the 2100 block of Pauger Street, unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his head. The New Orleans Police Department reported that both calls came in at 11:06 p.m.

Then, shortly before midnight, a 19-year-old man was shot and would be hospitalized after hed caused a vehicle crash in the 7300 block of Almonaster Avenue in eastern New Orleans and three male suspects started shooting at him, police said.

Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

+2 Florida woman fired on Bourbon Street while fighting with several people, striking 2 teens: NOPD A Florida woman accused of shooting two teenagers on Bourbon Street late Saturday apparently opened fire after a group of people hit her durin

In Central City, at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, an armed attempt to collect on a drug debt led to a fight between two men, and then gunfire, in the 2300 block of Washington Avenue.

Byron Coleman, 29, was the man who had pulled a gun and demanded money, police said. He shot himself in the finger. Police said the 33-year-old victim was shot in the arm.

Both men were taken to the hospital, where police said Coleman will be arrested after hes treated for his injury.
Almost a third of Irish households have been directly impacted by delays due to driving tests being limited to those working in essential services.

The current Level 5 restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic mean that only essential workers can sit driving tests.

A survey by AA Ireland has found that these constraints have affected 29pc of Irish households with warnings that the waiting times will only increase the longer the restrictions are in place.

The study, involving over 4,000 Irish motorists, found that just under 23pc strongly agreed that one or more members of their household have been, or will be, directly affected by the current wait times. A further 6pc said they partially agreed with the claim that restrictions on driving tests will impact them.

The AA's Director of Consumer Affairs, Conor Faughnan, said that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) need the Government's support to deal with the issue.

For as long as we remain in level 5 of Covid-19 restrictions, the Government have quite rightly taken the decision to restrict driving tests to those working in essential services," he said.

"However, the longer this goes on, the longer the waiting list for a test date becomes for those who currently cant apply to sit their test. When restrictions ease and we are in a position for regular testing to resume, its important that the RSA receive the required support from Government to take the steps necessary to minimise the delay," Mr Faughnan added.

The survey also found that instances of learner drivers travelling without a fully qualified driver may also be on the rise, with one in five people saying they know of a learner permit holder driving unaccompanied.

Around 12pc said they knew at least one person doing so regularly, while almost 10pc partially agreed with the statement.

Mr Faughnan said the current Covid-19 pandemic has not changed the rules around learner drives needing to be accompanied by a fully qualified driver.

Weve already had an issue in recent years with a small minority of learner permit holders thinking they had reason to drive without an accompanying driver because of difficulties getting a test or a requirement to get to work. This is not the case plain and simple, until you pass the test you must have a fully qualified driver with you and COVID does not change that, he said.
Stop Human Fetal Farming Before It Starts

Commentary

The news rocked the scientific world. Mouse embryos were successfully developed halfway through the normal gestation period using artificial wombs. Scientists were ecstatic. The New York Times reported: The mouse embryos looked perfectly normal. All their organs were developing as expected, along with their limbs and circulatory and nervous systems. Their tiny hearts were beating at a normal 170 beats per minute.

Meanwhile, scientists involved in human embryonic research are moving at a fast pace toward the same place as the mouse artificial uterus experimenters. Researchers currently work under a voluntary guideline known as the 14-Day Rule that requires embryo experimenters to cease their studies and destroy their research embryos after two weeks.

When enacted, the rule was much less than met the eye since scientists could not maintain embryos outside a womans body for longer than two weeks anyway. Thus, scientists pulled a fast one. They assured a wary public that their work would be strictly limited in scope, without giving up anything that they could then actually accomplish.

Such experimentation has now proceeded to the point that embryos will soon be able to be maintained for longer than 14 days. And surprise, surprise! The scientists now want to trash the 14-Day Rule and allow nascent human life to be experimented upon much farther along in their development. Such processes will almost surely require using artificial wombs.

Much of this future experimentation will involve learning how to eugenically manipulate babies. From the MIT Technology Report story on growing calls to trash the 14-Day Rule: Scientists are motivated to grow embryos longer in order to studyand potentially manipulatethe development process.  New experiments might ignite abortion debates, especially if the researchers develop human embryos to the point where they take on recognizable characteristics like a head, beating heart cells, or the beginning of limbs.

It should stimulate debate! We are not talking about beating heart cells but the human hearts of nascent human beings. And contrary to the Technology Report story, these ethical questions have nothing whatsoever to do with abortion, since no woman would be required or asked to do anything with her body. The question that these experiments thus force us to faceand answeris of whether unborn human life has any intrinsic moral value, and if so, to what extent.

Some pro-lifers hope this technology could save babies from abortion. But before we even get to that issue, the question has to be considered of whether developing human artificial wombs could even be accomplished ethically.

Frankly, I dont see how. Perfecting such a machine would entail the mass creation of human embryos and their repeated destruction in experiments as researchers strived to maintain the embryos for ever-longer time periods, indeed, eventually well into the fetal stage.

This would be human experimentation of the rankest sort, with living fetuses maintained in an artificial environment, not for the purpose of being born or learning how to save babies in danger of being stillbornbut also as being akin to lab rats, for example, used as sources of organs for transplantation, a prospect already discussed in bioethics known as fetal farming.

Are we really willing to go that far? I fear we may because we already have.

Back in the late 60s, researchers conducted experiments on born aborted infants kept alive for experimentation. Please excuse the graphic description of one of these experiments that follows, as reported by Pamela R. Winnick in her book A Jealous God.

She writes: In a 1968 study called the Artificial Placenta, a twenty-six-week-old fetus, weighing more than a pound, was obtained from a fourteen-year-old girl, presumably from a therapeutic abortion. Along with fourteen other fetuses, it was immersed in a liquid containing oxygen and kept alive for a full five hours.

Winnick then quoted from the study itself: For the whole 5 hours of life, the fetus did not respire. Irregular gasping movements, twice a minute occurred in the middle of the experiment but there was not proper respiration. Once the profusion [pumping in of oxygenated blood] was stopped, however, the gasping respiratory efforts increased to 8 to 10 per minute.  After stopping the circuit, the heart slowed, became irregular, and eventually stopped.  The fetus was quiet, making occasional stretching limb movements very much like the ones reported in other human work.  [T]he fetus died 21 minutes after leaving the circuit.

After these ghoulish experiments became known publicly, they were stopped by an outraged Congressled by Sen. Ted Kennedy, of all peoplewhich prevented National Institutes of Health funding of such experiments.

But that was when the sanctity of life held greater sway. Would the country erupt in the same revulsion today at such experiments? I wonder.

Indeed, the ground is already being prepared to permit experiments on living fetuses to resume. For example, Vermont recently enacted a statute that states, A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under Vermont law. Again, this has nothing to do with abortion. That provision can only mean that any embryo or fetus can be put to any instrumental use whatsoever without legal consequence.

The time to decide whether we want to go down this utilitarian road should be before we actually get there, not when the ethical crisis is upon us and there is no time to think. At the very least, we need to enact a legally enforceable moratorium preventing live fetal experimentation to give the world time to sort out the ethics of pursuing such technologies in humans through democratic deliberation.

Just floating along and letting the scientists decide the moral propriety of fetal farming simply will not do.

Award-winning author Wesley J. Smith is chairman of the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The noise of children playing in their bedrooms traveled down the steep stairs to the living room of Noreen Owens where she just finished helping one of her seven children with virtual class in their Camden home.

Once done, her daughter Charish, 17, grabbed her computer and ran upstairs to join the others.

Last year their lives were completely different. Whats the same is the virtual learning and that joyful noise of her children. Whats different is the bedrooms, the living room, the kitchen and the backyard  a real home.

Three months ago they were all living in a Mt. Ephraim hotel that housed homeless. That was until Steve and Gina Harbaugh aka The Griswolds of New Jersey  the family who brings joy to thousands with their Christmas Vacation light display in South Jersey  brought them a Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

I was there (at the hotel) for a few months, said Noreen. Before then, I was staying with my sister, before that my mother. And then I guess I can say I got my miracle.

Noreens miracle  a rented home in Camden and bills paid for at least a year  began after monetary donations began pouring in to the Harbaughs from corporations and the generous people that visited Clark, Cousin Eddie, and the rest of the cast of characters at the movie-themed holiday display.

Noreen Owens talks with Steve Harbaugh in her Camden home, Thursday, March 11, 2021. With the money donated to the Harbaugh's Griswold Christmas display he surprised Noreen Owens and her seven children, who were homeless, with a home. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

After a wildly successful three-year run at the Harbaughs Mickleton home, where thousands of people would stop by and admire the displays exterior illumination and drop off toys, they will relocate the experience to a larger rural piece of land this year that will take on the look of a German Christmas village.

Im an idiot crazy guy that put a bunch of lights up, said Steve, a real estate developer, downplaying his role in the success of the toy drive. I got a ton of cash and a ton of corporate donations this year that I really didnt know what to do with.

With all that money, Steve wanted to do more than just collect toys for families in need. This past holiday, approximately 12,000 toys were collected, a jump of more than 3,000 from the previous year.

He recalled having a conversation with his wife.

We want to try to find a special family that we can do something a little over the top this year and really give someone a Christmas, he had said at the time.

Noreen and her family were suggested to Steve by Vince Damiani, who along with Mike Lucas co-owns All Thats Good, a production company which has offices in Philadelphia and Gibbstown in Gloucester County. Steve had been working with them since last October in order to be more transparent to where the toys and money were going and to help tell his story in a more professional way, instead of doing his own Facebook videos.

The Harbaughs' Holiday Toy Drive: Episode 2 The Harbaugh Family, AKA The Griswolds of New Jersey, use their Christmas Vacation-themed display and toy drive to change a very special familys life in Camden, New Jersey. Posted by The Harbaughs on Friday, February 26, 2021

Damianis sister, who works at Camden Prep Elementary School, is the teacher for Noreens youngest child Chaylese, 6. She along with the principal and a social worker recommended the family of eight to be the recipient of the Christmas surprise.

At the time, Noreen, who is on disability, and her seven children ages 6 through 18 were living in two separate hotel rooms  four or five rooms away from each other  with two beds in each room.

She said it was very emotional the first couple of days they were there because other children would be outside playing with no pants on, or wearing just a diaper and socks or nothing on their feet at all. She even had a child knock on her door and ask for food. It broke me, she said.

How is it possible for these people to be living like this and nobodys doing nothing?

While dealing with her own struggles, Noreen decided to help the families staying at the hotel.

Already a volunteer with her children at their church, Bethel AME in Camden, she was also helping run two different food programs and was in the process of setting up Operation Warm Hugs, a Christmas event where children received teddy bears and blankets.

Noreen Owens helps her daughter Charles, 6, with a puzzle as Chayden, 10, looks for cards, Thursday, March 11, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Even though I was doing Operation Warm I also decided to do an adoptive family program just for the people at the hotel, she said.

She heard about the Harbaughs toy drive through a friend and messaged him through Facebook to see if he could help her with Operation Warm Hugs. Little did she know Steve already knew about her through Damiani.

A few days before she reached out to Steve, All Thats Good tricked Noreen into doing an interview about virtual learning just so they could get her backstory.

We had to trick her, kind of like Undercover Boss, said Steve, who was told not to respond to her message right away in fear he might blow the whole thing.

With money from the donations, Steve, Gina and their three children went to Walmart and purchased blankets and teddy bears and personally delivered them to the church during the holidays. This was the first time Steve and Noreen met face to face.

As they spoke that day Noreen told him she wanted to also help the families at the hotel where she was living.

While all this was going on Steve and the production company were busy securing a home for Noreens family, and furnishing it, complete with appliances, beds and food. To make it feel more like the holidays, and to add a little bit of love, they put up a Christmas tree and lights.

The day of the reveal, Dec. 23, a party bus picked up Noreen and her children for a thank-you lunch for doing the interview. Lucas told her the lunch would be at a friends house which was actually in her soon-to-be new home.

Standing outside their Camden home are from left, Chance, 14, Choyce, 9, Chase, 11, Chaylese, 6, front, Chayden, 10, and Charles, 18, Thursday, March 11, 2021. With the money donated to the Harbaugh's Griswold Christmas display he surprised Noreen Owens and her seven children, who were homeless, with a home. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Once inside she was given a present, a framed family portrait that was taken earlier  and a key to the house.

Im still stunned a little bit, she said while looking around her living room months later as the sounds of children playing outside accompanied a warm breeze through the open windows.

I didnt think stuff like this really happened to people.

Noreens rent and utility bills for the year are all taken care of through the donations received from the toy drive.

Charish, who shares a room with her sister Chaylese, said that she is still getting used to the space they now have and is happy they are not on top of each other all the time.

We have our own space so if somebody gets mad or upset they can just go to their separate part of the house and just chill out, she said.

Steve said they will work with Noreen to keep her in the house after the year is up and he looks forward to partnering with her to help locate those families in need.

Charish Owens, 17, talks to her sister Chaylese, 6, in their bedroom in their Camden home, Thursday, March 11, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

She would be a great outlet for me and a partner because I dont know the true places that need this, the toys, the donations and she does, he said.

Noreens wish for helping the hotel families was fulfilled when they received approximately 500 toys a few days before Christmas.

The Harbaughs have created their own charity, where they will oversee where the donations go moving forward.

While sitting with Noreen in her living room Steve discussed the possibility of 20,000 toys being donated at the new location then turned to her asking if she could help distribute that amount.

In this city, yes, she said without hesitation.

At the undisclosed new location, Steve plans on taking the toy drive to the next level.

Christmas Village concept. courtesy of Steve Harbaugh

Not only will people be able to come and see lights, but theyll be able to walk the village, theyll be able to have hot chocolate, ice skate, youll be able to go on the carousel, bonfires, he said with excitement in his voice.

And yes the Griswold house will still be the main attraction.

He said never in a million years did he think it would get to this point after throwing up a few lights on his home years ago.

It was meant to be, he said. Its just a good good thing

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com.
Little People, Big World follows the Roloff family, particularly Matt and Amy Roloff, as they navigate life as little people. But the show also introduced fans to their kids, and eventually, their kids spouses. Audrey Roloff, Jeremy Roloffs wife, no longer takes part in the show, but she has a serious social media following. Oddly enough, she gave a clue she might take a step back from Instagram, though. Heres what she said.

Audrey Roloff from Little People, Big World hinted at possibly quitting Instagram

Jeremy Roloff and Audrey Roloff celebrate their new book, A Love Letter Life | Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images

Jeremy and Audrey Roloff spent a lot of time with the Roloff family on Little People, Big World. While they left the show behind, they took their fans with them to Instagram. Both Jeremy and Audrey update their Instagrams frequently to show their fans whats new with their family, business ventures, and home life in Oregon.

It looks like Audreys considering moving on from the social media platform, though. Reddit users noticed she posted to her Instagram Stories about the possibility of quitting.

Just finished writing the weekly(ish) email we send out every Thursday or Friday! Audrey captioned her Instagram Stories post in March 2021. If you dont subscribe to The Roloff Weekly but you want to, swipe up. We have a love-hate relationship with social media and may not be on it forever  if we ever jump ship. This is one of the places well keep showing up.

Audreys received a lot of criticism over the years for her online posts and opinions. This might be part of the reason shes planting the seed that she may leave the online space behind.

Why did Audrey Roloff quit the show?

So, why did Jeremy and Audrey leave the Roloff family behind on Little People, Big World in the first place? It looks like the couple was ready to focus on growing their family and pursuing their own creative projects. Back in July 2018, Jeremy announced his departure from the show.

After 14 years, over 300 episodes, and 17 seasons, the time has come. A year ago I made the decision that this season would be our last, he posted to Instagram. This is a decision concerning Audrey and me specifically  the show must go on! That being said, were not disappearing. We have a lot of exciting stuff in the works and are eager to continue the work that the Lord has called us to!

As for how the other Roloffs feel about this decision, it looks like they support Jeremy and Audrey in their choices. While Matt and Amy have four kids, only one of their kids, Zach, has stayed on the show full-time with his wife, Tori.

They all understand, Jeremy told Access Live during an interview regarding his decision to leave. Weve all been doing it  its been a family business for 14 years, like, thats a long time to be working all together, day in and day out, making TV.

Does Audrey Roloff work? How will she and Jeremy support themselves?

Audrey Roloff of #LPBW is our maternity style #inspo! Look at how she finds the best outfit for every occasion!https://t.co/owppenM5Ln pic.twitter.com/dXDaxOCpBH  TLC Network (@TLC) July 18, 2017

RELATED: LPBW: Critics Slam Audrey and Jeremy Roloff for Writing Another Book of Marriage Advice

If Audrey leaves social media for good, how will she make a living? Little People, Big World and Instagram aside, it looks like Audrey and Jeremy know how to keep themselves afloat. The two initially started their blog, Beating 50 Percent, to assist couples in attaining a covenant marriage. Now, theyve revamped the site to just be The Roloffs.

The couples site includes links to their successful podcast, their New York Times Bestsellers, and their various other products. Jeremy and Audrey have journals and sweatshirts available for fans. And it looks like Audrey has her own essential oils business, too. Her More Than Oils Instagram has over 90,0000 followers.

We dont expect Jeremy and Audrey to get rid of their personal Instagrams anytime soon  but if they do, we imagine theyll be just fine. As for the other Roloff family members, were looking forward to seeing some of them on future seasons of the show.

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As a firefighter for many years in an area containing a major hospital, Paul Mangioni of Darlinghurst was called out on too many occasions due to smoke alarms caused by burnt toast (C8) in the hospital kitchen, normally at 3 or 4 oclock in the morning. He writes: One of my colleagues finally had enough. He asked for the offending toaster and a pair of scissors, chopped the cord off and then left, to the astonishment of the nurses.

In the 1980s, we in the computer-repair industry came up with the theory that computers ran by circulating smoke, writes Andrew Taubman of Queens Park. You could tell this because, if a component emitted enough smoke, the computer stopped working  presumably because it ran out of smoke.

We love a bit of nominative determinism here in Column 8. In light of the wild weather predictions being made over the past few days, Joan Brown of Orange and Brian Peck of Chatswood both approvingly noted the name of the weather bureaus meteorologist  Melody Sturm. As many readers would know, Sturm is the German word for storm.

Regarding the world weather on SBS (C8), Unkle Cyril of East Corrimal reports that my wifes husband gets into trouble each night yelling at the weather reporter, Who cares about the temperature in Ouagadougou or Phnom Penh, get on with it..!

While searching for the name of a local driving school so that her son can upskill from automatic cars to manual, Marjie Williamson of Blaxland noticed that the name and details of a local swimming school were also listed in the search results. Is this encouraging diversification with deep-sea diving or anticipating a horrible accident?
New Delhi, March 21 : Hundreds of leading academics, including from top universities like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Princeton, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Oxford and Cambridge, have written an open letter to the trustees, administrators, and faculty of Ashoka University, expressing solidarity with Pratap Bhanu Mehta.

"We are distressed to learn of Pratap Bhanu Mehta's resignation under political pressure from Ashoka University.

"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," they said in the letter.

"As he put it in his eloquent resignation letter: 'My 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'.

"We write in solidarity with Pratap Bhanu Mehta, and to reaffirm the importance of the values that he has always practiced," the letter said.

"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," it said.

These values come under assault whenever a scholar is punished for the content of public speech. When that speech is in defence of precisely these values, the assault is especially shameful, it added.

"The university must be a home for fearless inquiry and criticism. We support Pratap Bhanu Mehta in his practice of the highest values of intellectual inquiry and public life," the letter said.

The signatories include Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science, Yale; Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor, Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard; Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Charles Beitz, Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics, Princeton University; Lee C. Bollinger, President, Columbia University; Richard Bourke, Professor of the History of Political Thought, University of Cambridge; Jennifer Bussell, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley; Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, School of Law, University of California, Berkeley; Joshua Foa Dienstag, Professor of Law, Shapiro Family Chair Professor of Modern Political Theory, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Lisa Disch, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan; Rosalind Dixon, Professor of Law, University of New South Wales, Co-President, International Society of Public Law; John Dunn, Professor of Political Theory, Emeritus, University of Cambridge among others.

Lewandowski hits hat-trick as 10-man Bayern thrash Stuttgart Robert Lewandowski (L) celebrates as Bayern Munich romp to a 4-0 home win over Stuttgart

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick on Saturday as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich romped to a 4-0 home win over Stuttgart despite having Alphonso Davies sent off in the 12th minute.

Stuttgart chief executive Thomas Hitzlsperger described Lewandowski's performance as "something above world class".

The result keeps Bayern four points clear at the top after second-placed RB Leipzig won 1-0 at Arminia Bielefeld on Friday.

Lewandowski has now scored 35 league goals this season to leave him just five short of Gerd Mueller's all-time Bundesliga record of 40, set in 1971/72.

"I just keep thinking from game to game and not how many more goals I have to score," said Lewandowski, who netted with his left foot, right foot and head to make it a 'perfect' hat-trick.

Davies received an early red card at the Allianz Arena for a tackle on the ankle of Stuttgart's Japan midfielder Wataru Endo.

"After that we woke up," said Lewandowski. Bayern responded with a burst of three goals in five minutes.

Lewandowski beat two defenders to tap home a Serge Gnabry cross on 18 minutes.

A superb exchange of passes between Leroy Sane and Thomas Mueller set up Gnabry to score Bayern's second on 22 minutes.

Just 77 seconds later, Lewandowski headed home Mueller's cross and the Poland star wrapped up his treble six minutes before half-time with a low shot.

"We paid dearly. They scored with every chance," said Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat.

Bayern will have Davies and Jerome Boateng both suspended for their April 3 showdown at Leipzig after the latter picked up a first-half yellow card, his fifth this season.

- Haaland equaliser -

Elsewhere, Erling Braut Haaland rescued Borussia Dortmund with two goals, including a late equaliser, in a 2-2 draw at strugglers Cologne.

The 20-year-old Norway star stormed off the pitch at the final whistle as Dortmund's defensive weaknesses were again exposed.

Story continues

Dortmund, who face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, were heading to defeat before Haaland struck on 90 minutes after also giving the visitors an early lead.

Dortmund's England midfielder Jude Bellingham gave away a first-half penalty when a VAR review showed he had blocked a shot with his arm and Ondrej Duda netted the spot-kick.

A mistake by Dortmund defender Thomas Meunier allowed Germany Under-21 winger Ismail Jakobs to fire Cologne into a 2-1 lead with an hour gone.

Haaland hit the post with a towering header before stabbing in Dortmund's equaliser.

Fifth-placed Dortmund are now four points from the Champions League spots.

Eintracht Frankfurt, the club immediately above them, cruised to a 5-2 home win against Union Berlin as Portugal striker Andre Silva netted twice.

Wolfsburg also consolidated third place with a 2-1 win at Werder Bremen as Dutch striker Wout Weghorst hit what proved to be the winning goal just before the break.

ryj/jc
Theres an old saying that goes, Leave well enough alone. Theres another that goes, If it aint broke, dont fix it.

I think we can safely say that President Biden would have done well to consider such wisdom before he implemented his policy for handling immigration along our southern border.

At least thats the way Rick Cavazos sees it.

I first met Cavazos back in 2019 when photographer Andre Malok and I were taking a tour of the border. We stopped to take a look around at a gate in the border wall in the town of Los Indios as a TV crew was interviewing him about conditions on the border.

As mayor of the town  and a 25-year veteran of the Border Patrol  Cavazos was particularly well-suited to opine on the situation.

He told us that before the wall was built those crossing the border illegally would travel right through his town. Most of the migrants were just on their way to look for work elsewhere. But hidden among them were smugglers who had a nasty habit of getting in gunfights and car chases.

For a community leader like myself, its important to keep that activity away from the community and closer to the river, Cavazos said at the time. Everybody wants to feel safe and secure in their community.

When I called him the other day, Cavazos said his town remains mostly quiet. But the nearby border crossing has been busy. Thats because Biden reversed a Trump administration policy of directing asylum-seekers, most of whom are from Central America, to stay in Mexico while their applications are being considered.

With the Trump policy of returning to Mexico, most ended up going back to their countries, Cavazos said.

Not anymore. Now the migrants are let into the U.S. and given a notice to appear at an asylum hearing that can be three years in the future, he said.

That change in policy lured thousands of new migrants to the border, he said.

It didnt take long after January 20th that we started started seeing the spike, he said. The consensus is there was some kind of signaling to the migrants. They felt the Biden administration was gonna be a little more lenient with them.

If so, they got that right. Back in 2019 when Andre and I were poking around the banks of the Rio Grande in a nearby town, we came upon an inflatable boat full of potential migrants hiding in the weeds on the American side. As soon as he saw us, the oarsman paddled back to Mexico. (See video below)

Now such a smuggler would simply drop his passengers off and let them surrender to the Border Patrol, Cavazos said. At that point they would be bused to a processing center and then released to await their hearings.

This presents little problem for the town of Los Indios, of which Cavazos is no longer mayor.

People in the other parts of the country look at this and think its a border problem. But theres really no reason for the migrants to stay here and compete for a minimum wage job, he said. Theyre coming to a neighborhood near you.

Whether thats good or bad is in the eye of the beholder. But there has to be a better way to handle this.

Cavazos said that guy we saw paddling that inflatable was almost certainly a member of a cartel. They charge the migrants a big tax to pass through their turf, he said.

The exploitation does not stop at the U.S. side of the river, he said. These immigrants have smuggling fees they have to pay. They have the promise of jobs but they get exploited in housing and get exploited in the workplace.

This is a classic case of the law of unintended consequences. The asylum-seekers commonly assert they are fleeing the cartels in their home towns. But the current system forces them into the clutches of the cartels at the border. Lately the cartels have been engaged in nightly shootouts that can be heard from the American side. (Meanwhile down by Mexico City cartel gunmen ambushed a police convoy and killed 13 officers.)

What we dont want is a policy like you see now that draws people to come up, he said. I really dont know what the answer is, but you cant do this indefinitely. At some point we have to reform the system.

With control of both houses of Congress, its up to Biden to enact that reform, he said.

That brings up another old saying, one attributed to a prior Democratic president. Harry Truman had a sign on his desk saying, The buck stops here.

Maybe Biden should dig that out and read it.
The two complainants hit out at whoever committed the leak (Jane Barlow/PA)

The women at the centre of the Salmond inquiry have said they will be making a formal complaint to the Scottish Parliament after their evidence was leaked to a newspaper.

In a statement released through Rape Crisis Scotland on Sunday, the two women who made complaints of harassment against former first minister Alex Salmond said they would be making a formal complaint over the leak.

A story in The Sunday Times claims the women, giving evidence in private last Monday, painted a picture of a demeaning environment for women, with one saying it was like the Wild West.

We are issuing a statement on behalf of the two complainers whose evidence to the inquiry has been leaked: https://t.co/RmgsMHYgcu pic.twitter.com/HwxiVFcleo  Rape Crisis Scotland (@rapecrisisscot) March 21, 2021

The statement said the leak was a breach of the MSP code of conduct, as well as a violation of the trust we placed in the committee, as well as raising concerns about the accuracy of the leak.

It added: The reporting of our evidence has included inaccuracies and distortions, which appear to be intended to serve a political agenda.

Complainers in this case have been subject to regular attacks and misrepresentations on social media, and have found their experiences repeatedly exploited for political purposes during the inquiry.

For a committee members to perpetuate this is indefensible and an abuse of their position.

We will be making a formal complaint.

The inquiry is expected to come to a head this week, with the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints due to publish its final report.

Portions of the report, where MSPs voted 5-4 to conclude that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon misled the committee over a meeting with Mr Salmond, were leaked last week.

The First Minister described the leak as partisan, while the committees convener Linda Fabiani said she was dismayed the information had been disclosed before the final report was published.

The independent investigation into the ministerial code, being conducted by James Hamilton, is also expected to report this week and could prove more dangerous for the current First Minister if she was found to have knowingly breached the code.

Nicola Sturgeon referred herself for investigation after she was accused of misleading parliament over when she knew about allegations against Mr Salmond.

The Scottish Tories have given Ms Sturgeon until Tuesday to resign, or she will face a vote of no confidence on Wednesday, due to what the party says is overwhelming proof she broke the ministerial code.
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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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Patients stream steadily into the Covid vaccine center that Todd Engle can almost touch from his West Virginia backyard. But like scores of other Republican voters, force would likely be required to get a dose into his arm.

Many of the party's millions of supporters are among the nation's most vaccine-skeptical people, which experts see as a dangerous barrier to finally taming the virus that has killed more than 540,000 in the United States.

"If they try to make me get it, they're just going to (have to) put me in jail," the 58-year-old Engle told AFP from the porch of his home in Martinsburg, referring to health authorities. "I just don't trust them."

West Virginia is heavily Republican -- over 68 percent of its voters chose Donald Trump in November's election -- and it has long been one of the nation's poorest places.

Yet not all West Virginia Republicans are vaccine skeptics.

The state of under two million people has been lauded for quickly getting Covid vaccines to its people while bigger, wealthier and Democrat-led states have sometimes struggled to do the same.

Part of that effort is the vaccine site behind Engle's home, which operates in a recreation center gymnasium with the kind of efficiency that bustling, pre-pandemic airports could only dream of.

Nurse Angela Gray, 51, said the site has administered as many as 1,500 shots in a day.

- 'Vaccine hesitancy on steroids' -

"I try not to look at politics; that doesn't matter," Gray noted as nurses in masks, face shields and gloves delivered shots behind her. "But I've seen a lot of my fellow Republicans who are getting vaccinated."

She added that Republican elected officials in the area have spoken up for the safety and effectiveness of the shots and gotten inoculated themselves, a key part of efforts to convince the skeptical.

But in towns across the United States, skeptics are numerous.

According to a poll last week, 41 percent of Republicans nationally said they would not get the vaccine, compared to just 11 percent of Democrats.

Story continues

It is a startlingly high number considering that 74 million Americans voted in November for the Republican presidential candidate, Trump.

African-Americans and anti-vaccination activists have also shown high levels of opposition to the Covid shots, but among Republicans the phenomenon appears more directly linked to America's political polarization.

Vaccine hesitancy expert Neil Johnson told AFP he sees a collision of factors, including the belief that mainstream media outlets exaggerated the pandemic to hurt Trump, and long-held resistance to vaccines generally as well as distrust of the government.

"It's like the usual hesitancy on steroids, because the distrust took on a political dimension because of the election last year," said Johnson, a George Washington University professor. "It was like a perfect storm to have an election in the year of a pandemic."

Trump, who often minimized the virus's danger, on Tuesday gave his most explicit endorsement for the national mass vaccination campaign since he left office in January.

"It's a great vaccine, it's a safe vaccine and it's something that works," he said during an interview on Fox News.

But Trump left office in January without disclosing that he and his wife, Melania, had themselves quietly been vaccinated.

- 'All about herd immunity' -

For Christine Miller -- the treasurer of the Republican club in Berkeley County, where Martinsburg is located -- Trump's words came too late, because people have already decided.

"It's a personal choice. People in the rural areas, though, I don't see them going for it. I see them doing too much research for themselves," said the 63-year-old, who as a cancer survivor with chronic bronchitis is in a high-risk demographic.

She said she won't take the shots currently available.

"It's not worth the risk," Miller told AFP before a club meeting, saying she was concerned about reports -- which experts say are rare -- of serious side effects. "I can wait."

Johnson, the hesitancy expert, said waiting or not getting the vaccine at all carries significant risks for the United States, which has by far the world's largest absolute death toll and caseload.

"It's all about herd immunity," he said, referring to the point when most of a population has acquired defenses against a virus, whether through vaccination or from having survived the disease.

Vaccination campaigns can reach large portions of populations, he added, but success is determined by whether an overwhelming majority of people can be inoculated.

If and when that point is reached in Martinsburg, West Virginia, it will most certainly be without 76-year-old Betty DeHaven, a Republican club supporter.

"They would have to hold me down and force me to take the vaccine," she told AFP. "I consider that one of my rights, that I can refuse."

jm/bbk
A community garda based in West Cork has urged people to take action if they are a victim of cyberbullying and for people to be aware of their own behaviour online.

Garda Damian White spoke of the increasingly serious issue of cyberbullying during a webinar hosted by Darrara Community Centre.

He said the issue is being faced by not just young people, but by everyone who uses the internet.

During a time where online activity has increased, Garda White advised those who experience cyberbullying not to reply to the bully, but to instead keep the messages as proof, to tell someone they trust, and to block the sender.

He said that bullying should never be ignored as the problem will continue and develop and that while people doing the bullying may often see it as banter, the victim may be severely affected by their actions.

He also recommended reporting the problem if it arises on a social media platform.

Various internet companies cannot stop everything being posted but once it is reported to them, they have a duty of care to take it down, he said.

Garda White spoke of privacy and people's 'digital fingerprint', warning people that once something is posted, it can be copied and altered as it has been posted publicly for people to see.

Your internet connection can be used to trace your behaviour, when any of us post, or comment, or push out an email.

So theres your digital fingerprint, your behaviour online is not anonymous and you cant come back and say the information you posted online is private, its not private, you have posted this in a public forum.

These rules apply to everybody, not just those under 18, so for us, we need to show a good example, he said.

He said that hiding behind a screen does not absolve people of their personal responsibility about what they type and post.

We all have a moral compass that makes us aware of what is either right or wrong and our actions will always affect the lives of other people, and showing respect should be a cornerstone of our behaviour, he said.

Garda White reminded people that while we might need someone to turn to during this difficult time, strangers on the internet are not to be trusted or treated as friends.

In the real world, having friends can be vital as we endure a difficult time, but in the online world, a friend is only a term used by social media companies to describe a contact. We should only accept our real-world friends as online friends, he said
The deceased brother of a family involved in a bitter business feud over the running of their hotel and property empire has left over 16m in his will, according to documents lodged in the Probate Office in Dublin.

Colin Flannery was the only family member who was not a director of the low-profile Flannery family's main company, Foxfield Inns Designated Activity Company (DAC), and associated companies which own the highly profitable Flannery Motor Inn and the Imperial Hotel in Galway, the Ashling Hotel on Parkgate Street, Dublin and the Eglinton direct provision centre in Salthill, Galway. They also have extensive property in both cities.

However, Colin did hold an equal shareholding in the family company with his brothers and sisters, Kevin, Mary, Andrena and Frank.

In January a High Court judge urged that further efforts be made to mediate a dispute between the family members over the running of the company.

Mr Justice David Barniville issued the appeal when making directions for progressing proceedings brought by Mary Flannery under section 212 of the Companies Act 2014.

Her two brothers, her sister-in-law and an accountant all deny her claim that they acted in an oppressive manner infringing her rights concerning the running of Foxfield Inns DAC.

The family members are the children of the late Francis (Frank) Flannery and his wife Anne. Mr Flannery established the Flannery Motor Inn in Galway in the 1970s and bought the Imperial Hotel in Eyre Square, Galway in December, 1987 for 1m.

Their hotel and property empire made the publicity-shy Mr Flannery and their children one of the richest business families in Galway.

When Frank Flannery died in 2005, he left the business in the hands of his children, Kevin (60), Mary (59), Andrena (43), a teacher and Frank Jnr (46) a pilot. Their brother Colin, who was the third of five children, had his own business interests in Galway and did not participate in the running of the family's hotel businesses. Kevin Flannery's wife Sheelagh (59) is also a director of Foxfield Inns.

Earlier this year Mary Flannery alleged in legal papers that the company's accountant, James Norton, who is the late Colin Flannery's "personal representative", is exerting "great power" over other family members, saying they have acted in an oppressive manner and infringed her rights in the family firm. She also claims that Mr Norton, with a registered address at Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin is acting as a "shadow director" of the family's main business entity, Foxfield Inns DAC. He and other family members have denied the claims.

The youngest daughter Andrena Moynihan, with an address in Rathfarnham, Dublin, is not involved in the dispute and there are no complaints against her by either side. She has asked the court that she be added to the proceedings as an "interested party".

Mary Flannery of College Road, Galway has initiated legal proceedings against her brother Kevin Flannery and his wife Sheelagh, also of College Road and against Frank Flannery of the Ladywell Estate, Glasson, Co Westmeath. She is also suing James Norton, who is the auditor and accountant of Foxfield Inns.

Mary Flannery said she was managing Foxfield Inns, which employs 180 people, for 16 years and had been involved with the business for 25 years.

She claimed that as well as his normal fees, Mr Norton was paid additional amounts, which she claimed were "a misapplication of company monies", something which he denies. Among issues she raised in legal documents was the purchase and subsequent sale of an apartment in New York for which she says she received no proper explanation.

Before Judge David Barniville urged the parties to make further efforts to reach a mediated settlement, he was told that the dispute involved "deep personal issues".

Mary Flannery indicated through her counsel that while further mediation was not her preferred option, she did not oppose it.

Colin Flannery, with an address at the Ladywell Estate, Glasson, Athlone, Co Westmeath, died on January 20, 2018, leaving an estate valued at 16,161,436.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 21, 2021) visited the boll-bound Assam and stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government will continue in the state.

PM Modi during a public rally in Assam's Bokakhat said, "It is now decided that Assam will get 'doosri baar, BJP sarkar', 'doosri baar, NDA sarkar', 'doosri baar, double engine ki sarkar'."

The Prime Minister's comments came ahead of the Assam Assembly polls, where the Bharatiya Janata Party will seek its second tenure.

He highlighted his state government's work in the Assam and also commented on the steps taken to save the environment.

"The NDA government has put the rhino hunters in jails. We're working on both safety of animals as well as facilities for the people of Assam," said PM Modi.

He added that in the last 5 years, Assam has witnessed a growth in forest cover.

"It increases the opportunities for tourism and economic activities. We want India to be included in one of the leading nations in natural, spiritual, cultural and heritage tourisms, and Assam has all of this," the Prime Minister stated.

"Under the NDA, Assam is heading to touch new highs," he expressed.

He also attacked the opposition and said, "When Congress was in power at the Centre and in Assam, there was double negligence and double corruption. You have to remember that Congress means instability, corruption. They have no vision or intention to do any good."

PM Modi said that during Congress' reign, the main question was to save the loot of Assam from Congress.

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TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - People hit the roads on Saturday morning to pick up litter.

The Keep Tupelo Beautiful movement inspired residents and even scouts to clean up their community.

"We found a phone, a card, cardboards, bunch of diapers...." said Walker Tate of Troop 12.

More than 600 people signed up to go outside and get the garbage off the streets as part of the community cleanup effort known as 10 For Tupelo.

10 for Tupelo is a community-wide serve day where volunteers will help clean up the community.

"We want people to know we are an all-American city, everything is beautiful here and the litter takes away from that," 10 for Tupelo Co-chair Jessie Bandre said. "We want an opportunity to clean it up and educate people from keeping litter out of their cars into our streets."

Mayor Jason Shelton said even though the city combats litter every day when the community get's involved it's a win-win.

"We combat litter every day, we have work programs, Keep Tupelo Beautiful, different things," said Shelton. "But it takes a community effort to make sure that we keep Tupelo beautiful."

As for Troop 12, the Boy Scouts know they won't be able to hit every road by themselves. However, they believe as the community continues to host service events, the job will get done.

"We're just going to try to get as much as we can," said Tate. "And hopefully inspire other people to make other people want to come out and pick up more trash.
Doting mother Karen 'Kaz' McClean cried out in anguish and terror as her son Ken Flanagan stabbed her to death on Friday night before murdering his girlfriend and taking his own life.

Neighbours heard the mum-of-two call out, "I'm dying, I'm dying... it's my son," as the drug addict attacked her at an address on the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey.

The crazed killer left his mother as she lay dying and travelled to a nearby family-owned property on Glenville Road, where he stabbed his girlfriend Stacey Knell to death before taking his own life.

Stacey, in her 30s and from east Belfast, leaves behind a young daughter. Last night, friends told of their anguish over her death.

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Loving mum Karen recently posted a message on Facebook praising her son over his battle with drug addiction, writing: "My handsome son, love you unconditionally. If you only realised your self-worth. You're better than any of them."

She also wished him a happy birthday on April 26 last year, posting: "Let's pray for a better future. Love you, son." She added she loved her two children "more than life". It is understood Ken Flanagan had previously been ordered to stay away from his mum's house by authorities over his violent behaviour.

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In a Facebook post in March last year, Karen Flanagan spoke of her pride in her son as he fought substance abuse. She wrote: "So proud of my beautiful son (for) staying clean. I've finally got him back. I pray he continues to beat his disease.

"Anybody who judges him or any addict, or calls them junkies, especially when they've took drugs, is hypocritical.

"Walk a mile in my shoes as a loving devoted mother. Addicts are so vulnerable. They still need loved. I love you, son. Stay strong."

Neighbours at both addresses yesterday spoke of their shock and horror at the killings.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's crazy. That house on Glenville Road has had a bit of a reputation as a party house and there was a fire there a while back (when) Ken was asleep inside. There was a car on fire outside as well. The community is in shock. This is a quiet area where people look out for each other. You never expect anything like this to happen on your doorstep.

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"I'm still in shock. It's so awful I just can't believe it. As a parent, it's your worst nightmare.

"I would have seen Stacey around here with her wee pup sometimes. It's just so sad. It's really horrific, but there has always been trouble at that wee house. Generally, it's really quiet around here, apart from that place. It's awful... terrible, absolutely dreadful."

Sydenham-based Stacey formerly attended Ashfield Girls' School in east Belfast and also has links to Bangor and Holywood.

She is survived by a nine-year-old daughter. Karen Flanagan is also survived by a school-aged daughter.

Shocked friends of Stacey paid tribute to her on social media yesterday.

Belfast woman Melissa Morrison wrote she "couldn't believe" the news about her lifelong friend. She added: "I've known you my whole life. It doesn't seem real. You're only one month younger than me. How can this happen?

"I'm in complete shock. Rest in peace, beautiful. May God give your whole family strength to get through this."

Expand Close PROBE: Police at the house where Stacey was stabbed Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook

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Jordan Gallagher, another lifelong pal of Stacey, added: "There's a big dark cloud over east Belfast today. A young life taken far too soon. One of my lifelong friends. We fought like cat and dog but never fell out.

"You were always the pocket rocket of the group and not a bit of you had changed. You were still the exact same as you were years ago.

"A wee child left with no mummy. You were the best wee mummy. Rest easy up there, beautiful girl. I will always remember you. My heart's broke."

The double murder-suicide has left the Newtownabbey community reeling, with political representatives saying the incident highlighted the scourge of violence against women.

Expand Close A cordon around Flanagans mothers home Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook

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North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left "absolutely shocked and stunned" by the news.

He added: "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.

"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."

Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Jim Montgomery echoed Mr Finucane's sentiments. He 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."

Deputy mayor and SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland added: "My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

"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?"

North Belfast DUP MLA Paula Bradley said it was "extremely sad news" to hear of the deaths.

"It brings that reality home again to us in Northern Ireland that violence against women and girls cannot be tolerated," she added.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken also spoke of his shock, saying: "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." He added: "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."

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way in Rathcoole, where Karen Flanagan was found dead.

A short time later, police discovered Ken Flanagan and Stacey Knell dead at a property on Glenville Road just under two miles away.

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Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and crews from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

He added: "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 the NIAS. Sadly, a woman was pronounced dead.

"As officers carried out further inquiries, 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, quoting reference number 2441 of 19/03/21."
Better Family, Inc announced today that Tiffany Krumins, an entrepreneur who appeared on the pilot episode of ABCs Shark Tank, recently signed a new management deal for her product, Ava the Elephant, a singing childrens medicine dispenser.

I am thrilled to be working with Better Family Inc. Their vision for the future of better parenting products aligns with mine, said Tiffany.

As part of the management deal a re-branding was in order. Better Family Inc organized a commercial shoot in Orlando, Florida the week of March 8th.

One of the children cast for the role was Jacob Clemons, son of Stephanie and Rick Clemons. Jacob has Down Syndrome and reminded Tiffany of Gibby Durden, the little boy who inspired the product over 10 years ago.

After seeing Jacobs love for the product, Tiffany felt confident that they had not just found a great actor for their commercial, but the perfect cover model for Ava the Elephants new package. She approached Better Family Incs founder, Carman Cook-Campbell, with the idea of using a shot of Jacob with Ava the Elephant on their brand-new packaging. Carman agreed that he was the perfect pick.

Tiffany called Jacobs parents to surprise them with the news and the video she captured of their response is a tear-jerker. It can be seen HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUfKRdiotQw. The timing could not have been more perfect, as March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day which was started in 2016. World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is marked each year on the 21st day of March (the 3rd month of the year). This was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

At Better Family Inc we are passionate about inclusion and we are honored to have Jacob on Ava the Elephants new packaging, said Carman. Tiffanys love for the community she champions is contagious, and we are proud to support her vision. The founder of Drop it Baby, Joy Lynn Waganer, is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed behavior analyst who is also driven to raise awareness and support the disability community. Bringing these two passionate founders together as part of our brand is very exciting and enhances the existing efforts we have made to support this community.

To watch progress on the new packaging featuring Jacob and re-release of Ava the Elephant, follow us on social media! Check out all the Better Family products by visiting our website at Better-FamilyInc.com.

More About Better Family, Inc.

Better Family sells patented baby products that make the lives of parents and babies easier while on the go or working from home. With Swabbies, a no mess, organic diaper cream, the Beebo a free-handed baby feeder, Drop It Baby, a suction cup ring chain that ends "the drop it game", and Ava the Elephant, a singing medicine dispenser. These products enhance and improve the parents time spent with their children.

Better Family Inc

Carman Cook-Campbell

1-877-479-2224

info@betterfamilyinc.com

20093 East Pennsylvania Ave Suite 3

Dunnellon, FL 34432
Dozens of children were forced to spend the night in their school library as floodwaters cut off the roads to their parents.

The principal informed parents at Kendall Public School, south of Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast, that a nearby river was rising and that the crossing would soon be cut off.

Within half an hour it was too late and the school decided it was safer if the students stayed on campus overnight.

Parents were updated throughout the night by posts on the school's Facebook page

The remaining 28 children were looked after by 13 staff members who stayed to spend the night them, some of whom were as young as 5.

The town donated gym mats, blow-up mattresses, camp beds, blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows for the students and staff to sleep on.

Kendall Public School updated the parents throughout the night about how the children were doing.

'All the children have finished a nice meal of chicken nuggets, lasagne, and lovely fruit,' teachers wrote online

'The children are all watching a video at the moment and are all safe and happy. Stay safe out there.'

The students and parents were all reunited by Saturday evening

An update at 9.45pm read: 'All very quiet here in the library everyone. Almost all asleep and very settled.

'You should all be very proud of your children as they have coped so well.'

The students and staff were all home by Saturday evening as dinghies began to take parents across to the school.

NSW was hit by a 'once in a 50-year storm' that caused widespread flooding and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

Street lights were under water in parts of western Sydney on Sunday as the flow-on effect of days of rain rushed to the coast, spilling over dams and breaching riverbanks.

The Kendall Public School principal sent out a message on Friday that the road may be cut off but within 30 minutes it there was no access to the school

Towns stretching up to the Queensland border can expect to spend weeks cleaning up after the floodwaters, which knocked down trees, spread debris and washed away roads.

There is more heavy rain is expected to continue until Wednesday.

Residents of North Richmond and surrounding centres west of Sydney were told to evacuate on Sunday as the Hawkesbury River flooded.

Others in Eastern Creek and Windsor were prompted to leave before 3am and 9am Monday respectively.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that more than 4,000 more residents could be evacuated.

The torrential rain has lead to widespread flooding and evacuation notices across Sydney

'It's the sustained rainfall, the fact that weather event has settled in, it's not moving,' she said during an emergency press conference on Sunday.

'We cannot underestimate the ferocity of these weather conditions.'

Bureau of Meteorology flood operations manager Justin Robinson said this will be 'one of the biggest floods we will see for a very long time'.

'Just to give you some context around that, it is bigger than the February 2020 flood. It is bigger than the 1988 flood. It is bigger than the 1990 flood and is bigger than the 1964 flood.'
By Sarah N. Lynch and Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth on Sunday expressed doubts about FBI Director Chris Wray's initial assessment that the fatal shooting of six Asian women in Atlanta-area spas may not constitute a hate crime, saying it "looks racially motivated."

"From where I sit, I want to see a deeper investigation into whether or not these shootings and other similar crimes are racially motivated," Duckworth, who is one of only two Asian-Americans currently serving in the U.S. Senate, told CBS "Face the Nation."

"It looks racially motivated to me," she said, adding the caveat that she is not a police officer or personally investigating the crimes.

Police in Atlanta are still investigating the motive in connection with the fatal shooting of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, on Tuesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation.

In an interview with NPR last week, Wray said that it "does not appear" that race factored into the mass shooting.

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," also questioned that assessment, suggesting he believes race played a role.

"We all know hate when we see it," he said. "It is tragic that we've been visited by this kind of violence yet again."

The shootings have stoked fears among those in the Asian-American Pacific Islander community, which has reported a spike in hate crimes since March 2020 when then-President Donald Trump began referring to COVID-19 as the "China virus."

Suspected gunman Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old Atlanta-area resident who is white, told police that sexual frustration led him to commit the violence.

Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Captain Jay Baker, who told the media in a press conference that a sexual addiction may have fueled the crime and said Long had had "a really bad day," has since come under criticism from political leaders and civil rights advocates for making insensitive comments. They noted such remarks only fuel stigmas about race, gender and sex work.

Story continues

The sheriff's office later acknowledged the remarks had sparked anger, but said Baker never intended to offend anyone. Baker is no longer serving as a spokesman for the case.

The incidence of hate crimes against Asian-Americans rose by 149% in 2020 in 16 major cities compared with 2019, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

Duckworth is among a growing number of Asian-American lawmakers who have urged law enforcement to more carefully examine the escalating violence.

"It looks to me that he knew he was going to places where disproportionately the people he shot up would be Asians, and female, and I think the investigators need to really look at these facts," Representative Ted Lieu, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, told CNN last week, referring to Long.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta on Friday to offer support to Asian-Americans and meet with leaders of the community.

Biden on Sunday also highlighted the need to prevent gender-based violence and keep women safe.

"In the past few weeks, weve seen too many examples of horrific and brutal assaults on women, including the tragic murders in Georgia...It hurts all of us, and we all must do more to create societies where women are able to go about their lives free from violence," he said in a statement.

The Justice Department has previously said it will step up investigations into hate crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Duckworth said on Sunday she has written a letter to Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland asking them to take a deeper look at whether hate crimes are going under-reported.

A Justice Department spokesman confirmed receiving the letter and said it was under review.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Valerie Volcovici; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Imperial Valley News Center

Iranian Nationals Charged with Conspiring to Evade U.S. Sanctions on Iran by Disguising $300 Million in Transactions

Washington, DC - A federal criminal complaint unsealed Friday charges 10 Iranian nationals with running a nearly 20-year-long scheme to evade U.S. sanctions on the Government of Iran by disguising more than $300 million worth of transactions  including the purchase of two $25 million oil tankers  on Irans behalf through front companies in the San Fernando Valley, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, a forfeiture complaint filed today seeks a money laundering penalty in the amount of $157,332,367.

The complaint, filed in October 2020 in U.S. District Court of Los Angeles, charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to violate the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The defendants are believed to be located outside of the United States. If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In a substantial civil forfeiture action filed by the Department, the defendants stand to lose over $157 million in funds involved in violations of the Iran sanctions, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. This is only right. 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. Make no mistake, the Department of Justice will continue to deploy all tools necessary to curb the Iranian regimes ability to use the U.S. financial system to support its malign endeavors.

The FBI has a keen ability to track nefarious actors who use the U.S. financial system to evade sanctions, said Alan E. Kohler, Jr., Assistant Director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division. Our investigation revealed over 70 front companies were used by these individuals to hide their conspiracy in support of the Iranian Governments pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism.

In a wide-ranging scheme spanning nearly two decades and several continents, the defendants conspired to abuse the U.S. financial system to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions on behalf of the Government of Iran, said Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison for the Central District of California. Todays indictment is an example of the will of federal law enforcement to bring to justice those who violate our sanctions and laws designed to strengthen our national security.

According to court documents, the complaint details a decades-long conspiracy to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran, a nation which the U.S. State Department has designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. During the scheme, the defendants allegedly created and used more than 70 front companies, money service businesses and exchange houses  often using the name Persepolis or Rosco  in the United States, Iran, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. The defendants also allegedly made false representations to financial institutions to disguise more than $300 million worth of transactions on Irans behalf, using money wired in U.S. dollars and sent through U.S.-based banks.

The complaint alleges that the defendants were aware of U.S. sanctions on Iran throughout the conspiracy. In one email exchange, for example, defendants allegedly discussed the U.S. governments efforts to disrupt Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis international financial network, an organization allegedly designed to conceal investments from the Iranian people and international regulators. In an iCloud account, one defendant saved a press report about new U.S. sanctions imposed on firms suspected of funding the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

As alleged, several defendants operated or were employed by Persepolis Financial Services Inc., an Encino-based company that facilitated the illegal transfer of U.S. dollars on Irans behalf from 1999 through the early 2000s. After a Persepolis Financial executive was convicted in 2003, several defendants left the country and moved to Canada and the United Arab Emirates. There, they owned, operated or were employed by additional front companies  using the names Rosco Trading, Rosco International, Persepolis and Rosco Investment  that were used for well over a decade to secretly facilitate U.S. dollar transactions on Irans behalf.

In addition, several defendants allegedly used a Hong Kong-based front company known as Total Excellence Ltd. to secretly buy two $25 million oil tankers on Irans behalf. The U.S. later sanctioned the businessman for using Iranian money to purchase oil tankers and to help Iran ship crude oil in violation of U.S. and European Union sanctions. In 2013, two defendants allegedly defrauded a financial institution in the UAE by preparing a fraudulent invoice and making false statements indicating that a transaction in U.S. dollars  processed through a New York-based bank  was undertaken on behalf of a UAE-based front company. In actuality, the true buyer was an Iranian oil and gas company, the affidavit states.

Furthermore, in 2016, several defendants allegedly conspired to wire millions of dollars through the U.S. financial system to complete a transaction with a South Korean equipment manufacturer on Irans behalf. During that transaction, four defendants instructed the manufacturer to not to mention any name of Iran in any paperwork exchanged with financial institutions processing the transaction, the affidavit alleges. In March 2017, the South Korean company sent $1 million to a front company selected by the conspirators.

Finally, in 2016, the conspirators secretly transferred thousands of dollars into Southern California on Irans behalf, including $66,766 that a defendant transferred to a Santa Monica-based company with a bank account held at Wells Fargo & Co., to acquire electronic equipment at the direction of a business associate at an Iran-based company, according to the affidavit.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Rollins of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, Dan G. Boyle of the Asset Forfeiture Section, and Trial Attorney David Lim of the Department of Justices Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.
Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden greet each other as Biden arrives at Columbus Airport on October 27, 2020 in Columbus, Georgia. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Louisiana Special Election to Replace Biden Appointee Heads to Runoff

The special election to fill the Louisiana U.S. House seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond is heading to a runoff after none of the contending Democrats secured enough votes on March 20 for an outright victory.

Democratic state Sens. Troy Carter and Karen Peterson will face off in April; Carter received 36 percent of the vote to Petersons 23 percent, according to the Louisiana Department of State.

A total of at least seven Democrats and several Republicans competed for the Bayou States 2nd Congressional District seat. Richmond left his post to serve as a White House adviser under President Joe Biden.

The 2nd Congressional District, which includes most of New Orleans, has been one of the safest Democratic districts for more than a century. From 1891 until the 1960s, Democrats kept a hold over the district through voter suppression and by disenfranchising black voters, including through poll taxes and subjective literacy tests. After regaining their franchise in the 1960s, black voters began to back Democrats. The district has been majority-black since 1984.

The only Republican to hold the seat since 1891 was Rep. Joseph Cao from 2009 to 2011. Richmond defeated Cao and had served in Congress since 2011.

Before joining the White House, Richmond had endorsed Carter.

Richmond was named the co-chair of the Biden transition team in September 2020. Biden appointed Richmond to served as the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and a senior White House adviser.

During his tenure in Congress, Richmond served as the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2017 to 2019.

The Louisiana special election on March 20 also included a contest for the 5th Congressional District seat left vacant by the death of Republican Rep.-elect Luke Letlow. Letlows widow, Julia Letlow, also a Republican, won the special election with 65 percent of the vote. Letlow was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
on Saturday released a list of 39 candidates for the

The party fielded Neajuddin Sk in Murshidabad, Silvi Saha in Krisnanagar Uttar, Dharmendra Shaw in Bhatpara.

Md Shadab Khan will be contesting from Bhabanipur while Md Mukhtar is the party's candidate in Kolkata Port.

Ashutosh Chatterjee got the party ticket to contest from Rashbehari seat whereas the party fielded Santosh Kumar Pathak in Chowrangee. Janab Ajmal Khan is the party's candidate from Jorasanko.

The candidates declared are for the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth phases of the Assembly polls.

Party is fighting Assembly Polls on 92 seats in alliance with the Left parties.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal 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.)
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 22) -- The Bureau of Corrections said it is not denying residents of a village access to Muntinlupa City proper after it established a wall on a road within its grounds.

We are not preventing residents of the NHA [National Housing Authority] Southville 3 from accessing the city proper. In fact, we continue to open the bigger road within the NBP compound called Biazon Road, going to Alabang and also going to the city proper, said BuCor Spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag in a message to CNN Philippines.

The BuCor drew flak during the weekend after it erected a concrete wall in the middle of Insular Prison Road in Barangay Poblacion. Muntinlupa City Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi said Saturday that the BuCor did not coordinate with the city government.

But Chaclag said the wall that locked up the community residents was planned long before to secure the NBPs Maximum Security Compound.

Hindi rin po blocking of the road kundi closing of the road from NHA Southville 3 passing through Maximum Security Compound ang pinatupad po ng BuCor, he said.

[Translation: The BuCor did not implement a blocking of the road but a closing of the road from NHA Southville 3 passing through the Maximum Security Compound.]

He noted that residents can take an alternative route via another road within the land of NBP.

Hindi po binawalan ng BuCor ang mga NHA residents na pumunta sa Poblacion. Merong mas maluwag na daanan at yun po ay sa kabila, said Chaclag. Konting sakripisyo lamang naman po. Nadagdagan ng 1.5 km lamang ang kanilang travel distance kesa sa dating shortcut.

[Translation: The BuCor is not preventing NHA residents from going to the Poblacion. There is a wider road on the other side. Just have patience. It added just 1.5 km to their travel distance as compared to their previous shortcut.]
For the midday and with respect to faithful readers, we share tribute to the angelic newsworthy hotness of Candice along with a peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines worth a peek right now.

More Deets As Kansas City Jobs Move Down The Line

Canadian Pacific Railway to buy Kansas City Southern for $25 billion Canadian Pacific Railway on Sunday said it has agreed to buy Kansas City Southern for $25 billion in a cash-and-shares deal to create the first rail network connecting the United States, Mexico, and Canada, betting on a pick-up in North American trade.

Kansas Rejects Racial Justice

Racial justice panel's bills stalling in committees, not getting hearings in Kansas Legislature The Kansas Legislature has so far not acted on proposals from a racial justice and equity commission established last year by Democratic Gov.

Show-Me Season Of Flooding Coming Soon

Rain-spiked rivers cause minor flooding in eastern Missouri O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) - Heavy rain over the past week has caused the Mississippi River and its tributaries to rise, resulting in minor flooding in parts of eastern Missouri. The Missouri River was falling in Hermann and Washington after moderate flooding over the weekend.

Panty King Abdicates

End of an Era: L Brands Founder Leslie H. Wexner Permanently Leaving Victoria's Secret Parent company would not stand for reelection to the L Brands revealed Thursday that the company's founder, chairman emeritus and former chief executive officer L Brands board at this year's shareholder meeting in May. Neither would his wife Abigail. "L Brands is at a terrific place in its history," Wexner, age 83, said in a statement.

PREZ TRUMP SOCIAL NETWORK COMING SOON!!!

Donald Trump is creating his own social media network that will be live in a few months Former President Donald Trump is coming back to social media -- but this time with his own network, a Trump spokesperson told Fox News' Howard Kurtz on MediaBuzz on Sunday.

Loyalty To Former Prez Obama Pays VERY Well

Obama-era officials return to White House worth millions As several Obama-era officials return to the White House under President Joe Biden, their reunion comes with fuller pockets and deeper ties to corporate interests, new financial disclosure reports show.

Blunt Rejects Insurrection Aftermath Reports

GOP Sen. Blunt says Americans don't need 'alternative versions' of January 6 Capitol attack Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of GOP leadership, argued on Sunday that Americans don't need "alternative versions" of what occurred the day of the US Capitol insurrection, pushing back on Republican Sen. Ron Johnson's comments that mischaracterize the riot and its participants.

Tragic COVID Checkout

Texas Roadhouse CEO 'took his own life' amid 'unbearable' COVID-19-related symptoms, family says Kent Taylor, the co-founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse Inc., has died from suicide, his family said, after suffering "unbearable" COVID-19-related symptoms. Taylor's family and the restaurant chain said in a statement to The Hill on Sunday that the business executive "took his own life this week" after "a battle with post-Covid related symptoms, including severe tinnitus."

Queen Bows To Diversity

Buckingham Palace to launch diversity review The Mail on Sunday described the work as a "major drive". It will take place in collaboration with people from minority backgrounds, disabled people, and gay and transgender communities.

Serving Local Equity

Waldo Thai Place is celebrating Women's History Month with a collaborative dinner this weekend In celebration of Women's History Month, one Kansas City restaurant is bringing some of the most talented women in the industry together under one roof. Chef Pam Liberda and her team will be hosting a chef's dinner at Waldo Thai Place on Sun., March 21 featuring food and drinks by several different chefs and bartenders.

Royals Plan COVID Comeback

Royals set rotation order, Brad Keller gets Opening Day Manager Mike Matheny has set his rotation to begin the regular season, and Brad Keller will get the Opening Day assignment for the second time in his career. Keller tossed seven shutout innings against the White Sox on Opening Day in 2019 in a 5-3 win.

Enjoy The Sun Today

Windy and warm Sunday to bring rainy Monday Hide Transcript Show Transcript THE WEEKEND. VERY NICE TODAY. A LOT OF STRONG WINDS TO GO WITH IT. LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK. SCHOOLS GOING BACK AFTER SPRING BREAK AND ALSO HEADING BACK TO WORK, SOGGY MONDAY EXPECTED. THE RAIN SHOULD BE MOVING IN AROUND 9:00 TOMORROW MORNING AND TAKING OVER THE REST OF THE DAY.

Hozier - Take Me To Church - Acoustic is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Group activities are taking place only outdoors in groups of six to 12, and mask-wearing and distancing rules apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents. The library, fitness center, music room, and art center are available only by appointment and at less than their normal capacity.

A quarter of the residents in the homes independent living units are tested for COVID-19 weekly, while all staff, as well as residents receiving nursing care, are tested every week, according to Sin.

Sin declined to release the total number of coronavirus infections reported at the Veterans Home but said no employees and fewer than 11 residents were COVID-positive as of Thursday.

The first coronavirus cases at the Yountville home were reported in July when a resident and two employees contracted COVID-19. One of the workers, 62-year-old Gwendolyn Robinson of Vallejo, died July 18. (Both employees were exposed to COVID-19 away from the campus, CalVet said at the time.) People in two residential blocks also were quarantined for two weeks after possible contact with an infected worker.
SYDNEY, Australia - Australia's most populous state of New South Wales on Sunday issued more evacuation orders following the worst flooding in decades.

A man films a flooded field at Old Pitt Town, north west of Sydney, Australia, Sunday, March 21, 2021. Australia's most populous state of New South Wales on Sunday issued more evacuation orders following the worst flooding in decades. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

SYDNEY, Australia - Australia's most populous state of New South Wales on Sunday issued more evacuation orders following the worst flooding in decades.

The New South Wales State Emergency Services responded to 640 calls for help on Saturday night, including 66 for flood rescues.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that hundreds of people have been rescued from the waters.

Evacuation orders have been issued at multiple locations on the Mid North Coast in the northeast of the state, which Berejiklian said was experiencing a one-in-a-100-year event, and "whilst we dont think things will worsen on the Mid North Coast, definitely conditions will continue, so the rainfall will continue across the parts that have already been affected."

Berejiklian also said that parts of Western Sydney are being hit by a one-in-50-year weather event, with some locations recorded more than 300 milimeters (11.8 inches) of rain since Friday morning, breaking records.

The Warragamba dam, west of Sydney, started overflowing on Sunday and so far, 13 evacuation centres have been opened across the state. More evacuations are expected as the bad weather is forecast to last into the middle of the week.

Local authorities are urging people not to drive through flooded areas as they could get easily swept away by the strong currents.
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Vote Percentage of Parties in Puducherry2021: How did the parties fare

Puducherry Polls: V Narayanasamy explains reason for not contesting Assembly polls

India

oi-Deepika S

Puducherry, Mar 21: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Puducherry V Narayanasamy on Sunday said he was not contesting the April 6 Assembly elections as there was a need to coordinate poll-related works and programmes of the party in the Union Territory.

He told reporters at the PCC office here that the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee A V Subramanian was contesting the poll from Karaikal (north) and so he (Narayanasamy), along with the Congress Member of Parliament V Vaithilingam, had to coordinate election-related party activities.

''This is the reason for my not contesting the poll,'' he said.

The Congress, heading the Secular Democratic Alliance (SDA), has been earmarked 15 constituencies out of the total 30 segments to seek election.

The party has fielded its candidates in 14 seats leaving out only Yanam.

He said Malladi Krishna Rao of the Congress, who was Health Minister, had announced support to the AINRC nominee N Rangasamy seeking election from Yanam.

Rao had also quit the post of Health Minister and that of MLA.

Puducherry elections 2021: Sonia Gandhi wants me to contest Assembly polls, says V Narayanasamy

''There was delay in fixing a nominee of the Congress for Yanam,'' he said and added that an independent Kolapally Ashok had, in the meanwhile, sought support of the Congress in the poll in Yanam.

''We are supporting Ashok in response to his request,'' Narayanasamy said.

He alleged that since last week certain government departments in the Centre have been targeting leaders of the rival party and been taking action against them in Puducherry.

He did not, however, elaborate on the departments but said such action should be avoided.

He appealed to the election authorities to act in an impartial manner. ''This is our big appeal to the authorities.'' Narayanasamy reiterated that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah should prove and show evidence in support of his (Shahs) allegation against him that he had given cut money to the Gandhi family from the Central funds meant for the Union Territory.

Shah had said while addressing a public rally in Karaikal on February 28 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given to Puducherry Rs 15,000 crore as Central grant and that ''I had given cut money out of this to the Gandhi family.''

Rejecting the charge, Narayanasamy reiterated his call to the Home Minister to prove it or tender an open apology. ''I am ready to face any probe into this as the allegation is unfounded,'' he said.

He said the local unit of Bharatiya Janata Party had also brought out what they called charge sheet against him and the government he had headed.

Narayanasamy said voters in the Union Territory were aware that the BJP would implement anti-people and anti-development programmes if it was voted to power in Puducherry.

He said power distribution, department of printing press and stationery and several other essential services here would be privatised if the NDA captured power in Puducherry.

''People in Puducherry will never give scope to parties promoting communal and religious sentiments,'' he said.

Claiming that the Congress-led SDA would romp home in the forthcoming polls, Narayanasamy said he, along with Vaithilingam, and other leaders of the alliance would embark on electioneering on Monday from neighbouring Kalapet village.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 16:59 [IST]
This village in Maharashtra is COVID-19 free, thanks to its youngest sarpanch

Not official say Maha CMO on Param Bir Singhs Rs 100 crore letter; former top cop contradicts

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Mar 21: Param Bir Singh, the former Mumbai Police commissioner who was sacked earlier this month, on Sunday confirmed that the sensational letter accusing Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption was sent from his email ID, reported news agency ANI.

This comes a day after the Maharashtra government said that the "unsigned letter" sent by Param Bir Singh is being verified because the former Mumbai Police commissioner's "email ID in the official record was different".

In the 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.

The Chief Minister''s Office, in a late night release, said Singh''s "unsigned letter to Thackeray" was not sent from his official email ID and efforts were on to contact him to verify it.

Ending the speculation, Singh later confirmed that he indeed emailed the letter, a signed copy of which will reach the government shortly.

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

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 abetment of suicide to be registered in Mumbai after the death of Dadra and Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar in a Mumbai hotel last month.

BJP leader and former Maharashtra 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?" said Fadnavis, Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly.
Kawus Rafiei, 57, was found guilty of attempting to import Class A drugs following a five-day trial at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent

A German trucker has been jailed for 19 years after he tried to smuggle half a tonne of cocaine worth 38million into Britain hidden inside stacks of tyres in his lorry.

Kawus Rafiei, 57, was found guilty of attempting to import Class A drugs following a five-day trial at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent.

Officers started investigating Rafiei - originally from Shiraz in Iran - after a 'huge' drugs seizure was made at Dover's Eastern Docks on March 18 last year.

Border Force officers had scanned Rafiei's lorry and 'detected an anomaly in the load', the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Two shrink-wrapped stacks of tyres within the trailer unit were opened, revealing packages of cocaine weighing 1,036 pounds (470 kilos).

Forensic experts believe the seized drugs would have been worth an estimated 37.6million once cut and sold on the streets of the UK.

Two shrink-wrapped stacks of tyres within the trailer unit were opened, revealing packages of cocaine (pictured) weighing 1,036 pounds (470 kilos)

Rafiei had paperwork for two 'legitimate' deliveries on board and produced additional documentation for the tyres (pictured) which showed they were loaded in the Netherlands and heading to a car fitting company in the UK, the NCA said

Rafiei had paperwork for two 'legitimate' deliveries on board and produced additional documentation for the tyres which showed they were loaded in the Netherlands and heading to a car fitting company in the UK, the NCA said.

But NCA officers were able to show the paperwork had been 'doctored' for the cover load.

NCA Dover branch commander Martin Grace said: 'This seizure prevented a huge amount of cocaine from coming into the UK, and has landed a corrupt lorry driver in jail.

'The drugs trade leads to violence in our communities, and often it's the most vulnerable people who suffer the consequences.

'Working with partners like Border Force, we are committed to breaking the supply chain, and disrupting the organised crime groups involved.'
Not since Saul of Tarsus walked to Damascus has there been such a conversion. Prince Harry, freest of spirits, a rip-snorting, hog-whimpering, pheasant-bagger, has been pasteurised. Denuked. Colonised.

He has been turned into a preachy wokester who now lives in Los Angeles amid the facelifts and shrivelled dewlaps of celebritydom.

Poor lad. Might he and the pup Archie not soon start an escape committee?

Original Harry was full of beans. Original Harry was the non- intellectual one with the wooden rifle and kids soldier uniform, a full head of red hair and a sporran of oats.

We ached for him when his mother died in 1997 and, days short of his 13th birthday, he had to walk behind her horse-drawn coffin.

Harry joined the Army and occasionally succumbed to barracks language. Against the wishes of some courtiers, he went to Afghanistan and fought for Grandmother and country.

He could strip a machine-gun and fly a helicopter. He could gallop on a polo pony. He was a blood and a blade. Harry was good for morale.

All that has gone.

Prince Harry, freest of spirits, a rip-snorting, hog-whimpering, pheasant-bagger, has been pasteurised, writes QUENTIN LETTS

It happened after his marriage to Meghan Markle, divorced, American TV actress, professional emoter. She was a small notch above Harry intellectually but they seemed a good match. Some sneered that it would never last. I confess, I liked Meghan.

As a couple they looked pretty sporty. But when the Sussexes began married life, it was soon apparent that the new duchess was going to be indignantly American in her approach.

She expected others to bend to her aesthetic. She was appalled when her synthetic effusions were not applauded.

The daughter-in-law of the heir to the Throne was playing the victim card. Courtiers apparently failed to make the right noises. Rancour mushroomed. There were allegations of snubs and rudeness to Meghan by other Royals.

Families can be like that: an omitted compliment soon becomes a vicious slur, at least in the imagination of a newcomer.

There were hints of anti-American and anti-black prejudice.

Maybe Meghan was tricky. Then came the lectures about climate change and mental health. Once-carefree Harry, Captain of Burps, kept furrowing his brow, though not because he was suppressing another belch. He was frowning because he wanted us to know it wasnt easy.

Life was hard. He, in his princely cocoon, felt our pain.

The climate-change homilies were particularly hard to swallow because the couple continued to use private jets. They said they would be dumping their Royal connections, yet called their new website Sussexroyal.com.

They promoted democratic engagement  recording a get-out-the-vote video which was pretty clearly a vote for Biden message  yet their own prominence flowed entirely from the non-democratic institution of the British Monarchy.

It happened after his marriage to Meghan Markle, divorced, American TV actress, professional emoter

They posed as saints of self-denial and said they were going to try to become financially independent while they were splurging vast sums on a new house in California. They attacked the Press for intrusion yet were more than happy when cameras caught them giving food to the needy.

Did Herself co-operate with Finding Freedom, that fawning biography about her and Harry? How did that sit with her demands for privacy?

She and Harry announced they had chosen to make a transition and would be carving out a new role.

This was alongside a statement that the Duke would be retaining the rank of Major and the honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Leader.

For Remembrance Day 2020, British congregations stood in the rain at local war memorials to remember the fallen. Meghan and Harry tried to muscle in on things by making a staged visit to a graveyard in California.

It was all about them. Look at us in our masks, grief as a fashion choice, adopting a pose for our own self-glorification.

The stunt backfired. Meghans response was to hire two more PR advisers. More manipulation. More messaging. The nation pressed unsubscribe.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pressed the United States in a CNN interview on Friday to lead the way in countering the "international threat" of extremism.

Why it matters: Guterres' call to action against extremist groups came two days after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report warning that violent extremists motivated by political or racial bias pose an "elevated threat" to the U.S. this year.

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What they're saying: "The U.S. is an enormous influence," Guterres said. "The soft power of the U.S. is something that  it is clear in culture, in art, in many other aspects. And so what happens in the U.S. inevitably has a strong influence in other parts of the world."

"And so this kind of natural leadership creates a particular responsibility for United States leaders and for the American communities because indeed what happens here is known everywhere and inevitably reflects in other parts of the world," he added.

"I think there is permanent intercommunication, there are even mechanisms of mutual recruitment, mutual influence and at the same time we see some of these groups recruiting war veterans, recruiting former members of security forces, having weapons, and becoming a threat to our societies, and in the international sense."

The big picture: The proliferation of white supremacist propaganda nearly doubled in 2020 in the U.S., according to a report by the Anti-Defamation League released this week.

A white man in Atlanta shot and killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women, though local police are still investigating whether the shootings were a hate crime.

Go deeper... Pentagon report: Domestic extremists pose serious threat to military

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Washington: US Democratic senator Tammy Duckworth expressed doubts about FBI Director Chris Wrays initial assessment that the fatal shooting of six Asian women in Atlanta-area spas may not constitute a hate crime, saying it looks racially motivated.

From where I sit, I want to see a deeper investigation into whether or not these shootings and other similar crimes are racially motivated, Duckworth, who is one of only two Asian-Americans currently serving in the US Senate, told CBS Face the Nation.

It looks racially motivated to me, she said, adding the caveat that she is not a police officer or personally investigating the crimes.

Senator Tammy Duckworth. Credit:AP

Duckworths view comes as a new poll shows, one in four Americans, including nearly half of Asian Americans, in have seen someone blame Asian people for the coronavirus epidemic.
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Tirupati, March 21 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's grandson N. Devaansh on Sunday donated Rs 30 lakh to Sri Venkateswara temple here.

Six-year-old Devaansh made the donation on the occasion of his birthday.

The donation was given for the Annaprasadam Trust of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the hill shrine. The trust provides free food to 2,000 pilgrims every day.

Devaansh, son of N. Lokesh and Brahmani, has been making the donation to the temple every birthday.

"You brightened up our lives from the day you were born. Years are flying by, but you will always remain my dear baby boy. Thank you for spreading joy," tweeted Lokesh, who is the TDP General Secretary.

Interestingly, Devaansh is six times richer than his grandfather. Naidu's family has been declaring its assets every year.

As per the declaration of assets by Naidu's family members last year, the net worth of TDP chief's assets was Rs 3.87 crore by March 31, 2019. His grandson Nara Devaansh owned assets worth Rs 19.42 crore. In fact, Devansh is richer than his father Lokesh, whose net worth is Rs 19 crore and his mother Brahmani, whose assets are worth Rs 11.51 crore.
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Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has released 'tough guy' images as he launches a terrifying new campaign to silence critics of his authoritarian regime - six of whom live in Britain.

An anonymous Russian intelligence officer who warned Salisbury novichok victim Sergei Skripal was being targeted by the Kremlin has spoken out to warn dissidents they are on the 'kill list'.

The six anti-Putin opponents who are living in Britain include businessman Bill Browder and former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, whose dodgy Trump dossier made him a household name.

Russia's relations with Western governments are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, marred by allegations of election interference and sweeping cyberattacks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week described Moscow as an 'active threat' to British and European security, and vowed to raise the cap on the number of nuclear weapons in response.

US President Joe Biden refused to apologise after calling the Russian leader a 'killer' amid an escalating war of words between the two countries. President Putin snapped back by wishing his American counterpart 'good health' and recalling the Russian Ambassador from the United States.

In another provocative move, the Russian President appeared on stage Thursday during a concert marking the seventh anniversary of Crimea annexation, despite strong condemnation of the 'occupation' by the G7.

President Putin has now released new photographs of himself wearing sheep skin to go on manoeuvres in Siberia as he drives an all-terrain vehicle and crossing a shaky suspension footbridge over a frozen river.

Then he joined defence minister Sergey Shoigu, a native of the mountainous Tuva region of Siberia, for a picnic in the wilderness, with empty vodka glasses on the table, and animal skins to warm the seats.

Vladimir Putin was seen dressed in a sheep skin to go on manoeuvres in Siberia with his defence minister

The Russian President was seen driving an all terrain vehicle and crossing a shaky suspension footbridge over a frozen river

Then he joined defence minister Sergey Shoigu - a native of the mountainous Tuva region of Siberia - for a picnic in the wilderness, with empty vodka glasses on the table, and animal skins to warm the seats

Putin routinely appears on state television participating in various outdoor pursuits to project the image of a healthy and robust leader capable of leading the country for many years to come

Russian envoy says UK nuclear arms plan is illegal and relations with London are 'nearly dead' Russia's ambassador to Britain has accused the UK government of breaking its international treaty commitments with a plan to increase the country's nuclear arsenal and said the political relationship between Moscow and London is 'nearly dead'. In a foreign and defence policy review published on Tuesday and endorsed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain said it needed to increase its nuclear arsenal in the face of evolving global security threats. Britain said it would raise the upper limit on its nuclear warhead stock to 260 from 180. The same report also classified Russia as 'the most acute threat to our security' in the Euro-Atlantic region. The Kremlin said at the time that it regretted the British nuclear decision, which it suggested would harm international stability, while the Russian foreign ministry described the move as a serious blow to international arms control. Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to Britain, went further in an interview due to be broadcast on the London-based LBC radio station on Sunday, saying the plan looked illegal. 'You are increasing the number of warheads by 40 per cent. This is a violation of the treaty of non-proliferation and many, many other agreements that are saying only a decline or a reduction in the number of nukes,' Kelin told LBC, according to a partial transcript on the radio station's website. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which Britain has ratified, came into force in 1970. The UK government has said its plans do not violate the pact. Russian news agencies cited Kelin as saying that political relations between London and Moscow, which have become strained from events from Russia's jailing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny to the poisoning in 2018 of a Russian double agent and his daughter, were 'nearly dead'. They cited Kelin as saying that only cultural and economic ties remained, while LBC cited him as saying that the last time he had spoken to British foreign minister Dominic Raab was in December 2019. Advertisement

The Russian President routinely appears on state television participating in various outdoor pursuits to project the image of a healthy and robust leader capable of leading the country for many years to come.

His bare-chested exploits, which infamously included horse-riding, are thought to have conjured for many Russians an image of the strongman as an in-shape role model.

The six critics in Britain being targeted by the Kremlin are Bill Browder, Christopher Steele, Vladimir Ashurkov, Mikhail Khordorkovsky, Evgeny Chichvarkin and Boris Karpichov.

Mr Steele, 56, is a former MI6 officer who came to global attention after making unsubstantiated claims of Russian spies holding videos of US President Donald Trump with prostitutes.

Mr Browder, also 56, is a long-standing Putin critic and was deported in 2005 after being branded a threat to Russian security.

Mr Ashurkov, 49, was granted asylum by Britain in 2015 after he was forced to step down in his position as an investment banker in Russia because he had ties to Putin's main political opponent, Alexei Navalny.

Mr Khordorkovsky, 57, was charged with fraud in 2003 but freed from jail in 2014 after Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience (someone imprisoned because of their race, sexual orientation, religion, or political views). He has lived in the UK since 2015 and is fighting to secure free and fair elections in Russia.

Mr Chichvarkin, 46, founded Russia's largest mobile phone company, Yevroset and is believed to have paid for Alexei Navalny's medical bills after he was poisoned with a nerve agent last year and treated in a hospital in Germany.

Mr Karpichkov, 62, used to work in the Cold War-era spy service, the KGB, and was a major in its successor, the FSB. He moved to the UK in 1998 and has already survived two poisoning attempts.

The Russian spy who has come forward to warn the world that President Putin's agents are hunting his opponents works for the FSB, Russia's version of the British intelligence agency MI5.

The source, who is understood to be able to mask his identity using complex technology, warned that a Russian special ops team are getting ready to cross into Britain from Ireland. He told the Mirror: 'Due to Covid almost all overseas operations were frozen. Now they are starting to activate them again.'

He uses pay-as-you-go phones which he can throw away easily to warn people in Britain that there is a message waiting for them on a USB drive. Messages are then automatically sent with an undetectable email. It is believed that two of the targets have told British police about the hitlist.

It comes as the head of the British Army said the UK's Special Forces will be tasked alongside MI6 to counter activities of Russian military intelligence in a major defence shake up.

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith suggested the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) would be put on a 'different trajectory' in a major overhaul of the armed forces to be announced on Monday.

The overhaul could see Special Forces soldiers operating alongside MI6 to mount surveillance operations against Russian intelligence and military units.

The Army chief said some of their traditional roles would now be taken over by a new Ranger Regiment announced on Friday ahead of the publication of the Defence Command Paper. He said that in future Special Forces 'will be tracking the changing and accelerating nature of the threat.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said armed forces needed to adapt to counter threats which had 'changed beyond recognition' in the past 30 years. He pledged additional investment for 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' as well as for electronic warfare.

The National Cyber Force will be expanded, there will be a new Space Command to co-ordinate military and commercial operation and the Royal Navy will get a new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) protect vital undersea cables. General Carleton-Smith told The Sunday Telegraph: 'The most persistent and lethal threats are those associated with hostile state actors.

Mikhail Khordorkovsky (left), 57, is on the 'kill list'. He was charged with fraud in 2003 but was released from jail in 2014 after Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience (someone imprisoned because of their race, sexual orientation, religion, or political views). Bill Browder (right), 56, works with the Hermitage Fund - once the largest foreign investor in Russia. He is a long-standing Putin critic and was deported in 2005 after being branded a threat to Russian security

Boris Karpichkov (left), 62, used to work in the KGB and was a major in its successor, the FSB. He moved to the UK in 1998 and has already survived two poisoning attempts. Vladimir Ashurkov (right), 49, was granted asylum by Britain in 2015 after he was forced to step down in his position as an investment banker in Russia

Evgeny Chichvarkin (left), 46, founded Russia's largest mobile phone company, Yevroset and is believed to have paid for Alexei Navalny's medical bills after he was poisoned with a nerve agent last year. Christopher Steele (right), 56, is a former MI6 officer who made unsubstantiated claims of Russian spies holding videos of Donald Trump with prostitutes

His latest exploit comes as the Russian intelligence officer who warned that Salisbury novichok victim Sergei Skripal was as assassination target has spoken out to warn new targets

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks through snow during a holiday in the Siberian wilderness

Russian President Vladimir Putin spends his leisure time in the Siberian Federal District

The Kremlin said it regretted the UK's decision to increase its nuclear arsenal, after Britain unveiled plans to bolster its stockpile from 180 warheads to 260 by the end of the decade. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin

'So they're tracking a different trajectory and what they leave behind is a vacuum where they need to hand off tasks, missions and responsibilities to a second echelon force. The Rangers will fit neatly into that.'

It is likely that Special Forces units will be tasked alongside MI6 with uncovering the activities of Russian military intelligence - the GRU - thought to be responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, The Telegraph reports.

Elite units could also be charged with countering the activities of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organisation widely thought to act as proxies for the Kremlin.

Also writing in the paper, Mr Wallace added: 'We can no longer take for granted the superiority of Western capabilities. Our enemies have infinitely more options,' he said.

'Encryption, precision, and information operations complicate the threat picture. We find ourselves constantly confronted in the 'grey zone' - aggressive actions below the threshold of open conflict.'

While the Army would get an additional 3billion, there are also understood to be cuts with a reduction of around 10,000 troops expected as well as cuts to armoured fighting vehicles and the last remaining C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.

The White House has spent weeks telegraphing a tougher posture toward Russia under a Biden administration. and Moscow has once again bristled at accusations that it serves as a 'malign' influence in global affairs.

Fueling the rising tensions is a startling new assessment by US intelligence that lays out Russia's campaign to influence the 2020 elections - on the heels of the Treasury Department slapping sanctions on officials as retaliation for the poisoning of Navalny with a chemical agent.

Among those hit with sanctions was the director of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the FSB.

And the comments mark the latest time when the new Biden team has sought to draw a sharp line on Russia distinguishing it from former President Donald Trump - who repeatedly praised President Putin and even appeared to take his side when he denied allegations of election interference during their infamous summit in Helsinki.

Earlier this month an MI5 counter-intelligence officer used a Sky News podcast to warn that the Kremlin is still taking 'quite an active interest' in a number of people in the UK

Six of those on the hitlist live in the UK: Vladimir Ashurkov, Mikhail Khordorkovsky, Evgeny Chichvarkin, Boris Karpichov, Bill Browder and Christopher Steele
Value

Stephen Bayley Constable 18.99

Rating:

So how did you spend lockdown? Author and critic Stephen Bayley evidently spent his considering afresh what is truly valuable in life, and how to take joy in the ordinary; and in this witty, astringent primer for life, he lays out his conclusions for our collective delectation.

Every day is precious, every day is all weve got, so why not make it perfect? is the authors mantra. And in Bayleys view, there is no human activity so humdrum that it cannot offer beauty, pleasure, or meaningful reflection, from queuing at the checkout (all you need is a fine mixture of stoicism, curiosity, tolerance and whatever is the opposite of pride) to making a cup of coffee, especially if its in a beautifully designed espresso cup.

And who among us hasnt soaked up the endless hours by the zenful ceremony of cleaning the fridge? Margaret Thatcher admitted that this prosaic ritual was a rare example of an activity that could be begun and finished to total satisfaction in the course of a single evening.

Margaret Thatcher (above) admitted that cleaning the fridge was a rare example of an activity that could be begun and finished to total satisfaction in the course of a single evening

Even a period spent contemplating the sleek curves of your iPhone becomes a philosophical rapture in the authors hands (Steve Jobs once said that you know a design is good if you want to lick it).

Time on the loo can also become a value-creating experience  as long as you have a bolt on your bathroom door. A device with power and authority, he rhapsodises, a satisfying mechanical demonstration of how pleasing a sense of seclusion and security might be.

Bayley is a dazzling writer, by turns elegant, iconoclastic and wickedly subversive, and with a style and panache that rivals his favourite household objects. But there are profound truths wrapped up in his literary razzle-dazzle.

Value may be too late to help you with the last lockdown, but it will assuredly help you cope with the next.

Women Vs Hollywood

Helen O'Hara Robinson 18.99

Rating:

She was the author of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and one of Hollywoods most promising screenwriters, but Anita Looss career was sabotaged  by her own husband.

As Looss star rose through the 1920s and his lagged behind, he developed hypochondria, writes Helen OHara in her frequently jaw-dropping history of women in Hollywood.

A leading psychiatrist told Loos: The only cure for your husband is for you to give up your career. She didnt retire but often put her work on hold to soothe his wounded pride.

Helen O'Hara examines the role of women in the film industry in forensic but fascinating detail  including the advent of sound through the golden age of the likes of Marilyn Monroe (above)

OHara, a film journalist, tells numerous extraordinary stories in this detailed and colourful book. She examines the role of women in the film industry in forensic but fascinating detail  from silent movies (where, surprisingly, women were free to write, direct and star) and the advent of sound through the golden age of the likes of Marilyn Monroe to the big franchises and the #MeToo era.

Many of the accounts  of rapes, forced abortions, careers destroyed  are enraging. But they are presented clearly and framed in intelligent, balanced arguments.

While were now aware of some of the more high-profile abuses of power, OHara reminds us just how difficult it has been to bring the guilty to justice. It took more than 60 accusers to come forward in the Bill Cosby trial, and more than 80 for Harvey Weinstein.

Over 20 women have failed to make much impact on Donald Trump. What is the magic number? she asks.

She also points out that Hollywoods evolution is far from complete. In 1917 alone, Universal Studios would credit eight female directors. In 2017, the same studio made only one film with a female director, Pitch Perfect 3.

Women Vs Hollywood is a powerful, sobering and vital work. Essential reading for anyone interested in the film business.

Ellie Wood
Bhagya Abeyrathna: A voice against environment destruction View(s):

The 17-year-old girl from a rural school was answering questions on a TV quiz show from the shows impresario about her background. We did not see the show, but from information, we gather that the participant had said she was living in the borders of the Sinharaja rainforest. With the zest typical of a young environmentalist, Bhagya Abeyrathna had lashed out at the destruction of vast areas of the forest reserve with even the construction of an apparent business establishment coming up in the forest reserve and the drastic impact these activities have had on wildlife such as elephants whom she had come to adore.

The very next day, the participant had a rude shock. Policemen called at her home where she lived with her parents and questioned her on statements made by her at the quiz show, media reports said.

This police interrogation  or call it investigation or what you may  impacted on a section of the community that believes that this is still a free and democratic country and that the freedom of expression still exists and this questioning was sheer intimidation.

The Governments next move appeared to be defensive. The ubiquitous police spokesman on all matters of the police, we see in the media these days, was reported as saying that the Ratnapura police authorities under whose jurisdiction the areas referred to by the girl come, had wanted the statements made by the girl verified.

For what purpose was this police investigation? To stop the devastation of the forest? Or frighten the girl? Time will tell us about all that.

The impression created in the mind of the public, however, is that this was one of intimidation particularly of the youth who are coming out strongly against environmental devastation.

In naval lingo, it was A Shot across the bows says a political observer.

For the police to ascertain whether the girls allegations are correct or not seems amusing, for this issue of devastation of Sinharaja forest was a subject of intense discussion in the media.

Besides, there is a huge administrative juggernaut for information on the environment. There is the Central Environmental Authority; besides the Ministry for the Environment headed by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera  always talking on the subject and its Secretary is Dr. Anil Jasinghe, the former Health Services Director General who successfully led a team of officials that controlled the first wave of the pandemic in Lanka but was shifted from his post  promoted as Environment Ministry Secretary for unknown reasons. The media units of the President, the Prime Minister, the state-owned newspapers and TV stations; very many of the ever loyal privately owned TV channels could also have helped the police in their quest other than the TV quiz show girl.

Public petitions are being signed, protesting the questioning of the girl because prima facie it does appear to be intimidation against those who speak out about what may be construed as anti- government.

On the other hand, both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stress that Sri Lanka is a democracy with the right to freedom of speech  a basic right.

But if state functionaries keep grilling citizens over opinions expressed that do not endanger the security of the nation, Lanka becomes a nation with many voices and multiple tongues.

Quiz shows are dangerous The 17-year-old girl from a rural school was answering questions on a TV quiz show from the shows impresario about her background. We did not see the show, but from information, we gather that the participant had said she was living in the borders of the Sinharaja rainforest. With the zest typical of a young environmentalist, Bhagya Abeyrathna had lashed out at the destruction of vast areas of the forest reserve with even the construction of an apparent business establishment coming up in the forest reserve and the drastic impact these activities have had on wildlife such as elephants whom she had come to adore. The very next day, the participant had a rude shock. Policemen called at her home where she lived with her parents and questioned her on statements made by her at the quiz show, media reports said. This police interrogation  or call it investigation or what you may  impacted on a section of the community that believes that this is still a free and democratic country and that the freedom of expression still exists and this questioning was sheer intimidation. The Governments next move appeared to be defensive. The ubiquitous police spokesman on all matters of the police, we see in the media these days, was reported as saying that the Ratnapura police authorities under whose jurisdiction the areas referred to by the girl come, had wanted the statements made by the girl verified. For what purpose was this police investigation? To stop the devastation of the forest? Or frighten the girl? Time will tell us about all that. The impression created in the mind of the public, however, is that this was one of intimidation particularly of the youth who are coming out strongly against environmental devastation. In naval lingo, it was A Shot across the bows says a political observer. For the police to ascertain whether the girls allegations are correct or not seems amusing, for this issue of devastation of Sinharaja forest was a subject of intense discussion in the media. Besides, there is a huge administrative juggernaut for information on the environment. There is the Central Environmental Authority; besides the Ministry for the Environment headed by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera  always talking on the subject and its Secretary is Dr. Anil Jasinghe, the former Health Services Director General who successfully led a team of officials that controlled the first wave of the pandemic in Lanka but was shifted from his post  promoted as Environment Ministry Secretary for unknown reasons. The media units of the President, the Prime Minister, the state-owned newspapers and TV stations; very many of the ever loyal privately owned TV channels could also have helped the police in their quest other than the TV quiz show girl. Public petitions are being signed, protesting the questioning of the girl because prima facie it does appear to be intimidation against those who speak out about what may be construed as anti- government. On the other hand, both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stress that Sri Lanka is a democracy with the right to freedom of speech  a basic right. But if state functionaries keep grilling citizens over opinions expressed that do not endanger the security of the nation, Lanka becomes a nation with many voices and multiple tongues.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-19 20:40:18|Editor: huaxia

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William Siame, a male beautician, works on a client's nail in Lusaka, Zambia, on March 17, 2021. Manicure and pedicure are services that are often offered by women mostly in beauty parlors, yet an increasing number of Zambian men particularly from fast-growing towns are also providing these services. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Manicure and pedicure are services that are often offered by women mostly in beauty parlors, yet an increasing number of Zambian men particularly from fast-growing towns are also providing these services.

A visit to Kamwala market, one of the busy trading places in Lusaka, revealed that while the area has many beauty parlors, much of the work to do with nails and facial enhancement was being done by men.

While some operate in beauty parlors commonly known as salons, alongside their female counterparts, a good number of them have opted to open their own businesses around the same trading space.

"This is good business especially on Fridays and over the weekend when people are getting ready to go on dates or attend special events," explains Mwaba Chileshe, a male beautician who operates at the Kwamwala trading area.

Another male beautician William Siame explained that his clientele, the majority of whom are younger women, do not view him as a young man but as a beauty specialist capable of delivering to their expectations.

"What is important is to provide a good service, other things are secondary or simply non-existent," Siame asserted.

He further explained that on a good day, he makes about 100 kwacha (about 5 U.S. dollars), which he uses to provide sustenance for his family.

Aside from providing manicure and pedicure services, Siame also specializes in the application of artificial lashes.

Discussions with younger women that have had their manicures and pedicures done by male beauticians revealed that the majority of them (women) are happy to have men take on women's jobs.

"I think this is called gender balancing. We are also seeing women driving trucks and taking on jobs that were previously dominated," Precious Kaumba said.

Kaumba added that going forward, more emphasis should be put on building the abilities of individuals as opposed to focusing on their gender, stating that gender stereotyping only works to inhibit people's creative potential.
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.
French armed forces chief of staff General Francois Lecointre on Sunday dismissed as completely crazy allegations that France helped suspects in the 1994 Rwanda genocide to escape justice.

I have read these accusations which I find insufferable and completely crazy, Lecointre said on BFM TV.

Its an insult to our soldiers, added Lecointre, who himself served in Frances Operation Turquoise in Rwanda as an army captain.

Tensions have remained fraught between Rwanda and France, which has always denied claims that it sided with the Hutu regime and failed to stop the surge in anti-Tutsi hatred following the 1994 assassination of then-president Juvenal Habyarimana.

According to a diplomatic cable which has recently come to light, authorities in Paris helped suspects in the Rwanda genocide to escape while under French military protection.

The document, written by Frances then envoy to Rwanda and obtained by AFP, suggests that Paris knew suspects had sought refuge in a humanitarian safe zone controlled by French soldiers.

The soldiers had arrived in June 1994 as part of the UN-mandated Operation Turquoise to stop the massacres that left at least 800,000 people dead, mainly among the Tutsi ethnic minority.

The French envoy to Rwanda Yannick Gerard wrote to his superiors to ask what to do with the genocide suspects, in a cable found in the archives of an adviser to Francois Mitterrand, the French president at the time.

In response, French foreign ministry officials told Gerard: You can use all indirect channels, especially your African contacts, without exposing yourself directly, to transmit to these authorities our wish that they leave the Humanitarian Safe Zone.

The response was signed by Bernard Emie, a foreign ministry adviser who is now the head of Frances DGSE foreign intelligence service.

On Sunday, General Lecointre said he has no objection to the relevant archives from the period being reopened.
NEW YORK (AP)  Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. has agreed to buy Kansas City Southern for $25 billion in cash and stock, creating the first rail network linking the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The deal values Kansas City Southern at $275 a share, based on Fridays stock prices. Kansas City Southern shares closed Friday at $224 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The acquisition would need the approval of a U.S. regulator, the Surface Transportation Board. The companies said they expect the process to take until mid-2022.

The combined company would operate about 20,000 miles of railway, employ 20,000 people and generate annual revenue of about $8.7 billion. In a joint statement, the railroads said their merger is expected to create jobs across the combined network.

They also said the deal would allow their customers seamless transportation throughout much of the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The three countries last year entered into a revamped regional trade pact, negotiated by President Donald Trump, that is expected to encourage trade and investment across North America. Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel said that the so-called U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement makes the efficient integration of the continents supply chains more important than ever before.
State Sen. Adam Hinds, seen in this file photo, has filed 82 bill this session.

Hinds Focuses on Climate Change, Schools in New Legislative Term



Sen. Adam Hinds updates the regional planning commission on Thursday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  State Sen Ada.m Hinds on Thursday outlined his budget priorities and goals for the new legislative term to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Some 6,498 bills were filed this year and 82 were from Hinds.

In this session, he is focusing largely on climate change and improving the commonwealth's schools as well as transportation both for schools and the general public.



"We just hit the year mark of being in COVID and I've been asked to do a lot of kind of thick thought pieces around what it's meant," Hinds said to the commission. "I'm now chairing a second committee in the Senate, it's called Reimagining Massachusetts Post-COVID Resiliency, and so it's a real effort to try to take stock of what's changing, and what do we learned through this past year, and what are the new tools we might want to put on the table. I'd love to hear from all of you maybe not tonight but at some point."



The senator began by reflecting on some of the implications for state policy that have occurred over the past year, an important one being the collective pivot to hybrid or remote work. Two weeks ago, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that 20,000 state jobs are going to be shifted to a hybrid remote work posture.



This shift will likely have a ripple effect on many different avenues that will be more clear at the end of the calendar year, Hinds explained, such as commercial real estate development, transportation, housing, and child-care needs.



Climate change is a large priority for the senator in this term.



"We just literally today, maybe two hours ago, sent back to the governor our version of the climate bill that we passed, he vetoed a version at the end of last year, and then we immediately sent it back, he sent back amendments, we sent a pack, and we're doing a bit of a tug of war here. Sounds like he might sign this one," Hinds explained.



"But even though we make a big leap forward in a bill like this there are still sectors that need attention, and I'm thinking in particular, transportation, which is 40 percent of our carbon emissions and not a big area of focus in this bill. We instead focus again on energy production and kind of buildings, efficiencies and the like, a lot of offshore wind commitment, big environmental justice pieces, and a whole range of other things that I can get into if you want, but it feels like we need to do more in transportation."



The bill also addresses carbon sequestration, a process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.



Hinds wants locals to be aware of the natural solutions for trapping carbon dioxide in Central and Western Massachusetts, which boast some of the biggest concentrations of forest canopy in New England.



The $1.5 billion Student Opportunity Act passed in 2019 will reportedly make a huge impact on Pittsfield schools more than any other schools in the Berkshires as rural schools will be left out of the equation.



The rural school budget line item did go up to $3 million this fiscal year and Central Berkshire Regional School District was awarded around $300,000, but Hinds now chairs the Rural School Commission to address the issue further.



"We tried to make that a part of the student Opportunity Act, and they said, 'no you can't because that's the result of a blue-ribbon panel that really dug into the foundation budget,' " he said. "And so instead they agreed to continue with the rural school item line item for now while we stand up a rural school commission. I keep saying rural really we're switching to low and declining enrollment because it's not always rural schools at this, there's some that in the commonwealth that just has declining enrollment, and it applies to them."


U.S. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth on Sunday expressed doubts about FBI Director Chris Wray's initial assessment that the fatal shooting of six Asian women in Atlanta-area spas may not constitute a hate crime, saying it 'looks racially motivated.'

'From where I sit, I want to see a deeper investigation into whether or not these shootings and other similar crimes are racially motivated,' Duckworth, who is one of only two Asian Americans currently serving in the U.S. Senate, told CBS 'Face the Nation.'

'It looks racially motivated to me,' she said, adding the caveat that she is not a police officer or the one investigating the crimes.

Following this week's shootings at 3 Atlanta-area spas which killed 8, including 6 Asian-Americans, Illinois Democrat @SenDuckworth is now calling for a "deeper" investigation into whether the shootings were racially motivated.



"It looks racially motivated to me," she says. pic.twitter.com/EM673xO5B9  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 21, 2021

U.S. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth said shooting of six Asian women 'looks racially motivated'

Police in Atlanta are still investigating the motive in connection with the fatal shooting of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, on Tuesday. People embrace by a makeshift memorial outside the Gold Spa following the deadly shootings in Atlanta

Police in Atlanta are still investigating the motive in connection with the fatal shooting of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, on Tuesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation.

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.

In an interview with NPR last week, Wray said that while the investigation into the suspected gunman Robert Aaron Long's motives was still underway, it 'does not appear' that race factored into his decision to carry out the mass shooting.

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, speaking on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' also questioned that assessment, suggesting he believes race played a role.

'We all know hate when we see it,' he said. 'It is tragic that we've been visited by this kind of violence yet again.'

Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old Atlanta-area resident who is white, told police that sexual frustration led him to commit the violence

This map shows the locations of the three shootings in the Atlanta area and the place where Long was ultimately arrested

The shootings have stoked fears among those in the Asian American Pacific Islander community, which has reported a spike in hate crimes since March 2020 when then-President Donald Trump began referring to COVID-19 as the 'China virus.'

Long, a 21-year-old Atlanta-area resident who is white, told police that sexual frustration led him to commit the violence.

Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Captain Jay Baker, who told the media in a press conference that a sexual addiction may have fueled the crime and said Long had 'a really bad day,' has since come under criticism from political leaders and civil rights advocates for making insensitive comments, noting such remarks only help fuel stigmas about race, gender and sex work.

The sheriff's office later acknowledged the remarks had sparked anger, but said Baker never intended to offend anyone. Baker is no longer serving as a spokesman for the case.

The incidence of hate crimes against Asian Americans rose by 149% in 2020 in 16 major cities compared with 2019, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

Yong Yue, 63, who is pictured with her two sons, was killed during the the shootings

Xiaojie Tan, 49, the owner of Young's Asian Massage spa, was killed in the shootings

Shooting victim Hyun Grant (left) came from South Korea with her two sons (pictured) and was raising them on her own

Delaina Yaun, 34, (left) was a married mom-of-two who had arranged a spa day with her husband to relax from taking care of their new baby. She was killed but her husband escaped alive. Paul Michels, 54, (right) was an Army veteran who was installing a security system at Young's Asian Massage Parlor in Cherokee County when he was shot dead

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta on Friday to offer support to Asian-Americans and meet with leaders of the community.

Biden on Sunday also highlighted the need to prevent gender-based violence and keep women safe.

'In the past few weeks, we've seen too many examples of horrific and brutal assaults on women, including the tragic murders in Georgia. And we've seen the broader damage that living under the daily specter of gender-based violence does to women everywhere. It hurts all of us, and we all must do more to create societies where women are able to go about their lives free from violence,' he said in a statement.

The Justice Department has previously said it will be stepping up investigations into hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Duckworth said on Sunday she has written a letter to Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland asking them to take a deeper look 'to see how many crimes have actually been under-reported as hate crimes.'

'Many of these crimes go under-reported as hate crimes and are just classified as a mugging or harassment or vandalism when they really were targeted as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in particular,' she said.

A Justice Department spokesman did not have an immediate comment on the letter.
The Board of Directors is announcing the 79th Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival & Fair will be held on their traditional last full weekend of September 23 - 26, 2021 in New Iberia. Festival organizers say they will put into place recommended Best Practices as per the State Fire Marshals guidelines.

Schedule of events will be announced at a later date.

To learn more about the history of the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival, click here.
I heard mostly birds and wind, Ms. Weaver said. But I talked to clients who said it helped them a lot, so results may vary.

The article, which published in the past week, was postponed for a time because Ms. Weaver was frequently pulled away on pandemic-related assignments. In a recent conversation, she reflected on how Equus crossed her radar and what her own experience was like.

How long has this story been in the works?

I visited last March. I was going to be in New Mexico anyway, and I was looking for something interesting to do, so I just tacked it on while I was in the area. It hasnt been a year of work. Its just that I just now got around to finishing it!

What was your experience with horses before this?

I got thrown off a horse at my friends 11th birthday party  it got stung by a bee or bitten by a bug  and I havent spent much time around them since. I was ready to rumble with the horses, but I was relieved to know I wouldnt have to saddle up and get on. Horseback riding isnt part of Equus.

What did you know about Equus before you arrived in Santa Fe?

Not much. They purposely dont have a lot of photos on their website. The founders told me they dont want people coming in with a specific idea of what their experience will be like, because then if it works out differently, clients could be disappointed.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
Damascus, March 21 : At least five civilians were killed after more than six rockets hit a hospital in Syria's Aleppo on Sunday, a war monitor said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the hospital is located in the town of Atarib, reports dpa news agency.

The watchdog added that 11 others were wounded in the attack.

It said a child and a member of the medical staff are among the dead, and the number of deaths is likely to increase as some of the wounded are in critical condition.
Some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on March 7, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP)

Philippines Says 220 Chinese Boats Have Encroached in South China Sea

MANILA, PhilippinesThe Philippine defense chief on March 21 demanded that more than 200 Chinese vessels he said were manned by militias leave a South China Sea reef claimed by Manila, saying their presence was a provocative action of militarizing the area.

We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory, defense minister Delfin Lorenzana said.

Authorities said the Philippines coast guard had reported that about 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored on March 7 at Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls Julian Felipe Reef.

Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, when asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the boats, told a journalist on Twitter: Only if the generals tell me. In my watch, foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces.

Some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea, on March 7, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP)

The vessels are fishing boats believed to be manned by Chinese military-trained personnel, according to Philippines security officials.

The vessels presence in the area raises concern about overfishing and the destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safe navigation, a Philippine cross-government task force said late on March 20.

Chinas foreign ministry didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on March 21, while calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered.

Some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on March 7, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP)

An international tribunal invalidated Chinas claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing doesnt recognize the ruling. The Chinese regime has built islands in the disputed waters in recent years, putting airstrips on some of them.

Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei all claim parts of the sea.

In January, the Philippines protested at a new Chinese law allowing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a threat of war.

The United States has repeatedly denounced what it called the Chinese regimes attempts to bully neighbors with competing interests, while Beijing has criticized Washington for what it calls interference in its internal affairs.

The Whitsun Reef is within Manilas exclusive economic zone, the task force said, describing the site as a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs.

The task force vowed to continue to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Mumbai, March 21 : Hansal Mehta's web series "Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story" seems to have triggered off an interest in our film and web series makers in the subject of scams. As many as five projects are on the way, which talk of the biggest scams to have hit the headlines in India.

Hansal Mehta is, however, reluctant to slot films and series based on the subject as a specific genre. Talking to IANS, he says: "Don't put stories into boxes. All you have to do is tell a good story, whether it is about a scam or love. A story well told, well acted-out and directed in an all-round manner is what counts. A story done in the right way resonates with the audience. It doesn't have to be about a scam or a biopic." Producer Vipul Shah, who is co-directing the upcoming series "Human" based on drug testing scam, went into intense research to bring authenticity to his story.

"We went to various medical drug testing camps to see how they are administered and also understood the processes and what kind of security measures are taken to ensure that drug testing is safe for people. We met victims and subjects, doctors and pharma companies. That kind of double research resulted in the script that we have today. I would say it was a detailed process that went on for two and a half years," says Shah.

Talking about the developing trend for such stories, trade analyst Atul Mohan says: "That happens in every industry. If one person launches a good product, others follow. The same thing happened after "Scam 1992". It was very well made and word of mouth was good. All these big scams have already happened in our country and there is a lot of masala in it. They take good actors, dramatise and present it, and the audience likes it." Here's a list of recent and upcoming web series and films, based on scams in India:

Scam 2003: The Curious Case Of Abdul Karim Telgi

The makers of "Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story", have announced a new story in the series. The new season will tell the story of the 2003 stamp paper scam and its perpetrator, the late convicted Indian counterfeiter Abdul Karim Telgi. The script will be adapted from the Hindi book "Reporter Ki Diary" authored by journalist Sanjay Singh. Hansal Mehta returns to direct the show.

Mosagullu The Telugu film starring Vishnu Manchu and Kajal Aggarwal released on Friday. The film is based on a $300-million IT scam that took place in Mumbai a couple of years back. The film is directed by Jeffrey Gee Chin.

The Big Bull This Abhishek Bachchan-starrer is directed by Kookie Gulati. The film is reportedly about the securities scam of 1992, which has already been narrated in "Scam 1992". The film is also said loosely narrate stockbroker Harshad Mehta's life and his involvement in financial crimes over a period of 10 years, from 1980 to 1990.

Human The series is co-directed by Vipul Shah and Mozez Singh. The drama is about underbelly of human drug testing and the world of medical scam, and is currently under production. The series stars Shefali Shah, Ram Kapoor, Kirti Kulhari, Seema Biswas and Vishal Jethwa.

Art Of War: No Retreat No Surrender The web series is a fictional story produced by Feroz A Nadiadwala. It explores money counterfeiting operations that take place near India's borders. Recently announced, cast and crew for the film is yet to be decided.
Socially distanced and with protective partitions students work on an art project during class at the Sinaloa Middle School in Novato, Calif., on March 2, 2021. (Haven Daley/AP)

Updates on CCP Virus: Former FDA Chief Says Social Distancing Mandate Wasnt Based on Clear Science

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that the six-foot social distancing mandate that was employed across much of the United States and the world to deal with the CCP virus pandemic wasnt based on clear science.

This six-foot distancing requirement has probably been the single costliest mitigation tactic that weve employed in response to COVID  and it really wasnt based on clear science.  We should have re-adjudicated this much earlier, he said in an interview with CNBC.

There were no scientific studies on the optimal conditions for COVID-19 social distancing at the early stages of the pandemic.

Texas Roadhouse CEO Took His Own Life After COVID-19-Related Symptoms: Family

Texas Roadhouse CEO and co-founder Kent Taylor allegedly died from suicide due to CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus-related symptoms, his family said over the weekend. He was 65.

Taylors family and the restaurant chain told The Hill and other news outlets that he took his own life this week after a battle with post-COVID related symptoms, including severe tinnitus, referring to COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus.

Tokyo Olympics Organizers Bar Overseas Spectators

At last, its official after countless unsourced news reports and speculation: spectators from abroad will be barred from the postponed Tokyo Olympics when they open in four months.

The decision was announced March 20 after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee, and local organizers.

Romania Sets Record for Virus Patients in ICUs

Romania on Sunday recorded its highest number of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus patients in intensive care units since the pandemic began.

The increasing pressure on ICU wardswhere 1,334 people are currently receiving carecomes amid a surge of virus cases in the country. Over the past week, Romania has been recording its highest number of infections in three monthson some days more than 6,000 new daily cases.

Infections Continue to Climb in Turkey

Turkeys weekly regional CCP virus figures keep increasing.

Health ministry statistics released late Saturday showed the rate of infection is more than 251 cases per 100,000 in Istanbul, the countrys largest cityup 41 percent since last week. That means about 40,000 new infections in Istanbul alone, which has quadrupled from numbers first released six weeks ago.

Republic of Congo Polls Open; Candidate Sick With Virus

Republic of Congo pressed ahead Sunday with an election in which President Denis Sassou NGuesso is widely expected to extend his 36 years in power, while the leading opposition candidate was flown to France after suffering virus complications.

The watchdog group NetBlocks reported an internet blackout that began in the Central African country around midnight on election day.

France Pushes Vaccines as Leaders Debate Jabs for All

French health workers soldiered on with the countrys CCP virus vaccination drive on Sunday on the second day of a new lockdown in parts of France and amid differing views among leaders over whether inoculations should be open to everyone.

France resumed use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, a day after the European Unions drug watchdog said it was convinced that the shots benefits outweighed any risks. More than a dozen nations including France had suspended its use following an investigation into reports of blood disorders.

Israeli Court Upholds Schools Barring of Teacher Who Refused Vaccine

An Israeli court on Sunday upheld a schools decision to bar a teaching assistant who had refused to show proof she had been vaccinated or tested for the CCP virus.

The teaching assistant, Sigal Avishai, had argued that the schools policy was an unlawful breach of her medical privacy and that she was being pressured to get vaccinated against her beliefs, the court said.

2 in Denmark Suffer Brain Hemorrhage After Vaccines, 1 Dies

Denmark said on Saturday that one person had died and another fell seriously ill with blood clots and cerebral hemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca 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.

Jack Phillips, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
Four-wheel drives and utes available with a diesel option have surged in value during the past year.

The ban on Australians travelling overseas has seen demand surge for vehicles with higher ground clearance that can travel long distances.

For those thinking of driving across the Nullarbor Plain or across northern Australia from Cairns to the Kimberley, a diesel engine is more efficient than a petrol motor.

Toyota, however, the car brand behind the LandCruiser and HiLux bestsellers, wants to go green.

Four-wheel drives and utes available with a diesel option have surged in value during the past year. secondhand prices for the top-of-the-range Toyota LandCruiser Sahara soar by 54 per cent from $120,000 in 2019 to to $185,000 this year, well beyond the new price of $124,396. Pictured is a 2018 on the market for $122,000

Used cars that have surged in value Holden Colorado: up 56 per cent to $33,800 Toyota LandCruiser Sahara: up 54 per cent Toyota Camry: up 50 per cent to $23,100 Hyundai i30: up 47 per cent to $16,000 Toyota HiAce: 46 per cent to $35,400 Ford Ranger: up 38 per cent to $39,800 Toyota HiLux: up 29 per cent to $37,200 Toyota RAV4: up 29 per cent to $25,300 Holden Commodore: up 23 per cent to $22,100 Toyota Corolla: up 11 per cent to $14,500 Source: Datium Insights data comparing March 2020 to March 2021 based on average prices for three-year old cars. Toyota LandCruiser Sahara prices area comparison of 2019 with 2021 Advertisement

The RAV4 hybrid in August last year made history as the first-ever car in Australia to reach No.1 on the sales charts primarily with a petrol-electric model.

With an all-new 300 series LandCruiser being released in August 2021, motorists who prefer the traditional diesel engine are understandably worried the old-fashioned V8 diesel will be replaced by a diesel-hybrid in Australia.

This has seen average secondhand prices for the top-of-the-range Toyota LandCruiser Sahara soar by 54 per cent from $120,000 in 2019 to to $185,000 this year, well beyond the new price of $124,396.

A 2020 V8 Sahara with less than 20,000km on the odometer is selling for $184,500.

The outgoing 200-series four-wheel drive also comes with a 4.5 litre diesel.

Datium Insights, an arm of US credit ratings agency Moody's, has revealed used utes, SUVs, available in diesel, had surged the most in value between March 2020 and March 2021 - a year on from the Covid shutdowns.

They compared the prices of three-year-old secondhand cars.

Tanim Ahmed, Datium's head of product, however said the big surges in used car values was the product of prices falling during the early days of Covid shutdowns before recovering dramatically.

'I'd note that February to April 2020 was a particularly poor period in the market where vehicle values fell up to 20 per cent hence why you can see some big swings for some vehicles when comparing to today's values which are generally historic highs,' he said.

General Motors has killed off the Holden name in 2021, ending 72 years of motoring history, but this didn't stop secondhand Colorado ute prices from climbing by 56 per cent in one year to $33,800.

A 2020 V8 Sahara with less than 20,000km on the odometer is selling for $184,500. The outgoing 200-series four-wheel drive also comes with a 4.5 litre diesel

General Motors has killed off the Holden name in 2021, ending 72 years of motoring history, but this didn't stop secondhand Colorado ute prices from climbing by 56 per cent in one year to $33,800. Pictured is a more upmarket LTZ model selling for $58,000

The Toyota HiLux has been Australia's top selling new vehicle since 2016, losing the top spot in the monthly sales charts just four times during the past five years, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed.

This ute, available with a 2.8 litre turbo diesel has seen its average used price climb by 29 per cent to $37,200.

The current model RAV4 doesn't come with a diesel option but the previous generation model did before it was replaced in 2018.

Used RAV4 prices climbed by 29 per cent to $25,300.

Passenger cars too did well on the sales charts, even if they didn't come with a diesel option, with Toyota Camry prices on the used market climbing by 50 per cent to $23,100.

Professionals wanting to avoid using public transport have been also been flocking to secondhand hatchbacks like the Hyundai i30 and the Toyota Corolla, choosing them as a second car.

Passenger cars too did well on the sales charts, even if they didn't come with a diesel option, with Toyota Camry prices on the used market climbing by 50 per cent to $23,100. Pictured is a 2019 Ascent model selling for $31,780

The used Toyotas that have surged in value secondhand are consistently in the top ten when new, or at least hold the top spot in their class, as the Camry does in the medium-car stakes.

While Toyota on the new car market has the No. 1 spot for the upper large four wheel drive, ute, medium car and small car segments it struggles in some segments.

The Yaris is outsold two-to-one in the light car segment by the Chinese-made MG3 hatch.

The Yaris Cross is similarly outsold two-to-one, losing to the Mazda CX-3 in the light SUV category.
DA leader John Steenhuisen has penned a scathing attack in the City Press regarding South Africas vaccine rollout.

Steenhuisen argued that governments official vaccine roll-out has not truly begun.

The current vaccine roll-out that government is crowing about is merely an expansion of the Johnson and Johnson trials, using vaccines set aside for that purpose in various countries and provided free of charge by the manufacturer, said Steenhuisen.

The trial is being run at existing sites by scientists, not by the department of health. In fact, there is no government-run roll-out.

He also said that government should be administering the 1 million AstraZeneca the country received earlier this year.

Even if they do not provide full protection against all variants of the virus circulating in our population, they will prevent disease and death among older people with comorbidities as we head into the third wave, said Steenhuisen.

Leading scientists in South Africa, the World Health Organisation and the European Medicines Agency have advised that South Africa should administer the doses to high-risk individuals.

Steenhuisen also noted that experts have criticised government for not having a practical plan, and said the failure of the vaccine rollout will define Ramaphosas presidency similarly to how former President Thabo Mbekis tenure was marked by his failure to roll out antiretroviral drugs timeously.

Worrying hospital death numbers

Steenhuisens piece follows the results of a new study by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), which found that the South African variant of COVID-19 is associated with increased in-hospital mortality.

On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, there was a 20% increased risk of in-hospital mortality in the second wave, said the research.

While some of this is explained by increasing pressure on the health system, a residual increase in mortality of hospitalised patients beyond this could be related to the new lineage 501Y.V2.

While the researchers said the data should be used with caution, they added that during the third wave, South Africa will need to slow the spread of COVID-19 to prevent increased mortalities in hospitals.

Read the full paper here.

New hand sanitiser rules in South Africa

A key way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to regularly wash your hands with hand sanitiser.

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) recently changed the national standard for these products so that South Africans only use effective products.

Key requirements that must now be fulfilled include:

Minimum of 70% alcohol content if alcohols like ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol are the main ingredients.

Minimum of 60% alcohol content if there are other active ingredients, like benzalkonium chloride.

No solvents such as acetone/propanone, methanol, methylated spirits, or other spirits are allowed.

Manufacturers will also need to supply evidence that their products will retain the correct physiochemical properties and efficacy for the duration of their shelf lives.

On Friday, 311 new fatalities were reported over a 24-hour period, with Kwa-Zulu Natal leading the list with 138 new deaths.

There were 1,462 new cases over the same period.
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New Delhi, March 21 : BJP national president J.P. Nadda will be on a two-day visit to Assam and West Bengal from Monday, where he will unveil the party's manifesto for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections and attend several other programmes.

The manifesto will be released on Tuesday.

The BJP on Sunday said in a statement that Nadda will address a public rally at Rajgarh Tea Estate in Dibrugarh's Tingkhong on Monday.

In the afternoon, he will address another mega public rally at Borholla Tea Estate playground in Jorhat's Titabor.

"Nadda will address a third public rally in Assam at Borgaon New Ketla Tea Estate field in Behali. After three rallies, he will hold a meeting with the workers of Biswanath district," the statement added.

"This manifesto will add new dimensions to the developmental works being carried out by the Assam BJP-led NDA government in the last five years under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A manifesto is not a mere document for us, it is our 'Sankalp Patra'," the statement said.

Later, in the day, Nadda will hold a road show from Ghatal Town Kushpata to Ghatal Town Central Bus Stand at Paschim Medinipur in Bengal.
Also it asked the audit report and the action taken report to be regularly submitted to the ministry

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Sunday alerted NHAI, NHIDCL and its other wings besides automobile makers to augment their IT security systems after reports regarding threats of possible cyber attacks targeted at the Indian transport sector.

The ministry said it has received an alert from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) about possible cyber attacks.

"The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways received an alert from CERT-In regarding targeted intrusion activities directed towards Indian Transport sector with possible malicious intentions. The Ministry has advised departments and organisations under transport sector to strengthen the security posture of their infrastructure," the Ministry said in a statement.

It has requested NIC, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), Indian Road Congress (IRC), Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE), State PWDs, Testing agencies and Automobile manufacturers to conduct the security audit of the entire IT system by CERT-In certified agencies.

It advised such security audits on a regular basis besides taking all actions as per their recommendations.

Also it asked the audit report and the action taken report to be regularly submitted to the ministry.

Last year in June also NHAI has reported a cyber attack on its email server and had said that prompt action resulted in no data loss. It had shut down its server then as a precaution.

(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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Central Expressway project cost increases due to irregularities By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has come across glaring irregularities in the execution of the Central Expressway project particularly because of construction delays, lack of proper procurement and feasibility studies.

This has resulted in extra cost of construction running up to billions of rupees giving undue benefits for some contractors and several foreign and local consultancy firms, a recent COPE report revealed.

Based on mathematical assumption, there was clear forensic evidence that such projects were 55 per cent costlier than those that were bid competitively in 2011.

According to the Chairman of COPE Prof. Charitha Herath, some of the feasibility study reports were of no use for the present expressway.

He stressed the importance of managing all future financial activities of the project properly as poor planning results in expensive changes to schedules, traces, relocations of interchanges and other critical control points.

A sum of Rs. 1,759 million had been paid to an Australian company to conduct the feasibility study of the Central Expressway comprising four stages.

Without taking action to obtain feasibility reports from that company, agreements valued at Rs. 97 million had been spent for several local institutions to further conduct feasibility studies, COPE divulged.

Another feasibility study was conducted for the construction of this expressway prior to 2012 at a cost of around Rs. 284 million.

The delay in the commencement of work on the first section of the Central Expressway extending from Kadawatha to Mirigama between 2015 and 2019, had caused a financial loss of Rs.8 billion.

The progress report of COPE on the Central Expressway revealed that only 5 per cent of the work on the Kadawatha-Mirigama first section has been completed by China MCC and the work is now in progress.

81.44 per cent of the construction work on the second section of the project from Mirigama to Kurunegala had been completed. The total cost is around Rs.158 billion.

This 40.91 km stretch of road is divided into four sections and four consortiums of contractors have been awarded the contract.

Bids have been called for the third phase of the 31 km stretch from Pothuhera to Galagedera but construction commenced in December 2020 by Urban Development Authority (UDA) in haste at an estimated cost of Rs.142 billion.

The reason is not known for calling of bids at a time where the selection of foreign contractor is still pending but according to official sources if a foreign contractor is selected then the project would be handed over to them to carry out the balance work under BOT system.

The procurement process has not been completed yet due to irregularities in the procurement process in the third phase.

The Construction work of the fourth phase of the 60.3 km stretch of road from Kurunegala to Dambulla is yet to start.
Presently, the nearly 1,145 PHCs in rural areas function from 9 am to 4 pm. Meanwhile, nearly 500 of them are already working 24x7 as they are located in agency and highly inaccessible areas to attend to emergency cases of the tribal population. (Representational Photo: DC)

VIJAYAWADA: In a move that is bound to be welcomed from most quarters, Andhra Pradesh will soon be running all primary facilities in each and every rural primary health centre (PHC) 24x7.

State health authorities issued an order recently revising the operational timings of PHCs. Accordingly, they will function from 9 am to 4 pm in the first shift and from 2 pm to 9 pm in the second and doctors will be available on call from 9 pm to 9 am the next day. Each PHC will have two medical officers.

Presently, the nearly 1,145 PHCs in rural areas function from 9 am to 4 pm. Meanwhile, nearly 500 of them are already working 24x7 as they are located in agency and highly inaccessible areas to attend to emergency cases of the tribal population.

The purpose behind this is to ensure medical care to patients suffering with non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and other health issues.

Staff nurses will work in three shifts from 8 am to 2 pm, 2 pm to 8 pm and from 8 pm to 8 am.

Authorities maintain that the move is aimed at reducing the burden on referral hospitals like community health centres and district hospitals.

State health director Dr T. Geetha Prasadini said As part of initiating reforms in health care, the state government has taken a decision to revise the timings of PHCs so that primary health care will be available all through the day.

Meanwhile, some medical officers while pointing out that with only two of them posted in a PHC, they wondered what would happen to the alternate shift if one of them goes on leave. They also pointed out that if the medical officers are to be available on call from 9 pm to 9 am, then it is inevitable that they remain at their workplace. They lamented that with no residential accommodation and lack of transport facility, it becomes difficult for them to attend to emergency cases, especially late in the night. Doctors and nurses expressed concern over security and safety late in the evenings in remote areas.

AP Government Doctors Association convenor Dr D. Jayadheer said We are discussing with our colleagues on practical difficulties we may face due to the revised timings. We will take them to the notice of the government.
Second World War veterans who have endured months of isolation are urging people to keep following coronavirus rules and get a vaccine as the UK reaches the anniversary of its first lockdown.

Being classified as particularly vulnerable due to their advanced age, surviving servicemen from the 1939-1945 conflict have seen their lives restricted more than most during the pandemic.

Major Ted Hunt turned 100 on March 23 last year, the very date that the UKs first Covid-19 lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The veteran, who commanded landing craft on to Gold Beach in Normandy in June 1944, said he had been quite content over the past 12 months and had plenty to do at home.

Having received his own first dose, Major Hunt urged people to get their Covid jabs, saying any hesitancy was the same as deciding not to look both ways before you cross the road.

Expand Close Major Ted Hunt commanded landing craft on to Gold Beach in Normandy in June 1944 (Dick Goodwin/Taxi Charity for Military Veterans/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Major Ted Hunt commanded landing craft on to Gold Beach in Normandy in June 1944 (Dick Goodwin/Taxi Charity for Military Veterans/PA)

Speaking to the PA news agency from his home in Lancing, West Sussex, he sent out a message to the public for the remaining months of restrictions ahead.

All it needs is a little discipline, have your vaccination because its insane not to do it, he said, telling people not to gather together because you owe it to the NHS staff who are going to be overworked because of your decision to go with a crowd.

He said: Id like to be 102 and if it requires some discipline on my part  OK.

Mr Hunt, a former Queens Bargemaster who saw out the war working on the engineering of water crossings in the Netherlands, said he was looked after by a carer living next door and was in regular contact with his family.

Im not one of those poor old boys whove been forgotten. Ive got it made, he said.

His 100th birthday plans, which included taking his family down the Thames on a boat, had to be cancelled, and he is among the many elderly veterans who have been unable to mark key anniversaries, such as 75 years since the first VE Day, and make traditional remembrance trips to Europe over the past year.

Expand Close Second World War veterans have experienced isolation during the past 12 months (Peter Byrne/PA) PA / Facebook

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The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans is among the organisations that has had to negotiate Covid restrictions while trying to support vulnerable ex-servicemen.

Vice president Dick Goodwin said a year of restrictions has had a serious effect on veterans and put a lot of them into a much deeper isolation.

While many have coped with the support of families, Mr Goodwin said that with some you just can tell when youre talking to them on the phone, theyre talking to you but with some of them theres very little life in their voice.

We know some people three floors up in a block of flats, just looking at the four walls, he added.

Theyre not going out, most of them are in the vulnerable group. Theyve obviously been vaccinated now you can see that the loneliness must get to them.

Mr Goodwin said that, when rules have allowed, veterans have been meeting at their comrades funerals to give them a guard of honour, saluting the hearse as it arrives.

Theres so many people they deserve so much more at their funeral. Its criminal in a way just to sort of say well thats it you can only have 10 people there or whatever, he said.

Mr Goodwin said the charity helps between 60 to 80 Second World War veterans as well as others who served after the conflict.

He has been maintaining a list to keep track of the charitys veterans who have passed away, which currently features some 29 names.

Taxi drivers have been helping veterans where they can, keeping in touch, doing shopping on their behalf and taking them to vaccine appointments.

Mr Goodwin said the high profile of fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore had helped ensure people are still aware that the veterans are still around and theyre still with us and that there might be people alone who need a bit of help and a bit of company and a phone call.

But overall he said: You dont hear any word of complaint from the old boys at all, adding: Its that generation, they just get on with it.

Harry Rawlins, 95, said he could not get out much before lockdown started and had been confined to the house for quite a long time.

Mr Rawlins signed up aged 17 in 1943 and served with the Rifle Brigade and the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, with the war taking him to France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Living alone in Edgware, north London, he hailed the wonderful support he has received from Taxi Charity chairman Ian Parsons and his wonder woman wife Anne, who helped him mark Christmas and his birthday.

He said most people have responded very well to lockdown, adding that mistakes have been made but that the Government had handled the pandemic very well so far.

When people are downtrodden by anything they tend to help each other out and become more familiar with each other, he said.

Asked for his message to the public for the potential final few months of restrictions, he simply said: Follow the rules.
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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 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.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Sino-US confrontation becomes intensified



The high-level meetings between the United States and China in Alaska last week have raised concerns that already tense bilateral relations could get worse. The Sino-U.S. rivalry is likely to become intensified further down the road.



From the start of the two-day ministerial talks Thursday, both sides exchanged barbs with each other, breaking diplomatic protocol. In his opening remarks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised thorny issues regarding Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, Taiwan and cyberattacks. Then, Yang Jiechi, the foreign affairs chief of the Chinese Communist Party, shot back by strongly accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy for criticizing China on human rights and other issues.



It seems inevitable for the world's two largest economies to be on a head-on collision course at a time when the U.S. is stepping up its efforts to contain the rise of China. The first face-to-face talks since the inauguration of President Joe Biden came right after Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Japan and South Korea to strengthen America's alliance with its two key Asian partners and build its anti-China coalition in the Indo-Pacific region.



The talks ended with a somewhat eased tone. Yang described them as "candid, constructive and helpful," although the two sides agreed to disagree on major issues. Now the question is whether Washington and Beijing can narrow their differences and work together to cope with common global issues such as climate change, nonproliferation and the COVID-19 pandemic.



Skeptics point out that the G2 countries will face a rocky road ahead because neither shows any signs of compromise. The Biden administration, which has inherited former President Donald Trump's hardline policy toward China, is focusing on countering the Asian giant. It is as if the U.S. is on the verge of slipping into Thucydides' Trap as seen in the Peloponnesian War triggered by Sparta's fear of a rising Athens. China, for its part, has vowed not to make any concessions to safeguard its core values such as national sovereignty and security.



Yet both sides should realize that their confrontation, if deepened, could inflict irrecoverable damage on each other. Trump's trade and technology war with China already proved to be a lose-lose game. Biden is trying to expand the informal Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as the Quad comprising the U.S., Japan, Australia and India, to keep a more assertive China in check.



What's worrisome is that the escalating Sino-U.S. conflict could bring about a new cold war. Imagine such a war taking place on the Korean Peninsula between the U.S.-led coalition and the group of China, Russia and North Korea. That would make it almost impossible to realize the denuclearization of North Korea and establish a lasting peace in Northeast Asia.



South Korea is now under pressure to join the Quad. More seriously, the country could someday be forced to choose between the U.S.  its traditional security ally  and China  its largest trading partner. The Moon Jae-in administration needs to map out a new strategy to avoid any collateral damage arising from the ever-intensifying G2 rivalry.






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The hand-over was made on time to serve the first session of the 9th Lao National Assembly.



The ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung; Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Somphanh Phengkhammy; and Major General Nguyen Quoc Dung, Commander of the Army Corps 11, the general contractor of the project.



Talking to a Vietnam News Agency reporter at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Lao NA and head of the steering committee for the new NA Building project Somphanh Phengkhammy appreciated the efforts of the projects management board, the investor and related units, particularly the general contractor  Army Corps 11 of Vietnam.



He stressed that despite the great impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the supply of materials and equipment as well as the sending of technical staff to the construction site, the contractors workers had worked around the clock to ensure the progress of the project.



Even though the project has not been completed by 100 percent, the building is ready for use at the first session of the 9th legislature of Laos, which is a very important event when the legislature will not only elect key leaders of the Lao NA and Government but also adopt the ninth five-year socio-economic development plan for Laos.



Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung said after the first session of the Lao NA, the remaining work will be carried out for the full completion of the project by the end of June.



The Lao NA Building, constructed at a cost of over US$111 million, will be the venue for meetings of the Lao NA and important ceremonies. It will also serve cultural tours and research trips of the people, students and tourists.



The building is a meaningful present and a symbol of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  The Department of Health's latest report on new COVID-19 infections with nearly 8,000 cases disclosed Saturday "looks deceiving", a health expert claimed.

Former COVID-19 task force adviser Dr. Tony Leachon on Sunday said the data from the DOH were "highly suspicious and delayed."

"The latest record of 7,999 new infections looks deceiving, something that traders do to make the price of their products look low," he said in his Twitter post.

"Im just disturbed given their past history of fresh and late cases," Dr. Leachon added.

Health officials on Saturday reported that the Philippines logged 7,999 new COVID-19 infections  the second day in a row that the country recorded over 7,000 new cases. The total climbed to 656,056 with 12.3% or 80,642 active or currently ill patients.

READ: New all-time high COVID-19 infections with nearly 8,000 new cases

According to Dr. Leachon, the government should be "on war mode" versus COVID-19 with more contagious variants posing further threats.

"Remember the time that the spokesperson (Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque) cheerfully said that they have beaten the figures of UP, only to find out later that some lab reports were not added? We should not declare victory too soon... All hands on deck now," he said.

He also added that the current administration seems to be too lax in addressing the coronavirus pandemic because of the low mortality rate.

Based on the latest data from the DOH, the death toll jumped to 12,930 or 1.97% of the case tally after 30 more persons died of the disease.

"Our government harps on the fact that it is doing a good job because the recorded deaths (case fatality rate) from COVID-19 are low and below world averages. Because of this, there seems to be no sense of urgency. We should try to analyze and think more," the health expert said.

RELATED: OCTA flags 'serious surge' in NCR but lockdowns lower month-end projection

RELATED: LIST: 29 Metro Manila hospitals under critical COVID-19 capacity

In November last year, Roque said the national government was handling the pandemic "very well" as indicated by the Philippines' low mortality rate.

Just last week, Roque reiterated that the Duterte administration's COVID-19 response was no less than "excellent."

READ: Malacanang links COVID-19 surge to more infectious variants, maintains 'excellence' in pandemic governance

"But our government forgets that whatever low death rates we have is through the heroic work of our health frontliners, who sacrifice their personal safety and even their lives so that others may live. Its truly heroic and they deserve our full support. But we must act quickly," Dr. Leachon added.
EUGENE, Ore.-- Tens of community members and citizens came together in Eugene on Saturday in support of the Stop AAPI Hate movement. This comes after the March 16 shooting in Atlanta that left 8 people dead, 6 of whom were of Asian descent.

RELATED: MASSAGE PARLOR SHOOTINGS LEAVE 8 DEAD IN GEORGIA, MAN CAPTURED

The rally at the federal courthouse was organized by Lane East Asian Network and Chewy Jin, a board member on the Oregon Chinese Coalition. One of the speakers Nikolaj Byrdman said she was astounded by the turnout.

"It's very heartwarming that so many people wanted to come together for the East Asian community during this difficult time," Byrdman said.

Protesters at the event said they came to speak out against the rise in crimes against Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.

"I think it's the youth and BIPOC who are bringing their stories to the floor and it's time that we start paying attention," Eugene resident Patricia Hine said.

A candelight vigil organized by the Asian American Council of Oregon was held at the Wayne Morse Plaza on Sunday. Susan Cox, who is part of the Oregon Commission of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, spearheaded the event.

"I'm not saying in a militant way, but in a strong and steady way, it's time to say we're proud to be Asian American," Cox said.

David Tam is co-chair on Asian American Council of Oregon.

"I understand the trend of stop Asian hate, but how about we use the trend stop hate. Just stop hate in general," Tam said.


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New Delhi, March 21 : India is witnessing a massive surge in coronavirus cases and recorded 43,846 infections in the last 24 hours, highest so far since November, taking the total tally to 1,15,99,130 on Sunday.

A single-day spike of 44,489 new infections were recorded on November 26. The country has been registering an increase in cases for the eleventh consecutive day.

According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana are exhibiting a steep rise in daily cases.

The Central government is closely monitoring and actively engaging with the states and union territory over the rising cases in the country.

With the death of 197 people in the last 24 hours, the fatality toll has reached 1,59,755 in India. The active caseload in the country has mounted to 3,09,087.

With the discharge of 22,956 patients in a day, a total of 1,11,30,288 persons have been discharged so far. A total of 11,33,602 tests were done on Friday.

So far, 4.46 crore doses of corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after the approval for 'Covishield' and 'Covaxin'.

More than 16.12 lakh doses were administered on a single day on Saturday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)


Location: Boston - Massachusetts

Location: Parsippany - New Jersey Job Description Develops a regional strategy aligned with the global industry strategy and geographic sales organization.

Identifies and communicates the Definition of Winning for appropriate industry ecosystem and associated execution priorities in order to achieve.

Key stakeholder in the Business Strategy Review (BSR) process and development for specific industry ecosystem.

Delivers the strategic execution for the specific industry ecosystem plan

Facilitates the industry ecosystem community within Rockwell by leading industry affinity teams

Provides industry thought leadership

Stays abreast of industry activities, network through seminars, conferences, memberships in industry societies, etc. Conveys trends through informal and formal sessions.

Gives input to industry ecosystem playbook

Ensures sales enablement/competency building framework in place in alignment with industry/segment needs

Identifies, develops, and nurtures industry/segment talent within the industry/segment

Works collaboratively with Regional Industry Sales Managers, Strategic Account Managers and other resources within Rockwell to implement key strategic growth and initiative priorities for Rockwell within industry accounts

In targeted segments within the industry, contributes during the sales process through: Provision of application knowledge Provision of knowledge of the customer Provision of knowledge of processes involved in pursuit of complex orders

Works collaboratively with geographic sales. Develops a cadence of regular scheduled communication, opportunity/account planning and joint sales development activities impacting industry strategy

Works with global marketing to understand best opportunities for Rockwell and works with region/territory management to align for success.

Ensures through familiarity with company policies and procedures. Appropriately applies policies and procedures in compliance with government laws. Policies and procedures include, but not limited to: Standards of Business Conduct, Intellectual Property, Control Environment, Information Protection, ISO 9000 & 14000, government regulations (e.g. health, safety, quality and environmental). Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Valid driver's license.

Ability to travel greater than 50% of time.

Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. Preferred Qualifications: Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience

8 or more years' experience in sales, marketing or operations in the automation field

5 or more years in the industry of multi-billion dollar, global customer or services provider

Previous global sales experience is preferred

Knowledge of technology, solutions and services in the industrial automation market

Strong understanding of various channels to market and how each one operates

Ability to work with and gain confidence of senior level personnel (internal and external) in a highly collaborative, matrixed stakeholder organization

Strong strategy focus with continuous improvement mind-set

Resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways

Proven track record of: strategy development and execution exhibiting highest level of integrity, exceptional judgment and bias for action aligning and influencing critical stakeholders creativity and innovation

This is a summary of the position's responsibilities and does not reflect the entire scope of work expectations. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our services team at +1 (see application details).


This village in Maharashtra is COVID-19 free, thanks to its youngest sarpanch

NCP leaders, Sanjay Raut meet Pawar amid controversy over Param Bir Singh's letter

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 21: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state unit NCP chief Jayant Patil, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut separately met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Sunday evening in view of former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh''s allegations of corruption against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

The meetings took place hours after Pawar told reporters that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh, an NCP leader, amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

Singh has claimed that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

The NCP along with the Shiv Sena is part of the Mahavikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.

During a media briefing before the meeting, the NCP president said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh

His comments came amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

The allegations levelled by Singh against Deshmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe, Sharad Pawar said.

Waze lived in Varsha, Maharashtra CM's official home, claims Rane

Before the meeting at Sharad Pawar''s residence here, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had also met him.

Singh, a senior IPS officer, who was transferred to the low-key Home Guards on March 17 following the arrest of police officer Sachin Waze in the case related to the bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani''s house Antilia, in a letter to the Maharashtra chief minister said he was made a scapegoat.

In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister 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.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister''s Office, in a release on Saturday, said Singh''s "unsigned letter to Thackeray" was not sent from his official email ID and efforts were on to contact him to verify it.
CANBERRA, Sunday - Enemy raids today on Katherine, about 180 miles inland from Darwin, and on Darwin are reported in a communique issued by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) late tonight.

The communique also records a highly successful attack by Allied planes on Japanese planes and troops at Lae (New Guinea), in which at least 13 enemy planes were destroyed and several others damaged, for the loss of two of our planes.

More successful raids were also made on Rabaul and on Koepang, following the attack on Rabaul on Friday, in which two enemy cruisers were hit.

The communique reads:--Early today, Allied aircraft made a heavy attack on grounded enemy aircraft at Lae (New Guinea). Three Japanese bombers and nine fighters were left in flames and two bombers and three fighters were damaged. Despite anti-aircraft fire and interception by enemy fighters, the attack was pressed home with considerable success, bombs being dropped in the target area, and grounded aircraft attacked with machine-gun fire.

An enemy standing patrol of three Zero fighters dived on our aircraft over Lae, but were driven off. A burst of 500 rounds fired by one of our aircraft was seen to enter one of the Zero fighters. Its destruction, however, cannot be confirmed. Japanese troops and airmen who ran for shelter when our aircraft appeared were also attacked.
Russia's ambassador to the United States returned to Moscow on March 21 after being recalled for emergency consultations amid rising tensions with Washington following President Joe Biden's comments that he believed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was a killer.



Biden's remark in a TV interview earlier in the week in turn prompted a terse quip from Vladimir Putin who wished the U.S. president "good health" and said that people tend to refer to others as they really see themselves.



The Biden interview came on the heels of the release of a report by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence that concluded Putin had "authorized, and a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President [Donald] Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the United States."



The Kremlin immediately denied the findings of the report, saying they were "absolutely unfounded."



Ambassador Anatoly Antonov landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport early on March 21, Russian news agencies reported, after he was recalled last week over the spat.

Before takeoff in New York he told news agencies he would stay in Moscow "as long as needed" and that several meetings were scheduled.



"The Russian side has always stressed that we are interested in the development of Russian-American relations to the same extent as our American colleagues are," he was quoted as saying by TASS.



Moscow, which rarely recalls ambassadors, last summoned its envoy in the United States in 1998 over a Western bombing campaign in Iraq.



In 2014, after the U.S. said Russia would face repercussions for the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, Putin held back on recalling Moscow's envoy, describing the measure as a "last resort."

Biden, who has spent more than four decades in politics, said "I do" during an ABC News interview broadcast on March 17 when asked if he believed the Russian president was a killer.



The Kremlin immediately responded that Biden's statement was "very bad" and "unprecedented."



Putin has since proposed a phone call with Biden to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and regional conflicts, among other topics, and said it should be open to the public.



The Kremlin has suggested the offer was intended to avoid permanent damage in Russian-U.S. relations from Biden's characterization.



Putin's two decades as Russia's leader have included Western accusations of state-sponsored assassination attempts against political opponents at home and abroad, though no U.S. president had previously said in public that they believed the Russian leader was directly responsible for murder.

With reporting by AFP and TASS
He's one of the most talked-about participants on this year's Married At First Sight.

But before making his debut Nine's social experiment, Bryce Ruthven was an awkward teenager with spiky, blonde-tipped hair.

A high school yearbook obtained by Daily Mail Australia, shows Bryce looking almost unrecognisable as a teenager.

Small world! Married At First Sight's Bryce Ruthven, (pictured) is pictured and placed in the same year book as a former groom - despite not having been in the same year group

Bryce appeared to have styled his hair with a generous amount of gel for the photo shoot, while his face seemed much slimmer than it does today.

In a bizarre twist of events, Bryce's yearbook photo also reveals that he went to the same high school as Ivan Sarakula, who appeared on last year's season of MAFS.

Ivan was also in the same year as Bryce, and his photo was even placed next to Bryce's image in their school's official yearbook.

What are the chances? In a bizarre twist of events, Bryce's yearbook photo also reveals that he went to the same high school as Ivan Sarakula (right), who appeared on last year's season of MAFS

Small world! 'Not only same year and same book, but also next to each other in order,' Ivan, 32, (right) said of the bizarre coincidence

'Not only same year and same book, but also next to each other in order,' Ivan, 32, wrote on Instagram underneath the image.

'You cant predict this s**t hey? Funny how the world works.'

Ivan, a flamboyant real estate agent, appeared on last year's season of the show and was married to Aleks Markovic.

Meanwhile, radio announcer Bryce has been paired with 31-year-old Melbourne workplace trainer Melissa Rawson.

Bryce was recently exposed by his co-stars for having a girlfriend just two months before marrying his wife.

Married At First Sight continues on Sunday at 7pm on Nine
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehau Bhowmik De Blouw LLP If you would like to know more about the Bristol Hospice - California, L.L.C. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Nicholas J. De Blouw today by calling (800) 568-8020.

The Sacramento employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Bristol Hospice - California, L.L.C., alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Bristol Hospice - California, L.L.C., is currently pending in the Merced County Superior Court, Case No. 21CV-00326. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Bristol Hospice - California, L.L.C. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to timely pay earned wages, and (f) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in Labor Code Sections  201, 202, 203, 204, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

Cal. Lab. Code  226 provides "that every employer shall furnish each of his or her employees with an accurate itemized wage statement in writing showing...the corresponding amount of time worked at each hourly rate." From time to time, DEFENDANT allegedly failed to provide wage statements to employees that identified the correct gross and net wages earned, which resulted in DEFENDANT allegedly violating Cal. Lab. Code  226.

If you would like to know more about the Bristol Hospice - California, L.L.C. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Nicholas J. De Blouw today by calling (800) 568-8020.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th March, 2021)  Cameroon became the 53rd country to authorize the use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced on Friday.

"RDIF announces the approval of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cameroon.

Thus Sputnik V is approved for use in 53 countries with total population of over 1.4 billion people," the press release read.

"Africa is among the leaders in terms of the number of approvals of Sputnik V. We welcome the decision of the Ministry of Health of Cameroon which will help the population of the country to obtain access to one of the best solutions against coronavirus in the world," RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev noted, as quoted in the press release.
New Delhi:

Bihar congress president Ashok Choudhary on Thursday alleged that a few senior party leaders are orchestrating allegations against him. He said he is clueless that why the party high command did not invite him for the meeting of Bihar Congress MLAs with Rahul Gandhi which took place on Wednesday evening.

Choudhary said that he is upset with the partys move. He alleged that a few senior party leaders in Delhi are lobbying for change of guard in the state.

It is said that the party high command is not pleased with Choudhary who reportedly tried to create defection and Rahul Gandhi has hinted that party may change leadership in the state during the meeting with Bihar MLAs. It is also believed that party MLAs suggested Rahul Gandhi to part ways with RJD. Sources say MLAs have told Congress vice-president that party may face loss if they continue alliance with RJD.

On Wednesday, Bihar Congress MLAs had met Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the national capital.

Congress MLA Amit Kumar rejected reports of split in party, saying they discussed only future course of action with the party vice-president.

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AWD

China used to be known for copying many popular models from American and European brands, including the Ford F-150 . But the GWM P-Series is no copycat. We hear it's also being offered in Australia and is being taken quite seriously. So we were curious to see if a Chinese company really can produce a good, competitive product.The P-Series is from the class above the Ranger but offers quite good value for money. For the equivalent of around $37,000, South African buyers are getting an interior that puts the Ranger to shame. It's got quilted upholstery everywhere, sharp infotainment (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), plenty of brushed metal surfaces, and features like a surround-view camera with a clear definition.Great Wall Motors didn't even skimp on safety, as the high-end Chinese product comes with seven airbags, auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-center keeping, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-sign recognition.Power comes from a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine rated at 161 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque (400 Nm). It's not going to set any performance records but is reasonably refined for diesel and comes matched with an 8-speed automatic from ZF, no less. Its rival for this review shot on the Atlantis dunes outside Cape Town is a South African-spec Ranger XL Sport with a 2.2-liter turbodiesel with a little bit less power and only a 6-speed.The review from Cars.co.za claims the Chinese engine feels more powerful and responsive. And while nobody knows if the truck will be reliable yet, GWM does give you a long 5-year warranty. The video also notes that thesystem in the Chinese truck isn't as good when off-roading, and the suspension is stiff. It almost feels like Ford spends most of the development money on the chassis while the P-Series is more of a posh vehicle.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
For the first time, Lenovo has introduced digital technology to virtually connect tech specialists with customers across select retail stores in the UAE, assisting purchase decision journeys and assuring peace-of-mind.

In todays fast-changing environment, Lenovo is ensuring that the company remains close to its customers by investing in technology and working in close collaboration with local retail partner, Sharaf DG, to deliver a safe and seamless customer experience.

Customers visiting select retail stores will be guided towards an online tech specialist present at Lenovos stand to assist with any queries throughout the day. Each tech specialist will be interacting with customers via videoconferencing technology, connected to a high-resolution display and embedded speaker system, ensure clarity for the entirety of the conversation. Lenovos experts behind the screens will also have products on hand, to point out key features and answer specific questions, just as they would via in-person interactions.

At Lenovo, we place high importance on connecting with our customers at every stage of their purchasing journey. We understand that purchasing a new PC, tablet or accessory requires time and access to expertise. Given the current circumstances, we had to consider how we could further innovate in this regard, to offer a truly unique and personalized experience for each customer  all while ensuring peace-of-mind across the board. By leveraging collaboration technology, we believe that our new virtual methods of communication will further enhance our customer experience offering, said Mohammed Hilili, General Manager, Gulf and East Africa at Lenovo.

Lenovos new digitally-connected experiences are now available at the companys Yoga-branded stands across Sharaf DG stores located at The Dubai Mall, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif.

-- Tradearabia News Service
Julia Letlow won a special election outright Saturday to represent the 5th Congressional District and will succeed her husband Luke, who captured the seat in December only to die of COVID three weeks later.

Letlow, who becomes the first Republican woman elected from Louisiana to the House, won 65% of the vote, according to complete but unofficial returns.

Letlow, 40, had been heavily favored in a 24-parish district that mostly contains farms and small towns and stretches from Monroe to Alexandria to Opelousas to St. Francisville to Bogalusa in the Florida Parishes.

She had the built-in backing of her husbands supporters and also had endorsements from former President Donald Trump, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy of California and House minority whip Steve Scalise, who is from Jefferson Parish.

Trump won 64% of the district in November.

Luke Letlow died Dec. 29, only days before he was to take office after winning the congressional race on Dec. 5 with 62% of the vote.

The biggest uncertainty after his death was whether Julia Letlow would set aside her career to be a candidate. She was understandably reeling and focused on comforting their two children, Jeremiah, 3, and Jacqueline, 1.

She had the credentials. With a doctorate from the University of South Florida, she has been a senior administrator at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and was one of the sixth finalists last year to be the new university president.

Julia Letlow announced on Jan. 14 that she would run, to pick up the torch that my husband left behind, as she put it later.

No major Republican or Democrat challenged her.

Finishing second in the 12-candidate field was Candy Christophe, a 53-year-old Democrat.

Christophe, a social worker and addiction counselor in Alexandria, won about 27%, according to the complete but unofficial returns.

We need jobs and affordable health care, emphasized Christophe, who had the endorsement of the Louisiana Democratic Party.

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

She had finished third in last year's November primary.

The district is home to Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech and the University of Louisiana at Monroe and also to Lumen, a Fortune 500 company previously known as CenturyLink. Pentecostal churches dot the district, with a concentration along Interstate 20 in the north.

Culturally, it is more like Arkansas and Mississippi than the let-the-good-times-roll ethos of New Orleans and Acadiana.

Turnout was 21.2%, or slightly higher than the 17-18% projected by the Secretary of States Office.

As she campaigned, Julia Letlow emphasized the same issues as her husband  improving education; fixing roads, bridges and sewer systems through a massive federal infrastructure bill; making sure farmers receive the aid they need from the government; and expanding broadband internet service in rural areas.

Letlow noted that she has slow internet service at her home in Start, a small town in Richland Parish east of Monroe.

As she campaigned, Letlow also spoke openly about her Christian faith and emphasized to the conservative voters that she was anti-abortion and opposed efforts to restrict ownership of guns.

Letlow said she would have voted against impeaching Trump, and she agreed with the decision of the Louisiana Republican Partys executive committee to censure U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy for his vote in favor of impeachment. She said she would have voted with fellow Republicans against President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion economic relief package.

She said she would fight any plans to carve up her district when the Legislature meets later this year to redraw the congressional boundaries.

Luke Letlow had been well-positioned to run for the seat because he had spent six years as the right-hand man of U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, a Republican doctor who was elected to the seat in 2014, finished third in the 2019 governors race and then chose not to seek reelection to the House in 2020.
Los Angeles, March 21 : Actor Noah Centineo treated his fans with a monochrome picture on social media which he described as a thirst trap.

Noah posted the picture on Instagram, where he is seen posing shirtless while working out in the gym.

"Thirst trap by @kirkmyersfitness," he wrote as the caption.

Thirst trap means an appealing picture posted on social media to attract attention.

The actor's "To All The Boys" co-star Lana Condor commented on the picture. She wrote: "Noah. You look amazing." Centineo's latest film which was released digitally was the romantic film "To All The Boys: Always And Forever", the final part of the "To All The Boys" franchise.

The film featuring Centineo and Condor is based on Jenny Han's bestselling trilogy following high schooler Lara Jean's romantic entanglements.

It will show Condor's Lara Jean preparing for the end of high school, as she re-imagines what life with her family, friends, and Peter (played by Centineo) will look like after graduation.

The hit romantic comedy franchise began in 2018 with To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

In his upcoming next, Centineo has joined Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson in the superhero movie "Black Adam".

He will play Atom Smasher, a character who can control his molecular structure with the ability to manipulate his size, strength and durability.
The EU has complained that it has not received supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine it expected (Marc OSullivan/PA)

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has issued a warning to the European Commission that any attempt to block coronavirus vaccine exports to the UK would be counterproductive.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has ramped up the rhetoric this weekend, saying the EU has the power to forbid exports, adding: That is the message to AstraZeneca.

The warning reflects growing frustration on the continent that the EU is not getting the supplies it expected from the British-Swedish manufacturer.

Irelands commissioner Mairead McGuinness said no decisions have been taken but EU leaders will consider the matter when they meet on Thursday.

European citizens are growing angry and upset at the fact that the vaccine rollout has not happened as rapidly as we had anticipated, she told BBC1s The Andrew Marr Show.

Both the EU and the UK have contracts with AstraZeneca and my understanding is the company is supplying the UK but not the European Union.

We are supplying the UK with other vaccines, so I think this is just about openness and transparency.

Mr Wallace, however, hit back by warning the manufacture of the Pfizer vaccine depends on supplies from the UK.

The grown-up thing would be for the European Commission and some of the European leaders to not indulge in rhetoric but to recognise the obligations that we all have, he told The Andrew Marr Show.

We will all hold each other to our contracts. Making a vaccine is like baking a cake. We all have different ingredients and the European Commission will know that.

You pointed out the point about Pfizer. They will know you wouldnt want to cut off your nose to spite your face.

Speaking earlier on Sky Newss Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, he said the EU would suffer severe reputational damage if it tried interfering with vaccine exports.

If contracts and undertakings get broken, that is a very damaging thing to happen for a trading bloc which prides itself on the rule of law, he said.

It would be counterproductive because the one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacturing is that it is collaborative.

If we start to unpick that, if the commission were to start to do that, I think they would undermine not only their citizens chances of having a proper vaccine programme, but also many other countries around the world with the reputational damage to the EU, I think, they would find very hard to change over the short-term.

Each jab brings us one step closer to normal pic.twitter.com/KBmUpMOwGY  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 21, 2021

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday was a record-breaking day for the vaccine rollout in the UK.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said 844,285 jabs had been given on Saturday.

Each jab brings us one step closer to normal, he tweeted.

This mammoth team effort shows the best of Britain  thank you to the British public for coming forward.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: In just one day we vaccinated the equivalent of the entire adult populations of Liverpool, Southampton and Oxford combined.

But Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said the jab rollout in the UK may be delayed slightly due to problems with supplies.

He told Sky News: It has always been the supply of vaccine that has been the concern that might delay things, and yes, I suspect our vaccine programme will be delayed slightly compared to where we thought it might have been a few weeks ago.

But then we are ahead of schedule, so we are probably going to fall back to the original schedule and end up with everyone who is an adult being offered a vaccine by towards the middle to end of the summer.

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Meanwhile, Mr Wallace warned it would be premature for people to start booking summer holidays abroad until two task forces set up by the Government to look at the issues of vaccine passports and global travel report in April.

He told the BBC: I havent booked my holiday. I will wait to see what the response is from those task forces in April. I think it would be premature to do that. It would be potentially risky.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Arabias state-backed oil giant Aramco announced Sunday that its profits nearly halved in 2020 to $49 billion, a big drop that came as the coronavirus pandemic roiled global energy markets.

In this Sept. 20, 2019, file photo, engineers walk in front of an oil separator at a Saudi Aramco processing facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's state-backed oil giant Aramco announced Sunday, March 21, 2021, that its 2020 profits fell sharply in 2020 to $49 billion, a big drop that came as the coronavirus pandemic roiled global energy markets. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Arabias state-backed oil giant Aramco announced Sunday that its profits nearly halved in 2020 to $49 billion, a big drop that came as the coronavirus pandemic roiled global energy markets.

Saudi Arabian Oil Co. released its annual financial results a year after the pandemic sent the price of oil crashing to all-time lows as people stopped moving around the world to stem the spread of the virus. In recent weeks, however, the price has edged up as movement restrictions ease, commerce increases and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19. Still, analysts caution that a peak in demand may still be far off.

Despite the 44% drop in net income, Aramco said it would stick to its promise of paying quarterly dividends of $18.75 billion  $75 billion a year  due to commitments the company made to shareholders in the run-up to its initial public offering. Nearly all of the dividend money goes to the Saudi government, which owns more than 98% of the company. Aramco's policy to pay dividends significantly higher than its 2020 free cash flow of $49 billion stands in sharp contrast to other oil giants that have cut payouts. Seeking a cash infusion to pay the billions of dollars in the face of dwindling revenue, Aramco recently has issued international bonds.

The public figures, obligatory ever since the mostly state-owned company listed a sliver of its worth on Riyadhs Tadawul stock exchange in 2019, offer valuable insight into the health of the regions largest economy. Despite Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans efforts to diversify the economy away from oil, the kingdom remains heavily dependent on oil exports to fuel government spending.

Saudi Aramco profit of $49 billion in 2020 is down from $88.2 billion in 2019 and $111.1 billion in 2018. Still, Aramco remains one of the worlds most valuable companies.

In one of the most challenging years in recent history, Aramco demonstrated its unique value proposition through its considerable financial and operational agility, President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said in a statement. As a result, our financial position remained robust.

The company produced the equivalent of 9.2 million barrels per day of crude oil over the course of the year, its annual results said. Capital expenditure was down in 2020 to $27 billion compared to $32.8 billion the year before. Aramco expects to spend $35 billion this year, some $5-10 billion lower than previous estimates.

Aramco facilities have come under increasing attack as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels across the southern border target the kingdom's oil refineries and export terminals. In an interview with Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV on Sunday, Nasser said an Aramco facility in the capital of Riyadh struck by drones days before has started to return to service, adding that the company has contingency plans to deal with any assault.

In recent months, oil prices have made a major comeback from April 2020, when the price of international benchmark Brent crude dipped below $20 a barrel. For the first time in a year, the price of Brent surpassed $60 a barrel last month and traded over $64 a barrel Sunday.

The price increase has come as Saudi Arabia seems determined to curb output and support crude markets even as demand rises, with nations lifting lockdowns and accelerating vaccination campaigns.

Nasser struck an optimistic note about the year ahead, saying that Aramco is seeing a pick-up in demand in Asia and also positive signs elsewhere.

We remain confident that we will emerge on the other side of this pandemic in a position of strength, he added.

Earlier this month, the kingdom said it would extend its voluntary production cut of 1 million barrels a day through to April. Most OPEC oil cartel and allied countries likewise left their production cuts in place  in stark contrast to March of last year when a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia prompted the two oil giants to unleash an onslaught of crude on the market as demand dipped. Saudi officials have urged caution, arguing that global economic recovery may still be undermined by new coronavirus restrictions and fast-spreading virus variants.

Before December of 2019, when Aramco floated 1.5% of its shares on the stock exchange, the firm was owned directly by the Al Saud ruling family and didnt need to announce results. Initially, Aramco listed at 32 riyals ($8.53) a share, becoming the worlds most valuable listed company, with a market valuation of $1.7 trillion. Since then, however, Aramco lost its stock exchange crown to Apple as its value declined. On Sunday it traded around 35 riyals ($9.30) a share.

As oil prices fell and the virus coursed across the world, the Saudi economy has shown signs of strain. It shrank more than 4% last year, according to the government statistics agency. Despite spending cuts and efforts to ramp up non-oil revenue  including by tripling the value-added tax to 15%  the government deficit widened. Last year, Saudi Arabia needed an oil price of more than $76 a barrel to balance its budget.
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Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
(CNN)  Delaina Yaun and her husband were at Youngs Asian Massage, a spa in Acworth, Georgia, on Tuesday, when a gunman entered and opened fire.

"They just went to go have some time alone, husband and wife. Just time together," Dana Toole, Yaun's sister, told CNN. "Unfortunately, it went bad. It went bad real fast."

Yaun was killed, one of the nine victims in shootings at three different spas in the Atlanta-area -- one in Acworth and two in Atlanta. Of the eight people who lost their lives, six were Asian women.

Four people were killed at the spa in Cherokee County, about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. They were identified by authorities as 33-year-old Yaun, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Tan, 49, of Kennesaw; and Daoyou Feng, 44. One man, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, survived.

Four people were also killed at the spas in Atlanta. On Friday, the Fulton County Medical Examiner identified the victims as Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; and Yong Ae Yue, 63.

This is what we know about the victims so far.

Xiaojie Tan

Xiaojie Tan, the owner of Youngs Asian Massage, was a loving, unselfish person who made others feel like family, Greg Hynson, a friend of Tan's, told CNN.

"Hey, we're family," he said they would tell each other often. "I'll watch your back, you watch mine."

On his last birthday, Tan sent Hynson a text: "Hey, what are you doing?"

She invited him over to the business, where flowers and a cake with his name on it were waiting, he said, giving an example of her thoughtfulness.

The two met through mutual friends more than five years ago.

Tan was a diligent, hardworking businesswoman, Hynson said, and her employees "were always sweet and nice people," he said. "Very similar to her personality."

Hynson would often stop by her Cherokee County business to say hello, just like he did this past weekend, he said. That was the last time he saw Tan, who was busy at the time.

"I'll come back later," he remembered telling her when he saw her.

"I didn't get a chance to come back later," he said.

Tan's former husband, Michael Webb, told CNN she was a hardworking woman who had always been determined to own her own business.

She became a nail technician while they lived in Florida, he said, working every day and saving her money. They later moved to Georgia, where she ran a business in Marietta for 10 years before she opened Youngs Asian Massage.

"Over the last couple years she'd kept saying to me, 'I'm going to be able to retire soon,'" Webb said.

"She worked so hard," he said. "I'm sad that it ended in an instant while she was working hard, and she'll never get to enjoy that."

Asked what she would say to her mother now if given the chance, Tan's daughter, Jami Webb, said, "I would tell her that I love her."

Delaina Yaun

Yaun's sister described her as a family-oriented person. Recently married, she was the mother of two children, including an 8-month-old daughter.

"Her family came first. Everything was her family," Toole said. "She had such a wonderful, happy, upbeat personality."

"She was a good person," Toole said. "She didn't deserve that. Nobody deserved it."

Yaun's husband made it out of the Acworth spa safely, according to a GoFundMe page that said her family was heartbroken and "there's nothing anyone could do to help with the pain."

In an interview with Mundo Hispanico, Yaun's husband, Mario Gonzalez, said he was in a different room at the time the shooting started Tuesday, about an hour into the massages.

"They took the most valuable thing I have in my life," he said, adding, "He left me with only pain, the killer who killed my wife."

Another GoFundMe page called Yaun a "beautiful Angel."

"She has two beautiful babies she is leaving behind," it said. "We just don't know how to do any of this alone."

Hyun Jung Grant

Hyun Jung Grant was among those killed at Gold Massage Spa in Atlanta, her son, Randy Park, said on a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $2 million. Park described her 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 said. "Losing her has put a new lens on my eyes on the amount of hate that exists in our world."

Park said he and his brother are the only members of his family in the United States. The rest of their family is in South Korea.

Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz

Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz was shot at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth -- the sole survivor of Tuesday's shootings.

Hernandez-Ortiz was shot in the forehead and the bullet traveled down into his lungs and into his stomach, his wife, Flora Gonzalez Gomez, said on GoFundMe. He is now in the intensive care unit in the hospital, she said.

In an interview with CNN en Espanol on Thursday, Gonzalez Gomez said she received a call from her husband, a mechanic, moments after the shooting.

"He called me and told me, 'I got shot, I got shot, please come,'" she said. "That was the only thing he told me. It was terrifying listening to that."

His daughter, 9-year-old Yoseline Gonzalez, watched medics load him into an ambulance after the shooting.

"I don't really know what to do. I try to calm myself down," Yoseline told CNN affiliate WGCL, wiping away her tears.

According to Yoseline, doctors told his family he was very lucky to have survived. "He is a really good dad," she said. "I don't want him to go."

Gonzalez Gomez called it a "miracle" that he is alive.

"And for that I'm very thankful to God," she said, "because I know he'll move past this."

Fear among Asian American community

Four of the victims were of Korean ethnicity, South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"Our government is closely watching the situation, holding a deep interest in the safety of our compatriots overseas," South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said at a news conference. "We express our deep condolences to the American citizens too."

Activist groups, community members and officials said the attacks heightened existing fear among Asians in the US in the wake of increasing incidents of hate resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It's difficult to ignore the fact that many of the victims were Asian, all of the victims in Atlanta were Asian, in fact, and that he targeted these Asian massage parlors," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN on Wednesday.

"Regardless of the motivation, given the concerns the community already has in light of all the attacks that we've seen -- particularly against Asian American women and the elderly -- I think this is a reminder that we need to do everything that we possibly can to protect the most vulnerable among us," Georgia state Rep. Sam Park told CNN.

The organizations Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Asian American Advocacy Fund, 9to5 and Korean American Coalition Metro Atlanta said they are gathering resources and funds for those impacted and the families of the Asian victims.

Flowers lined all three Atlanta locations Wednesday as the victims were remembered. Jessica Lang took a moment to place her hand on the door of Youngs in Acworth after dropping off flowers with her daughter.

Drawings and photographs of parents and children hinted at the grief the families as they mourn parents, siblings, spouses and children.

There could have been more victims, Atlanta mayor says

The first shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday at Youngs Asian Massage and left four dead. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two died at a hospital.

About an hour later and 30 miles away, Atlanta police responded to what was described as a robbery at the Gold Massage Spa on Piedmont Road in Atlanta. Police said they found three people dead.

While there, police received another call of shots fired across the street at the Aroma Therapy Spa, where they found one person dead, Bryant said.

The authorities, seeking to contact next of kin, have not identified the other victims.

Police have a suspect, 21-year-old Robert Long, in custody on charges in relation to the three attacks. Long was arrested 150 miles south of the city, and Bottoms said he was headed to Florida "perhaps to carry out additional shootings."

"It's very likely there would have been more victims," Bottoms said in a news conference at Atlanta police headquarters.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of Delaina Yaun in a photo caption. The story also misspelled Xiaojie Tan's last name based on information provided by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. The story also has been updated to include full and correct names for Yong Ae Yue, Hyun Jung Grant and Soon Chung Park.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'A trip to the spa that ended in death. These are some of the victims of the Atlanta-area shootings'
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There is no shortage of water in the world. But there is a shortage of strategy and action in New Mexico to get any of the extra water in the world to the people of New Mexico who need it. Instead of spending precious New Mexico resources to pay lawyers to fight other states over what little water falls on, or dwells under, New Mexico, I recommend our state use the millions of dollars it currently has set aside for water projects to actually increase the amount of water available in New Mexico and protect what we have from evaporation.

We need to stop paying big lawyer fees to fight for our little bit of water and start negotiating with other surrounding states, and even Canada, to actually increase the water available to all of us. Here are a few ideas that I hope might get us started thinking in the right direction.

(1) We could increase our freshwater supply by flying chunks of melting glaciers to our lakes.

(2) In cooperation with other states, we could build a water pipe system to move U.S. floodwaters to the drier states.

(3) We could negotiate to buy excess water from Canada and move it to our drier states through the water pipe system described above.

(4) Instead of fighting a coastal state like Texas for water that originates in New Mexico, we could make contracts with the coastal state to help them build a desalinization plant to increase their water supply, in exchange for New Mexico getting to keep more water that originates here. That would produce more water than paying lawyers to fight a coastal state over a small, limited amount of water.

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(5) We could use solar and wind power to pump brackish water from underground and distill it for use.

(6) To decrease evaporation of our water resources, we could line with cement, and possibly cover, ditches, canals and narrow arid parts of New Mexico rivers, like the big canals you see in eastern Arizona. That would also decrease the problem with salt cedar sucking up huge amounts of New Mexico water.

(7) We could require recreational water users to pay their fair share of the costs for our New Mexico irrigation systems that provide their recreation. Those irrigation systems are currently paid for by the farmers, the same farmers who in many cases are currently being denied the very water they have paid the irrigation districts to provide them.

There is plenty of water in the world, and it is a renewable resource. Lets get it moving in the right direction.
Ballots have arrived throughout Colorado Springs for an April 6 election in which voters will choose six members of the nine-member City Council.

Beginning Monday, March 22, The Gazette and KOAA-TV are teaming up to bring you live Zoom townhalls that will give you a chance to ask the 21 candidates for those six City Council seats your questions and hear their answers.

RELATED:

Watch a Zoom video replay (passcode is ^%2Oxw@4) of Monday's City Council candidate forum

Meet the 2021 Colorado Springs City Council candidates

Questions like: How should the city help businesses recover from the pandemic? Is the city's investment in parks and open space adequate? Do you support recreational marijuana? What more should the city be doing to address homelessness and affordable housing? Is the city doing enough to address the mental health crisis in Colorado Springs?

Each day at 12:30 p.m. in the coming days, The Gazette and KOAA will stream a town hall to their websites featuring the candidates from one city council district. Viewers signed in and watching the forums can submit written questions while the candidates discuss the issues most important to Colorado Springs. You can sign in for any one of the forums at gazette.com/election. The link will be live an hour before each forum, at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday of this week, and Monday March 29 and Tuesday, March 30.

The forums will be moderated by reporters Alasyn Zimmerman of KOAA and Mary Shinn of the Gazette.

On Monday at 12:30 p.m., District 1 candidates will answer questions, including Glenn Carlson, Jim Mason and Dave Donelson. The fourth candidate, Michael Seeger, is unable to attend.

On Tuesday, District 5 candidates will convene, including Nancy Henjum, Matt Zelenok, Karlie Van Arnam, Justin Hermes and Mary Elizabeth Fabian.

On Thursday, the District 3 forum will feature Richard Skorman, Henry McCall, Art Glynn and Olivia Lupia.

On Friday, District 4 candidates Regina English and Yolanda Avila will debate.

On Monday, March 29, District 2 candidates David Noblitt, Dave Geislinger and Randy Helms will take questions. Candidate Jay Inman is unable to attend.

The forums will wrap up with District 6 candidates Mike OMalley and Garfield Johnson on Tuesday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m. That forum will be prerecorded for logistical reasons, so please send your questions in advance to mary.shinn@gazette.com or Alasyn.Zimmerman@koaa.com and they will make every effort to ask them during taping.

All six forums will be available for viewing on gazette.com and koaa.com afterwards as well.
TRAGEDY: Ken Flanagan is understood to have stabbed his mother Karen and his girlfriend Stacey Knell

Police in Northern Ireland launched a double murder investigation after the deaths of two women and a man in an apparent murder-suicide north of Belfast on Friday night.

It is understood Ken Flanagan stabbed his mother Karen to death, then attacked and killed his girlfriend Stacey Knell before taking his own life.

Neighbours heard mother-of-two Karen call out, "I'm dying, I'm dying, it's my son!" as Flanagan stabbed her at an address in the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. He is then believed to have left his mother as she lay dying and travelled to a nearby family-owned property on Glenville Road, where he stabbed his girlfriend Stacey Knell to death before taking his own life.

Flanagan's mother Karen had posted on social media recently, praising her son over his battle with drug addiction, saying: "My handsome son, love you unconditionally. If you only realised your self worth. You're better than any of them."

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It is understood Ken Flanagan had previously been ordered to stay away from his mother's house by authorities over his violent behaviour. Neighbours at both addresses in Co Antrim yesterday spoke of their shock and horror at the killings. One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "I'm still in shock. It's so awful I just can't believe it. As a parent it's your worst nightmare. I would have seen Stacey around here with her wee pup sometimes, it's just so sad.

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"It's just really horrific but there has always sort of been trouble at that wee house. Generally it's just really quiet around here apart from that place."

Mother-of-one Stacey Knell is survived by a nine-year-old daughter, while Karen Flanagan is also survived by a daughter.

The double murder-suicide has left the community reeling, with political representatives saying the incident highlighted the scourge of violence against women.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left "absolutely shocked and stunned" by the news.

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He added: "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.

"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."

Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Jim Montgomery echoed Mr Finucane's sentiments, posting 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."

Deputy mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, added: "My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

"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?"

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole, where Karen Flanagan was found dead.

A short time later police discovered Ken Flanagan and Stacey Knell dead at a property on Glenville Road just under two miles away.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and NIAS ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night. He 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 was 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."
TACOMA, Wash.  Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer sparked a massive police response in late January after confronting a Black man driving near his home, telling a 911 dispatcher the man threatened to kill me  an allegation he retracted upon questioning by Tacoma police.

The man was a newspaper carrier on his regular route.

The 24-year-old carrier, Sedrick Altheimer, said the early morning encounter on Jan. 27 left him afraid for his life and angry at Troyer  who was driving an unmarked, personal SUV and didnt identify himself as law enforcement.

Troyer, who is white, said he did not racially profile Altheimer. He said he began following the carrier because he saw a driver he believed was behaving suspiciously in his neighborhood in Tacomas West End. There is nothing to do with him being Black, Troyer told The Seattle Times.

The newly elected sheriff expressed surprise Tacoma police had written an incident report about the encounter, noting Altheimer was not arrested. I thought they solved it that night, he said.

Troyers call to a 911 dispatcher, which came in shortly after 2 a.m. on a Wednesday, spurred an urgent countywide alert that sent more than 40 officers from multiple agencies rushing toward the scene, public records show. Most were called off after Tacoma police arrived.

Troyer is a 35-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, who for years served as the agencys public face and media spokesperson before being elected sheriff in November.

His statements about what happened that night contain some inconsistencies, at times contradicting his recorded call to an emergency dispatcher and diverging sharply on key points from what Altheimer says happened.

Early on Jan. 27, Altheimer was working his regular delivery route in his Geo Prizm in Tacomas West End, when, he said, he noticed a big, white SUV following him.

Im throwing papers out the window, left and right, both windows are down  and I see this SUV hit the block, Altheimer said. He said he didnt know it was the county sheriff behind the wheel of the unmarked Chevy Tahoe.

The two passed each other and the SUV then turned around to follow him, Altheimer said. He said the SUV tracked him as he stopped at houses  as he does six nights a week  delivering newspapers, including The Tacoma News Tribune, Wall Street Journal and The Seattle Times.

I continue what Im doing, because, you know, Im working. Im not doing any harm to the neighborhood. I work here every night, Altheimer said, adding that he has been followed on his route before.

Troyer later told police hed been at home when he heard a noise and went to investigate, according to the Tacoma police incident report.

Irritated that the SUV kept tracking him, Altheimer placed a newspaper in a plastic cylinder at a home, he said, then he walked over to the SUV to ask why he was being followed. He said he thought Troyer looked familiar but didnt recognize him as the countys top law-enforcement officer.

So I asked him, Who are you? Altheimer said. He said Troyer didnt identify himself, but asked what he was doing in the neighborhood and called me all types of names, accusing him of being a porch pirate, slang for someone who steals packages from porches.

Altheimer said he asked whether he was being targeted as a Black man driving an older car. He said he didnt disclose he was a newspaper carrier because, he said, he felt it was not the strangers business to know. He says Troyer responded that he is not racist and said that his wife is Black.

I said if you had a problem and you feel like youre so in danger, then you should just call the police unit and bring him out here. So then he makes a comment, hes like Oh, I got four cars on the way, Altheimer recalled Troyer saying. Im like, congratulations.

Not once did Troyer identify himself as a law enforcement officer, Altheimer said. The Tacoma incident report said Altheimer knew who Troyer was. But Altheimer said he only recognized Troyers name after a Tacoma officer told him the county sheriff was driving the SUV.

Thats the crazy thing. I never did threaten him. I was just asking questions, like Are you a cop? he said.

In an interview, Troyer denied having any such conversation with Altheimer. I didnt even know he was Black until he was out of the car and the cops came. I never talked to him. I never talked to the guy, he said.

I couldnt even tell you that he looked all that Black, Troyer said.

He also denied saying his wife is Black. (She is Pacific Islander.) He added that in his neighborhood, I am the only white man within five houses, and I have a Black grandson that lives with me.

The final confrontation occurred, Altheimer said, after he returned to his car and drove off, only to be followed by Troyer again. At that point, he said, he wheeled his car around, leaving the two men facing each other at North 27th Street and Deidra Circle. Altheimer said he and Troyer flashed their lights at each other. At that point, Altheimer snapped photos of Troyers SUV.

Amid the standoff, Troyer called 911 dispatchers, saying Altheimer was making threats to kill him, according to an incident report by Tacoma police Officer Chad Lawless, who responded to the call.

Audio of Troyers call, released to The Seattle Times after a public-records request, reveals him asking for help, with sometimes conflicting statements.

Hey, its Troyer, his call begins. Im at 27th and Deidra in Tacoma, in North End, about two blocks from my house, and I caught someone in my driveway who just threatened to kill me and Ive blocked him in, hes here right now.

Later in the 911 call, Troyer said the other driver had him blocked in. He described Altheimers 1995 Geo Prizm as beat-up and homeless-looking. He also said on the call the car had gone up his driveway, but later said there was no room in the driveway.

On the call, Troyer said, Im trying to be polite to him, but he says Im a racist and wants to kill me.

Troyers call for help was dispatched at the highest priority and was broadcast to all law enforcement agencies in the South Sound, according to the incident report. In all, 42 units from multiple agencies, including sheriffs deputies and state troopers, initially responded, according to a dispatchers recorded conversation about the call with an officer later that day.

I didnt expect that big of a response, Troyer said during an interview.

The dispatcher told the officer that Troyer previously had prompted an officer needs Help help call. Theres only one other type of call that warrants a higher emergency response: that for a lahar, a catastrophic mudslide that could be triggered if Mount Rainier erupted.

When police arrived in the neighborhood, they found Altheimer seated in his car in the middle of the street, facing Troyer, who was in his Tahoe about 50 feet away, according to the police report.

Altheimer said he was upset and shouted at officers, Im a Black man in a white neighborhood and commented on the number of officers who had arrived at the scene, according to the police report.

In an interview, Altheimer said he was both angry and frightened by the sudden rush of police cars from multiple directions, and was careful to keep his hands in sight. One of the officers had drawn a gun, he said.

They definitely scared me. I was really shocked, Altheimer said.

Im yelling what are you guys here for? What am I doing wrong? You guys are trying to arrest a paper carrier! Altheimer said. These police officers just wasted a gallon of gas speeding over here  for what? Im giving the people the news and Im going home. Ive got five kids.

At the officers command, Altheimer got out of his car and was frisked for weapons. He explained he was a newspaper carrier and said he gave police permission to search his car. The back seat of his car was filled with newspapers, the police report noted.

Troyer told Lawless, the Tacoma officer, hed been at home asleep when he heard something outside, and saw someone driving in and out of driveways in the area, according to the incident report. He got in his car and attempted to make contact, the report states.

When Lawless asked Troyer whether hed been threatened, as his call to dispatchers repeatedly had claimed, the sheriff advised that (Altheimer) never threatened him and said he had seen no weapons. Still, Troyer said, he was sure that Altheimer wanted to fight, according to the report.

In an interview, Troyer said Altheimer was yelling and screaming  I couldnt even tell what he was saying.

He said after police arrived, I was wanting to ramp it down and I wasnt about to get him in trouble or make a bigger deal out of it.

After conferring with Troyer and a Tacoma police sergeant, Lawless released Altheimer.

All he had to do is calmly say, Hey, I am delivering newspapers, Troyer said.

Altheimer said hed told family members about the run-in and had wanted to file a complaint of some kind, but was not sure about how to go about it. His mother, Rynnita Williams, who also delivers newspapers, confirmed her son had been upset and immediately told her about the incident.

I felt he was being harassed. For all those cops to come up, she said.

Neither Altheimer nor Williams sought out media attention, but they were willing to share the story after being contacted by The Seattle Times last week.

While Troyer does not get a newspaper delivered to his home, some of his neighbors do. So the next two nights after the incident, Altheimer said he jokingly tossed a copy of The News Tribune on the sheriffs driveway.

He didnt subscribe, but I wanted him to. I said, hey, come join my business, so you know Im a trustworthy man of your neighborhood, Altheimer said.
HUTCH demonstrates fastest 5G experience in Sri Lanka View(s):

HUTCH recently demonstrated the fastest 5G speed ever achieved by a Sri Lankan telecom operator in its inaugural 5G trial event at HUTCH One Galle Face Premier Experience Centre held recently.

HUTCH teamed up with ZTE, a global leader in telecommunications and information technology for this groundbreaking 5G trial which included several demonstrations and use cases of 5G. The 5G trial was demonstrated in the presence of Chief Guest Oshada Senanayake, Director General Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Thirukumar Nadarasa, CEO of HUTCH and the HUTCH Management, the telecom firm said in a media release.

The 5G trial consisted of several demonstrations, among which the Ookla global broadband speed test illustrating HUTCH scoring a speed of 1.8Gbps as the fastest ever 5G speed in Sri Lanka and achieving an extremely low latency (Ping) rate. HUTCH demonstrated a cross section of 5G use cases including gaming, remote meeting, and high definition video playback using 5G and compared the difference in experience with 4G and 3G for the participants to better appreciate the efficiency of 5G and what it has in store for the future.

Commenting on the new milestone, HUTCH CEO, Thirukumar Nadarasa said, This is indeed a special moment for all of us at HUTCH. As a company that seeks to exceed the expectations of our valued customers, the new HUTCH network is 5G-ready, fostering a new era of technological transformation. At HUTCH, we always believe in customer centric innovation and are proud to be at the cutting edge, demonstrating the latest and most advanced technologies to Sri Lanka.

The release said that 5G is said to have the potential to influence almost every industry backed by ultra-reliable low latency, massive machine type communications and enhanced mobile broadband to deliver lightning fast download speeds and access to real time data-backed insights creating groundbreaking solutions for the betterment of people, businesses and society.

With the strength of being part of a global Fortune 500 conglomerate, HUTCH has leveraged the expertise from its parent company, CK Hutchison Holdings, one of the first telecom operators to launch 5G worldwide.
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.

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Hong Kong: CE addresses China devt forum

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said she is confident that Hong Kong will thrive and soar higher with the full support of the central authorities.

Mrs Lam made the statement while addressing over 30 invited global business leaders at the Hong Kong Session of China Development Forum 2021 held online.

The China Development Forum is a high-level forum hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council and organised by the China Development Research Foundation annually.

It serves as an important dialogue platform for senior officials of the Chinese government, global business leaders, international organisations and renowned scholars.

In addition to being held online, this year's forum was held onsite at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing from March 20 to 22.

The Hong Kong session, with the theme on the citys development in the next five years, was held for the first time upon the suggestion of the Chief Executive.

Mrs Lam emphasised that her confidence in Hong Kong and its future development is grounded in two major decisions made by the National People's Congress (NPC), namely the enactment of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in June 2020 and the decision to improve the Hong Kong SARs electoral system to implement "patriots administering Hong Kong" approved last week.

She said: "These two important decisions by the highest organ of state power have put Hong Kong back on its right track, that is, fully and faithfully upholding 'one country, two systems', safeguarding national security and ensuring Hong Kong's stability and prosperity."

Mrs Lam noted that her confidence is further boosted by the support given by the central government to Hong Kong as embedded in the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic & Social Development approved by the NPC at its recent meeting.

Noting that the 14th Five-Year Plan reaffirms support for Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international financial centre and strengthen its role as a global offshore renminbi business hub, an international asset management centre and a risk management centre, Mrs Lam highlighted that Hong Kong's strengths in innovation and technology development was recognised in the national plan for the first time.

She elaborated on the achievements of Hong Kong as an international financial centre and an innovation and technology hub and stated that many initiatives put in place by the Hong Kong SAR Government, many with the support of the central government, will further boost their development down the road.

Pointing out that Hong Kong's future lies in integration with the Mainland economy, while maintaining her uniqueness under "one country, two systems", Mrs Lam said Hong Kong will proactively become a participant in domestic circulation and a facilitator in international circulation amidst the dual circulation development strategy of the country.

The Hong Kong session was attended by over 30 invited business leaders from around the world. It was moderated by China Development Research Foundation Vice Chairman and China Development Forum Secretary General Lu Mai.

Officials attending the session included Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau, Secretary for Innovation & Technology Alfred Sit, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui and Chief Executive's Office Director Chan Kwok-ki.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The lungs Bill Thompson was born with told a gruesome, harrowing and unmistakable tale to Dr. Anthony Szema when he analyzed them and found the black spots, scarring, partially combusted jet fuel and metal inside.

The retired Army staff sergeant had suffered catastrophic lung damage from breathing incinerated waste burned in massive open-air pits and probably other irritants during his tour of duty in Iraq.

Theres black spots that are burns, particles all over; theres metal. It was all scarred, said Szema, a pulmonologist and professor who studies toxic exposures and examined Thompsons preserved lung tissue. There was no gas exchange anywhere in that lung.

Thompson is still alive, surviving on his second transplanted set of lungs. Yet the story burned into the veterans internal organs is not one that has been entirely convincing to the U.S. government.

The military has not linked the burn pits to illness. That means many who were exposed to burn pits and are sick do not qualify for benefits under any existing program.

Retirement and health benefits for members of the military depend on factors like length of service, active or reserve status, deployments to combat zones and whether the military considers specific injuries or illnesses to be service-related. Thompson has been able to get care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for his lung disease but has not been able to secure other benefits, like early retirement pay.

I was denied my Army retirement because if it was not a combat action, then I dont receive that retirement, Thompson said at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing last week on service members exposures to toxic substances.

Thompson is one of at least 3.5 million veterans since 2001 who have served in war zones where the U.S. military decided to dispose of its trash by burning it, according to VA estimates.

Its not clear how many people within that population have gotten sick from exposure. Only a small fraction  234,000  have enrolled in the VAs online burn pit registry. Veterans advocacy groups have said the majority of claims to the agency stemming from toxic exposures are denied, even as most former service members report contacts with toxins in their deployments.

Soldiers returning from tours in the global war on terror have reported debilitating illnesses almost from its beginning, but got little traction with the military. This year, though, the likelihood of congressional action is high, with Democrats expressing interest and a president who suspects burn pits are to blame for his sons death.

President Joe Bidens son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46. He had deployed to Iraq in two sites with burn pits  at Baghdad and Balad  around the same time Thompson was at Camp Striker, near the Baghdad airport.

Because of exposure to burn pits  in my view, I cant prove it yet  he came back with stage 4 glioblastoma, Biden said in a 2019 speech.

In testimony at the March 10 hearing, Shane Liermann, who works for the group Disabled American Veterans, told the committee that 78% of burn pit claims are denied. Part of the problem is VA is not recognizing that exposure as being toxic exposures, Liermann said.

Aleks Morosky, with the Wounded Warrior Project, said that in his groups survey of 28,000 veterans last year, 71% said they had definitely been exposed to toxic substances or hazardous chemicals, and 18% said they had probably been exposed. Half of those people rated their health as poor or fair. Only about 16% of the service members who believed they had suffered exposure said they got treatment from the VA, and 11% said they were denied treatment.

Thompson, who is 49, said care for his lung disease is often slow and sometimes denied. It took the VA three years to approve an air purifier for his home to filter out allergens, and the VA refused to help pay for the removal of dust-trapping carpets, he said.

Thompsons presence at the hearing, though, was not just meant to put the spotlight on the VA. The militarys entire approach to toxic exposure is a morass that leaves ill soldiers and veterans like Thompson trying to navigate a bureaucracy more labyrinthine than the Pentagons corridors.

After Thompson was shipped back to Fort Stewart in Georgia, his medical ordeal was at first addressed within the military system, including a year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where doctors found his lungs filled with titanium, magnesium, iron and silica.

Yet he said he didnt qualify for the Armys traumatic-injury insurance program, which might have helped him pay to retrofit his home in West Virginia. And he cant get his military retirement pay until hes 60.

I may not live to be age 60. I turn 50 this year, Thompson said.

Illustrating the problem, several officials at the hearing with the Department of Defense, the Army and the National Guard were unable to explain why Thompson  with 23 years of service between the Guard and Army  might have such a hard time qualifying for retirement benefits when the evidence of his lungs and the findings of the Armys own doctors are so vivid and extreme.

For advocates who have been working on the problem for decades, it reminds them all too vividly of Agent Orange, which the military is still coming to grips with.

Its already been, since the first Persian Gulf (War)  were talking 30 years  and since burn pits were again active, since 2001, said Liermann. Were way behind the curve here.

Although Congress has done relatively little to deal with burn pits, many members seem to at least be thinking along the same lines. The Senate Veterans Affairs hearing promised to be something of a kickoff to a year when lawmakers are poised to offer a slew of bills designed to confront the militarys inability to care for service members poisoned during their deployments.

Make no mistake about it, said the committee chairman, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. We hold these hearings for two reasons: to gather information for the committee members and to help educate the VA that they might take action before Congress does.

Republicans have also shown growing interest in the problem, offering targeted bills to ensure a handful of toxin-related diseases are covered by the VA.

At the hearing, conservative freshman Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., seemed especially moved.

We got to do a better job of taking care of our young people, Tuberville said. If were going to go to war, we got to understand we got to pay the price for it on both ends.

There is also likely to be high-profile support and attention when revised legislation starts rolling out this spring.

The broadest bill likely to be offered was first introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in the Senate and Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., in the House in late 2019, with a boost from former Daily Show host Jon Stewart and a cadre of 9/11 responders who are turning their attention to toxic exposures.

Indeed, Ruiz and Gillibrands legislation is modeled in part on the 9/11 health act that passed in 2015. The burn pit bill would remove the burden of proving a service-related connection.

It would vastly simplify the lives of people like Thompson.

I am a warrior of the United States of America. I gave my lungs for my country, Thompson said.

He was cut off before he could finish, but his prepared remarks concluded, Hopefully, after hearing my story, it will bring awareness for not only me but others who are battling the same or similar injuries related to burn pit exposures from Iraq or Afghanistan.

This article is written by Michael McAuliff from KQED and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
Mumbai, March 21 : Ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituent Congress on Sunday called upon its partners, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, not to "buckle" under the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's pressure aimed at destabilising the state government in the wake of the "letter-bomb" crisis.

Congress state General Secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that since the last over six years, the BJP-led Centre has been making attempts to undermine all opposition parties' governments in different states.

Administrative officers under the jurisdiction of the state are being pressured with the help of the Central investigation agencies and there are many examples like (then Comptroller and Auditor General) Vinod Rai before the country, he said.

His comments came in the wake of the massive controversy triggered after former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh levelled allegations that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had ordered arrested-suspended policeman Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore per month, leading to demands for the minister's sacking.

"This is nothing new... An ex-DIG of Gujarat Police D.G. Vanzara had leveled serious allegations against the then Gujarat HM and current Home Minister of India Amit Shah. Did Amit Shah resign then? Later Vanzara was given an extension by the (Gujarat) regime Does it mean that Vanzara's allegations were true," Sawant asked.

Similarly, another Gujarat police officer Sanjeev Bhatt had levelled serious allegations against the then CM Narendra Modi - now the Prime Minister, "but did CM Modi resign at that time?" Referring to ex-Mumbai top cop's letter of Saturday, the Congress leader said that an officer close to him was in NIA custody and facing grave charges, and the needle of suspicions could point to Singh.

"Hence, the possibility of the letter (by Singh) being written under duress from Central agencies cannot be ruled out," he contended.

Questioning certain points raised in Singh's letter, the Congress leader wondered how the accusation of 'collection' was possible when since past one year, all hotels were shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, and how did Vaze go to meet Deshmukh who was down with Covid-19 and in hospital at that time.

Sawant contended that attempts were made by Singh to "hastily create" evidence of (WhatsApp) conversations with the words like "Urgent pleas" as he was anticipating his transfer.

The Congress spokesperson also questioned Singh's views in his letter on probe into Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar's suicide as an outcome of "pressures from the Centre" as the BJP was involved in it, although the MVA government wanted to probe it in depth.

Accusing the BJP of adopting "double-standards", Sawant noted that Delkar had written to the Prime Minister and Home Minister besides the Lok Sabha Speaker and appealed to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges, but nobody came to his help or demanded the resignation of UT Administrator Praful K. Patel.

He sought to know why the NIA rushed to probe the cases when the ATS had decided to seek Vaze's custody, how was the email from Tihar Jail by Jaish-ul-Hind sent under the nose of the BJP government, who provides mobile phones to the criminals there, and how does the BJP government manage to get advance information about different investigations and react promptly like from a script.
A Cavan priest has been fined 500 for celebrating mass in his local church while several people were present.

Fr PJ Hughes, the parish priest for Mullahoran and Loughduff, has been reported a number of times to gardai over parishioners gathering for a service in his church.

Gardai have also previously warned him that he faces prosecution but Fr Hughes has said he does not accept the Government's restrictions on religious services.

The priest has now been hit with a fine, understood to be 500, for celebrating mass with people present.

In the parish's weekly newsletter Fr Hughes wrote: "We are committing a grave mistake by rejecting our Lord and God Jesus Christ by staying away because Government officials say we must.

"I do not accept and will not accept this demand by people who do not realise the wrong they are doing.

"I have been reported again and the gardai have issued a fine because I celebrated mass with people present."

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Fr Hughes also said he will "exercise my constitutional right even though people are complaining" which includes disobeying his bishop and going against his advice.

Under current Covid-19 regulations a person can be given a fixed charge notice of 500 for organising a prohibited event outside of a home.

The current Level 5 guidelines state that places of worship remain open for private prayer and that services should be held online, while up to ten people can attend a funeral.

Fr Hughes also said that, despite the size of the church, they have been "deemed a hotspot for the spread of the virus by gardai".

He added that believes people have the constitutional right to protest legally and to assemble for prayer, and that restrictions have "turned people against each other".

When contacted by the Irish Independent the Fr Hughes said he did not want to comment further on the matter.

He has been warned a number of times by gardai including the threat of prosecution under Covid-19 regulations.

Last November he said that he was paid a visit by a local Sergeant, who had a file for the DPP with them, and was told he would face a fine of 2,500 and up to six months in jail if he did not close his Church.

At the time he refused to close his doors and called on the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to apologise to the Catholic people in this country who want to practice their faith.
Louis DeAngelo got his second COVID-19 vaccine shot Saturday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Twp., and the Hazle Twp. resident recommends everyone get vaccinated and ignore conspiracy theories about the vaccine.

I recommend anybody and everybody to get it. Whatever theyre hearing is crap, said DeAngelo, 74. Whatever this chip deal, theres no way. A few friends of mine, family members, said they wouldnt get it because they hear about the chip. I tell them its nonsense. Save your life. Save your family. Save your kids, like everybody should do. Even if you get a little ill. Its worth it, than dying.

The medical center was vaccinating veterans Saturday who had scheduled appointments and veterans who showed up for another walk-in clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Between Wilkes-Barre, the Allentown clinic and our Williamsport clinic, were hoping to do at least 500 this weekend, said Russell Lloyd, medical center director. Right now, we are offering the vaccination to any enrolled veteran, regardless of age or health condition.

Most of the shots offered at the medical center were the Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses, and the medical center currently has a small supply of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The federal government provides vaccines to the medical center, so the clinic there is not part of Pennsylvanias vaccine program. The state is still in Phase 1A, which is offering the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to health care workers, people age 65 and over, and younger people with high-risk medical conditions.

I am up in the Hazleton area, and up there, its a nightmare, DeAngelo said. So we served our country. I think were all entitled to this shot right here, and I believe our family members should also get the shot, which we dont. ... I got the second shot. Everythings perfect. I feel good. You might get a little bit of tenderness.

DeAngelo served in the Army from 1968 to 1970 and went to Germany when the U.S. sent troops to the Vietnam War.

Ronnie Jackson, 65, of Blakeslee, served in the Navy from 1972 to 1982 and also got his second shot Saturday. Jackson recommends getting vaccinated.

He said he knows some people leery of the government and the vaccine because of the Tuskegee Study  an unethical federal experiment conducted between 1932 and 1972 that withheld a syphilis diagnosis from Black subjects and denied them treatment.

James Pendleton, 65, of Falls Twp., who also got his second shot Saturday, served in the Army from 1977 to 1997. Getting vaccinated is worth it if it helps with these other variants, Pendleton said.

I didnt have any choice in the service about getting shots, Pendleton said, adding the only side effect for him has been a sore shoulder.All veterans enrolled for services through the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center who are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination are encouraged to contact the medical center to schedule an appointment.

Call 570-830-7076 from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Veterans who are not currently enrolled and who are interested in pursuing enrollment may contact the eligibility department by calling 570-824-3521, option 4, or email your name and contact information to WilkesBarreEligibilityGroup@va.gov.
Former US President Donald Trump has said that if Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is up for candidacy in the 2024 presidential election he would have an even stronger feeling toward running in the next polls. When asked about his take on the rumours circulating about Meghan Markle meeting with Democratic workers to secure a ticket for the next presidential election, Trump said, I hope that happens. The Republican leader, while talking to Fox News, said if Meghan becomes a Dem nominee he would have an even stronger feeling toward running.

A British daily recently cited reports that Meghan was secretly meeting with Democratic National Convention (DNC) members to secure a potential bid for the 2024 presidential election. Trump was asked about his opinion on the speculations, to which he said Meghan running for presidency would motivate him even further to run in the next election. Trump backed the Royal Family when asked about Meghan and Harrys recent interview. Trump said he is not a fan of Meghan and defended the Queen saying, I have met her and she is a tremendous person.

Trump, himself, has teased on several occasions that he would be running in the next presidential election. After losing the November 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump had said he might run for presidency again in 2024. Earlier this month, Trump made his first public appearance since leaving the White House. Trump was speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida, where he said, But who knows, who knows? I may even decide to beat them for the third time. Okay?

Meghan-Harry interview

As far as the Sussexes are concerned, they levelled a series of explosive allegations against the British Royal Family in a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan alleged that the Royals were concerned about her son Archie's skin colour before he was born. Meghan told Oprah that her husband Harry told her about the family's concern over Archie's skin colour because of the American actress' African heritage. Meghan also alleged that her passport and driving licence were taken away by Palace officials after she married Harry, which made her feel trapped, triggering suicidal thoughts.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 01:26:05|Editor: huaxia

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A closed market is seen in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 20, 2021. Pakistan is facing a serious third wave of the virus and the government is taking steps to ensure the standard operating procedures to control the spread of the virus. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan said on social media Saturday.

The Ministry of National Health Service, Regulations and Coordination said on social media that the prime minister was not fully vaccinated when he contracted the virus.

He only got the first dose and merely two days ago which is too soon for any vaccine to become effective, said the ministry, adding that anti-bodies develop two to three weeks after the 2nd dose of the two-dose COVID vaccines.

Asad Umar, chairman of the country's National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), told Xinhua "He (Khan) got vaccinated on Thursday evening and felt some signs of the disease on the next day, so obviously he was infected before being vaccinated because the COVID-19 symptoms take a few days to manifest."

Umar, who is also the minister for planning, development and special initiative, highlighted the need of vaccination for the public and urged all eligible people to receive vaccine provided by the government as soon as possible.

Sources from the prime minister's office told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Khan does not show any apparent signs and shows only some mild symptoms of coughing, adding that Khan quarantined himself at his private residence and will continue official business through video conferencing.

The sources said one of the senior officials of the prime minister's office got infected with the virus a few days before the prime minister was infected, and had been shifted to a hospital after his condition got serious.

Pakistan is facing a serious third wave of the virus and the government is taking steps to ensure the standard operating procedures to control the spread of the virus. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 19:50:25|Editor: huaxia

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Eyne Madikwe, a shop assistant at China Man Shop Number One in Francistown, about 430 km northeast of Gaborone, Botswana, on March 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Shingirai Madondo)

Chinese employers resort to perseverance and innovativeness helping to save jobs for Botswanans amidst COVID-19.

GABORONE, March 21 (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.

Ratanang Gambule, a shop assistant at Truly Trading (Pty) Limited, posing for a photo in Francistown, about 430 km northeast of Gaborone, Botswana, on March 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Shingirai Madondo)

"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.

The photo shows a section of Haskins Street in Francistown, about 430 km northeast of Gaborone, Botswana, on March 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Shingirai Madondo)

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
David Hasselhoff, 68, and his wife Hayley Roberts, 41, looked loved up as they left lunch holding hands in the Calabasas sunshine on Saturday.

The pair happily strolled along the street together after enjoying a meal at the bakery Le Pain Quotidien.

They kept things casual for the outing and both donned blue caps to keep the bright sunlight out of their eyes.

Lunch time: David Hasselhoff, 68, and his wife Hayley Roberts, 41, looked loved up as they left lunch holding hands in the Calabasas sunshine on Saturday

On the trip to the eatery, Hayley sported a pair of eye catching magenta cycle shorts and a baby pink jumper with a flower embroidered on the chest.

She toted a black shoulder bag and clutched her phone in her free hand as she walked.

And the former shop assistant completed the look with a pair of box fresh pink, white and grey trainers.

Sunshine stroll: The pair happily walked along the street together after enjoying a meal at the bakery Le Pain Quotidien

David also looked relaxed in a blue and white half zip jumper, loose navy trousers and khaki sandals.

And the content couple masked up with protective face coverings as they left their lunch date in the mild Spring weather.

Hayley and David have been married since 2018, when they had a romantic and lavish ceremony in Puglia, Italy.

Speaking to OK! magazine at the time, David said: 'For the longest time I didnt think it was right to marry Hayley as I was so much older and I didnt want to take away the fun and the youth and the excitement of growing old together and having children.

'Weve been together for about seven years and weve had such a great time. Ive realised how much I love Hayley and how much weve become part of each others life.'

Matching: They kept things casual for the outing and both donned blue caps to keep the bright sunlight out of their eyes

The couple met back in 2011, when David was working as a judge on Britain's Got Talent.

While in Cardiff, Wales for auditions, the former Baywatch star strolled into a store and was approached for a picture by Hayley, who was working as a shop assistant at the time.

The former Knight Rider star has two daughters from his marriage to second wife Pamela Bach: Taylor Ann Hasselhoff, 30, and Hayley Hasselhoff, 27.
It could cost up to 10m to fully refurbish the former Curragh Post Office, sources have confirmed.

The future of the large, two-storey building is uncertain since it closed to the public in the summer of 2019.

The red-brick corner building, which dates to around 1900, was the first purpose built post office completed in Ireland, with the exception of the GPO in Dublin.

The issued was raised at the local Municipal District meeting in November when concerns were expressed about vandalism taking place on the site.

Sections have been boarded up and there are panes of glass broken.

It was agreed that a letter would be sent to the Department of Defence, which has responsibility for the building.

Future use

It is not known what future use the building may have but sources have told the Leader that it may cost up to 10m to have the building fully refurbished to allow it to accommodate staff or members of the public.

An insider said: This is a huge building. The condition it is in right now even warrants the whole back of it being demolished. There may be considerable dry rot in the second floor. It could take 10m euro at least to rebuild or renovate.

Cllr Anne Connolly, who has campaigned for the former post office to be redeveloped and re-purposed, said she is raising the issue again at the March meeting of the Municipal District.

She said: Its such a beautiful building. It has already been vandalised and I'm fearful that someone would get seriously injured in it should they try venturing upstairs. I do hope I hear something positive shortly.

In terms of future use, Cllr Connolly added: The Army is in need of decent accommodation, whether its office use or sleeping. There is no end to what this building can offer.

The former post office had served customers coming from a large catchment area of the Curragh, Brownstown, Maddenstown, Suncroft, Athgarvan and Cutbush as well as the outskirts of Kildare town and Newbridge.

When the issue was raised at November's Newbridge-

Kildare Municipal District meeting, District Manager Joe Boland confirmed an inspection was carried out by Council officials following reports of vandalism at the site.

He added: It's regrettable what is happening there.

Cllr Connolly said at the meeting It's a huge building. It would be a disgrace if it was to go further down.

Councillors agreed that a letter should be sent on the issue to the Department of Defence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  The government will study the proposal seeking to prioritize Metro Manila residents in the COVID-19 vaccination program as the region remains the virus epicenter, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

In a virtual briefing on Sunday, Roque said the proposal would be discussed by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group or NITAG.

"Paguusapan sa NITAG 'yung proposal na itutok muna ang mga paparating na bakuna sa Metro Manila dahil sa nangyayaring spike," he said.

[Translation: NITAG will discuss the proposal to allot the arriving vaccines to Metro Manila amid the spike in cases.]

RELATED: Senator backs proposal to prioritize NCR residents for COVID-19 vaccination amid case spike

The suggestion was first floated by OCTA Research Fellow Dr. Guido David, stressing that the National Capital Region affects the situation nationwide.

The OCTA Research Team said the capital region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon had posted the most new cases last March 19, when the country breached the 7,000-mark for the first time with 7,103 new cases. Of this figure, more than half or 3,779 new infections were listed under Metro Manila.

It was on Saturday when the country logged its record-high COVID-19 infections with 7,999 new cases.

The Department of Health, meanwhile, on Sunday saw a slight drop in the tally, reporting 7,757 new cases.

Roque expressed optimism the national government could still meet its target of immunizing 50 million to 70 million Filipinos this year.

READ: Govt keeps 70M vaccination target by year-end, eyes 'better Christmas' for Filipinos

New Delhi:

Unruly air travellers will be banned from flying for a period ranging from three months to lifetime, the government announced on Friday.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has recommended three levels of unruly behaviour by passengers, each with a different duration of the ban on flying, the ministry officials said.

The first level of a misdemeanour is verbal harassment and will invite a flying ban of three months.

The second level comprises physically abusive behaviour which will carry a ban of six months.

The third category consists of life threatening behaviour and will carry a flying ban of two years or more without limit, they said.

Also Read | Air India may fine unruly passengers up to Rs 15 lakh

The move comes in the wake of some incidents, including one involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who allegedly hit an Air India staffer with a slipper for not getting a business class seat.

He had a business class ticket but he had to travel the economy class because the flight was an all-economy one.

According to a mechanism laid down by the ministry, after the pilot-in-command of a plane complaints about a passenger, the airlines internal committee will probe the matter and decide the quantum of ban within a period of 30 days.

If the committee fails to give a decision within this period the passenger will be free to fly.

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WE WENT to Newport for three days last week, two Minnesotans long married, to rediscover the fact that ocean air is delicious and invigorating and can even make you happy. That surely is why the Vanderbilts built their monstrous mansion on the shore: sinking into decadence in a fake palace w
Saudi-led coalition warplanes pounded Yemeni rebels military bases in retaliation for a weekend attack on the heart of the kingdoms economy.

The raids on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, targeted military camps, as well as Houthi rebel facilities near the citys airport and in its suburbs, residents and rebel-run Al-Masirah TV said. A separate strike hit a rebel target in the port province of Hodeidah.

The Iran-backed Houthis attacked a oil refinery in Riyadh on Friday with six bomb-laden drones. The assault caused a fire that was later controlled with no impact on oil supplies or derivatives, state-run media said. No casualties were reported.

The escalation is liable to hinder U.S. efforts to end the seven-year war in Yemen, which has created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with widespread famine and disease. The conflict is also being complicated by U.S. President Joe Bidens standoff with Iran over how to resurrect a 2015 accord designed to curb the Islamic Republics nuclear program.

The Saudi-led coalition joined the conflict in neighboring in 2015 to try to restore its internationally recognized government.

The Houthi attacks on rarely claim lives or cause extensive damage but their frequency has increased in recent months, creating unease in the Gulf, a region key to global oil production and transit. Several attacks on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, have been intercepted, Saudi authorities have said.

On Sunday, Houthi minister of higher education Hussein Hazib wrote on Twitter that a top military commander for the rebels -- Zakaria Al-Shami -- had died, without explaining the circumstances. Al-Shami was also transport minister for the Houthi government and one of the top 40 most-wanted figures by the Saudi coalition.
Aston Lark, the UK-based chartered insurance broker backed by Goldman Sachs, has acquired North County Brokers  and its CEO has hinted that further deals in Ireland are imminent.

North County Brokers, established in 1999, offers independent advice to businesses across a broad range of insurance and risk management services.

The company has specialist expertise in several sectors, including technology and communications, manufacturing, import and distribution, and the motor trade.

The company will initially be brought into the Aston Lark Group under Robertson Low. This move will be temporary as Robertson Low and Wright Insurance Brokers will be rebranded as Aston Lark Ireland in April this year. Speaking about the acquisition, Robert Kennedy, Aston Lark Ireland CEO, said the company was thrilled to welcome North County Brokers into the group, its first acquisition in the market. He also hinted that there were other deals to be completed by the group in the Irish market. John [Horan, managing director of North County Brokers] and the team have built a great business over the last 20 years, rightly earning a fantastic reputation for their expertise and the service they provide to their clients. This is the start of an exciting journey for Aston Lark in Ireland, as we rebrand next month. "With further deal announcements imminent, we are on track to realise our ambition of becoming Irelands leading independent insurance broker. John Horan, North County Brokers managing director, said: We are delighted to now be a part of the Aston Lark Group and look forward to growing and developing our business for the benefit of our customers and staff alike. "We feel we share many traits and synergies with the Aston Lark Group and are excited to expand our potential into the future.
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
Colombian doctor Norberto Medina has lived all facets of the coronavirus epidemic.

He has seen patients die and nursed others back to health. He contracted the virus himself, stared death in the face in intensive care, and donated blood plasma containing antibodies with which to treat others afflicted.

He has also received the vaccine.

With some persisting effects of his Covid-19 infection, Medina is back on the job, treating ailing patients at an intensive care unit (ICU) in the capital Bogota, Colombia's epidemic hotspot.

"The pandemic has changed me forever, it has made me more humane," the 41-year-old doctor tells AFP.

Since the first coronavirus case was reported in Colombia in March 2020, more than 50,000 healthcare workers in the country have been infected, and 227 have died.

Colombia is one of the top 11 countries in the world in terms of infections.

More than 2.3 million people in the country of 50 million inhabitants are recorded to have contracted the virus, resulting in over 61,300 deaths.

For many months during 2020's first, terrible epidemic wave, Medina formed part of a team of more than 60 doctors at his unit who took turns in three daily shifts to take care of the most severely ill.

In the worst periods, the few doctors not infected had to double their shifts to make up for the absence of their fallen colleagues.

- Family toll -

It was a time that took a heavy toll on doctors' states of mind, and their personal lives.

"No matter how hard you tried for the patients, how hard you tried to keep them alive, they developed complications and died," recalls Medina.

Doctor Norberto Medina has seen patients die and nursed others back to health. He contracted the virus himself, stared death in the face in intensive care, and donated blood plasma containing antibodies with which to treat others afflicted /  AFP

The next blow: Medina and his wife, 34-year-old emergency doctor Mayely Silva, made the difficult decision last June to distance themselves from their children, aged one, eight and 10, for the youngsters' own safety.

The kids stayed with their grandparents as the medical pair battled the virus in the front lines.

"There were times when I couldn't (work) anymore, I didnt want to work anymore," Medina says.

Shortly afterwards, the virus exacted another heavy price, infecting Medina and his wife.

- Feeling death's presence -

Silva experienced mild symptoms, but Medina fell gravely ill after fighting the infection for 11 days, with trouble breathing and a fever.

He has a history of asthma.

"One morning I awoke and told my wife: 'I can't take it anymore'," he recounts.

From his ICU bed, Medina had to have a frank talk with his family about the 'possibility of death' /  AFP

Medina drove himself to the nearest hospital and was diagnosed with coronavirus-related pneumonia. He was admitted to the ICU immediately.

"When I received this news I abandoned the role of doctor and adopted the role of patient," he says.

Remembering the many patients who had died under his care, Medina was well aware of the uphill battle awaiting him.

"There were moments of total uncertainty and absolute fear... Feeling death's presence was a new experience, but also very traumatizing," the doctor says.

- 'Possibility of death' -

As a patient, he remembers the ICU as a noisy place, with life support machine "beeps here, nurses shouting there, doctors running."

As his condition worsened still, and with just enough breath left to speak, he phoned his family to speak frankly about "the possibility of death".

Doctors wanted to put Medina on a ventilator, but he refused the invasive procedure he knew had been unable to save many of his own patients.

As a patient himself, Medina remembers the ICU as a noisy place, filled with the shouts of nurses, doctors running and life support machines beeping /  AFP

For his wife, this was a time of sad and sober reflection.

"My husband is the rock of the family, and to say that it is now up to me to carry the burden... was a difficult role change," she recalls.

But Medina got better.

On day 15, he was discharged, though still feeling unwell. At home, his symptoms disappeared one by one over a matter of weeks.

By August, still battling for breath, he was back to helping others -- donating plasma that can be given to infected people to help their immune systems fight the virus.

And exactly 54 days after he was diagnosed, Medina returned to work, though left with an affliction of the thyroid he says has been getting better ever since.

- 'It is my vocation' -

Medina, who already knew at age 10 that he wanted to be a doctor, carries out his work with the same zeal as always, but with more empathy for the pain and loneliness of ICU patients, he says.

He has since received two shots of a coronavirus vaccine, which he says has made him feel "more relaxed".

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even people who have had Covid-19 should get vaccinated, as it is not known how long post-recovery immunity lasts.

Doctor Norberto Medina views the coronavirus vaccine as 'a great achievement... a hope' /  AFP

"The vaccine for me represents a great achievement, a hope... it is the reward for all the work and effort," says Medina.

He tells AFP the pandemic has robbed him of several colleagues, but not his commitment to healing.

While case numbers have been decreasing, and there are available beds in his ICU, Medina knows that waves come and go.

"There will always be the fear... the uncertainty of knowing whether at some point one is going to get infected again," he says, before returning to his patients.

"I was born for this. It is my vocation," he shrugs.
For a century, oil and gas producers have been challenged by the complexities of coaxing oil and natural gas from Permian Basin rocks.

But they have never faced a challenge like the one they encountered last March as the novel coronavirus began to tear through the nation. As the virus spread, businesses of all kinds sent employees home and shut down, forcing them to figure out how to continue operating in this new environment.

Companies across the energy spectrum told the Reporter-Telegram that as the pandemic took hold, safety became a top consideration.

Chevron reacted by announcing a capital reduction of nearly $2 billion the Permian in order to balance short-term cash flow with preserving long-term value, Catie Matthews, public and government affairs advisor, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. She said the company reduced its operated rig count from17 to four over three months. Production was curtailed in the second quarter but returned to levels seen in early 2020 during the second half of the year.

Matthews said Chevron also rushed to support the communities where it operates by contributing over $700,000, including in-kind donations, to partners and programs across the Permian to support food security, education and frontline operations.

A year later, she said, Every decision we make starts with the core belief that people always come first. The health and safety of our workforce, their families and communities where we do business are Chevrons primary concerns. We continue to take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of exposure, including referring symptomatic workers for testing and screening workers and visitors at company facilities. Business continuity measures, including alternative work arrangements, are being implemented as needed.

Our thoughts continue to be with those affected by COVID-19 and the healthcare workers on the front lines.

Occidental Petroleum implemented a work-from-home policy for those employees able to work from home. For those performing essential duties at the companys worksite, best practices for safety and health were implemented, including social distancing, wearing face coverings and other personal protective equipment. Company officials and internal health and safety experts continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local health officials where Occidental operates.

Vicki Hollub, chief executive officer, commented during recent earnings calls that No matter how favorable or challenging the environment in which we operate, we never take our eye off safety. Many of our teams tied or set new safety records last year, while our company-wide performance was our best ever as we simultaneously work to minimize the risk from COVID. The capability of our outstanding employees to consistently deliver remarkable results safely was key to our ability to navigate the challenges of the last year as well as the challenges presented by the winter storm.

She continued, While much has changed during this pandemic for our company and our industry, the quality of our asset base and the skills of our teams will support success in 2021 and beyond. Well continue to apply and build our knowledge and continuously improve our track record of operational excellence. Our teams worked diligently to advance our development technologies and technical operations to ensure we emerge from this challenge stronger than before. The innovation and ingenuity of our workforce, combined with our differentiated low-carbon strategy, will drive our success and sustainability long into the future.

Coping with the pandemic could be more challenging for those unable to work from home, like drilling companies, service companies and midstream companies.

Reflecting on how Patterson-UTI reacted, Diana Dotolo, senior vice president of human resources, told the Reporter-Telegram by email, In a word, collaboration.

She went on to comment that, When things first started, our immediate priority was to establish a representative cross section of leaders across all aspects of our company to collaborate on putting together a COVID-19 risk mitigation plan. That plan was the driver for all other actions and activities. The team we pulled together included Legal, HR Marketing, Operations, IT, and Supply Chain (full company representation)  all the major functions and internal stakeholders. We assessed where we were against what we knew about the virus and its trajectory and then overlaid that information with what we needed to consider doing  in priority order overall, as well as to meet needs at individual locations. Given all the uncertainties for each state where we operate and changing dynamics with CDC guidance, we had to (and still do) revisit the plan periodically as the situation developed and changed.

Because it was classified as an essential business, she said the company remained open and operational but had to develop guidelines and protocols for office workers versus on-site teams. That included allowing individuals the option of working remotely and providing computers if needed. Visitors to company facilities were limited and Patterson worked with leaning companies at its offices to establish protocols and standards and engaged with sanitizing companies to dispatch them were exposures occurred.

What we discovered is how hard it is for managers to check in and manage teams remotely, so we had to develop protocols and trainings to ensure teams were running effectively, she said.

The last year has probably been the most challenging year in my 30+ year career as an HR professional -- especially when considering we were managing a people health pandemic alongside a market health pandemic. However, it also came with some very gratifying moments watching people step up and work together to tackle the challenges that were in front of us. When I look back on the past year, I am stunned at all we accomplished. The major changes we made would have been challenging in a normal year, but the addition of the pandemic dimension, makes what we were able to do truly amazing. We leaned heavily on our team and as things kept changing rapidly, we were able to adjust and manage on the fly.

What Patterson has learned from its experiences is that people can be very effective working remotely, she said, though many missed the personal interaction. Another lesson was the need to manage people differently remotely than onsite. Managers must be more intentional and individualized in their outreach, she said, which is critical when it comes to bringing new people onboard.

For Warrior Technologies, the pandemic resulted in the shutdown of an entire division that cleaned only large storage tanks, Tripp Wommack, chief executive officer and president, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. He said this was in response to midstream budgets being cut to near-zero.

Thankfully, all the equipment needed for the division was paid for and is back in operation now, he reported.

The company made large general and administration expenditure cuts as revenues fell by half, he added. Recovery began in November and has trended nicely since. We are profitable and just exceeded year-over-year revenue in January.

As a result, he said the company has learned that safety, especially regarding COVID-19 protocols, matters. The company had zero lost team hours due to the pandemic and only a few cases. And, he said, watching costs is a never-ending focus.

EagleClaw Midstream leadership sensed the pandemic could cause significant disruptions as early as January and February 2020, Jim Schwartz, senior director of corporate communications and sustainability, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. By last February, he said, non-essential travel was restricted, changes to cleaning and sanitizing offices had been made and employees showing any symptoms were urged to stay home and self-quarantine.

On March 19, the company implemented its remote work plan and largely remains in place today, he said. Company leadership also began regular communications with employees about how EagleClaw was navigating the pandemic.

Because of the tighter cash flow situation, the chief executive officer and president decided to forego 100 percent of his salary and bonuses and executive leadership took short-term salary reductions, ensuring none of the employees had to be furloughed.

Schwartz said employees joined those of other companies in stepping up to donate to healthcare workers, first responders, school children and educators.

Overall, its been challenging but were seeing increasing confidence in our customers to invest in new oil and gas developments and projects, he said. The rebuilding may take some time but were patient and we are confident in the skills and insights of our customers who include most of the major oil and gas producers in the Permian.

Asked what lessons have been learned, he said the pandemic and last months winter storm brought several important things to light.

First, there is no substitute for open, transparent and frequent communications. Our CEO increased his communication to everyone  employees, suppliers, customers, lenders, investors and government officials. The payoff was everyone understood what we were doing, and why, and supported our actions.

Second, relationships matter. We are proud to have built strong, trusting relationships with our employees, customers, suppliers and others we depend on. We called upon those relationships to help us get through some tough times, and we will continue to build and deepen relationships.

Third, tough times dont last but tough people do. We saw that our people showed a toughness and grittiness to get the job done, and were grateful for their extraordinary efforts. We believe that we came out of the pandemic even stronger, more aligned and more excited about our future together. We are a family and the true bonds of this family have strengthened immeasurably from the experiences of the past 12 + months.
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Hakim Ziyechs late strike secured a 2-0 victory for Chelsea and a place in the FA Cup semi-finals but Thomas Tuchels side were pushed close by Sheffield United.

The Blues, who have now gone more than 11 hours at Stamford Bridge without conceding, took the lead thanks to Oliver Norwoods own goal after Ben Chilwells powerful strike towards goal.

Christian Pulisic failed to score after conjuring up two great chances with individual brilliance, while David McGoldrick nodded wide when left completely free less than 10 yards from goal.

There was one finall chance for the visitors as Rhian Brewsters strike was deflected inches wide of the near post before the Moroccan races clear to collect Chilwells cross and smashed past Aaron Ramsdale.

Even amid a circumspect performance Chelsea still merited victory, extending boss Thomas Tuchels club record-breaking unbeaten start to 14 matches.

Toothless for 60 minutes, the Blades only early bite came amid a string of needless tackles, many off the ball, and a handful directed at Pulisic.

READ MORE:

Chelsea emerge as Champions Leagues team you want to avoid and legitimate contenders

Chelsea vs Sheffield United player ratings as Blues reach FA Cup semi-finals

Had the visitors invested as much energy reserved for the dark arts in attempting to carry out their game plan in that opening hour, the tie could have been very different.

Instead Chelsea were allowed to meander to a victory as low key as it was routine, escaping several late wobbles to ease into the last four.

Boss Tuchel made nine changes from the 2-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, with Billy Gilmour handed a rare start in midfield.

The German was not happy with the performance, making a host of changes just past the hour mark in a bid to inject some impetus into the Blues showing.

But the demanding boss will certainly be content with the result, especially with widespread rotation helping to manage the fixture glut.

Billy Gilmour battles to keep possession (Getty)

Chelsea took the lead without even registering a shot on target.

Chilwells drilled ball into the area deflected off Norwood and into the Blades midfielders own net.

A cagey first half yielded precious few chances and the visitors entirely wasted the point of their 4-4-2 formation.

A tactical switch designed to exploit space behind Chelseas wing backs, the Blades never even sought those areas let alone raided the flanks.

Chelsea were perfectly happy to play the ball in front of the passive Blades, who also made a clear purpose of not pressing their opponents.

Pulisic should have doubled the lead when sneaking in, but could not dink the ball high enough to beat the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale.

The United States forward wasted another glorious chance straight after the interval, seemingly stunned to stroll past two defenders and still have bags of time when through on goal.

Christian Pulisic shone at Stamford Bridge (AFP)

All that time created the chance for thought and, rather than smash his laces through the ball, Pulisic went for placement but scuffed his strike, allowing Ramsdale to bat away to safety.

McGoldrick missed a gilt-edged chance for the Blades - their best opening - as Chelseas foot came too far off the gas.

Oliver McBurnie then stung Kepa Arrizabalagas palms from distance as finally the Blades made Chelsea work.

Rhian Brewster flashed wide when latching on to a second ball at the death, but Chelsea held on - and even had time for Ziyech to seal their progress.

PA
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Felicia Frazar is the managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail her at felicia.frazar@seguingazette.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 York, March 21 : In a finding that could bring huge relief to parents, researchers have found that wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and frequent hand-washing have kept in-school Covid-19 transmission low.

The pilot study, conducted in the US state of Missouri, was aimed at identifying ways to keep elementary and secondary schools open and safe during the pandemic.

The findings, published in the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, mirror those of schools in other states, demonstrating that Covid-19 prevention efforts can significantly curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among students, teachers and staff.

"This work is imperative because keeping kids in school provides not only educational enrichment but also social, psychological and emotional health benefits, particularly for students who rely on school-based services for nutritional, physical and mental health support," said senior author Johanna Salzer, a veterinary medical officer with the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.

The pilot study involved 57 schools in the Pattonville School District in St. Louis County and the Springfield Public School District in Greene County in southwest Missouri, as well as two private schools in St. Louis County.

All schools in the pilot study required students, teachers, staff and visitors to wear masks while on campus or buses.

Other safety measures included a focus on hand hygiene, deep cleaning of facilities, physical distancing in classrooms, daily symptom screenings for Covid-19, installing physical barriers between teachers and students, offering virtual learning options, and increasing ventilation.

"Schools can operate safely during a pandemic when prevention strategies are followed," said one of the study's leading researchers, Jason Newland, Professort at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
On March 19, 2021, Hokkaido University, Robotic Biology Institute Inc., iLAC Co., Ltd., and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) toward the establishment of an automated system for the analysis of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater.

The joint project aims to establish an automated analytical system that enables mass diagnosis by early detection of viral disease prevalence and mutants, based on wastewater-based epidemiology. The analysis operation is scheduled to start in April 2021 or later.

It has been suggested that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can propagate by infecting intestinal epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in the feces of a significant proportion of infected individuals including those without gastrointestinal symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 excreted in the feces of COVID-19 patients eventually come together at wastewater treatment plants.

Therefore, research into wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) of SARS-CoV-2, which acquires population-level epidemiological information by routine monitoring of the virus in wastewater, has been accelerating across the world. WBE has been reported in scientific papers to be extremely useful for early detection of the spread of COVID-19 and the confirmation of successful mitigation of the disease prevalence in a given region.

In Japan, there have been fewer reported cases of COVID-19 infection per capita compared to the United States and some European countries and regions, and therefore, the concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in Japanese wastewater tend to be lower than those in other countries. Hokkaido University and Shionogi entered into a collaborative research agreement in October 2020 to develop a virus detection method with an increased sensitivity. As a result of the collaborative research, a highly sensitive method of SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater has been successfully developed.

For societal implementation of WBE, the establishment of a high throughput analysis system of the collected wastewater samples is urgently needed. For this purpose, the Robotic Biology Institute, Inc. (RBI), and iLAC Co., Ltd., have joined the existing collaborations between Hokkaido University and Shionogi. RBI has the technology for automated SARS-CoV-2 detection/quantification and library preparation for next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis using LabDroid "Maholo," a versatile humanoid robot made in Japan; iLAC is capable of elucidating genomic information (e.g., viral genome mutations) based on massive NGS analysis. They will help develop an automated analysis system for WBE of SARS-CoV-2. The four parties have entered into an MOU toward societal implementation of WBE.
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Tardigrades are microscopic animals found to withstand extreme conditions that would kill even the most resilient animals today, including humans, but how do they do it?

April 2019, the first privately funded lunar mission, the Israeli Beresheet probe, crashed on the Mare Senitatis-- a plain of basaltic rocks formed in a volcanic eruption a billion years ago, after a last-minute instrument failure.

The Beresheet was carrying a payload of tardigrades, famed among biologists for their impressive resilience and ability to survive extreme conditions. The inactive tardigrades are believed to have survived the crash that plummeted the probe into the lunar surface at 500 kilometers per hour.

The Discovery of the Little Water Bears

Tardigrades that resemble a cross between a microscopic caterpillar and woodlouse aren't as difficult to find as one would think.

If you went out on a damp day and found a wet patch of moss or lichen, there's a high chance that you'd find tardigrades swimming about in the water using a microscope.

Despite their microscopic size, tardigrades have been known for ages. First described in 1773 by German naturalist Johann August Ephraim Goeze. He named the bizarre creatures "little water bears" due to the way they walked.

The name tardigrade that loosely translates to "slow stepper," was bestowed a few years later by Lazzaro Spallanzani, an Italian priest-turned-biologist in his book Opuscoli di Fisica animale e vegetabile or Booklet of Animal and Vegetable Physics.

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Unraveling the Mysteries of the Tardigrade

Despite their minuscule size, tardigrades are complex animals. Nadja Mobjerg from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, explains that the little water bears are built by roughly 1,000 cells, as complex as cockroaches and fruit flies, including mouthparts used to puncture algal cells other food sources.

Lorena Rebecchi from the University of Modena explains that tardigrades have variable reproductive strategies, with some as males and female, while others are hermaphrodites, and others reproducing parthenogenesis or "virgin births."

On the other hand, the infamy of the tardigrades is due to their extraordinary resilience. Thomas Boothby from the University of Wyoming lists threats that tardigrades can endure: the little water bears can survive drying out and frozen down a degree above absolute zero--temperatures at which molecular motion stops.

In their dry state, tardigrades can be heated up past the boiling point of water and can survive thousands of times more radiation than humans. In addition, tardigrades are the only animals known to survive prolonged exposures to the vacuums of outer space.

Researchers theorize that tardigrades first evolved their resilience when the need to survive on dry land arose. Their strategy was to enter a dormant state where cells and organs would be packed away by protective chemicals.

Inadvertently, this process also made the little water bears resilient to other stressors such as extreme cold and radiation because the ability to temporarily halt all biological processes works just like the said situations.

If the theory is correct, tardigrades' near-invincibility was an accident that could help preserve themselves in outer space.

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Check out more news and information on Biology on Science Times.
This must be perceived as an united opposition against China's intimidation in the South China Sea. At this week's Two Sessions, National Assembly of the Chinese Communist Party, Chairman Xi Jinping reasserted his desire to build a world-beating fleet.

It is believed that UK, France and Germany would be sending warships to the South China Sea to push back Beijings assertiveness in that region. This must be perceived as a united opposition against Chinas intimidation in the South China Sea. Jamie Seidel, in an article in news.com.au, an Australia based news site wrote that With diplomatic efforts meeting a wolf-warrior response, International forums gagged, and trade used as a coercive cudgel, Europe is reacting with growing alarm at Chinas aggressiveness.

Hiroyuki Akita, a Japanese International Security commentator said that This would set a higher bar for a Chinese decision on military action. The dispatch of warships by the UK, France and Germany to the Indo-Pacific could draw a backlash from China and create new tension. But its positive effects  in terms of deterring Chinese adventurism in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea- arguably outweigh its negative ones.

At this weeks Two Sessions, National Assembly of the Chinese Communist Party, Chairman Xi Jinping reasserted his desire to build a world-beating fleet. He said, Our countrys current security situation is largely unstable and uncertain, Xi told the assembled delegates. Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe added to the drumbeat, declaring China had entered a high-risk phase.

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News.com.au reported that China officially possesses the worlds largest navy, with some 360 ships in active service. By 2035, Xi wants 40 major combatants afloat. The US Pentagons recent Advantage at Sea report has warned that Already commanding the worlds largest naval force, the Peoples Republic of China is building modern surface combatants, submarines, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, amphibious assault ships, ballistic nuclear missile submarines, large coast guard cutters, and polar icebreakers at an alarming speed. 

Britain has also announced that its new aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth will spearhead a multinational task force in its first active deployment later this year. This small fleet is expected to conduct exercises in the South China Sea, whereas France has grown a renewed interest in the Far East because she possesses territories in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In addition, she maintains military facilities on Reunion Island, New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

US State Department release reads, The international community has a vital stake in the preservation of an open maritime order. We welcome Germanys support for a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific. 

Also Read: Alaska tensions run high: US-China kick off talks; East vs West Dominion war?
1Berkshire's webinar series will include eight to 10 virtual training sessions that focus on providing specialized information and tools for Berkshire businesses as they collectively seek to persist, recover from and build greater resiliency through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (Front R) speaks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh before the guard of honor in New Delhi on March 20, 2021. (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)

US, China Engage in Dueling Narratives Over Quad, India

NEW DELHIThe United States, India, Australia, and Japan came together for their first virtual meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) on March 12, while U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited India to boost strategic ties and address common goals in the Indo-Pacific region.

China, Russian, and Pakistan responded to the meeting with lobbying and rhetorical pushback.

Austin, who arrived in India on March 19 for a three-day visit, called the U.S.Indo partnership a central pillar of American policy for the Indo-Pacific. In a statement, the Pentagon noted the joint efforts of India and the United States toward developing a partnership to protect the Indo-Pacific.

Talk of China dominated both the Quad gathering and Austins New Delhi visit. Without directly naming China, Austin told a group of reporters traveling with him to India, I think working together with like-minded countries who have shared interests is the way you check any aggression in any region.

Meanwhile, in the Quad summits joint statement, the leaders of the four nations emphasized an Indo-Pacific anchored by democratic values and unconstrained by coercion, which pointed directly at China.

Since the Biden administration started defining its China policy and expressing continuity of the Quad alliance, the Chinese media have downplayed the Quad and cautioned India about losing its strategic autonomy to its partnership with the United States.

In its pursuit of a counter-narrative to Quads free, open, accessible, diverse and thriving Indo-Pacific, China is joined by Pakistan and Russia, whose media and think tanks have carried reports and op-eds against the alliance, particularly about Indias central role in it.

Russia is worried about India slowing down defense purchases from Moscow and switching instead to Washington, which would be expected, the closer India and the U.S. come together in a defense and security alliance, Madhav Das Nalapat, vice chair of the Manipal Advanced Research Group and editorial director of ITV Media, told The Epoch Times in an email.

He said that China wants India to continue with its former non-alignment foreign policy, which was characterized by non-participation in the strategic affairs of the bipolar world, so that no other country will come to its assistance should Beijing decide to launch a major kinetic attack either by itself or together with Pakistan.

Jeff Smith, a research fellow for South Asia at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, told The Epoch Times that China, Pakistan, and Russia dont appear to have a coordinated strategy to counter Quad.

China and Russia have both criticized the Quad in public and sought, unsuccessfully, to persuade India to refrain from joining the group, [while] the Pakistani government has not said much publicly, he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the heads of state of other Quad nations, addressing the first Quadrilateral Leaders Virtual Summit through video conferencing, in New Delhi on March 12, 2021. (Picture courtesy Press Bureau of India)

Counternarratives

Ian Hall, the deputy director of Griffith Asia Institute in Brisbane, told The Epoch Times in an email that China will try to divide the Quad and disrupt coordination.

Chen Chenchen, the deputy director and a research fellow at the Institute of Chinas Economic Reform and Development at Renmin University of China, in an analysis published early last year by Indias Observers Research Foundation, wrote that Chinese leader Xi Jinping called upon Chinese agencies and experts in public diplomacy to tell the China stories well when he first came to power.

There are more than 2,000 think tanks in China, according to Chen, which, along with the Chinese overseas media, overseas supported think tanks, Chinese enterprises, and Chinese expats, construct Chinese diplomacy abroad.

Taken together, the experts refer to these institutions and individuals as Chinas lobbyists. In todays context, the China lobbyists are working against the Quad.

A search for the topic Quad on the website of Chinese state mouthpiece The Global Times lists more than 15 stories published immediately before and after the March 12 summitwith all running around a central narrative of economic ruin for the members, particularly India.

Coinciding with Austins visit, The Global Times ran an opinion piece originally published under the headline India Will Not Downgrade as a US Appendage Like Japan Since New Delhi Seeks Major Power Autonomy.

Nalapat said that China is trying to say that India should remain neutral, which, according to him, also means that India should be on its own during a confrontation with China.

Entering into an alliance the way Beijing did with Washington during the USSRU.S. Cold War 1.0 is not a downgrade. It is an autonomous exercise of national self-interest, which, in Delhis case, means tying up with Washington to block the SinoRussian alliance from dominating the Indo-Pacific, he said.

The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), in an analysis by Alexander Yakovenko, the rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, published on March 16 talks about a highly competitive, emerging environment between the East and the West and defines the United States as an instigator of old geopolitics.

Yakovenko defines the IndoPakistan problem in Kashmir, the IndoSino problem in the Himalayas and South China, and the East China Sea as local problems.

But they do not create global tension if the old geopolitics, in the spirit of the Great Games of the 19th century, is not projected onto a given situation. It is obvious that the main instigator here is Washington, relying on its old alliances and trying to reproduce a policy of containment in the region, in particular, through the creation of closed dialogue platforms, such as the Indo-Pacific Quad of the U.S., India, Australia, and Japan, said Yakovenko, who added that such a grand strategy has few prospects.

Nalapat said India joined Quad in its own national interest, and Kashmir and terrorism arent mere local problems for India.

Kashmir and terrorism are important to India. He forgets Chinas help to Pakistan against India, he said about Yahovenkos comments.

Zamir Ahmad Awan, a former Pakistani diplomat and a professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad, wrote in an analysis published on the RIAC website that the Quad is responsible for the widening gap between India and Russia, which, for the first time ever didnt hold their annual summit last year.

Moscow communicated severe concerns on New Delhi joining the Indo-Pacific initiative and Quad, thereby leaning more towards the U.S., said Awan, who is also a nonresident fellow of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization.

By joining Quad,  India is entirely in the American block, which is against Chinaa close ally of Russia and Pakistan.

U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the first Quadrilateral Leaders Virtual Summit through video conferencing, in New Delhi on March 12, 2021. (Pic courtesy Press Bureau of India)

Is QUAD the Asian NATO?

An opinion piece published by the Global Times on the day of Quads virtual summit defined the alliance as an Asian NATO, while saying that Quad cant replicate NATO because of Chinas economic clout in the region and because of internal divergence.

While the US is trying to contain China through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as Quad, or the Asian NATO, such ambition is impossible to realize, said the Global Times, citing different demands, political and religious situations in the region. A search for Asian NATO in Global Times gives at least a page of articlesin one such writeup, Quad is also defined as the Pacific NATO.

Smith said the comparison of Quad to an Asian NATO isnt particularly helpful.

The Quad is not a formal treaty alliance. It does not have a dedicated purpose or a dedicated bureaucracy. Asian NATO is generally a description used by critics of the Quad, although its a peculiar line of attack given that many experts view NATO as the most successful alliance organization in modern history, he said.

The Asian NATO boogeyman is generally conjured to suggest the Quad is an over-militarized organization designed to contain Chinas rise. It is also used as a warning to India against moving too close to the Quad, given New Delhis historical aversion to treaty alliances, he said, adding that neither line of attack has proven persuasive.
A young couple awoke on their wedding day to find their house had been swept away in the worst flooding Australias east coast has seen in 50 years.

Sarah Soars and Joshua Edge had reportedly been planning to get married outside their rented three-bedroom cottage in Mondrook, New South Wales, on Saturday.

But neighbours instead watched on in shock as the entire property was swept along the Manning River after it burst its banks.

Video footage shared on social media showed the cottage still fully intact as it floated down the river.

Fortunately, the couple were not inside at the time as they had been staying with family.

They had been renting the cottage from owners Peter Bowie and Tracia Milton, who were said to be devastated about losing the property, according to ABC News.

Read more:

Mr Bowie told the broadcaster the young couple had planned to marry on the river bank in front of their home but were forced to call off the wedding as the weather worsened.

Residents in the area have banded together to help Mr Bowie and Ms Milton track down 180 of their cattle displaced during the downpours, ABC News added.

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes along Australias east coast after heavy rains brought the worst flooding in half a century to some areas over the weekend.

Thousands of homes have been evacuated after heavy rainfall brought flooding to Australias east coast (Alex McNaught/Roving-rye.com Photography/via Reuters)

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian said the downpours across the state, Australia's most populous with eight million people, were worse than initially expected, especially for low-lying areas in Sydney's northwest.

Yesterday, we were hoping it will only be a one-in-20-year event, now it looks like a one-in-50-year event, she said during a televised briefing.

People in parts of Sydney's northwest were ordered to flee their houses in the middle of the night as fast-moving waters caused widespread destruction.

Late on Sunday, about another 1,000 people were asked to evacuate, after Ms Berejiklian said some 4,000 people may be asked to leave their houses.

Television and social media footage showed fast-moving water unmooring houses, engulfing roads, breaking trees and damaging road infrastructure.

(REUTERS)

Emergency services have estimated the total number of damaged houses to be in the hundreds.

Several major roads have been closed across the state while many schools have called off classes for Monday.

Prime minister Scott Morrison in a Facebook post announced federal financial assistance for those affected.

The flooding comes in stark contrast with the devastating bushfires that struck Australia in late 2019 and early 2020, when nearly seven per cent of NSW land was scorched.

(Getty Images)

Flooding risk and evacuation warnings were in place for about 13 areas in NSW, including the Hunter, one of Australia's major wine regions.

Several dams, including Warragamba, Sydneys main water supply, spilled over causing river levels to surge.

Meteorologists said the downpour is set to continue for several days.

Emergency crews have responded to about 6,000 calls for help since the start of the rains on Thursday, including nearly 700 direct pleas for rescue from floods.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Sunday said there is no wasting time in prosecuting those responsible for the killings during Saturdays house of assembly bye-election for murder.

He said this while on a sympathy visit to Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East LGA, where the incident occurred, that those arrested would be arraigned not later than Monday for murder.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while in the town, the governor visited the private home of Abiodun Olujimi, a PDP Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, who was one of those who narrowly missed being hit by the bullets.

He later held a closed-door meeting with the senator where he reportedly told her, after the latter had narrated her ordeal, that the issue at hand was not a political issue, promising that anyone arrested in connection with the attack would be treated as a common criminal, no matter which political party such a person belonged to.

He said, We may not be able to bring back the dead but every perpetrator will be dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.

After I spoke with Senator Olujimi on Saturday, I called the Commissioner of Police (CP) and instructed him to do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators and Im happy to inform you that as I arrived the state (today, Sunday), the CP said all the culprits had been arrested and on Monday, they shall be charged for murder.

He also visited the palace of the Olomuo of Omuo Ekiti, Noah Omonigbehin, as well as survivors on their hospital beds, wishing them quick recovery.

He thanked the traditional ruler for maintaining peace in the community by not allowing residents to take laws into their hands in reaction to the wanton killings.

He assured the traditional ruler that the perpetrators would be made to face the full weight of the law, saying he would not politicise the incident.

Responding, Mr Omonigbehin thanked the governor for the condolence visit, pleading that those responsible for the attack be brought to book.

NAN recalls that three persons were on Saturday shot dead in Omuo-Ekiti by suspected party thugs while five others sustained gunshot wounds during the House of Assembly bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state constituency.

The seat became vacant following the death in February of an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing the constituency in the state House of Assembly, Juwa Adegbuyi. (NAN)
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
The 33-year-old man found fatally shot inside a Charlestown home Saturday morning has been identified by Boston police.

Authorities on Sunday identified the victim as Jawad Muhammed, of Mattapan.

Police were called around 3:21 a.m. on Saturday and responded to a report of a person shot inside 6 Mystic Place in Charlestown.

On arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, police said.

Boston EMS pronounced Muhammed dead at the scene.

The Boston Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact detectives at 617-343-4470.
The Catholic Church will have to change and adapt if it is to find a pathway to the future in a post-pandemic world, a senior bishop has warned.

In his Easter reflection, Let hope shape our future, Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe said Covid-19 has changed everything bringing lockdowns as well as stoppages, curtailments and restrictions as the country sought to survive the Covid-19 crisis. It had tested all of us, Dr Monahan acknowledged.

The most visible aspect of Church life affected by the pandemic, he said, was the impact on Mass. People of faith had been shocked by the closure of our Churches for public worship but had gradually overcome that shock and become used to the broadcasting of masses on webcams and over the radio.

But it wasnt just masses that were affected. Restrictions had impacted all of the Churchs sacramental and worshipping life, from baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, weddings, funerals, to prayer meetings.

The letter to the faithful of the diocese of Killaloe addressed the need for diocesan planning for the future as the country emerges from the pandemic.

It is not enough to open our Church buildings and return to the way things were pre-Covid-19. This would simply postpone the necessary changes required for the Church of the future. Planning for the future will take time, creativity and an openness to change, the Bishop of Killaloe said.

He said that most people believe the Church will be a very different place as we emerge from the global pandemic and that even prior to lockdown, numbers engaging with Church had declined dramatically. Many believe this decline will be greatly accelerated afterwards.

It is very clear to me therefore that the Church of the future will be a very different place and we will need a new way of ministering as Church.

The changes envisaged include the funding of parishes and dioceses as parish income is likely to decrease substantially in the coming years, Bishop Monahan warned.

He underlined that this would have an effect on how each parish manages its own affairs and also on the services provided by Killaloe diocese which are currently funded from parish contributions.

The faithful will have to decide what the priorities are for these scarce resources.

He also acknowledged that people believe there will be less people participating regularly in liturgies post-Covid and that the Church will see smaller communities. This would raise questions about the sustainability of some of our communities especially in rural areas, he said.

Have we the courage to make that transition to abandon some of our old structures in order to move from maintenance to mission? Dr Monahan asked.

While embracing technology would help the church to reach out, parishes would have to play a more active role in sacramental preparation.

The Bishop of Killaloe said he looked forward to the national synod planned by the Irish bishops within the next five years, which would re-energise the Church at local level.
On Thursday, delegations headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi met at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. It was the first such meeting of the Biden administration. There were both public and private sessions. The parties agreed that the public session would begin with a two-minute statement by each. Blinken spoke for two minutes, after which Yang contemptuously ignored the agreed-upon protocol and delivered a 20-minute attack on the United States. From there, things went from bad to worse.

The London Times, which, like pretty much all mainstream European news outlets, favors the Democrats, reports:

The Chinese side came to the talks in Alaska prepared to counter every US rebuke with one of their own. To the charge of Chinese cyberattacks, Yang said that the US is the champion while in response to the repression of Uighurs being labelled as genocide, he said that the US was guilty of the slaughter of black Americans.

The Chinese are not stupid. They know that the Democrats peddling BLM mythology disables them from defending the United States against such attacks, and they take full advantage of the Biden administrations weakness.

Blinken went just a little over the agreed two minutes for opening remarks. Yang then lectured the US side for nearly 20 minutes. The United States does not have the qualification to say that it wants to speak to China from a position of strength, said Yang, who was accompanied by Wang Yi, a state councillor. He criticised what he said was Americas struggling democracy and its poor treatment of minorities.

The Daily Wire reports on the meeting from a perspective less friendly to the administration:

The meeting in Alaska came at the request of the Biden administration and was their attempt at trying to restart bilateral relations with China. Instead, after addressing some issues that the administration had with China, China openly mocked and attacked the U.S.

***

Biden is weak. And many other countries are happy about it, former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said. And the woke US media is too partisan to report fairly.

One of the Biden administrations most contemptible themes is its declaration that America is back. It was during the Obama administrationwhen, of course, Joe Biden was vice presidentthat America retreated from the world, appeased its enemies, and let its defense capabilities wither. The Donald Trump administration took important steps to strengthen our armed forces and, unlike Obama and Biden, stood up to both Russia and China, advancing American interests under the banner of America first. The only thing that is back under Joe Biden, or whoever is running U.S. foreign policy these days, is weakness. And the Chinese know it.

Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs told The Daily Wire in a statement: .Rather than staying focused on giving China specific demands and conveying our seriousness, the US team insulted half the Americans who voted for Trump and was glad for his administrations foreign policy approach by saying America is back. America never left. And its the approach from the last administration that returned our focus on China and power and away from merely abstract ideas when we deal with other nations.

***

We have external threats like China but critical race theory and identity politics at home makes us a splintered, self-loathing mess. The CCP knows this. Its why they used all those BLM talking points in Alaska. So, just as important as it is to counter China with power, Republican officials and anyone else who will listen has to do what they can to end the anti-American indoctrination at home. Center for Security Policy President Fred Fleitz  former NSC Chief of Staff, CIA analyst, and House Intel Com staff member  effectively said that the Biden administration was responsible for the meeting being a disaster. Fleitz wrote in a series of tweets: Blinken foolishly did not anticipate that the Chinese officials would retaliate in their remarks responding to him. This gave the Chinese officials a rare opportunity to dress down the Secretary of State before the press. Blinken was visibly unnerved by the Chinese response. Blinkens response was defensive and incoherent. He also repeated Bidens silly America is back theme. Most disturbing, despite Blinken and Sullivans criticism of China, there was not one word on Beijings criminal negligence that allowed the coronavirus to become a dangerous pandemic or any criticism of China for its continuing refusal to fully cooperate with international investigations of the origins of the virus, including inspections of the Wuhan biolabs. This press event in Alaska was a debacle that will build a perception that the US is returning to Jimmy Carter-like incompetence in foreign policy. Americas enemies are watching and planning how to cash.

It is early, obviously, but at this point Jimmy Carter is looking like a best-case scenario.
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Vietnam's Ministry of Construction officially handed over to Laos the new National Assembly House in Vientiane on Saturday.

Built at a cost of $111 million, the building will serve parliamentary functions and also be a cultural research center.

Somphanh Phengkhammy, Deputy Chairman of the Lao National Assembly and head of the project steering board, expressed high regard for the investor of the house, the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction.

The ministry and other relevant agencies had persisted with work on the building despite the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the supply of equipment and workers for the project, he said.

The House would be ready to host the first session of the 9th Lao National Assembly from March 22 to March 26, he added.

Following the session, work on the House will continue and be completed for full use by the end of June, said Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Construction, Le Quang Hung.

Construction of the Lao National Assembly House, which can accommodate 800-1,000 people with five stories and one basement, began in 2017.
White House Giving Journalists Zero Access to Border Patrol Operations: Photographer

The Biden administration has given no access to observe or report on Customs and Border Protection (CPB) operations at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an award-winning photographer and journalist.

Getty Images correspondent John Moore alleged there is a lack of transparency along the border. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas trip to the border, including El Paso, Texas, will be closed to press due to privacy and COVID-19 precautions.

Moore won a 2019 photo for a Honduran toddler crying at the border.

I respectfully ask US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to their border operations, Moore wrote on Twitter Friday. I have photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump but now  zero access is granted to media. These long lens images taken from the Mexican side.

Moore described the current situation as unprecedented.

Theres no modern precedent for a full physical ban on media access to CBP border operations, Moore added in another Twitter post. To those who might say, cut them some slackthey are dealing with a situation, Id say that showing the US response to the current immigrant surge is exactly the medias role.

Moore added that the vast majority of river crossings by asylum seekers happen on federal land in south Texas Rio Grande Valley. The federal [government] controls access to those areas. The Border Patrol has been removing journalists who enter, including recently myself, CBS, others.

It comes in the midst of a surge of illegal immigration along the border, including thousands of unaccompanied children who are being housed in federal facilities. In January, President Joe Biden rescinded a number of Trump-era immigration rules, including the Remain in Mexico policy, halted the construction of the border wall, and also has said he would support more pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Republicans have seized on the issue, saying that Bidens executive actions and messaging led to the unprecedented surge. White House officials, including Mayorkas, blamed former President Donald Trump for allegedly leaving the administration with a broken immigration system.

Photographing Border Patrol agents and immigrant encounters can and has been done respectfully without interfering with operations. Regardless, @cbp public affairs exists to work with media.  John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 19, 2021

Separately, White House press secretary Jen Psaki has been questioned during briefings about the lack of press access.

The DHS oversees the Border Patrol facilities, and we want to work with them to ensure we can do respecting the privacy and obviously the health protocols required by COVID, the press secretary said on March 18 in response to one question about press access.

A reporter then noted that no photos have been released either about the border crisis.

Again we remain committed to sharing with all of you data on the number of kids crossing the border, the steps were taking, the work were doing to open up facilities, our own bar were setting for ourselves, improving and expediting the timeline and the treatment of these children, Psaki said. And we remain committed to transparency. I dont have an update for you on the timeline for access, but its certainly something we support.

The Epoch Times has contacted the DHS for comment.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 21, 2021 - 14:16 | All, Japan

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Sunday Japan's Self-Defense Forces must learn to operate in a security environment that has changed greatly over the 30 years since the Soviet Union collapsed.

"Unprecedented challenges and threats may emerge and new missions may be assigned to the SDF," Suga said at a graduation ceremony speech at the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka, near Tokyo.

"I want you to be willing to try new things and adapt to future changes."

While explaining to some 500 graduates his belief that significant hurdles will be encountered over the next 30 years, Suga renewed his commitment to solidifying Japan's security alliance with the United States.

Touching on his planned visit to Washington next month, the prime minister, who also serves as chief commander of the SDF, said, "I am determined to work hard to further strengthen the alliance while deepening my personal relationship of trust with President Joe Biden."

"No country can protect its own peace and security alone anymore," he added.

The trip is expected to make Suga the first foreign leader to meet Biden in person since the U.S. president took office in January.

As tensions between the United States and China intensify, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, who also attended the ceremony, said, "The security environment is becoming more severe and uncertain as the power balance in the international community shifts dramatically."

Of the graduates, 53 are female and 23 are from foreign countries, including Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
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NEBO  An 8-month-old infant died in a house fire Friday in Nebo, authorities said.

Pike County sheriffs deputies were called to 530 E. Middle St. at 3:42 p.m. Friday. After the fire was extinguished by firefighters from Spring Creek and Pleasant Hill fire departments, a search was conducted for a missing child, according to Sheriff David Greenwood. Searchers found the body of 8-month-old Dallas William Dean Mooney of Nebo.

A preliminary autopsy Saturday at the McLean County Coroners Office in Bloomington determined the boy died of smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office, but it is not considered suspicious.

Deputies and firefighters were assisted at the scene by Illinois State Police, Illinois Conservation Police and Pike County EMS.
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









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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 20:53:22|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has in the past 31 years significantly reduced extreme poverty among its citizens, President Hage Geingob said Sunday while commemorating the country's 31st independence anniversary in a low-key affair at the State House in line with COVID-19 guidelines.

The Namibian President said they will continue to prioritize funding health, education, social welfare and infrastructure.

"We have managed to reduce poverty, which stood at 70 percent in 1990 to 18 percent today. Since independence, we continue to spend a large proportion of our resources on young people as an investment in a sustainable future for our country," he said.

Geingob said Namibia has increased the number of higher education institutions countrywide, taking education to the people by increasing access to higher education.

"As a result, the total enrolment at public higher education institutions increased by more than nine times since independence, moving from 4,240 in 1992 to 40,442 in 2019," he said.

According to Geingob, Namibia, which is celebrating its independence under the difficult conditions imposed by COVID-19, will continue to prioritize young people in economic empowerment.

He also called on all Namibians to guard their freedom jealously and foster unity as a cornerstone of development. Enditem
New Delhi, March 21 : As India once again witnesses a surge in Covid-19 caseloads, health experts on Sunday warned people, especially those who have recovered from the deadly disease, to be extra careful as it is still uncertain how long someone is protected from getting reinfected.

Various studies have shown people who survived a Covid-19 infection continue to produce protective antibodies against key parts of the virus from two months to almost a year. However, according to the health experts, there is still uncertainty to suggest that people are immune to Covid-19 after the first infection.

"As per the current research evidence, there is uncertainty about the duration of protection acquired after natural infection," Harshal R. Salve, Associate Professor at Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi told IANS.

According to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), antibodies usually start developing within one to three weeks after infection. But the CDC does not have enough information yet to confirm how protected someone might be from being infected again if they have antibodies to fight the novel coronavirus.

The confirmed and suspected cases of reinfection with the virus have been reported, but remain rare, according to the CDC.

According to Shiba Kalyan Biswal, Consultant, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram, people who have survived Covid-19 are safe for six to eight months from getting reinfected.

"After Covid-19 infection immunity remains for nearly 6 to 8 months. As far as the antibodies are concerned it may depend upon person to person, but infected people potentially develop antibodies within around two weeks, and for the same reason, also a minimum of two weeks isolation is suggested for infected patients," Biswal informed.

Recently, a study published in The Lancet medical journal stated that most people who get infected with SARS-CoV-2 are protected from catching it again for at least six months, however, people aged 65 and above are more prone to getting reinfected.

The experts also emphasised that the production of antibodies may vary from person to person as it depends upon various factors such as age, overall health, etc.

"Antibodies are produced in days to weeks after infection with the virus. The number of antibodies depends upon the severity of the disease, age, health, nutritional status and immunosuppressive conditions or medications," said Vikas Maurya, HOD, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.

"But majority develop in the second week starting with Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and later on Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from the third week onward," Maurya told IANS.

The cases of Covid-19 are rising amid the vaccination drive. As of March 20, India recorded 40,953 infections in a single day, the 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 was recorded on November 28 last year. The country has been registering an increase in cases for more than 10 consecutive days.

According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh are exhibiting a steep rise in daily numbers.

With the death of 188 people in the last 24 hours, the toll has reached 1,59,558 in India. The active caseload in the country has mounted to 2,88,394.

As the virus is relatively new, the current understanding of reinfection remains low.

However, experts believe that ongoing and further studies will provide more insight into how frequently reinfection occurs.

Their current emphasis is on getting vaccinated, taking precautions against the virus, including mask-wearing and social distancing.

(Vivek Singh Chauhan can be contacted at Vivek.c@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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

In a shocking incident, a class 10 student of Pathways School, Noida, is seen slapping another student in order to record the incident and put it on social media platform Snapchat.

The incident reportedly took place on Monday at around 2 pm inside the school campus.In the video, the victim is seen in distress and tries to cover his face as a fellow student slapped him mercilessly.

The duo is surrounded by few other students but they do not interfere. The student who is recording the clipping supposedly on a mobile phone is purportedly continuously directing them how to give a perfect shot in one go.

At the end of the video, the victim is seen bleeding from his left ear.Doctors say the student has been left with a hole in his eardrum, resulting in 25 per cent hearing loss.

His parents say the boy has stopped going to school and weeps repeatedly.The matter came to notice after the students parents complained to the school management stating that this has caused intense mental, physical, and emotional trauma to their son.

The victims mother received the video from the parent of a fellow student.The family has also alleged that the school authorities neither provided emergency medical aid to the student nor informed them.

The family, however, has not filed any police complaint as of now.The school authorities, however, claimed that it was not a case of bullying or ragging. It was an unfortunate incident but not a bullying incident.

It was an outcome of a consensual peer slap bet episode that a few Pathways School Noida students had between themselves. The school had been swift in responding to the situation and has taken appropriate action with involvement of parents of the students involved, said Dr Shalini Advani, director of Pathways School Noida.

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The billions of pounds being raised by green energy auctions should be used to set up a sovereign wealth fund and invested across the UK, Ed Davey will say on Monday.

In his speech to the Liberal Democrat spring conference the party leader will attempt to reignite his partys fortunes with a series of eye-catching policy ideas.

Pointing to the 9bn raised from a recent seabed licence auction last month, Sir Ed will argue the money should be ploughed into green projects to get Britain ready for net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

He says the plans would be used to create manufacturing jobs and fund a ten-year programme to insulate every home, cutting energy bills and usage.

Just last month, an auction for the right to build windfarms off the coast of England and Wales attracted bids far, far higher than anyone expected  raising 9bn, with more to come, he will tell his party at the gathering, which is being held online this year because of Covid-19.

"This green wealth doesnt belong to Rishi Sunak, or the Tories. It belongs to the British people. So I say: lets invest it in a sovereign green wealth fund.

Read more:

"Lets invest the windfall from wind power into more climate action. To build new infrastructure and attract more private investment. To grow our green wealth even further, and create thousands of manufacturing jobs here in the UK.

By investing in the green technologies and industries of the future  tidal power, hydrogen, green flight  Britain can not only recover but become the worlds first green powerhouse.

And with our new green wealth fund, we can also invest in an emergency ten-year programme to insulate every single home.

Lower heating bills for everyone  and an end to fuel poverty. Warmer homes for everyone  and green jobs in every village, town and city across the UK.

Sir Ed will accuse the Tories of instead slipping the cash quietly into the chancellor wallet, emulating Margaret Thatchers approach to North Sea oil.

"If the Tories had invested the windfall from North Sea oil in the Eighties, they could have created a wealth fund worth more than 500bn today, he will add.

But they squandered the nations wealth then, just as they are doing now.

Other policy plans in the speech include tax cuts for small businesses, such as quadrupling the employment allowance for national insurance contributions (NICs) from 4,000 to 16,000.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Hannah Vitos of the Blenheim Art Foundation, poses for a photograph next to artist Ai Weiwei's Gilded Cage (2017) sculpture in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 1 May 2021 People swim in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool bridge across two exclusive residential blocks standing next to the US Embassy in Nine Elms, in London, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 AP UK news in pictures 31 May 2021 People enjoy the hot weather at Brighton beach Reuters UK news in pictures 30 May 2021 People venture into the sea as they enjoy themselves during a hot day on Brighton Beach AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2021 Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeenshire, which reopens after lockdown restrictions were eased PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Downing Street in London REUTERS UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA

This would mean no small business paid a penny in NICs on their first five employees, he will say.

Sir Ed will also call on Mr Johnson to give NHS staff a pay rise, and admonish the Tories for scrapping green energy projects.

The Lib Dems have faced a political rollercoaster in recent years, capitalising on their staunch opposition to Brexit at the 2019 European Parliament elections but struggling at the same years general election.

The party has struggled to be heard through the noise of pandemic, however.
The U.S. government on Saturday was housing approximately 15,500 unaccompanied migrant minors, including 5,000 teenagers and children stranded in Border Patrol facilities not designed for long-term custody, according to government data reviewed by CBS News.

As of Saturday morning, more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors were being held in a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tent holding facility in south Texas and other stations along the border with Mexico. According to the government records, unaccompanied children are spending an average of 136 hours in CBP custody, well beyond the 72-hour limit outlined in U.S. law.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was also housing nearly 10,500 unaccompanied children in emergency housing facilities and shelters licensed by states to care for minors, department spokesperson Mark Weber told CBS News on Saturday.

More than 9,400 unaccompanied minors entered U.S. border custody last month, a record-high for a February. That number is expected to be eclipsed by the figure for March, as border officials have encountered an average of more than 500 unaccompanied minors per day in the past 21 days, according to the government data.

The refugee agency within HHS is charged with housing most unaccompanied minors until it can place them with family members or other sponsors in the U.S. Because of the high numbers of unaccompanied children crossing the southern border and the limited bed space in its state-licensed shelters, the U.S. refugee agency has been forced to open makeshift housing facilities to get children out of Border Patrol custody.

Migrant children and teenagers from the southern border of the United States relax in the sun outside of their housing units at a temporary holding facility south of Midland, Texas. / Credit: Eli Hartman / AP

On Saturday, HHS notified Congress that it would be opening a new influx facility in Pecos, Texas, that is initially expected to house approximately 500 unaccompanied children, according to a notice obtained by CBS News. HHS said the installation, a former housing facility for oil workers, could be expanded in the future to house up to 2,000 minors.

Story continues

The Pecos facility would become the fourth influx or emergency housing facility for unaccompanied minors opened by the Biden administration, which is scrambling to find bed space for the soaring number of children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border without parents or legal guardians. The Trump administration used three influx facilities for migrant children over four years.

Last month, the U.S. refugee agency reopened a Trump-era influx facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas. With the help of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the refugee office has also converted a Dallas convention center and a camp for oil workers in Midland, Texas, into emergency sites to receive unaccompanied teenagers stuck in Border Patrol facilities, most of which were built to detain migrant men.

The figures reviewed by CBS News on Saturday show the U.S. government continues to struggle to reduce the record-high backlog of children in U.S. border custody, even as it opens new housing facilities and expands bed capacity at state-licensed shelters.

"The staggering number of children in CBP custody is both heartbreaking and profoundly concerning," Neha Desai, a lawyer representing migrant minors in a landmark court case, told CBS News.

Last week, Desai and her colleague at the National Center for Youth Law, Leecia Welch, interviewed migrant minors held at the Border Patrol tent holding facility in Donna, Texas. According to Desai, the children reported taking turns sleeping on the floor because of overcrowded conditions; not being able to call family members; and showering once in as many as seven days.

Desai said she believes "the Biden administration is committed to humanely addressing the humanitarian situation we now face," but that "time will tell whether the government's good intentions and hard work will translate into the changes that are urgently needed."

On Friday, Paul Wise, a court-appointed doctor charged with monitoring conditions faced by migrant children in U.S. custody, told U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee that he found "profound overcrowding" at the Donna holding facility and other CBP stations in south Texas that he toured last week.

Wise warned the overcrowded conditions were not "sustainable," saying the holding capacity along the southern border could begin to unravel.

CBP told CBS News in a statement that it is working to transfer unaccompanied minors to HHS shelters "as quickly as we can." Echoing statements made by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the agency said Border Patrol holding facilities "are not meant to hold children long-term."

"Even a few hours in custody is more than we want for children that Border Patrol apprehends at the border," the agency said in a statement.

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowed shelters to relax social distancing measures and return to pre-pandemic capacity in early March, the U.S. refugee office has reactivated more than 500 beds, an agency spokesperson told CBS News earlier this week.

While the refugee agency is no longer considering using a military base in Virginia or a NASA installation in northern California to house unaccompanied children, it is still evaluating other sites, according to Weber, the HHS spokesman.

Citing a public health authority dating back to the late 19th century, the Trump administration summarily expelled thousands of unaccompanied children from the southern border without allowing them to request asylum until a federal judge blocked the practice in November 2020.

While an appeals court lifted the judge's order in late January, the Biden administration declined to expel unaccompanied migrant children, calling the practice inhumane. The Biden administration has continued to use the Trump-era public health edict to expel migrant adults and some families with children.

"We have made a different decision than the prior administration," Mayorkas said on "CBS This Morning" on Thursday. "We do not expel young children back into the environment of poverty and violence from which they are fleeing."

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The woman who led Gardai on an M50 chase earlier this month teased on Instagram that she has created an "OnlyFans" account.

Gemma Greene (24) returned to Ireland after a week away in Spain and was allegedly fined 500 by Gardai for non-essential travel upon her arrival in Dublin Airport.

The Coolock native was active on Instagram during her getaway, creating a poll where she asked her followers if she should set up an OnlyFans account.

OnlyFans is a content subscription service that allows users to earn money from those who subscribe to their content.

It is predominantly used by creators to share pornographic content such as nude photographs and videos of themselves that their fans pay to view.

She teased that she would create an account on the platform when she reached 10,000 Instagram followers.

Now with a following of 10.9K, Gemma has revealed that her OnlyFans profile is live - but all is not what it seems.

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Gemma shared the news of her new venture in an Instagram post.

She wrote: I know lots of you will judge me for doing this and if you do, please feel free to unfriend me. Im OK with that.

I decided to make some extra money and create an OnlyFans personal page.

Lets make that money! she added.

Gemma, who is facing trial for her dangerous driving, attached a link to some sample content but warned users not to click on it if they get offended easily.

However, it turns out that she is only joking as the link leads to a meme of Jesus with the text "Just so you know, I'm very disappointed in you"

It comes just over two weeks after she was revealed as the woman who led Gardai on a high-speed chase along the M50 on March 1st.

Greenes reckless driving led Gardai through Dublin on the M50 to Bray, Co. Wicklow and continued all the way back to the Hampton Wood Drive area of Ballymun.

She posted a live-streamed video of the chase on her social media where she recorded herself singing to music and taunting Gardai.

At one point in the viral video, the woman threw what is believed to be a can of deodorant out the window at the 20 Garda cars and helicopter that were following her.

Gardai confirmed that she was arrested and taken to Ballymun Garda Station that evening, where she was later released.

A court date has yet to be set, but Gemma is due to appear in court in connection with the incident in the future which is still under investigation.
Six lions mutilated and killed. It is the terrible discovery made in one of Uganda's most famous national parks. According to a note from the conservation official, poisoning probably carried out by traffickers in wild animals caused the death of the big cats.

The carcasses were found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the west of the country, with many parts of the body missing and surrounded by dead vultures, which has led to the belief that a poison was used.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (Uwa) said it was "saddened" by the death of these particular lions, known for their unusual ability to climb trees on the reserve.

The authorities have launched an investigation and a local team is working together with the local police to shed light on the matter. "Since some parts of the lions' bodies are missing, we cannot rule out illegal wildlife trafficking," the Authority's communications officer, Bashir Hangi, said in a statement.

(Unioneonline / ss)
Deputy Minister for Public Enterprises Phumulo Masualle has outlined the measures taken by the government to assist Eskom in its struggles with generation capacity.

Responding to oral questions before the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday, Masualle highlighted Eskoms plan to recover generation capacity.

He also said that the nature of unplanned breakdowns in concurrence with the strategy of reliability or long-term maintenance makes load-shedding unavoidable.

There are two elements of the strategy going forward by Eskom. The first is that of heightened maintenance of some of the operating units, which has not been done over a period of time, Masualle said.

The strategy is that in order to regain some of the generating capacity, some of the plants that are due for maintenance should be taken out.

But we continue to experience other breakdowns in the other plants which tend to create a situation where in a day, we have in excess of 11,500MW of power that is missed out of the rest of the generation fleet, which then makes this load-shedding unavoidable in a sense, he said.

This conundrum was highlighted by Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter in a recent State of the System briefing, who noted that load-shedding would remain a significant risk until reliability maintenance was completed.

Government support of Eskom

Masualle noted that the government was giving support to Eskom to reduce the risk of load-shedding and accelerate its restoration to a functional and reliable power utility.

Going forward we are working to ensure that improvements and efficiencies are achieved in terms of the operational capacity both at Medupi and Kusile, attending to the defects that prevent us from achieving maximum output from there, he said.

He added that the Department of Public Enterprises was working with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to acquire additional generation capacity to supplement the national power grid.

We are also working with DMRE acquiring additional capacity from independent power producers to close the capacity gap that is there, Masualle said.

These are the measures and support that government is giving to Eskom to mitigate the current environment.

This is part of the governments plan to source more energy from independent power producers to alleviate the demand on Eskom.

Ramaphosas plan

In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa said restoring Eskom to operational and financial health and accelerating its restructuring process is central to the rapid expansion of South Africas energy generation capacity.

The government is taking extraordinary action to improve generation capacity in South Africa and supplement Eskoms insufficient generation.

Ramaphosa said the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will soon announce the successful bids for 2,000MW of emergency power to help curb load-shedding.

Independent power producers are also now able to sell electricity to local municipalities.

The necessary regulations have been amended and the requirements clarified for municipalities to buy power from independent power producers, Ramaphosa said.

Systems are being put in place to support qualifying municipalities.

In addition to these measures, the government will also soon procure an additional 11,800MW of power from renewable energy, natural gas, battery storage and coal, he said.
London, March 21 : A team of researchers has showed that some patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 seem to experience inflammation of the thyroid gland that is different from thyroid inflammation caused by other viruses.

The study, presented virtually at ENDO 2021, indicated that one-third of the participants still had signs of thyroid inflammation after three months, even though their thyroid function had normalised.

In spring 2020, 15 per cent of the Covid-19 patients hospitalised in acute medicine units in Italy had thyroid hormone alterations due to multi-factorial causes, including thyroid inflammation. In comparison, only 1 per cent of hospitalised patients during the same period in 2019 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," said lead researcher Ilaria Muller from the University of Milan in Italy.

"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," Muller added.

For the study, the team 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.

The researchers started a surveillance programme to monitor the thyroid function of patients every three months after being hospitalised for moderate to severe Covid-19 disease. The patients undergo a routine blood and ultrasound testing to monitor their thyroid function and signs of inflammation.

They found the thyroiditis in people with moderate to severe Covid-19 disease differs from typical thyroiditis in several ways, the researchers said.

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, they added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The most westerly area of the Costa del Sol has been longing for a railway service for years. At the moment the only way of travelling between Malaga and Marbella or Estepona is by road. There are buses, but this is not enough, not only due to the large towns in the area but also urbanisations and outlying areas.

Marbella is the only town of over 100,000 inhabitants with no train service. Plans for one have been on the table for more than 20 years. There have been numerous announcements, but then nothing happened. It has been an accumulation of disappointments, no matter which parties have been in power.

The latest Budget includes the laughable sum of 83,000 euros for more studies to be carried out and there are calls for the government to take such an important project more seriously.

Now, there is a new opportunity. Spain is to receive EU funds to help its economy recover from the pandemic. This could be a 'now or never' moment, as the construction of a coastal railway fits perfectly with the aims laid down in the restructuring funds.

The possibility of the project being reactivated has also been welcomed by the mayors of the five municipalities on the eastern coast of the province, Rincon de la Victoria, Velez-Malaga, Algarrobo, Torrox and Nerja, who want the rail service extended from Malaga to the Axarquia, and point out that these, too, are part of the Costa del Sol.
Despite the listing, the Saudi government has retained its sway over the companys oil production policies, leading to a roller coaster year. On orders from the Saudi government, the company ramped up oil output in the spring of 2020 as it pursued a price war with Russia. The surge led the company to hit a record production levels of 12.1 million barrels a day in April and also contributed to a glut of oil and a sharp fall in global prices.

More recently, Aramco has been throttling back production under an agreement with other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, as well as Russia and some other producers, a group called OPEC Plus. In January, Saudi Arabia said it would cut an additional 1 million barrels a day below the quota agreed with OPEC Plus, a policy which it is continuing. Average production for 2020 was 9.2 million barrels a day.

The data released on Sunday showed that Aramco is paying out more money in dividends than it is earning from oil activities. Free cash flow, a measure of earnings produced after expenses, was also $49 billion, meaning, in effect, the company was borrowing $26 billion to pay shareholders.

In another reflection of last years tumult in the oil markets, the company also cut capital spending by 18 percent compared with 2019, to $27 billion. Aramco said it expected capital expenditures in 2021 to be around $35 billion, less than its previous guidance of $40 billion to $45 billion.

Aramco in recent years has held the prize as the worlds most profitable company. But the impact of the pandemic, which briefly caused some oil futures to fall below zero, plus the appeal of tech products and services while people worked from home, has let Apple surge ahead. Apples net income for its fiscal year 2020, which ended Sept. 26, was $57 billion.
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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has ruled out any security threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the country later this week and said "few" left wing and hardline Islamist groups are against his trip but there is "nothing to worry" about them.

Prime Minister Modi will visit from March 26 to 27 to attend the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the country's independence and the birth centenary of its founder Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This would be his first trip to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are proud to invite him (Modi) to people are with us (the government)," Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters on Saturday night.

Momen said "only a few can oppose this visit and let them do it". "There is nothing to worry about (their protests)," he added.

"Bangladesh is a democratic country where people have the right to express their opinion and the government is not worried about it," he said, adding that the protesters are "few in number" and just taking the advantage of the "freedom of expression".

Prime Minister Modi and heads of state and government from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives will be among the distinguished foreign guests to join the celebrations under separate schedules.

Momen said authorities have taken every required step to ensure security of all visiting foreign dignitaries.

Some hardline Islamists, left leaning groups and civil society members recently staged demonstrations against Modi's visit, referring to India's new citizenship law.

Meanwhile, Junior Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam urged those who are giving different opinions to show respect for the invited guests if they have respect for the Bangabandhu as Father of the Nation and love for the country.

He specifically asked the groups and figures associated with the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to refrain from "exhibiting double-standards by opposing Modi's visit since they tried to appease him during his first term of the government".

During his visit, Modi will also visit two Hindu temples in southwestern Shatkhira and Gopalganj districts, largely inhabited by the Hindu Matua community, a large number of them hailing from West Bengal.

Asked whether there was any link between Modi's interaction with the Matua community and elections in West Bengal, Alam said: "it is not a concern of Bangladesh if his visit has any link to politics.

"We're happy that Modi will visit different places outside Dhaka. He's our guest and he's willing to go outside Dhaka. It'll help grow our tourism sector. So, it's a good thing for us".

(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.)
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.
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry has warned that a stubbornly high" level of new Covid-19 cases are still being identified every day.

"There is a lot of illness out there. It hasnt gone away and it is much higher than it was in early December. As long as we see that illness out there, it is going to convert into an ongoing stream of admissions into hospital and that is what we are seeing, he said.

He said also there are some signals of concern" which include an increase in referrals from GPs for patients to be tested.





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However the expert said there was no evidence that a return to schools had played a role in this.

Since schools have opened we have seen a small number of outbreaks, there have been public health risk assessments in a number of schools, and the overall positivity in the contacts within school settings is much much lower than in the community, and this reinforces the message that we learned here, and the experience we have here in this country and abroad, that community transmission represents a much greater threat to schools than the other way round.

In relation to the potential easing of certain restrictions on April 5, for instance in areas such as construction, Dr Henry said it would be a decision for Government based on the public health advice it will receive from the the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).

"Certainly we would all like to see the numbers get down lower. The lower they get the more choices we have as a society.

In the meantime, with the summer coming, we would certainly like to see some focus on health and well-being in terms of what people can do outdoors and certainly from a personal perspective as a clinician, I would like to see particularly, for those older people who have had to be cocooned, is that as they get fully vaccinated, we would like to see some easing of the advice given to them, to allow them the same level of advice given to other people.

Dr Henry, who was speaking on RTEs This Week radio programme today, also gave an update on the resumption of the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine, following a precautionary pause.

Its use was paused here last Sunday following reports of unusual blood clots in Norway. The decision to recommence the vaccine roll-out, which got underway yesterday, came following the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Irelands National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).

Dr Henry said: We are confident we will be able to cover those people whose appointments were cancelled over the past week or paused, over the next week to 10 days, we will have them covered.

"The overall benefits of this vaccine are quite substantive in terms of reducing the impact of what is a very serious virus, in terms of illness, hospitalisation and death.

Meanwhile, under current targets, all over-70s will have received their first Covid-19 jab by the middle of April under the national vaccination programme. By mid-May, this group will have received their second dose and be fully immunised.

Susan Clyne, CEO of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) told the programme that: The over-85s had their first dose, the over-80s had their first dose, and GPs are now working on second doses for over-85s, and first doses for those in the 75 to 80 age cohort.

In the coming week, over 500 practices will receive deliveries of around 84,000 doses.

Ms Clyne said: "I think the supply is always the constraint."

Projections are based on the supply lines being whats advised to us at the moment. If that changes, that creates difficulties.

For example at the moment, because the supply lines, and a recalibration of the supply lines, we will not have enough vaccines to fully complete the 75 to 80 age cohort by the end of next week, and they will be caught up with in the next allocation. But in no circumstances will we be moving forward to another patient group, until this group are dealt with.

Meanwhile, Ms Clyne said GP members were reporting that patients and their families were delighted to be getting the vaccine. She said 3,500 people were vaccinated at the Helix in Dublin, this weekend.

The latest figures showed as of March 16, 632,359 doses of vaccine have been administered in Ireland - 463,500 people have received their first dose and 168,859 people have received their second dose.

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I had to escape, Tesfay said. Luckily our house has another entrance. I ran out the back.

Tigrayan refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopias Tigray at Hamdeyat Transition Centre near the Sudan-Ethiopia border, eastern Sudan. Credit:AP

When I looked through the doors peephole, I saw them on the ground, their blood spilling out, he said in an interview. He also saw soldiers wearing mud-flecked green camouflage gear striding up to the door.

It was Friday, January 8, the day after Genna, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas. Around 2pm, Kidane Tesfay heard gunshots near his familys home and thought of his two brothers, ages 17 and 20, walking outside.

What followed was an hours-long killing spree, according to accounts from 10 survivors, including Tesfay, as well as from victims relatives and friends and activist groups. Ethiopian soldiers went from house to house in Bora, a town in Ethiopias northern Tigray region, and executed more than 160 people.

Done killing, the soldiers stopped families from taking their dead. Only on Sunday  two days after the slaughter  were gravediggers allowed to set about their grim task; one of them buried 26 corpses in the graveyard of the Abune Aregawi Church, survivors said.

Agere Getnet weeps in front of a tomb containing the remains of her husband, Tebekaw, 37, hisbrother, Alie Abere, and his nephew, Aynew Mulat, among the mass graves at Abune Aregawi Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Credit:Getty

The town was filled with corpses. The bodies of our friends and neighbours started to smell, said Girmay Hagos, a 30-year-old real estate agent and survivor. We kept our grief to ourselves  the soldiers didnt allow us to cry.

The massacre in Bora is another deep stain on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds months-long war in Ethiopias northern Tigray region, which began in early November after the ruling faction there, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or TPLF, attacked a government military base. Abiy retaliated with what he called a law enforcement operation that killed tens of thousands of people, estimates say, and displaced hundreds of thousands more. More than 60,000 Tigrayans have fled to neighbouring Sudan alone, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Delhi Chief Minister on Sunday slammed the Punjab government, alleging that not even a single promise has been honoured in the past four years by it and asked people to take a revenge in the 2022 Assembly polls.

Addressing a Kisan Maha Sammelan held by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at Punjab's Moga, he told people that his party will always stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers protesting against the Centre's three farm laws.

He also took on the Centre over the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, alleging that the BJP-led government wants to snatch power from the Chief Minister of Delhi.

Kejriwal earlier arrived at Amritsar and then moved to Baghapurana in Moga for the event.

He said four years ago when the Assembly elections were held, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh made big promises.

Captain Sahib had said smartphones will be given. Who got smartphones just raise your hands and show smartphones? Captain Sahib had said farmers' loan will be waived. Whose loan has been waived just raise your hands, asked Kejriwal taking a dig at the Punjab CM.

Amarinder Singh had promised job for every household, Kejriwal said, asking the gathering who got employment.

Kejriwal also showed an unemployment allowance card, saying it was given by the Congress to 20 lakh youngsters while promising jobs for each household.

He (Amarinder) had said vote for me and I will give you jobs if voted to power. Today the youth are running pillar to post with these cards, alleged Kejriwal.

Kejriwal urged people not to throw away the jobs cards, saying it will remind them how Amarinder Singh took their votes after "lying" to them.

I want to ask you if somebody deceives you, then what do you do? Usse se badla lete hain (revenge is taken from him). Captain Sahib has deceived you. Will revenge be taken from him after one year or not, he asked apparently referring to the Assembly polls next year.

He deceived the entire Punjab. Neither anyone was given a job nor anyone's loan was waived, he alleged, adding that not even a single promise was fulfilled by the chief minister.

Kejriwal promised that if voted to power, jobs will be given to those who have the employment card.

Until the job is given, unemployment allowance will be given, he promised.

Kejriwal also claimed that his party honoured each promise made with residents of the capital.

In Delhi, there is no power cut. Power is given 24 hours a day. Seventy-three per cent people in Delhi do not receive electricity bills. It is a miracle. And in Punjab, there is a huge power bill. If the electricity bill is zero and its supply is 24 hours, should not the bill in Punjab be zero as well. If it is possible in Delhi then why cannot in Punjab," asked Kejriwal.

He also talked about bringing improvement in the condition of government schools. Should not the condition of Punjab schools be improved, he asked.

He also cited improvement in the condition of government-run hospitals in Delhi, saying no money is charged for treatment and medicines.

He exhorted party workers to visit each village and street to prepare a dream for a "New Punjab".

We want a Punjab where every farmer, worker, trader and arhtiya is happy, he said expressing confidence that AAP would form the next government in the state.

Kejriwal further said he wanted to salute Punjab farmers for opposing the Centre's farm laws.

The fire which you ignited first in Punjab has now spread across the country, he said.

Kejriwal alleged that after the agitating farmers reached the Delhi borders, the Modi-led government had planned to put all of them at nine stadiums by converting these into jails.

Despite pressure on his government, Kejriwal said he rejected the Delhi Police request as farmers' demands are justified and their agitation was non-violent.

They (Centre) got so angry with me and this is the result of which the Modi government last week brought a law in Parliament, aimed at taking away powers of the Delhi CM, Kejriwal said.

"The powers will be with the Lieutenant Governor. The LG will take all decisions. They want to snatch all our powers, he alleged.

Do not worry. I know how to deal with them and I have been fighting them for the past six years. I will not let them take any action against farmers till I am there, he said, alleging that the Centre tried to defame the farmers' agitation by calling them 'Khalistanis' and terrorists.

(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.)
Why are Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and like-minded Republican legislators in the Texas House and Senate afraid of Texas voters?

What is it about the people of Texas these public servants dont trust?

Or is it the fear and distrust of certain voters and certain people that motivate this effort to make it more difficult to vote?

As reams of anti-voting legislation are filed in Georgia and other Republican-led statehouses, Texas Republicans have reminded everyone they are second to none in being reactionary, and in their sycophancy to the toxicity and lies of election fraud.

Texas has a rich history of voter suppression. The governing powers in Texas, whether it was Democrats who ruled the state during most of the 20th century or Republicans who have been in control for nearly 40 years, have never needed any inspiration to restrict the vote, especially of its Black and brown citizens.

For most of the 175 years in which its been a state, Texas has attempted to prevent or discourage African Americans and Latinos from voting. As late as 1962, when the passage of the 24th Amendment abolished the poll tax, Texas was one of only five states still enforcing that deterrence to voting.

This time it is former President Donald Trumps incendiary lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, a lie that ignited the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, thats fueling the Republicans anti-democracy drives to limit voter-registration opportunities, enact stricter voter ID laws, expand voter-roll purges, and create barriers for mail-in and early voting.

The wave of legislation, including several bills in the Texas Legislature, comes after the most secure election in American history and despite last weeks revelations, in a newly declassified report, of Russias attempt to influence the 2020 election by supporting Trump and smearing Joe Biden.

Its all in the name of election integrity and election security and preventing voter fraud even though voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in the nation, including in Texas. Last year, the Houston Chronicle reported that Paxtons office only resolved 16 minor cases of voter fraud after 22,000 staff hours.

The showcase bill  meaning the worst bill  in Austin is Senate Bill 7, which would, among other things, require all countywide polling places to have the same number of voting machines, limit voting hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and prohibit drive-thru voting sites. It would also force people requesting an application for mail voting because of a disability to provide written documentation from the Social Security Administration or a certificate from a physician.

None of these measures is about voting fraud because, again, voting fraud is rare. The true intent here is voter suppression by making it more difficult for people to vote.

These bills would also disproportionately hurt the same groups who were disproportionately hurt by poll taxes and literacy tests  Blacks and Latinos, who often vote Democratic.

Claiming voter fraud as the reason such legislation is needed is a cynical lie to justify that which cant be justified with the truth.

In his State of the State address on Feb. 1, Abbott declared election integrity to be an emergency item in this legislative session without mentioning the assault on the Capitol. Last week, in supporting the suppressive voting measures, he said, Right now I dont know how many or if any elections in the state of Texas in 2020 were altered because of voter fraud. What I can tell you is this, and that is any voter fraud that takes place sows seeds of distrust in the election process.

This is typical Abbott. Having confessed to not knowing of any voter fraud in 2020, Abbott warns about sowing seeds of distrust in the election. But the greatest seed of distrust in the election has been sowed by the big lie of voter fraud. Its a self-fulfilling, cynical, hypocritical political prophesy.

Politicians who fear the vote and want to make casting a ballot more difficult are not worthy of your vote.
The quick online delocalisation of low-cost fashion inevitably leads us to question ourselves on what the future of high streets will be. What will happen to the huge spaces and buildings both historical and modern left unrented in the heart of cities and towns? Will they be replaced by new brands as it used to happen, or will the way of conceiving urban shopping mutate radically? High fashion could, perhaps, take care of these spaces. Luxury fashions vocation to inclusivity on one hand, the ambition  already denounced by journalist and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini  of the masses to chase the lifestyle of wealthy social classes on the other, have contributed to creating what Toby Shorin defines as baroque capitalism, a mannerist luxury used to portray the financial wellbeing of the wealthy consumer to the eyes of the others. Baroque capitalism was born out of the consumerist social liquidity that the process of installment payments led by Klarna has contributed to establishing as the new norm. The risk, though, is that of turning environments that used to be working-class into exclusive spaces, increasing the social polarisation that already affects the British  but not exclusively  society. Even in the case of luxury fashion, the market seems to be confirming the success of multi-brand online fashion portals, like Yoox (Net-a-Porter group) and French company Vestiaire Collective, that just three months into the pandemic was recording a 119% increase in online sales compared to the previous year.

If we consider that the few brands that could allow themselves the luxury of renting all the shops shut down by the acquired chains are the first to decline such an option, making a virtue of their devotion to online sales, the future seems to prospect a colonisation of areas so far dedicated to a mainstream audience by minor and independent companies. These, differently to the giants of fast fashion, used the democracy of social media to get a spotlight, according to the so-called kindness economy. This is the prevision forecasted by Mary Portas  one of Englands main retail consultants  who blamed the decline of high street chain stores in their incapability to understand the new values of young customers, who mostly look for ethical consumption and for shopping intended as a community experience. If Portas argues that nobody will feel any nostalgia for the capitulated chains, Mark Pilkington  another British retail consultant  has recently urged shop building owners to offer a space that a new business can take on and transform the look of through technology. The aim is to turn shops into windows for stock held online and spaces that can engage with customers in a way that they cant experience from their screens. The shops of the future, therefore, will need to be spaces based on a plug and play model, one day pop-up for a fashion brand, a yoga workshop the next. Lower rents and stocks reduced to the minimum in favour of a shopping experience that strives to be more conceptual than physical.

A fascinating model that suggests the likely use of former department stores for cultural events, like gigs, exhibitions and workshop, taking advantage of the potential offered by their extended surfaces to comply with social distancing regulations.

The pop-up model  based on that already successfully tested by the food industry  could no doubt stimulate contemporary consumers, more and more hungry for new and constant stimuli, to venture outside the comfort of their homes. However, considering that  at least in the United Kingdom  it is possible to turn shops into homes without planning permissions, we can expect a progressive integration of housing into the high streets. A future that could also be shared by office buildings that, following the increase of smart working, will soon be emptier.
Police launched an investigation after the deaths of two women and a man in an apparent murder-suicide in Newtownabbey (PA)

Earlier interventions are needed to tackle "offending behaviours" in perpetrators of violence, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said.

It's after an incident in which police believe a man murdered his mother and girlfriend at separate homes in Newtownabbey on Friday before killing himself.

A double murder investigation was launched but officers have now said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, Mrs Long said it was an "absolute tragedy when we see violence like this occurring and when we see women losing their lives, when we see anyone losing their lives".

She hopes to put a paper before the NI Executive this week on a strategy to protect women and girls from violence.

Mrs Long hopes to put a paper before the NI Executive this week on a strategy to protect women and girls from violence. Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK without a specific strategy.

"I think it is hugely important at this time that we focus on these issues, it is something that I have made a priority in my time in the justice department," she said.

"What we need to do, I believe, is move the focus upstream so that we start to tackle why offending behaviours occur so we start to deal with perpetrators.

"That's something we do through the criminal justice system, but we'd like to do that earlier, in terms of early intervention."

It's an issue that needs to be tackled across all Executive departments, she said.

"Not all violence against women and girls is direct violence, it is to do with discrimination and societal attitudes," she said.

"We need to see progress made, for example, in education. In terms of relationship and sex education, in terms of dispelling rape myths, in terms of dealing with attitudes around victim blaming.

"To do that, what we need is a cross-Executive strategy and that's what I'm proposing to the Executive."
Contributed / Getty Images

WEST HAVEN  Firefighters and police are at the scene of an apartment fire on Savin Avenue.

West Haven police spokesman Sgt. Patrick Buturla said streets nearby have been shut to traffic due to the investigation, and asked the public to avoid the area.
Govt adds rehab option to its arsenal to combat extremism Sweeping powers to detain suspects in rehab camps for two years View(s): View(s):

The Government finally came to the end of its tether on Tuesday in suffering the vexations of former Western Province Governor Azath Salley who had made no secret that he was testing the patience of the regime by taunting it at every turn and daring it to arrest him for his anti-government, near inflammatory rhetoric.

On March 10, leader of the National Unity Front Salley continued with his habitual practice of jeering at the Government by stating on television that he followed only the laws of the Quran and the dictates of his Prophet and did not regard himself bound by the general law of the land. Let the general law be, but the Quranic law has been the law for the Muslims for years, he said.

Merely stating that one doesnt give a tuppence to state law but is governed by ones own religious or moral code is not of itself an offence. Many get through life with total ignorance of the law but do not commit a single offence for the simple reason that their actions havent trespassed upon the criminal law of the land.

But Salley, whose speeches of late had tantalisingly dangled on the fringes of religious radicalism, perhaps, went too far down the road of secular blasphemy to upset the traditionally held image of the majesty of the law before which imposing altar all must prostrate in meek genuflection, however unjust its diktats are considered to be.

Salleys brazen cheek in challenging the supreme authority of the State, alas, cooked his goose. It was too much for any self-respecting government to take lying down. Even tolerance has its limits. Nor was it the ideal occasion to turn the proverbial deaf ear or the biblical other cheek as a magnanimous gesture when the grassroots brayed for blood.

On Tuesday as dusk was setting in, Azath Salley was arrested by the CID. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said he was taken in under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with a statement he had made on March 10 where he had expressed his allegiance to only the Quran and Sharia law and not to state law. The Attorney General had advised the CID that Salley had also allegedly committed offences under the Penal Code, the PTA and the ICCPR Act. The leader of the National Unity Front Salley still remains in CID detention.

But though the authorities took the beaten track to detain the controversial Salley under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, a new road cut and tarred last week lay open for them to tread on, had they so wished, to hold Salley, and any other person suspected of extremist leanings, at a rehab centre for a year or more, until all forms of radical cravings were completely purged from body and soul; and the detainee judged to be a fit and proper person to be safely returned to society.

Last Friday, the Government issued an extraordinary gazette to give legal effect to new regulation brought under the PTA for de-radicalisation from holding violent extremist religious ideology.

The crux of the new regulations now in force, authorises

n any police officer, or any member of the armed forces, or any other person or body of persons authorised by the President by Order (S3),

n to take to his custody any person on suspicion of being a person who by words either spoken or intended to be read or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, causes or intends to cause commission of acts of violence or religious, racial or communal disharmony or feelings of ill will or hostility between different communities or racial or religious groups (S2); and

n to hand over such person so taken into custody to the Officer in Charge of the nearest police station within twenty four hours (S5)

That is the first stage which also applies to a surrendee. Such a suspect may be sent to a rehabilitation programme in terms of the provisions of the regulations. In order to do this, these are the provisions in outline:

If there is reasonable cause for the OIC to suspect that the surrendee or person arrested has committed an offence under the Act, he shall send a report to the Minister of Defence, presently the President, to consider whether the suspect should be detained for further investigations (5)(2); and should the investigations reveal the suspect has committed an offence under the Act, it shall be referred to the Attorney General for legal action (S5) (3).

If the Attorney General deems that, instead of indicting the suspect in court, he should be sent to a rehabilitation centre, the suspect shall be produced before a Magistrate with the written approval of the Attorney-General and the Magistrate may order the suspect to be sent for rehabilitation for a maximum period of one year(S5)(4).

If at the end of the magistrate approved period, the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation shall consider the detainees rehabilitation progress, and send his recommendation to the Defense Minister (S7).

The Minister may then order the detainees release or extend the detainees rehabilitation by a further six months. The total extensions shall not exceed a further twelve months. Each such extension shall be made on the recommendation of the Commissioner-General of Rehabilitation (S7)(2).

While the aim of these new regulations is, indeed, most commendable, the drastic means used in peace time to realise its noble ends, however, must give pause and raise concerns.

For instance, to strike at the core of the matter, what is the definition of extremism? Is one who denies the existence of an Almighty God or rejects the notion of an immortal soul an extremist?

If one proclaims ones own religion as supreme and infallible and that of another as inferior and bunkum, or if one gives ones own religion foremost place and treats all other creeds lowly and base, will that be a cause for disharmony or give rise to feelings of ill will amongst religious groups, who also give foremost place to their own respective religions and exile all else from their realm and ken?

Would that be sufficient to pack off a person to rehab camp to be cleansed of his faith and purged of his belief in the oneness of God?

Once a suspected person has been taken into custody by a member of the armed forces, or a person or body authorised by the President by order, why is 24 hours granted to the person arresting to produce the suspect to the nearest police station?

What is the time frame for the OIC to compile his report on the suspect, for the Minister to consider whether the suspect should be detained, for the OICs investigation to be concluded, for the Attorney General to study it before deciding whether to institute legal proceedings in court or send the suspect to a rehabilitation camp?

Will the writ of habeas corpus, which is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee before the court to determine if the persons imprisonment or detention is lawful, be available to a person so detained?

These are some of the issues that must be considered before acting impetuously under these new regulations. If unwisely used, it can lead to the arbitrary denial of a citizens right to liberty, with his personal freedom lying at the mercy of the Attorney Generals sole discretion and dependent on a magisterial order made not on compelling evidence placed before court but merely on the Attorney Generals written approval of his own decision.

Or else, if these sweeping powers are used improperly, these rehabilitation camps which seek to exorcise the radical demon from the souls of those stoned after smoking bigotrys joint and craving their daily recuperative fix, will come to be branded as Lankas own Gulags.

Wimal plugs local fag as the ayurvedic smoke Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa went indigenous this week and came out of his smokers closet to plug a locally made cinnamon cigarette as the ayurvedic smoke that helps you kick the nicotine habit. Attending the launch of the new cigarette this Wednesday, Minister Wimal championed the herbal smoke in blatant disregard for Government regulations that bans the promotion of cigarettes at media events. In his speech as chief guest, he said: I met the manufacturer about a year ago when he came to see me about his project to produce this unique local cigarette. On the same day I was able to take him to meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. We explained to him the hurdles that we would have to face and received the strength to go ahead with this venture. From then on, though many hurdles came our way, we were able to triumph them all and go forward with the project. This product is based on this countrys raw materials, based on a substance extracted from cinnamon. Smoking this can even help smoking addicts to beat their addiction. I believe it will be a success not only in Lanka but worldwide. Some of our Government institutions, Minister Wimal continued, prompted by big multinational companies have got excited and are turning the law books to see how to put a spanner in our works. But whatever laws the statute books may hold, as the Minister of Industries, I will work with dedication and go ahead with this cigarette project come what may. But as Government health warnings repeatedly warn ad nauseam, smoking can be hazardous to ones well-being. No sooner had Wimal butted his fag, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol declared it will initiate legal action against the newly launched cinnamon-based cigarette brand. It said, the cigarette had been launched without obtaining the necessary approvals which was a violation of the law and the Ayurveda Department and the Health Ministry had informed NATA that they had not granted approval for the cinnamon-based cigarette. On March 10, Wednesday, exactly a week before Wimal launched his new cigarette line, controversial leader of the National Unity Front Azath Salley found himself in hot water after saying on TV he recognised no law but his own Quranic law. One question: Now that Wimal the Lion Heart has stated, a week after Salley, that whatever laws there are in the statute books, it will not stop him as the Industries Minister from going ahead, wonder under what monotheistic law of his own he will operate to see his project to fruition? At the last check, the prevailing policy still was one country, one law.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 13:18:32|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China's Central Military Commission has issued a circular honoring 10 military units and 20 individuals for their outstanding performance in logistics.

Over the past years, the Chinese army has provided combat-oriented assistance and meticulously managed logistics support for military training, national defense and military reform, as well as accomplishing urgent, tough and dangerous tasks, the circular noted.

Calling for actions to follow the examples of the honored units and individuals, the circular urged efforts to build strong and modernized logistics. Enditem
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky celebrated 10 years of marriage in December.

And three months after celebrating their milestone anniversary, Elsa has shared the secret to their long and happy relationship.

The Spanish actress, 44, told Sunday Life that patience, communication and understanding are key for a successful marriage.

Revealed: Chris Hemsworth's (right) wife Elsa Pataky, 44, (left) revealed the secret to their successful 10-year marriage in an interview with this week's Sunday Life magazine

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage; I don't think every couple is perfect,' she said.

'It requires patience, understanding, a lot of conversation, getting to know the other person, to know yourself and what you do wrong.It's about not letting one's pride get in the way.'

Elsa also explained that it's important to spend time together as a couple without the children.

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage': The Spanish actress explained that patience, communication and understanding are essential for a successful marriage

She said: 'We make an effort to do things together without the kids. We make time for ourselves as a couple.'

Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married shortly after in December that year.

They welcomed daughter India Rose in 2012 and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, later in 2014.

Love story: Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married shortly after in December that year. They welcomed daughter India Rose in 2012 and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, later in 2014

The family of five now live in Byron Bay on the New South Wales' North Coast after relocating from Los Angeles.

In December, Chris shared a touching tribute to his wife as they celebrated 10 years of marriage.

'10 years together! 'Looking forward to the advancements of modern medicine and science and enjoying a couple hundred more!' the Thor star wrote.

Elsa also shared an Instagram post to celebrate the couple's momentous occasion.

The Fast and Furious star wrote: 'Going through ten years of photographs was almost as fun as the real thing!'
Sri Lankas tea industry urged to speak with one voice View(s):

Veterans of Sri Lankas tea industry on Wednesday urged various sections of the industry to come together on a joint platform of work, action and policy-making as tea is facing one of its strongest challenges while it marks 150 years of Ceylon Tea.

Making the first call, Anslem Perera, founder and Managing Director of Mlesna Tea  who has been associated with the industry for more than 50 years . told a representative audience of the industry that times have changed in the sector with the biggest challenges being its sustainability and the need to go back to an era when quality teas were produced.

Nowadays the quality of tea has been compromised and this is also because we have too many factories, all trying to get a slice of the quantities which are not enough for 700 factories. We need to reduce the number of factories to 500 from 700 to ensure the tea quality improves and is sustained, he said, at the launch of Wisdom in the leaf, a book on the history of tea by the MJF-Dilmah group held at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce auditorium where the weekly tea auctions take place.

Mr. Perera, whose company was formed 38 years ago and along with Dilmah is a pioneer in producing branded Ceylon Tea instead of being sold in bulk, said that the character of tea and lifestyles have changed dramatically in the plantations. For example, earlier planters stayed in the estates during the weekend with their families in Colombo or elsewhere joining the planters during the weekend. Today, planters go to Colombo (and elsewhere) to be with their families during the weekend and none is on the estates, he said.

Pointing out another fact, he said travelling to the tea estates one feels the strong aroma of tea which is not there anymore. During the Uva and Dimbulla tea seasons, one could feel the strong aroma of tea when visiting the tasting rooms in Colombo; but not anymore because quality has been thrown out of the window in favour of producing quantities compromising quality. There are some factories depending on the dedication of the factory manager that still produce quality teas, he added.

Mr. Perera, a former Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders Association, issued a call for the industry to bind together to meet the challenges of the next 150 years of tea. We operate in isolation  producers, traders, exporters and brokers and we only look for benefits per sector whereas if we work together we remain strong and can make a combined effort to bring back this industry to its earlier glory, he said.

Other messages from him included:

We need to put the lion logo with pride.

We need to be passionate.

We need to create a situation where the next generation would love to get engaged in tea.

We need to get back the glamour for this trade.

In a similar plea, Rohan Fernando, Director of Business Development and Plantations at Aitken Spence Group, said that unions, workers and all sections of the trade need to unite to take this industry forward.

On a day like this we need to dedicate ourselves to unifying the industry. There are people who want this industry to fail. There is so much infighting, Mr. Fernando, a former planter, said, adding: We must rise above our petty jealousies.

Industry veteran Merrill J. Fernando, who is now 90 years and spent 70 years in tea, recalled his humble beginnings and the advice of mother to do good and share wealth with the have-nots. Founder of Dilmah and the MJF Charitable Foundation, Mr. Fernando is Sri Lankas biggest philanthropist with a large slice of the profits (US$25 million spent so far and another Rs.100 million this year for plantation charity) going towards the work of the foundation.

The book is a spin-off of Dilmahs History of Ceylon Tea in collaboration with 20 veteran planters and four eminent scientists. The History of Ceylon tea is a website and historical perspective of Ceylon Tea which has celebrated 150 years in existence.

Auction of book nets Rs. 6.9 m for Dilmah charity work Soon after the book was launched, the auditorium was transformed into an auction centre with various brokers auctioning a copy of the book which drew a tremendous response from buyers. While the first copy was auctioned by broker Asia Siyaka and sold at Rs. 150,000 to Forbes and Walkers, others by other brokers drew even higher bids with one copy going for Rs.500,000 and sold to Dilmah for inhouse use. A total of Rs.2.3 million was received from the sale of 16 copies while Dilmah had pledged to double that amount (Rs.4.6 million), which at the end of the day totalled Rs. 6.9 million. While a total of 1500 copies has been printed with the cost price of each book being Rs.4,500, all the proceeds from the sale will go to Dilmahs charity work in the plantations and elsewhere.
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt is going down memory lane. The actress recently had visited Maldives with her gal pals where she had a time of her life. On Saturday, she took to Instagram and shared a throwback picture from the vacation reminiscing the good times.

Alia posted a picture of herself swimming underwater, exuding grace and oomph in equal measure. The image shows her underwater in a pool, as she swims in a colourful two-piece. Recalling the day when this picture was taken, she wrote, "It was the best day."

On the professional front, Alia has a series of films lined up for release. She will soon be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'.

Alia also has her debut production 'Darlings' coming up, along with Shefali Shah and Vijay Varma. The film will be co-produced by Alia and Shah Rukh Khan.

The actress is currently working on 'Brahamastra', which has was stalled due to the pandemic. Directed by Ayan Mukherji, the film also stars actors Ranbir Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. She also has Karan Johar's period-drama 'Takht', which is a multi-starrer project.

'RRR', a Telugu film, will see Alia in a cameo role. She was last seen in her father Mahesh Bhatt's directorial 'Sadak 2'. The film was a sequel to 1991 release 'Sadak'.
Britain must learn from the tragic lessons of the past 12 months and start preparing for the next pandemic now, world-leading experts and scientists have warned.

Although the UK appears to have turned a corner in its fight against coronavirus, with infections and deaths falling across the four nations, experts told The Independent there was no room for complacency and that more investment was needed in nationwide biodefences.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, whose team developed the Oxford vaccine, said it was vital to listen to the warnings and prepare for the next one, while Professor Peter Horby, a scientific adviser to the government, said rising global connectivity was increasing the odds of future outbreaks.

Because of this, the scientists said, the UK cannot afford to drop its guard once through the worst of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, which has claimed more than 126,000 lives and thrown Britain into economic freefall.

Prof Horby, chair of the governments New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said that memories are short-lived when it comes to serious outbreaks, pointing to the example of Sars which everyone had forgotten about after four or five years.

Seven or eight years later people were saying it could come back but were dismissed, he said. But it hadnt gone and it took 20 years to come back. Its important people have a longer term view of things.

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Professor Sir Mark Walport, who served as chief scientific adviser to the government between 2013 and 2017, said countries tend to focus on the last disaster and not think about the next one.

As calls mount for an inquiry into the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the experts said a root-and-branch overhaul of public health in the UK is needed to better prepare the country for the next major outbreak.

One has to look at the system from top to bottom, said Professor Chris Dye, a former director of strategy at the World Health Organisation.

Both he and Sir Mark said that although Britain had been too slow to close down its borders at the beginning of the pandemic, along with much of western Europe, the state of the UKs public health services meant the country was already disadvantaged heading into crisis.

Locking down is one thing but you need to have the facilities, the instruments, the institutions there in the background and one other way in which the UK has suffered badly is through a lack of investment in public health over the last 10 to 15 years, Prof Dye added. You pay the consequences.

Sir Mark said: Not much funding has been moved into local authorities to provide local health, which has been downgraded by successive governments over very many years.

The experts all highlighted test and trace as an obvious example where a previous lack of public health investment had hindered attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

There are fantastically competent people in the public health network, they just didnt have the resources needed to deliver the test and trace system that we wanted, said Prof Horby.

Instead of pumping money into local councils to scale up tracing teams and integrate university-based and NHS laboratories for testing, resources were funnelled into a centralised system that was part-run by private contractors will little experience of infection control, the scientists said.

Those are some of the big lessons which need to be learnt and carried forward as part of future pandemic preparations, said Prof Dye, adding that it was absolutely vital that an effective test and trace system is kept in place for the decades to come.

It needs to have the plans ready in place to scale up dramatically, and that was one of the really big failures as at the beginning of the pandemic when Public Health England (PHE) was rapidly overwhelmed because they didnt have the ability to have a surge capacity, said Professor Gabriel Scally, a leading public health expert.

Having been starved of 800m in funding since 2012, PHE had 300 contract tracers for the whole of England at the start of the crisis, which meant the agency was capable of processing only five new infections a week due to the network of close contacts linked to each case.

Sir Michael Marmot, a world-leading expert in health inequalities, said that worsening disparities in health between different groups also needed to be addressed to better prepare the UK.

Its very important if we want to protect ourselves from a pandemic we have to do all the right things to reduce inequalities in health, he said, adding that Britains high deprivation levels had exacerbated the countrys mortality rate.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters

Health in February before the pandemic was far from ideal. Life expectancy had more or less stopped increasing and inequalities were increasing, while health for the poorest people outside London was getting worse and life expectancy was going down.

We dont want to go back to where we were before the pandemic.

Covid-19 deaths among minority ethnic communities were shockingly high, said Sir Michael, emphasising the need to tackle the structural racism that leads to systemic disadvantages such as poorer living conditions.

Sir Michael said his most recent report, titled Build Back Fairer: The Covid-19 Marmot Review, had outlined a series of recommendations for the government in the wake of coronavirus.

These include catch-up tuition for students in deprived areas, removing the two-child benefit cap, extending furlough support, funding additional training for young people, raising public health funding from 0.15 per cent to 0.5 per cent of GDP and making increased universal credit payments permanent.

Although the UKs vaccine rollout has been heralded as a major success, both Prof Gilbert and Professor Adrian Hill, director of Oxford Universitys Jenner Institute, insisted there was more that can be done to improve Britains response capabilities when it comes to manufacturing.

Prof Gilbert said the Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (VMIC) in Oxfordshire, which is due to open later this year, will help to increase and streamline the production of supplies, allowing thousands of doses for future trials to be made and then packaged on the same site.

Passing over to VMIC to make larger stocks at least for the clinical trials, that would have been completely game-changing for us, Prof Gilbert said. We had so many difficulties as we had to work with other manufacturers, and theyre great but they do things in a different way.

There are two aspects of manufacturing: making the bulk vaccine and then getting into the vials. A lot of places will do one thing or the other. VMIC will be able to do both. It wont be for commercial supply but probably enough to allow phase three trials to happen.

But even with this increased capacity, Prof Hill said it still might not be enough for the future.

Were almost nowhere on manufacturing in the UK, he said, adding that the Oxford vaccine team had been reliant on a number of companies to ramp up dose production during the early testing stages. Have we got the capacity? No, probably by a factor of 10.

With Covid-19, we have good vaccines but we cant manufacture them fast enough, and people in many countries are waiting and some of them are going to be waiting for a long time. The world cannot allow this situation to play out again in the face of another pathogen which could be more deadly, Prof Hill added.

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If a pathogen comes along with a much higher case fatality rate and has similar transmissibility as coronavirus, we could lose hundreds of millions of people, he said. Its like in the movies. Thats not fantasy. That could happen. How much do we spend on military defence? We need to spend money on biodefence and we can do this.

Prof Gilbert also called on the government and pharmaceutical industry to continue working together in providing support for those regions of the world that have limited manufacturing capabilities, such as Africa and South America.

It needs to be a collaborative approach, she said. If we want to protect the UK population against emerging pathogens, we have to be prepared to see where in the world theyre cropping up and provide support to try and deal with the outbreak quickly, not just sit back and wait and then it comes to us.

All the experts warned that while a respiratory-based disease caused by another coronavirus or influenza virus is most likely to fuel the next pandemic, the government must not lose sight of other possibilities as well.

We need to have a very broad view of what might be possible and not constrain our thinking about what might cause the next big one, said Prof Dye.
Christians should 'reveal character of Christ' in workplace despite societal hostility, author says

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Although there is more opposition to Christian beliefs in today's mainstream society, one author argues that Christians can still be witnesses for Christ in the workplace and be assets to their companies.

Os Hillman, the author of the recently released 31 Decrees of Blessing for Your Work Life and founder of the Marketplace Leaders ministry, discussed how Christians can live out their faith at work and support others who seek to do the same in an interview with The Christian Post.

An author and founder of a ministry advising people on how to live out their faith at work, Hillman stresses the importance of Christians serving as both "witnesses" and "problem solvers" in their workplaces.

Considering many Christians hold secular jobs outside of ministry, Hillman believes how Christs followers conduct themselves in the workplace will "reveal the character of Christ since most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work.

In his new book, Hillman encourages believers to bring the power of God to their workplace.

Hillman frequently referenced "cancel culture" throughout the interview, referring to the phenomenon in which influential voices in American culture seek to silence or punish those with unfashionable views, including Christians.

Hillman offered some advice on how Christians can live out their faith at work while ensuring that they "don't become victims to this whole cultural attack on believers."

"The first thing we need to understand is that you as a follower of Christ are the witness, whether you say anything or not, it's ... how you conduct yourself in your workplace that's going to reveal the character of Christ," Hillman said. "The second thing is that we need to be praying for our co-workers and those above us so that God can work through ... you in their lives."

Hillman urged believers to not only be problem solvers but to be "a valuable employee to your company."

"That's what Jesus did. He was a problem solver," the author stated. "Every time he met somebody, he solved a problem first. And when we solve problems, we have influence."

He said Christians should "stand firm" and use the "legal rights" to ensure that they are "free to be able to exercise" their voice.

"[D]on't use company time to discuss faith issues," he advised. "[Use] your coffee breaks or [free time] before or after work so that you're not accused of stealing time from your employer. And you ... want to honor the company that you work for."

Hillman told CP that he began Marketplace Leaders in the mid-1990s. At the time, he began to see that many Christians had a difficult time understanding how to integrate their faith life in their work life.

So I realized that there wasn't a lot of training for that, and I began sharing through ... a devotional called TGIF  Today God is First  that helps people understand how to integrate their faith life into their work life. And it caught along, he said.

Certainly, in the last 15 years, we've had much more awareness among believers to understand the value of ... bringing Christ to our work [and] life call.

Hillman believes that many Christians remain unaware of their rights to share their faith with colleagues.

"We're entering a time of great persecution for those in the faith. We need to stand and understand our Second ... Amendment Rights and we also need to understand our religious liberties, he added. We are protected by that free speech. But many believers are ignorant about what their protections are. And so we try to help them understand that as well."

Should Christians find themselves in a hostile work environment where they frequently face pushback for trying to live out their faith on the job, Hillman advises they stand their ground as much as possible.

[B]ut if the situation becomes untenable to where you are unable to function or to do your job and you're constantly being derided by people for ... your values and your belief system, you could be forced into ... making a stand legally for that, he argued. Or if you're not a person willing to do that, then you're forced to leave."

"Sometimes, I'll have people say to me, you just don't know what kind of boss I have. And I say, Well, I can't imagine that your boss is more difficult than Joseph's boss or Daniel's boss or Nehemiah's boss, he added. "I mean, they lived ... under some very difficult circumstances where they were persecuted for their faith and persecuted for what they believed in ... at the cost of the potential loss of life had God not intervened and done a miracle in those cases."

When asked how Christians can support faith-based and Christian-owned businesses that frequently become the target of criticism in "cancel culture," Hillman maintained that the Body of Christ must rally around those who are taking a stand."

He specifically cited Christians flocking to the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A as an example. He recalled the time LGBT advocates were pushing a boycott against Chick-fil-A over their objection to CEO Dan Cathys biblical beliefs on sexuality.

But instead, the Christian community came out and supported them in incredible ways, and it was one of the largest sales ... days they've ever had in the history of their company," he stated.

Hillman also praised Hobby Lobby for taking a stand against an Obamacare Health and Human Services mandate requiring businesses to provide employee healthcare plans that cover abortion-inducing drugs.

According to Hillman, believers need to remove their support from companies that stand for unrighteousness." He urged the faithful to "vote with our pocketbook to be able to influence the activities of companies."

Like many other Christians, Hillman expressed concerns about the implications that the Equality Act will have for Christians seeking to live out their faith at work or business owners who incorporate their religious beliefs in their business practices.

The Equality Act would codify discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity into federal law.

"This legislation certainly will remove some of the protections Christians have to be able to refuse employment to those that may be ... involved in a lifestyle that would be contrary to the Christian value system, he said.

Describing the Equality Act as "one of the biggest things that's going to impact Christians," he warned that it "could ultimately lead to the removal of tax deductions to churches that don't embrace same-sex marriage.
A police officer loitered outside a polling site in the tiny Wiregress community of Gordon during the November 3, general election. In Pike County, a Blue Lives Matter sign was posted inside a polling location.

And in Autauga County, a sheriffs deputy was hostile to a poll monitor who was outside and assisting voters legally.

These are specific allegations raised in a Southern Poverty Law Center analysis on the 2020 elections in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia. The report was released last week and includes a section on voter intimidation at the polls. In at least two of the cited cases  Gordon and Pike County  officials deny they were aware of inappropriate activities.

But the SPLC and other civil rights organizations believe intimidation remains a problem, despite strict federal laws that prevent law enforcement  whether on or off-duty  from intimidating anyone at the polls. According to a Brennan Center for Justice report last October, the mere presence of armed officers in polling places could raise reasonable fears among groups frequently the target of racial profiling and police misconduct.

Despite concerns, very few of the hundreds of new election-related legislations introduced in legislatures throughout the country, including Alabama, deal specifically with intimidation at polling sites on Election Day.

The issue is coming up as legislatures, especially in Republican-controlled states like Alabama, focus on strengthening in-person voting as a way to enhance election security. Critics argue they are adding additional obstacles to alternative voting methods such as absentee or mail balloting.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill has said the legislation he backs is aimed at making it easier to vote and harder to cheat.

Most of our election officials simply do not understand that the presence of law enforcement is inherently intimidating to many voters, said Caren Short, senior staff attorney with the Montgomery-based SPLC. Black voters who have experienced police violence  during voting or otherwise  are understandably intimidated by police presence at the polls.

She added, It is difficult for advocates like us and poll monitors to address these forms of intimidation on Election Day because the parties responsible for protecting voters from intimidation often dont acknowledge the presence of law enforcement as an issue in and of itself.

Reports of intimidation

At least one of the specific incidences cited in the SPLC report were denied by town officials in Gordon, an incorporated city of slightly less than 400 residents with its only polling site at City Hall. The small Houston County community southeast of Dothan is 75% Black, with a poverty rate of 27.8%, which is on par with some of the highest poverty rates among larger cities in Alabama.

Two years ago, a Houston County judge found former Gordon Mayor Elbert Melton guilty of two counts of voter fraud. He was found guilty of falsifying absentee ballots.

Local politics continued to be a hot topic in Gordon when, following the Aug. 25 mayoral contest, no winner was declared in the contest pitting incumbent Mayor Shana Ray against Charles Dismukes. For months after the August election, the Gordon council did not meet to certify the election results. Media reports suggested that led to confusion over whether the citys government could continue with its daily operations.

Ray alleged suspicious activity during the mayoral race and called for an investigation. She continued to allege multiple instances of wrongdoing during a recent interview with AL.com, such as machines rejecting ballots and a lack of assistance for illiterate voters who were unable to read the ballot.

Dismukes, who defeated Ray by an 86-47 outcome, said he did not take office until December 10. Ray, he said, was the mayor at the time of the November election and he is unaware if there was intimidation resulting from a police officer standing outside the polling site.

I came in and voted and left, said Dismukes. It seemed like (the police chief) was in and out, but I dont know. We are a small town, and we see him a lot. I dont know if he intimidated anyone or not.

Ray was adamant: Police Chief Jim Mock, who is white, was not intimidating anyone during the election.

He resided in his office at all times, however if an issue did arise, he did come out of his office and addressed the issue, she said.

As far as the SPLCs allegations of a uniformed officer loitering outside the polling site, Ray said, That is not substantiated.

The Pike County incident, in which a Blue Lives Matter sign was on display, was also something unsubstantiated by the countys probate judge.

I have never received any reports of this sign during any Pike County elections since I have served as probate judge of Pike County, said Michael Bunn, the countys probate judge. I am proud of the elections we have run in Pike County and I am proud to report that we have never received a single report from any Pike County voters who has felt intimidated in any way at any Pike County polling place.

The Autauga County sheriffs office did not respond to a request for comment regarding the alleged incident between a deputy and a poll monitor in that county.

Concerns in Mobile

The issues go beyond the few mentioned in the SPLC report.

Bernard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP, said he was aware of two police SUVs at the entrance of polling sites in Mobile, which made some voters uneasy about going to this location. He said the instance made several Black voters unsafe about going int the location.

Officers had blue lights flashing and had been, to her account, stationed there for at least several hours, said Simelton.

He also said that police had to be called to a voting site to restrict the dissemination of campaign material for a Black candidate, which led to a conversation with Police Chief Lawrence Battiste.

A spokeswoman with the Mobile Police Department said the role of police during elections is with traffic flow, and because of that, the chief is not able to provide comments.

Simelton sees things differently.

These and other acts are meant to intimidate voters especially African American voters and these type of incidents need to be addressed to law enforcement so that voters will not be intimidated by law enforcement, said Simelton.

The ACLU of Alabama also has concerns.

No one should fear an encounter with police when they go to exercise their voting rights, and yet we know this happens during elections in Alabama all the time, said JaTaune Bosby, the groups executive director. Instead of trying to decrease participation in elections by banning curbside voting and limiting absentee options, the Alabama Legislature and Secretary of State could be working toward improving trainings and enforcing boundaries so that all voters feel safe and empowered to participate in our democracy, not just a select few.

Preserve good order

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill speaks during the "We the People" rally on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at the Town Center Park in Spanish Fort, Ala. Attendees showed support for President Donald Trump and first responders and rallied for election integrity. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Merrill, the states top election official, said his office works closely with election officials in all 67 counties to see that adequate guidance, support, and education is provided. He said there have been plenty of resources provided to the counties and municipalities including, but not limited to, county and municipality poll worker guides, poll worker training videos, poll worker recruitment tools, and more.

He said that plenty of training is provided.

We provide countless training sessions for local election officials on topics such as cybersecurity, election best practices, registering voters, and more, said Merrill.

Merrill cited Alabama state law that requires county sheriffs or their deputies to preserve good order on Election Day by patrolling polling places to see that voting occurs without interference or interruption.

Neither election officials nor law enforcement officers should be blamed for simply doing their jobs, he said.

Short, with the SPLC, said Merrill is correct in that sheriffs have a role in election administration under Alabama law. But she said the law doesnt address city police and cited the issue in Gordon.

She said the training doesnt filter out to everyone and cited the instance in Autauga County in which she said one of her SPLC colleagues  who was at a voting site conducting legal and routing election monitoring outside a polling location  was later followed and detained by a sheriffs deputy for 20 to 30 minutes and questioned.

The SPLC report, she said, calls for robust training programs for officials, standardized election administration policies, and a clear system of accountability to ensure no one is wrongly deprived of the right to vote.

The same report also suggested that, overall, Alabamas Election Day ran fairly smoothly.

Merrill, who criticized the SPLCs report and called it a tabloid, credited probate judges, sheriffs, circuit clerks, absentee election managers, registrars, poll workers, candidates, and voters who worked to see that Alabamas electoral process was successful, safe and secure.

He also has repeatedly touted the increases in the number of people who have been registered since he took office in 2015, from 1.8 million that year to 3.6 million. He said the numbers are unprecedented and unparalleled in the history of Alabama.

Campaign free zones

Campaigns set up 30 feet from the front entrance of the Daphne Civic Center on November 6, 2018, during Election Day. Alabama has one of the more "liberal" electioneering laws in the South which allows campaigns to be on full display close to the entrance doors of polling places during elections. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

At least one piece of legislation addressing voter intimidation -- which has long had Merrills backing and support from some Republicans -- has been introduced. It involves tweaking the states 30-foot limit for electioneering from the entrance of a polling sites door.

Two pieces of legislation  SB233 and HB345  prohibits campaigning less than 30 feet from the exterior door or doors of the building in which the voting machines are located.

The proposals do not greatly alter the distance of Alabamas campaign free zone -- the distance in which electioneering can occur from the entrances of the voting sites.

Alabama, even if one of legislative measures is adopted, will continue to have among the most laxed restrictions among Southern states. A handful of states, such as Florida and Tennessee, restrict campaigning within 100 feet of a polling sites entrance. Campaign activity is restricted within 150 feet from the entrances of voting sites in Mississippi. In South Carolina, the restriction is 200 feet. In Louisiana, its illegal to campaign within 600 feet of a polling site.

The tighter campaign free zone can often lead to small gatherings and tailgates on Election Day that are hosted by political candidates and occur in nearby parking lots as voting is in full tilt. The activity can also be sometimes viewed as intimidation, especially during local elections in smaller communities when candidates for office are standing near the entrance of the polling site.

State Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, and sponsor of SB233, said he would support a greater distance if one was offered up.

He said that most voters have likely made up their minds long before entering the polling place, but added that especially in smaller communities, where people know everyone, it would probably be intimidating.

Givhan said his legislation would end the discretionary decision on where to begin measuring from 30 feet out.

We used to walk into the front door (of the polling place) but now because of COVID, we go through the back door and they changed the set up, so where does the 30 feet start? Does it start from the front door? Givhan said. There are a lot of issues we get into with regard to election days, and this isnt something our election officials should be getting into debates over.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Somehow, they didnt see it coming.

Within weeks of Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, the Biden administration had reversed many of the most maligned Trump-era immigration policies, including deporting children seeking asylum who arrived alone at the U.S.-Mexico border and forcing migrants to wait in Mexico as they made their case to stay in the United States.

While the administration was working on immigration legislation to address long-term problems, it didnt have an on-the-ground plan to manage a surge of migrants. Career immigration officials had warned there could be a surge after the presidential election and the news that the Trump policies, widely viewed as cruel, were being reversed.

Now officials are scrambling to build up capacity to care for some 14,000 migrants now in federal custody  and more likely on the way  and the administration finds itself on its heels in the face of criticism that it should have been better prepared to deal with a predictable predicament.

They should have forecasted for space (for young migrants) more quickly, said Ronald Vitiello, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and chief of Border Patrol who has served in Republican and Democratic administrations. And I think in hindsight, maybe they should have waited until they had additional shelter space before they changed the policies.

The situation at the southern border is complex.

Since Bidens inauguration, the U.S. has seen a dramatic spike in the number of people encountered by border officials. There were 18,945 family members and 9,297 unaccompanied children encountered in February  an increase of 168% and 63%, respectively, from the month before, according to the Pew Research Center. That creates an enormous logistical challenge because children, in particular, require higher standards of care and coordination across agencies.

Still, the encounters of both unaccompanied minors and families are lower than they were at various points during the Trump administration, including in spring 2019. That May, authorities encountered more than 55,000 migrant children, including 11,500 unaccompanied minors, and about 84,500 migrants traveling in family units.

Career immigration officials, overwhelmed by the earlier surges, have long warned the flow of migrants to the border could ramp up again.

Biden administration officials have repeatedly laid blame for the current situation on the previous administration, arguing that Biden inherited a mess resulting from President Donald Trumps undermining and weakening of the immigration system. The White House says it has taken several steps to address the situation.

Migrant children are sent from border holding cells to other government facilities until they are released to a sponsor. That process was slowed considerably by a Trump administration policy of enhanced vetting, in which details were sent to immigration officials and some sponsors wound up getting arrested, prompting some to fear picking up children over worries of being deported. Biden has reversed that policy, so immigration officials hope the process will speed up now.

The White House also points to Bidens decision to deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known for helping communities in the aftermath of a natural disaster, to support efforts to process the growing number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the border. HHS announced Saturday that it was opening an additional facility in West Texas to help with influx of unaccompanied minors. The facility will initially accommodate about 500 children but can be expanded to house 2,000.

Biden and others have pushed back on the notion that whats happening now is a crisis.

We will have, I believe, by next month enough of those beds to take care of these children who have no place to go, Biden said in a recent ABC News interview, when asked whether his administration should have anticipated the surge in young unaccompanied migrants as well as families and adults. He added, Lets get something straight though. The vast majority of people crossing the border are being sent back ... immediately sent back.

PERFECT STORM

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is pictured Wednesday, Feb.17, 2021 outside the Manor Road Post Office. (Staten island Advance/Paul Liotta)

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said in an appearance on Fox News Sunday that she believes the presidents policies lack compassion.

What youre seeing is the Biden administration undoing President Trumps policies that clearly worked in stemming the tide of illegal immigration, Malliotakis said. And his policy -- President Bidens policy -- is very lacking of compassion...because theyre encouraging the migrants to take perilous journeys...and the president has incentivized that.

She also talked about thousands of people caught by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol trying to enter the U.S. who had previously been deported for criminal convictions, although without including details of what time period she was referring to for those captures.

The U.S. Border Patrol publishes that data on its website, and shows that more than 4,000 such people have been arrested year-to-date, although the tracking for this Fiscal Year began on Oct. 1 2020, meaning that most of the period being measured fell at the end of Trumps presidency.

Data on the website is available dating back to 2016, and shows decreases in arrests of people with criminal convictions each Fiscal Year, until this one, which is currently tracking to reach 2018 levels. The data does not specify whether the people were captured entering at the Mexico border or elsewhere.

Adam Isacson, an analyst at the human rights advocacy group Washington Office on Latin America, said Republicans insistence that there is a crisis at the border is overwrought, but that the surge in migrants was predictable.

He called it a perfect storm of factors: hurricanes that hit Central America last fall; the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic; typical seasonal migration patterns; the thousands of Central American migrants already stuck at the border for months; and the persistent scourge of gang violence afflicting Northern Triangle countries  Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Isacson said the Biden administration may have been two or three weeks slow in preparing for the increase in unaccompanied young migrants and the subsequent housing crunch after announcing in early February it would stop deporting unaccompanied youths.

But Isacson added that the bottleneck was also affected by the lack of cooperation by the Trump administration with the Biden transition.

The Biden administration announced on Feb. 2 it would no longer uphold the Trump administration policy of automatically deporting unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. Two weeks later, the White House announced plans to admit 25,000 asylum-seekers to the U.S. who had been forced to remain in Mexico.

In subsequent weeks, the number of young migrants crossing without adults skyrocketed. Both Customs and Border Protection, and Health and Human Services officials have struggled to house the influx of children. Immigration officials say the number of adult migrants and families trying to enter the U.S. illegally also has surged.

Border patrol officials had encountered more than 29,000 unaccompanied minors since Oct. 1, nearly the same number of youths taken into custody for all of the previous budget year, administration officials say.

Getting capacity up to deal with the unaccompanied minors is critical, but the numbers just dont bear out to pointing to a crisis, Isacson said.

That hasnt stopped Republicans -- including Trump and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California -- from pillorying Biden.

Its more than a crisis. This is a human heartbreak, said McCarthy, who led a delegation of a dozen fellow House Republicans to El Paso, Texas, on Monday.

Biden is also facing criticism from Republicans that his administration has sent mixed messages.

Critics have focused on public comments from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who earlier this month said the administrations message to migrants was dont come now and a slip by Roberta Jacobson, the White Houses lead adviser on the border, who said in Spanish during a recent briefing the border is not closed, before correcting herself.

The president and other administration officials in recent days have stepped up efforts to urge migrants not to come. Embassies in Northern Triangle countries are airing public service announcements underscoring the dangers of making the trek north.

Eric Hershberg, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University, said Bidens team faces a powerful counter-narrative as it attempts to persuade desperate Central Americans to stay put: chatter on social media from migrants who successfully made it across the border and smugglers who insist that now is the ideal time.

Hershberg cites a Honduran friends reaction to U.S. warnings that migrants could face danger on the journey: You know, you dont need to go with such uncertainty. You can just stay here and know that youll be raped or killed.

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE REPORTING WAS USED IN THIS REPORT
The major route that crosses the park from east to west has been closed to cars since last April, and street safety advocates want the city to keep it that way.

Video Transcript

- Street safety advocates rallied in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park today to make JFK Drive permanently car-free. The major route that crosses the park from east to west has been closed to cars since last April. Advocates want Mayor Breed and the board of supervisors to keep it that way. It has been a popular spot for walkers, runners, and families to enjoy outdoor recreation while safely social distancing throughout the pandemic.

And--
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been spotted driving around California in a 170,000 Range Rover - just like the ones favoured by royals from the Queen and Prince Philip to the Cambridges.

However, while the company has a lease agreement with the royal household which allows them to use a fleet of its new vehicles, it is not known if the couple still make use of this given they are no longer working royals.

An Invictus Games source told the Mail On Sunday that the couple are not entitled to a freebie vehicle via the car manufacturer's sponsorship of an upcoming event, planned for The Hague next year.

Prince Harry and Meghan said they had been 'cut off' financially from the royal family after stepping down from Royal life last year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 170,000 Range Rover, which they have been driving in near their home in Los Angeles, California, is similar to models favoured by the royal family

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey

In the couple's Oprah Winfrey interview the Duke of Sussex said they had to go for Netflix and Spotify deals  worth an estimated 80million - to pay for his security after his family cut him off.

Asked about the money-spinning partnerships, Harry told Miss Winfrey: 'My family literally cut me off financially and I had to afford security for us.

'But I've got what my mum left me and, without that, we would not have been able to do this.'

Before he stepped back from his royal duties, Harry received the vast majority of his income from the Duchy of Cornwall  a portfolio of property and financial investments managed by Prince Charles.

The Queen drives her Range Rover as she attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2019

The Duke of Cambridge drives his Range Rover as he arrives to the Jerudong Park Trophy charity polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club in 2017

Prince Anne (left) leaves The Blue Cross' Animal Adoption Centre in Burford, Oxfordshire in her Range Rover and Prince Charles (right) drives a model in north Warwickshire

The Duke of Edinburgh stands By Range Rover after competing in the carriage driving competition at The Royal Windsor Horse Show

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

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.

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 conversations between Prince Harry, his brother and their father Prince Charles were 'not productive'.

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.

CBS presenter Gayle King said she had spoken to the Sussexes after their interview this month

'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.'

The Cambridges have not discussed the rift the interview has caused, although a week ago Prince William was forced to speak out at another royal event and publicly hit back against Harry and Meghan's race claims, insisting, 'We're very much not a racist family'.

It came after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said racism drove them out of Britain in their two-hour CBS interview.

Prince Harry also said he felt let down by his father and wanted to heal the relationship but 'there's a lot of hurt that's happened'.
She's delivered some of the best one-liners and fights in Australian reality TV history.

But it appears as if Gina Liano has called it quits and won't be returning for a sixth season.

According to New Idea, despite producers managing to convince the barrister to return for season five, she's made it clear it'll be her last.

End of an era! Gina Liano, 55, (pictured) has reportedly QUIT Real Housewives of Melbourne and won't be returning for a sixth season - leaving producers scrambling to find a new lead

'This season is [her] swan song,' a television insider revealed.

It's understood Matchbox Pictures have been tasked with a secret mission of finding a new 'leading woman' to front the show.

According to the publication, who appeared on the show since it premiered in 2014, will depart the series to make room for its new additions.

Her swan song! According to New Idea , despite producers managing to convince the barrister to return for season five, she's made it clear it'll be her last

In February 2020, it was announced Cherry Dipietrantonio, Kyla Kirkpatrick and Anjali Rao would be joining the reality show.

Despite signing on for season five, the outspoken reality star explained she didn't want to leave her 'peaceful' home life.

'It's a big responsibility having a public profile, even though I swear and carry on and maybe act a bit irresponsible,' the barrister previously told NewsCorp.

Real deal: Gina and Lydia will be joined by three new cast members and other fan favourites. Pictured from left to right: Anjali Rao, Gamble Breaux, Janet Roach, Gina Liano, Lydia Schiavello, Cherry Dipietrantonio and Kyla Kirkpatrick

She added: 'I got back into my own life, it was peaceful and I quite enjoyed it and I was hesitant to come back only for that reason.

'I think there might be a time where I don't come back just because my life will keep moving.'

Gina had previously told Foxtel showrunners she wouldn't return to RHOM if her rival Sally Bloomfield remained a cast member.

Foxtel's executive director of television Brian Walsh told The Kyle and Jackie O Show back in September last year that Gina has demanded her on-screen nemesis be axed.

'Where we left it last season is that Gina said she would not come back to the show if Sally was on the series, and that has taken us some time to resolve how we move forward,' Brian said at the time.

Back in June, it was announced season five would be resumed filming in January 2021.
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Crowds in Miami Beach as curfew introduced (REUTERS)

A state of emergency was declared for Miami Beach on Saturday with the citys mayor saying spring break crowds were more than we can handle, as a curfew was announced.

Dan Gelber, the beach citys Democratic mayor, told CNN that there were too many people and a general level of chaos and disorder on the streets of Miami Beach.

"Too many are coming, really, without the intention of following the rules, and the result has been a level of chaos and disorder that is just something more than we can endure," said Mr Gelber.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials screened more air passengers than at any time since the start of the Covid pandemic on Friday and Saturday.

Over 1.4 million Americans flew on each of those days, with thousands said to have arrived at Miami Beach and other warm destinations for the traditional spring break.

Officials from the city announced a curfew for the district from 8pm to 6am on Saturday, as thousands reportedly went without face coverings, and others were arrested.

Read more:

These crowds are in the thousands, city manager Raul Aguila said of the crowds, and as we hit the peak of the peak of spring break, we are quite simply overwhelmed.

Mr Gelber added that crowds were wall to wall by Saturday, after the situation started to become disorderly on the streets of Miami Beach on Friday.

A video shared to Twitter shortly after the introduction of the curfew appeared to show crowds flee as police sprayed pepper balls. Other videos showed crowds dancing on the streets.

The curfew will reportedly last for 72 hours, although officials could extend it if crowds continue to ignore restrictions and gather in significant numbers, officials suggested.

Story continues

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Covid cases in Florida surpassed 2 million on Saturday, with an average of 4,465 cases being reported per day, according to analysis by The New York Times, for the past week.

While infection rates are far higher than for the previous spring break, the states Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has taken a pro-business stance towards restrictions.

It means that officials in Miami Beach have found difficulty policing local policies on face coverings, and other Covid related restrictions.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meanwhile, warn that if people must travel, they increase their chances of infection.
Former TikTok India head Nikhil Gandhi has been redesignated as Head - Middle East, Africa, Turkey & South Asia. The redesignation comes in the wake of the company folding up its India operations following the central government's diktat to ban 59 Chinese apps permanently.



According to Gandhi's LinkedIn account, he has taken charge as Head - Middle East, Africa, Turkey & South Asia of TikTok beginning January. He joined as TikTok India & South Asia head in October 2019.



Byte Dance-owned short video platform TikTok had shut down its India business following the government's recent directive to extend the ban on Chinese apps. The move affected 2000 employees of TikTok in India.



In an internal mail, TikTok CEO Vanessa Pappas and VP of Global Business Blake Chandlee had informed the employees that the downsizing will be carried out with immediate effect. They also said that there is uncertainty about the resumption of TikTok's operations in India.



We initially hoped that this situation would be short-lived and that we would be able to resolve this quickly. Seven months later, we find that has not been the case. Many of you have patiently waited to hear how this would play out, which has been very stressful. Thank you for your continued belief and trust in us, Pappas and Chandlee said in an internal memo to employees.



As you can imagine, a decision of this magnitude is not easy. For the last several months, our management team has worked tirelessly to avoid having to separate anyone from the company. Weve cut expenses, while still paying benefits. However, we simply cannot responsibly stay fully staffed while our apps remain un-operational. We are fully aware of the impact that this decision has for all of our employees in India, and we empathize with our team."



As the head of TikTok India, he led the development of TikTok's products and operations to achieve its global mission of inspiring creativity and bringing joy. His primary focus was on strengthening TikTok's presence in the country and adding value to India's growing digital community, every day.



Before joining TikTok, he served as the President & COO of Times Network driving the monetisation strategy and overall business growth of the company. He previously served as vice-president at The Walt Disney Company.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
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We live in an incredibly anxious and depressed culture here in America, and the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest and divisive politics have further exacerbated this issue. According to a 2020 report from Mental Health America, more than 47 million adults in our nation are experiencing some form of mental illness. My home state of Texas is one of the lowest ranking in the nation for quality of mental health and treatment for mental illness in adults.



Moreover, across America, approximately 4.4 million children have been diagnosed with anxiety and another 1.9 million have been diagnosed with depression. Most concerning, suicide has become the second leading cause of death among people 10 to 34 years of age.



We have an established mental health crisis on our hands. Sadly, the Christian church has often neglected to respond in a loving and supportive way to those who are struggling with mental health issues. Im heartbroken to say many people who have sought help and hope within the church have been turned away, shamed or told  sometimes by well-meaning pastors or lay counselors  they just need to pray harder or have more faith.

2021 is a new year, and its time for the Christian church to respond to this crisis in a new way.



In 2019, Lifeway Research surveyed pastors, congregants and their families about mental illness and the church. The survey revealed nearly half of pastors (49%) rarely or never speak to their church in sermons or large group settings about acute mental illness. Additionally, close to one in four individuals surveyed indicated they had either stopped attending church, had not found a church to attend or had changed churches based on the churchs response to mental health issues.



I believe the churchs failure lies not in ill intention but largely in misinformation and lack of proper training. While there is a spiritual aspect to mental health that churches and pastors can and should address, we often have missed the clinical reality of mental health.



Complicating the matter is the fact that in my generation (Baby Boomers) mental health has often been viewed as a taboo subject to be discussed only at home, if at all. We were raised to believe that if you are a follower of Jesus, youre not supposed to struggle with mental health, depression or anxiety. I remember thinking this way when I was a young Christian, and it took several painful experiences over the course of my life for me to grasp what its like to struggle with mental health.



My father was brutally murdered by a shoplifter at his store when I was 20 years old. Losing him in such a violent way launched me into one of the darkest valleys Ive ever had to walk through. At one of my lowest points I seriously doubted Gods existence.



Then, 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The treatment and recovery periods were grueling and left me exhausted both physically and emotionally. Anxiety and depression took hold. I couldnt sleep. I couldnt eat. I couldnt enjoy the things I once loved. I felt like a dead man walking, and I wondered if I was ever going to make it. Some Sundays I had to drag myself to the pulpit.



It took me more than a year to come out of that darkness. I sought the help of professional counselors who recommended different forms of treatment that were effective in my battle with depression. The church also played an indispensable role, caring, loving and encouraging me during my hardest days. This is what the apostle Paul exhorted us to do in Galatians 6:20, Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the love of Christ (ESV).

If we are followers of Jesus, we are tasked with not only caring deeply about the spiritual health of others, but their mental, emotional and physical health as well, for they are all tied together.



The good news is the church is uniquely equipped to care for people struggling with mental illness. As a local community of faith called to love one another, it acts as a crucial support system for all who are in need. Many of the Bibles teachings  such as forgiving those who have wronged us, recognizing the inherent value of every human life and giving thanks for the blessings we have  are used by professional counselors to help people cope with and overcome depression and anxiety.



The church has the potential to change the tide of the mental illness epidemic rising in our nation, but for this to happen we need to start talking about the issues. We need to equip ourselves so we can offer effective, practical care for people who need healing. This is why Prestonwood has started Life Recovery Ministry, a program to help people cope and heal from emotional, physical, relational and spiritual wounds caused by illness, addiction and abuse. Life Recovery Ministry hosted The River Conference Mar. 19 and 20, to address mental health stigma, domestic abuse, sexual healing and more. This event featured experts in psychology and religion and is open for in-person and online attendance.

We the church can no longer stand on the sidelines while people are suffering and hurting. We must step up and step in to end this critical cycle, before its too late.
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FSM President David Panuelo, center, front row seated, poses for a photo with the Inspiring Womens Advancement project launch attendees in Pohnpei on March 18, 2021.

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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.

Source:The Christian Post
New Delhi, March 21 : "It Is Dangerous To Speak Up In India Today", is the headline of a story in Time magazine which talks about what the resignations of 2 academics show about freedom of expression under the Narendra Modi government.

Two prominent academics stepped down from their positions at one of India's most respected universities this week, shining a spotlight on the state of academic freedom and a widening crackdown on dissent under the Hindu nationalist ruling party, the Time magazine report said.

Pratap Bhanu Mehta resigned from his position as a Professor of Political Science at Ashoka University near Delhi on Monday. In his letter of resignation, reproduced online Thursday, Mehta suggested that he had been forced to step down because of indirect pressure by the Indian government, the report said.

Arvind Subramanian, an Economics Professor at Ashoka who once served as Chief Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also resigned from his position on Thursday in solidarity with Mehta, calling his treatment an affront to "academic expression and freedom".

The report said the resignations are the latest example of what observers say is a tightening of academic freedoms, and dissent more broadly, driven by the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP.

In 2020, the US NGO Freedom House down ranked India's academic freedom score from three to two out of a possible four, "due to rising intimidation in recent years that is aimed at controlling academic discussion of politically sensitive topics".

In his resignation letter, Mehta suggested that he had been forced to step down because of indirect pressure on Ashoka University from the Indian government. "After a meeting with (the university's) Founders it has become abundantly clear to me that my association with the university may be considered a political liability," he wrote. "My 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." The founders of Ashoka, a privately-funded university established in 2014 as India's answer to the Ivy League, had told Mehta in a meeting that his criticism of the Indian government was threatening the planned expansion of the university, according to an Ashoka employee with knowledge of the conversation, who requested anonymity out of concern for their job, the report said.
The Chinese government has banned the Tesla cars from entering its complexes as it believes that the cars have cameras installed on them which could be used for spying, the move is said to be the latest sign of China's increasing scrutiny of the US-made electric cars amid tensions with Washington.

The Chinese military has banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes over security concerns stating that the Tesla cars have cameras installed on the vehicles. According to reports, China is to place restrictions on state officials using Tesla vehicles citing that the cars could be used for spying. the Chinese state is going to bar the military personnel and the government officials from using Tesla cars as it is under the belief that the cameras installed inside the vehicle can be used for recording live footage and to collect important data which can be sent to the US.

As per reports, Tesla responded that the companys privacy protection policy complies with Chinese laws and regulations and the company attaches great importance to the privacy of its customers.

Responding to Chinas claim of spying cameras on Tesla cars, CEO Elon Musk said that his company would shut down if its cars were used to spy. he further said that theres a very strong incentive for the company to be very confidential with any information. Musk, while talking to a Chinese forum during a virtual meet on Saturday asserted that Tesla would shut down if it were ever used to spy in China or anywhere.

Also Read: Turkeys Erdogan quits European Treaty Designated To Protect Women From Violence

The restriction and ban of Tesla cars surfaced as the top Chinese officials were holding a contentious meeting in Alaska, the first-ever interpersonal interaction since Joe Biden took office as the President of the USA.

Musk urged to form a greater mutual trust between the two countries which are also two of the biggest economies, at the China Development Forum which is a high-level business gathering hosted by a foundation under the state council.

Also Read: European Nations Signal Opposition Against Chinas Intimidation in South China Sea
Several death threats have been levelled against Tanaiste Leo Varadkar in recent weeks, leading to him now requiring round-the-clock armed garda protection, the Sunday Independent can reveal.

Senior sources say the deaths threats are being taken "extremely seriously" and gardai are "responding appropriately" in terms of providing protection to Mr Varadkar.

It is the responsibility of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) to provide armed protection in the form of a full-time SDU driver to the Tanaiste of the day.

However, due to a slew of recent threats, including some of a homophobic nature, Mr Varadkar now warrants a full-time close protection detail from the SDU, it is understood. This entails a 24/7 armed garda detail, separate to his garda driver.

For security reasons, this newspaper cannot report specifics on the exact nature of the Tanaiste's level of protection.

It is understood the recent death threats he received were "particularly nasty" and came from a number of different individuals. Some people who made the threats have been identified as having the potential to attempt to cause the Tanaiste physical harm, according to sources.

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Some of those involved are believed to be far-right extremists, who hold homophobic views as well as being anti-lockdown and anti-facemask advocates.

But not all of the death threats are from the far-right, a source added, and while many of the threats have been made online, this is "not the only way" the threats have been issued.

One security source explained: "For obvious reasons, not much can be divulged as this is a security issue of national importance. But it is fair to say gardai do not ramp up any member of Government's armed security to this level unless there is good reason. This is being taken extremely seriously."

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin is also protected by a close protection detail from the SDU. But this paper understands that the Tanaiste's level of protection is currently "higher" than the Taoiseach's because of the threat level against him.

While is it not unusual for members of Government to receive threats, each is evaluated on its own merits to determine whether it is credible.

"A full evaluation of every threat received is carried out. Some of the threats against the Tanaiste are coming from people who are already on Garda radar because of their involvement in extremism linked to some of the recent anti-lockdown protests," added a source.

A spokesman for the Tanaiste declined to comment when contacted about the death threats, saying: "Security arrangements for all ministers is a matter for An Garda Siochana."

A spokesman for Garda Headquarters said it could not comment on the security arrangements for VIPs, which includes members of Government.

SDU bodyguards are also tasked with protecting President Michael D Higgins, with an armed team accompanying him on official visits around Ireland and internationally. The Justice Minister, Chief Justice of Ireland and Director of Public Prosecutions are also provided with a full-time armed SDU driver.

All Government ministers and former presidents and taoisigh are provided with armed protection and transport when their security is deemed under threat, otherwise it is reserved for official State occasions.

Ambassadors and high-ranking foreign diplomats in Ireland are also given varying levels of protection by the SDU when their safety or security is deemed "at risk". Foreign diplomatic embassies and residences are also protected by the unit, including that of the United States, United Kingdom and Israel.

Separately, a number of threats of violence have been made by loyalist paramilitaries against Mr Varadkar, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney as the Brexit fallout intensifies. One senior UDA member told this newspaper that "nobody is off limits".

Loyalists have threatened to launch "an incendiary campaign and sending letter bombs to Irish politicians" if the Northern Ireland protocol isn't scrapped.

"If Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar don't get rid of the protocol, they will face the wrath of loyalism," said one loyalist.

Another convicted terrorist has warned that loyalists are incensed by the Irish Sea Border and are blaming the Irish Government.

Described as the "new enemies of Ulster", loyalists have also warned that if the politicians ignore them, "the more that fury will grow".

Last week Mr Varadkar's home address was scrawled across a wall - weeks after a death threat appeared elsewhere in Belfast, while Mr Coveney's home address was also painted on to a brick wall.

A senior PSNI source said the organisation has been sharing information with gardai on the intimidation and threats directed at Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney.

"We take this very seriously. We have statutory obligations that when something like that goes up, we have to share the information with our partners. In respect of the graffiti about Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney, we have already spoken to the guards."

The police officer said they will be monitoring the threat level against the politicians and reporting to their colleagues in the south. Other PSNI sources also describe loyalist threats as "bluster."

The Loyalist Communities Council - which represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando - wrote to British prime minister Boris Johnson earlier this month to withdraw its support for the Good Friday Agreement, which effectively ended the Troubles in 1998. David Campbell, who chairs the group, says the "blame" for deepening tensions should be placed on Dublin.

"Varadkar and Coveney, in our view, were malicious and mischievous in misrepresenting the Brexit agreement to the European Union as completely one-sided," he says.

He claims the island is now "approaching a very dangerous situation". "Dangerous in that unless it is dealt with politically, politics will be deemed ineffective and people will therefore look to other means to demonstrate."

When contacted about the threats, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said he would not be commenting.
RTHK: Protester shot dead in Myanmar, Australians held

Security forces in Myanmar shot dead an anti-coup protester Sunday, as the Australian government confirmed it is assisting two nationals who were detained after trying to leave Yangon.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since soldiers ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month, triggering nationwide protests demanding a return to democracy.

Security forces have responded with lethal force, using live rounds along with tear gas and rubber bullets in an effort to bring the demonstrations to heel.

One man was killed on Sunday in the central city of Monywa and at least two people were injured in a clash with security forces at barricades, two witnesses told AFP.

"I saw people carrying a man who was shot and killed," a local resident told AFP, adding the body was taken to a local hospital.

"They used stun grenades and tear gas... later they started shooting. I don't know if the man, who died on the spot after he was hit on his head, was killed from rubber bullets or live rounds."

Australia's foreign ministry confirmed Sunday it was providing consular assistance to two of its nationals in Myanmar.

"Due to our privacy obligations we will not provide further detail," a spokeswoman said.

It is understood business consultants Matthew O'Kane and Christa Avery, a dual Canadian-Australian citizen, are under house arrest after trying to leave the country on a relief flight Friday.

The couple run a bespoke consultancy business in Yangon.

A third Australian, economist Sean Turnell, an advisor to Suu Kyi, who was arrested a week after the putsch also remains in custody.

Weekend violence failed to deter hundreds of doctors and nurses donning hard hats and brandishing posters of Suu Kyi as they marched at dawn through Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city and cultural capital.

Later other demonstrators placed protest signs in pot plants along a street.

By afternoon there were barricades set on fire, gunfire in the streets and at least four people injured, a doctor in Mandalay said.

Mandalay has been the scene of some of the worst violence from police and soldiers since the coup.

The protests came a day after a local monitoring group confirmed the killing of four protesters at the hands of security forces around the country.

Two of the deaths were in Yangon, the country's commercial hub, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Mourners in the city laid to rest a 26-year-old who died Saturday while in custody after being shot and arrested the previous night.

Myo Myint Aung's mother cried over the coffin at the funeral service, saying that her son was still a child in her eyes.

"I am really proud of what you did for democracy and this country," she said, in a video of the funeral service posted on social media.

"You are a real hero."

A funeral was also held for mother-of-three Mar La Win, 38, who died earlier this weekend in the central city of Pakokku along the Irrawaddy river.

"My family is broken now," her husband Myint Swe told AFP as the red flag of Suu Kyi's political party was draped on her coffin surrounded by flowers.

Elsewhere the heartbroken family of 15-year-old Aung Kaung Htet, who was shot in the forehead at a protest at Tamwe, Yangon, paid tribute to the teenager.

Mourners held up the three-finger salute -- a symbol of defiance -- at his funeral.

Overnight, protesters staged a candlelit protest in the northern town of Kale and left signs on the street calling for United Nations intervention to stop the violence in Myanmar.

Nearly 250 deaths have been confirmed in the weeks since the coup, the AAPP reported, although the true toll could be higher.

More than 2,300 others have been arrested, the group said.

International condemnation by Washington, Brussels and the United Nations has so far failed to halt the bloodshed.

European Union foreign ministers are expected to approve sanctions against 11 junta officials at a meeting on Monday. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Many wind power projects are being developed at a time when the transmission line has become overloaded. As a result, there could be difficulty selling power.

Dozens of wind power projects in Huong Hoa district in Quang Tri province, for example, are being executed in a hurry to be able to enjoy the preferential FIT (feed in tariff) of VND2,000 per kwh.

Huong Hoa has become the main wind power site of the province. There are 22 communes and towns in the district, and half of the communes have wind power investors.

Under Decision 39/2018, the tariffs are VND1,927 per kwh, or 8.5 cents for onshore, and VND2,223, or 9.8 cents, for offshore projects.

The current FIT applied to wind power stipulated in Decision 39 will expire on November 1, 2021.

Meanwhile, a report of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) released at a recent working session with Quang Tri Peoples Committee showed that the power plants, once operational, may not be able to sell their electricity output.

The total capacity of electricity sources in Quang Tri province which received approval from the Government is 4,724 MW.

In addition, another 12,000 MW of potential capacity is being considered in the eighth national power development plan.

While more and more wind power projects are being developed, the existing transmission system has not been upgraded, which had led to risks.

In an effort to use up wind power capacity, the Lao Bao 220 KV transformer station and the Lao Bao  Dong Ha 220 KV transmission line projects have been adjusted to scale.

However, the transmission capacity of these works is still limited, which doesnt allow the use of all the potential electricity output of the plants in the western part of Quang Tri province (in Da Krong and Huong Hoa districts).

The total additional capacity of renewable power sources in this part has reached 1,400 MW, exceeding the capability of EVNs existing transmission works and works under implementation.

EVN estimates that because of overloading in the inner-region 200KV/110KV network and the overloading of the 500 KV transmission line section, no more than 309MW out of 1,440 MW, or 21 percent of renewable power output, will be used this year.

The figures will be 404 MW/1,440 MW (28 percent) by 2023, and 763 MW/1,440 MW (53 percent)

In order to use up the capacity of the approved projects and develop more renewable power projects, especially in the western part of the province, EVN has asked Ministry of Investment and Trade (MOIT) and the Government to develop new transmission works, including the 500 KV Lao Bao, the 500 KV Lao Bao  Quang Tri 2, 220 KV Lao Bao  TBA 500 KV Lao Bao and Huong Linh 220 KV transformer station.



Fast licensing, slow site clearance

In order to use up the capacity of the approved projects and develop more renewable power projects, especially in the western part of the province, EVN has asked Ministry of Investment and Trade (MOIT) and the Government to develop new transmission works, including the 500 KV Lao Bao, the 500 KV Lao Bao  Quang Tri 2, 220 KV Lao Bao  TBA 500 KV Lao Bao and Huong Linh 220 KV transformer station.

Investors have expressed concern over slow site clearance for transmission line project implementation.

Following MOITs approval of power projects, the Quang Tri provincial authorities quickly granted licenses to the projects. However, the site clearance process hasn't gone so quickly.

At a working session with EVN leaders in late 2020, Vo Van Hung, chair of Quang Tri province, instructed local departments, agencies and district peoples committee to support EVNs units in site clearance so as to hand over sites to the executor of the 500 KV Quang Trach  Doc Soi and 220 KV Dong Ha  Lao Bao Lines (47.5 kilometer long) prior to December 30, 2020.

However, the projects are still facing problems in site clearance, which has slowed project implementation.

An investor told VietNamNet that he was impatient about the execution of the transmission line project. It has taken several years to get approval for his project, to prepare land, and build the plant. Now, he doesnt know what will happen when construction of the plant ends, because the transmission line may still be under implementation.

An EVN leader said at a meeting with Quang Tris chair in November 2020, EVN committed to complete the 220 KV Lao Bao  Dong Ha and 220 KV Lao Bao transmission works six months after the end of site clearance. However, the site clearance process is yet to finish.

We hope that local authorities will hand over the site in March so that we can implement the transmission line projects, he said.

Luong Bang

Wind power developers worried about low electricity price The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has proposed continuing the FIT (feed in tariff) for wind power, but lowering the tariff by 20 percent, causing concern among wind power developers.
US Opening New Facility to Hold up to 2,000 Unaccompanied Minors

The United States is set to open another facility to deal with the surge in illegal immigrants, President Joe Bidens administration announced March 20.

The new facility is in Pecos, Texas.

It will initially hold about 500 children, with the potential to expand to 2,000, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

The ORR is legally required to care for unaccompanied minors until theyre united with a sponsor, typically a parent or relative, while their cases are processed.

The Target Lodge Pecos North property will house illegal immigrants in solid structures. Additional semi-permanent structures may be added, although the office tries to place children in solid ones.

Children who illegally cross the border without an adult will be sent to the facility when the site is ready to safely receive them, ORR said in a statement. The site will be used as a stop before unaccompanied minors are transferred to ORR shelters, where children receive educational, medical, mental health, and recreational services until they can be unified with families or sponsors without undue delay.

ORR officials are struggling to handle the influx of unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border since Biden took office in January, and have had to open or reopen a number of detention centers.

While ORR has worked to build up its licensed bed capacity to almost 13,500 beds, additional capacity is urgently needed to manage both enhanced COVID-19 mitigation strategies and the increasing numbers of [unaccompanied minors] referrals from DHS, the agency said.

Illegal immigrants from Central America take refuge in a makeshift U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing center under the Anzalduas International Bridge after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Granjeno, Texas, on March 12, 2021. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents apprehend those who illegally cross the southern border from Mexico.

HSS is utilizing both short- and long-term options to deal with the surge, including expanding capacity, reducing the time it takes to unify a child with a sponsor, and establishing emergency sites to decrease overcrowding in other facilities.

In one example, the agency reached an agreement with officials in Dallas to house male teenagers in a convention center for up to 90 days.

The U.S. government also opened or reopened temporary holding facilities in Midland and Carrizo Springs. Both facilities have dealt with COVID-19 outbreaks, while the former was ordered to stop using water for human consumption because of integrity concerns.

The surge in unaccompanied minors stems from the Biden administration changing protocol from the Trump era. Under Title 42 powers, officials in the previous administration expelled all illegal border crossers. The Biden administration is still expelling some crossers but is allowing any minors without adults to enter the country. Biden also ordered a halt to the Remain in Mexico program, which made asylum seekers wait in Mexico until their claims could be heard.

Biden administration officials told reporters in a call on March 18 that Customs and Border Protection had 4,500 unaccompanied minors in custody while ORR had over 9,500.

Senators who visited the border last week decried the conditions they witnessed and urged the administration to take action.

The number of unaccompanied children arriving at our southern border is at a level we have never seen before, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said in a tweet. My visit to a migrant childrens facility in El Paso yesterday underscores the need to unify our message, secure our border, [and] fix the humanitarian crisis we are facing.
The loyalist group that includes representatives of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando has claimed the DUP may bring down the Stormont Executive if the Northern Ireland Protocol isn't scrapped.

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Loyalist Communities Council chairman David Campbell, who wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month to reveal the organisations were withdrawing support for the Good Friday Agreement, has revealed the issue was raised during talks between the organisation and the party three weeks ago.

"We make no secret of the fact we see this ending in the bringing down of the Northern Ireland Executive. Arlene Foster was left under no illusion that this is something she would have to take responsibility for," Mr Campbell tells today's Sunday Independent.

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"She responded by saying it has to be clearly within the DUP's thinking but now would not be the time to do that. That would be if and when all other avenues were explored and exhausted and if there was still a reluctance in London, Dublin and Brussels to change this protocol."

He claims the DUP "won't want mention of bringing down the Executive but that is clearly in their minds as an inevitability" and dismissed any suggestion that it was an irresponsible move.

When asked about this and whether Arlene Foster mentioned this to Boris Johnson during his visit to Enniskillen last week, a DUP source replied: "He's aware of the consequences for devolution if action is not taken."

However, a party spokesman did not reply to our requests for comment last night.

As fears rise of loyalist violence against the post-Brexit arrangements and Irish sea border, Mr Campbell says it is a "working assumption" that all loyalist terror groups "would still have access to arms".

"All the loyalist groups participated in decommissioning schemes," explains Mr Campbell, "But I think anyone would be naive to think they decommissioned everything."

On the current loyalist threat, he stated: "We don't want to talk in terms of threat but the anger is such that I haven't witnessed since 1985 and the imposition of the Anglo Irish Agreement  we are approaching a very dangerous situation.

"Unless it is dealt with politically, politics will be deemed ineffective and people will therefore look to other means to demonstrate."

The LCC chairman admits he "fears everything" including those who may decide not to play by the rules, suggesting "any crank can do whatever they want  how safe are any of us?"

Asked if someone could die, Mr Campbell replies: "Potentially if things aren't resolved, yes. That has to be what we are all focused on preventing.

"We are under no illusion where the blame would lie in that situation  those who got the protocol that they wanted using the threat of violence on this island."

In today's Sunday Independent a senior member of the UDA warns that if they return to violence over the protocol Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney could be potential targets.

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"If Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar don't get rid of the protocol they will face the wrath of loyalism," the terror chief is quoted as saying. "Do I foresee us killing Catholics? No. What about attacking southern politicians? I don't foresee it, I know it  I know it's coming."

Last week Leo Varadkar's home address was scrawled beside a banner in east Belfast while Mr Coveney's home address was also painted onto a wall.

The terrorist also warned loyalists could launch "an incendiary campaign and send letter bombs to Irish politicians" if the Protocol isn't scrapped.

Another source, aligned with the UVF claimed loyalists are gathering "personal information" on Irish political figures.

Yesterday it emerged an official at Larne Port involved in administering the Irish sea border checks has been forced out of their home after threats.
SENECA  Drew Lanham works among relics of the past.

In a backyard writing shack he has dubbed "The Thicket," Lanham collects models and paintings of what he calls "gone birds"  Bachman's warblers, passenger pigeons and the colorful Carolina parakeet, all pushed to extinction. Lanham, a wildlife ecologist and lifelong lover of birds, feels the absence of these animals distinctly.

As he wrote in a 2018 essay that centered on the parakeet: "Choose wildlife conservation as a profession and youre surrounded by loss  marooned on an island of dwindling hopes surrounded by past practices, current lack of care, and emerging policies that can drive the conservationist into psychosis."

But traversing South Carolina's landscapes, other ghosts haunt Lanham, too: those of the enslaved people who shaped the "wild" lands across the state today, and those of the earliest American conservationists, who cared more for the animals they catalogued than the people of color they met.

Lanham, who is Black, teaches courses on conservation and writing at Clemson University, where he also earned his bachelor's and master's degrees and doctorate. He's published plenty of peer-reviewed research, but in recent years he's aimed his writing at a broader audience, writing for the literary publication Orion, or Audubon Magazine. He's also the poet laureate of Edgefield County.

Birds, always, are his connection between conservation and culture. He said the landscapes they frequent  worked long ago by the hands of people under bondage  need to be mined for their stories to reverse years of conservation groups whitewashing the history of the places they protect.

"People are sort of like, 'Well, why can't we just watch birds here?'" Lanham said. "Well, because, guess what, if this hadn't happened, you wouldn't be watching these birds here."

In searching for these stories, Lanham is reaching all the way to the patron saint of birding himself, John James Audubon.

***

"If I was looking at a mud puddle, at tadpoles, I was always noticing bird tracks around it," Lanham said of his earliest memories. "If I was seeing deer across my father's bean field, then there was also the likelihood that there were wild turkey somewhere nearby."

Lanham grew up on his family's farm in Edgefield County. Dinner came mostly from what they grew; his enduring connection to nature was forged, not through recreation, but from the back-breaking work of extracting a living from the land.

At Martha Schofield High School in Aiken, he was good at math and science, and adults around him pushed him to pursue engineering. The exception was Marion Gary, his ninth grade biology teacher, who encouraged him to share his already broad knowledge of birds with the class.

Gary was impressed with Lanham. "I felt like he was, even as a ninth grader, that he was going to do some things that would change the world," she said.

He did initially start studying engineering in college, but, ultimately, birds were more fulfilling than the promise of a conventionally lucrative career, he said.

He brings that same fulfillment to his lectures for Clemson students. But in class field trips to the ACE Basin, he doesn't just point out which fowl are treading through the cordgrass.

Consider the pluff mud, he tells them, the primordial goo of a Lowcountry marsh. Consider who moved it, by hand, to form the dikes used in rice culture, and impoundments that are still in place today. Consider the volumes of earth transformed  if it were piled into a pyramid, as in Giza, everyone would gawk.

Researchers are continually finding new places where enslaved labor created these fields. Ernie Wiggers, president of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation in the ACE Basin, said there was once an estimate that about 150,000 acres along South Carolina's coast had been used in tidal rice culture. A mapping project by Nemours revealed the number was actually closer to 234,000 acres, or close to half of all the state's coastal marshes, Wiggers said.

These acres once made some of the richest men on the planet, in the days of Carolina Gold rice. Now, that hard-won landscape is one of the best in the world to spot birds.

"(My students are) seeing black ducks or, or black-necked stilts, or red-winged blackbirds or the possibility of black rails, because Black hands created much of what you see on this landscape," Lanham said.

***

Lately, Lanham has turned his attention to unearthing the story of a man who is ironically one of the most overexposed in bird conservation: John James Audubon.

Lanham, like many birders, owns Audubon's books and paintings. The naturalist obsessively depicted hundreds of species in his seminal work Birds of North America. Lanham also used to serve on the boards of the National Audubon Society, the country's most prominent bird conservation organization, and Audubon South Carolina.

But it wasn't until his wife, on a trip to New Orleans, spotted Audubon in an African American museum that Lanham started to consider: Could Audubon actually be the kind of mixed-race example who might bring more people into birding?

Audubon's father was French, and ran a plantation in the colony that eventually became Haiti. The question of race comes from his unwed mother, who was described as "Creole" by one early historian of Audubon's life, but as a French immigrant by others, said Gregory Noble, a Georgia Institute of Technology historian who has written his own biography of the naturalist.

The man was a master of self-promotion, purposefully obscuring his origins when he traveled the United States as an adult. Whatever the truth of Audubon's mother, Noble said, he was fixated on people perceiving him as White.

There may be no better example of this than "The Runaway," one of several vignettes that Audubon inserted between his writings on birds. Many of these tales were partially or fully fabricated, but the story would fundamentally change the way Lanham saw, and wrote about, Audubon.

In it, Audubon encounters a Black man who escaped into a Louisiana swamp from a local plantation, reuniting with his family who were all sold to separate owners.

The tale hits a wild gamut of the nastiest stereotypes of enslaved people of color: The Runaway is menacing and dangerous for having found a gun, but when the situation settles, he reverts to his "long habit of submission." His children are compared to raccoons. His wife is mostly unacknowledged. The family refers to Audubon, a complete stranger, as "Master."

In the end, Audubon's solution is to take the entire family back to the actual master who separated them, convincing him to re-enslave the five souls together.

"At that point ... He becomes a despicable human being who happened to have a hell of a way with painting birds," said Lanham, who recently wrote his own article deconstructing the story. "It hurts when you learn the full truth about people that you'd lionized. It's also a lesson about lionizing human beings, right?"

Lanham hasn't thrown away his Audubon paintings or books. In his piece, published where else but Audubon Magazine, he doesn't suggest a name change for the outlet. But the story is just one of many, he said, that should make these conservation organizations consider how to handle the myths of the past, if they truly want to be more inclusive.

Audubon, in Lanham's imagining, didn't care about the family that he encountered. What he cared about was birds and birds alone, and that's a dangerous trajectory to follow.

"Sometimes," Lanham said, "you've got to take the binoculars down, let the bird song play in the background, and hear the humans."
I was careless when I made a statement about Shushi that I wasnt supposed to make. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during his visit to Aragatsotn Province yesterday, touching upon the sensational statement that he had made about Shushi in the National Assembly a few months ago.

Today the people who criticized me for my statement have become the biggest so-called defenders of Shushi. Who visited Shushi in 2020? What have we Armenians done in Shushi over the past 30 years? Yes, I made the wrong statement in terms of the way I made the statement, but I didnt say anything wrong in terms of content because, for those people, Baden-Baden was a nice city to visit, not Shushi in Nagorno-Karabakh. They built places like Shushi in all places around the world, but as far as possible from Shushi, he said.

When a citizen told him that Ruben Hayrapetyan has built a house in Shushi, Pashinyan said the following in response: Yes, sure, an oligarch was tricked and taken there and forced to build a house, or he wasnt tricked, I dont know. This is the reality.

During a question-and-answer session with government officials in the National Assembly on January 20, Pashinyan declared the following: I would like to call your attention to the fact that, before the signing, 90 and more percent of the population of Shushi was Azerbaijani. So, you want to say that the city of Shushi with a population of 90 and more percent Azerbaijanis was an Armenian city with that status?
Press Release

March 20, 2021 Gatchalian renews call to apply Mobile Number Portability Act ahead of franchise renewal of new telco Senator Win Gatchalian renewed his call for the immediate implementation of the Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA) ahead of Congress' grant of franchises to new players in the telecommunications industry. The senator made the appeal in the middle of the upper chamber's deliberations last Wednesday on House Bill No. 7332 which will renew for another 25 years the franchise granted to Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc. or Mislatel, presently known as Dito Telecommunity Corp., the country's third player. The company's existing franchise is set to expire on April 24, 2023. "The MNPA will give us the flexibility of moving to a new telco without changing our personal numbers. It's very difficult and very taxing to change and send notices to everyone if we switch to a new service provider. Besides, the implementation of this law has long been delayed," Gatchalian said, adding that it should have been enforced in January last year. Following a delay owing to the pandemic, the country's telcos have committed to rollout in phases this year the implementation of the law which will allow mobile phone subscribers to switch networks or change subscriptions without losing the mobile numbers they are using and without having to pay for interconnection fees for calling or texting across different service providers. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), along with Smart Communications, Globe Telecoms and Dito should expedite the process of interoperability ahead of their earlier commitment to fully launch commercially the mobile portability by September this year, stressed Gatchalian, the principal author of Republic Act No. 11202. "With the MNPA in place, it will enhance competition and it will make our lives easier as we will be able to choose which service suits us best," he added. "Isinabatas ito noong hindi pa nadidiskubre ang virus na sinasabi nilang nagpatagal ng proseso para sa MNPA. Baka naman maaaring madaliin na ngayon ng mga telco ang integration at iba pang technical preparations para sa MNPA na dapat sana ay mahigit isang taon nang napapakinabangan ng sambayanan," he said.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
(Corrects location in lead and headline to Aleppo region in northwest, not Idlib)

ISTANBUL, March 21 (Reuters) - Turkey's defence ministry said on Sunday five people were killed and 10 injured in an artillery attack by Damascus-backed forces on a hospital in the northwest Aleppo region, where Turkish and local allied forces hold territory.

The shelling in the town of Al Atarib killed one child, the ministry said on Twitter.

(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Echoing President Joe Bidens recent address to the nation on COVID, Gov. Ned Lamont recently used the term underserved to describe his urban constituents. Reaching our underserved communities remains a priority of my administration, the governor claimed, and we will do everything we can to get as many vaccines administered as we can in the coming weeks.

Underserved is an odd choice of words for Gov. Lamont and fellow Democrat leaders to use when describing urban residents, as by doing so they are publicly accusing themselves of failure.

After all, Democrats have controlled Connecticuts legislature and major cities for decades. If urban communities remain underserved after all these years, Democrat leaders have only themselves to blame.

At a grassroots event organized to facilitate vaccinations in Fair Haven last weekend, Kica Matos, vice president of Initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice and a former deputy mayor of New Haven, called out state leaders by saying, Just yesterday, Governor Lamont admitted that the state has failed Black and brown communities miserably when it comes to COVID vaccinations. But we have a plan to fix it, and that is why we are here today.

Hoping to prioritize those with underlying health conditions and first-responders, Matos contacted the governor and state health department to request a waiver so that all Fair Haven residents could make vaccination appointments, not just those in the currently eligible age bracket. She was denied.

Matos went on to say that she had invited the Lamont administration to take part in Saturdays community event so they could learn from the organizing effort and replicate it in other communities. The answer from the governors office once again was a firm, No.

If Governor Lamont and his administration are truly concerned about helping these communities, perhaps they should find some time to listen to them. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker all participated in the event, though their motives raised some eyebrows when later walking through the neighborhood Senator Blumenthal was heard commenting We should be registering them to vote.

Admittedly, lip service and self-interested politicians are not exactly headline news in Connecticut. Broken promises, however, are a more serious offense. And when it comes to pledges from Democrat leaders to improve our cities, the list of broken promises is long.

Remember when Governor Lamont campaigned on the promise of a $375 million property tax cut? That plan was abandoned once he took office. Or, how about the hundreds of millions of dollars in sales tax revenues that state leaders have been promising to share with cities since 2015? Postponed again with this years budget, this time indefinitely. What about the PILOT grants our cities depend on to offset their losses from non-taxable property? That program has been underfunded since its inception in 1969.

A study released by WalletHub shows that Connecticut residents have the second highest tax burden in the entire nation. With a proposed $50 million tax on healthcare insurance premiums, a $90 million mileage tax on trucks, and a 17 cents per gallon gas tax it looks like Democrats are trying their best to get to number one.

But the deceptions dont end there.

After receiving less than 30 percent of what the state promised them in PILOT grants last year, 28 leaders from across the state penned a joint letter to the governor this January, asking him to boost funding for the program and prioritize assistance for municipalities in the worst shape.

With the pressure on, Governor Lamont allocated an additional $100 million to distressed municipalities in his budget proposal. The sleight of hand, however, was that the funding will come from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund  a $1.9 trillion package to bail out mismanaged blue states across the country under the guise of a pandemic response. But the program is a one-time giveaway. What will happen to city finances once the gift goes away?

The Lamont budget does the same thing to education. The headline reads that school districts will see a 10.5 percent increase in funding over the next two years  but it will also be paid for with one-time federal money and therefore be temporary.

And finally, the latest in a long line of whoppers, Governor Lamont is promising municipalities 50 percent of future tax revenue from soon-to-be-legalized marijuana. Perhaps he should deliver some of the sales tax money cities have been waiting for since 2015 before making new pledges.

The truth is, Democrats will have to keep breaking promises, raising taxes and leaning on every penny of relief they can get from their pals in Washington if theyre to have any hope of camouflaging the financial disaster that is heading Connecticuts way.

Instead, we should recognize this bailout for what it is  a one-time stimulus that could help us fundamentally restructure Connecticut if used properly. But that would require some tough decisions like reducing discretionary spending, restructuring the state pension plan to protect the retirement security of our employees and rooting out the waste, fraud and abuse in places like Connecticuts Port Authority.

Democrat leaders have been failing our cities for years  but they remain ever confident in urban residents loyalty. Public service should be about others, not the self. And in the middle of a pandemic their focus should be on vaccinations rather than votes.

Bob Stefanowski was the 2018 Republican candidate for governor of Connecticut
The US said Sunday it will hold a major alongside Belgium, France and Japan in the Mideast amid tensions over Iran's nuclear programme in the region.

The Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise will see ships from the four countries conduct drills in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Ships involved include the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, as well as the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.

The Belgian frigate HNLMS Leopold I and the Japanese destroyer JS Ariake also will take part, as well as aircraft from the four nations.

The drill comes as Iran has abandoned all limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in the wake of then-President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw from the accord.

President Joe Biden has expressed a desire to return to the deal if Iran honours the deal's limits on its nuclear programme. However, tensions remain high after militias in Iraq likely backed by Iran continue to target American interests.

Biden last month launched an airstrike just over the border into Syria in retaliation, joining every American president from Ronald Reagan onward who has ordered a bombardment of countries in the Middle East.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran to the naval drill.

(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.)
Fears of deep cuts to the Army have sparked a bitter war of words between Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and the top Tory MP overseeing his work at Westminster.

Mr Wallace used a private text message to tear into defence committee chairman Tobias Ellwood for criticising tomorrows Armed Forces shake-up before it is made public.

He wrote: Dont lecture me on courtesy when you have not had the courtesy to wait for the review to be published before you condemned it!

Ben Wallace (pictured centre) used a private text message to tear into defence committee chairman Tobias Ellwood

In a Hi Ben message, Mr Ellwood (pictured) referred to the excellent background briefings given to journalists on last weeks Integrated Review on foreign and defence policy

Just days earlier, Mr Wallace appeared to accuse Mr Ellwood of a Ladybird book approach.

The rows are the latest sign of Tory tensions over tomorrows defence command paper on the future of the Armed Forces amid fears it could slash troop numbers by 10,000. Tanks and other weapons are also said to be in the firing line.

But a new 1,000-strong Rangers regiment  modelled on the US Armys Green Berets and to undertake Special Forces-style missions  was announced yesterday.

However, the overall service changes have led to deteriorating relations between Mr Wallace and Mr Ellwood.

In the Commons last week, former Scots Guard Mr Wallace openly humiliated Mr Ellwood, himself a former Army officer, after he warned MPs that infantry cuts would worry our closest allies.

The Defence Secretary replied: Playing by the Ladybird book of defence design is not the way to progress.

And their feud continued according to an exchange of messages on the defence committees private WhatsApp group.

In a Hi Ben message, Mr Ellwood referred to the excellent background briefings given to journalists on last weeks Integrated Review on foreign and defence policy.

He continued: Def Ctte (sic) would be honoured to receive same level of courtesy given our formal oversight role.

Mr Wallace replied that he had already arranged a full day for your committee, but added: If youre not interested (and as you seemed to make your mind up long ago on the review), I am happy to cancel it. Your call.

He then rebuked Mr Ellwood for lecturing him about courtesy.

Last weeks wider foreign and defence review fuelled reports that the Army will fall from 80,000 to 70,000 soldiers as resources are focused on electronic and cyber warfare as well as more nuclear warheads.

Mr Ellwood warned MPs last week: Russia is rearming, Daesh is regrouping and China is nudging us out of military and trade partnerships across Africa, yet we are about to witness a shocking reduction in our conventional hard power and full-spectrum capabilities... Yes, we must adapt to new threats, but that does not mean that the old threats have disappeared.

Both Mr Ellwood and Mr Wallace declined to comment.
A leading vaccine expert has slammed the EU's 'completely hopeless' efforts to track outbreaks of coronavirus variants.

Sir John Bell, a prominent member of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine team, said a lack of genome sequencing on the continent means importing the South African variant from Europe is now the 'biggest risk' facing the UK.

Oxford University's regius professor of medicine warned 'there's quite a lot' of cases of the South African variant in circulation in EU countries amid a wider spike in infections.

Sir John Bell, a prominent member of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine team, said a lack of genome sequencing on the continent meant importing the South African variant from Europe is now the 'biggest risk' facing the UK

Genome sequencing has allowed the UK to track the emergence and spread of variants of the disease on home soil.

But Sir John said of the EU's ability to do the same: 'They're hopeless. Completely hopeless. It's really not going well in Europe.'

He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'We think the AstraZeneca vaccine is pretty good at reducing transmissions, but not with the South Africa strain.

'And I think the same will be true with Johnson and Pfizer and everybody else.

'I think our biggest risk in the UK will be that South Africa gets to us from the European continent, where there's quite a lot of it now.'

Experts fear a failure to combat the spread of coronavirus could lead to the emergence of more dangerous variants of the disease which could evade the current set of vaccines.

Sir John yesterday criticised France for refusing to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to under-55s after the country previously said the jab was unsuitable for older people.

Sir John warned the changing advice was undermining confidence in the whole vaccination programme.

He told the BBC: '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.'
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.
It was easy to root for Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship last weekend. The little boy who learned to play golf left-handed by standing opposite his right-handed dad and mirroring dads swing has long been a crowd favorite. He is not only immensely gifted; he is imaginative and willing 
New Delhi, March 21 : Fire was reported in the Ambience Mall in south west Delhi's Vasant Kunj area on Sunday, which was later controlled.

Six fire traders were rushed to the spot, according to the fire officials.

The blaze has been brought under control, they said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.

"Around 11.30 a.m. on the third floor in the lemon drops restaurant apparently there was a short circuit in the AC system that caused the fire.

"The fire was later controlled," said Ingit Pratap Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, south west Delhi.
Fashion, wellness and art at CFWs no plastic retail week By Sashini Rodrigo View(s): View(s):

Following the success of their inaugural run last year, Colombo Fashion Week will once again come together with One Galle Face (OGF) and HSBC Sri Lanka to present CFW Retail Week 2021.

From March 28 to April 9, patrons are invited to take part in a variety of experiences offered at OGF under the dynamic themes of Wellness, Fashion, Luxury, and Cuisine. The ten-day programme is a knowledge and engagement-based experience for the whole family focusing on creative collaborations, building awareness on the importance of sustainability and the environment, as well as engaging retail interaction.

This years edition of the first-of-its-kind experiential retail event follows in the footsteps of the CFW 2021 theme of Circularity in Fashion, by introducing the theme of No Plastic Week to the festivities. Circular economy is where everyones headed to, there is more sensitivity towards the environment, explains Managing Director of CFW Ajai Vir Singh.

As such, the No Plastic Week initiative will encourage both retail establishments and consumers to stop using plastic bags and other unnecessary plastic packaging, and instead promote the use of reusable bags that will be made available throughout the mall.

Throughout Retail Week, OGF patrons can look forward to a variety of events like book readings and workshops, a home-grown acoustic music event, a curated quiz night, special events like wine tastings and F&B demos.

Wellness themed events include a talk by Johann Peries on conquering Mt. Everest, fitness events like Animal Flow, as well as holistic events such as movement yoga and laughing yoga sessions. For fashion enthusiasts, the programme offers an in-depth look into Circularity by Ajai Vir Singh, as well as a specially curated viewing of Careems Jewellery, amongst other value-added retail experiences.

There is also plenty to keep the kids occupied, with activities like an Easter egg hunt, traditional Avurudu games, art workshops, Junior Chef programme, literary workshops with Artika Aloka Bakshi, and more.

For more information and updates on CFW Retail Week, follow CFW on Instagram and Facebook at @colombofashionweek
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Theres a real dogfight going on in court.

A Staten Island animal-rescue service has sued a Greenridge woman for the return of a dog she is fostering for the agency, alleging she has not properly cared for the pooch.

Louies Legacy Animal Rescue (LLAR) wants Patricia Dalessio to bring back Brittany, a 6-year-old basenji-chihuahua mix.

Dalessio, who began fostering Brittany in July, has broken her agreement and failed to obtain the required veterinary care for the canine, a civil complaint alleges.

Complicating matters, Louies Legacy believes Dalessio has put her home up for sale and may plan to leave the area with the dog, alleges the complaint.

LLAR has made multiple in-person, telephonic and electronic attempts to contact Dalessio and to arrange for the return of Brittany, yet Dalessio continues to purposefully and intentionally breach the fostering contact and fraudulently conceal the location of Brittany, the complaint alleges.

Based upon Dalessios public Zillow profile, upon information and belief, Dalessio is selling her residence and has intention to abscond with Brittany beyond the reach of this courts jurisdiction, alleges the complaint.

Louies Legacy recently filed the suit in state Supreme Court, St. George.

The non-profit company, which also has a major base in Cincinnati, operates as a no-kill animal rescue service, according to its web site and the complaint.

Louies collaborates with volunteers, animal welfare partners and shelters to rescue animals in need and place them in our temporary foster care, the website says.

The animals are put in peoples homes.

Animals are generally fostered for three to 12 weeks before theyre adopted, the website said.

However, the process can take longer.

Individuals who foster animals can apply to adopt them but receive no special preference, said Louies Legacys website.

They must undergo the same screening process as other applicants.

Following approval of her fostering application, Dalessio assumed care of Brittany on July 11, said the complaint.

According to her contracts terms, Dalessio agreed to provide Brittany proper veterinary care, said the complaint.

Per its web site, Louies Legacy provides all vaccinations and covers approved vet care.

Such treatment includes flea, tick and heartworm prevention, which is free to foster animals, the complaint said.

Brittany was overdue for such treatment. However, Dalessio failed and refused to pick up those preventatives from Louies Legacy, despite numerous email requests, the complaint said.

Dalessio also declined to bring the dog to a licensed veterinarian approved by Louies Legacy for a heartworm test, said the complaint. She later allegedly blocked texts from the companys medical manager.

In addition, Louies Legacy determined Dalessio had failed to obtain proper veterinary treatment for a dog she already owned, the complaint alleged.

The pooch, an 8-year-old pug named Loki, had not been brought to the vet whom Dalessio identified on her foster application for Brittany since 2016, contends the complaint. Nor was the animal up to date on its vaccinations, the complaint alleges.

Due to her alleged failure to abide by the fostering contract, Louies Legacy notified Dalessio it planned to take back Brittany, said the complaint.

Even so, Dalessio applied to adopt the pooch.

She was denied, the complaint said.

Dalessio was advised of the denial on Nov. 11 and 18, and Louies Legacy tried to arrange to pick up Brittany, the complaint said.

The defendant did not comply.

Afterward, the agencys lawyer wrote Dalessio on Dec. 16 and again on Feb. 11 demanding Brittanys return, said the complaint.

She did not bring back the dog.

Subsequently, on March 8, Louies Legacy learned that Dalessios home had been on the market for 50 days, and she has a pending offer for it, said the complaint.

As a result, Louies Legacy fears Dalessio plans to move and/or leave the jurisdiction with an intent to frustrate LLARs rights, this courts lawful jurisdiction and seeks to evade any judgement obtained by LLAR, the complaint alleges.

A woman who answered the phone at Dalessios number hung up when an Advance/SILive.com reporter called and identified himself. Dalessio also did not respond to an email seeking comment on the suit.

A lawyer for Louies Legacy did not return an email seeking comment.
In this Jan. 6 photo, U.S. Capitol Police push back rioters trying to enter the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Together, the unprecedented investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and court decisions giving the federal government sudden jurisdiction over crimes on more Native American lands have put enormous pressure on the Justice Department.
On November 2 last year, the day before Leo Varadkar apologised in the Dail for leaking a confidential Government document to a friend, a woman who does not wish to be identified filed a complaint to An Garda Siochana alleging the Tanaiste had breached the Official Secrets Act and the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act.

Her complaint was based on a Village magazine article published the previous Saturday, October 31, outlining how Varadkar had in early April 2019 sent a copy of an agreement between the Government and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) on a new GP contract to Dr Maitiu O Tuathail - who was then president of the IMO's rival organisation, the National Association of GPs (NAGP).

The Village article included screen grabs of text messages O Tuathail exchanged with Varadkar and separate group texts with fellow NAGP members - including a picture of the document, which was marked "confidential/not for circulation".

The Village article was based on correspondence provided by Chay Bowes, a healthcare entrepreneur and former member of the Army medical corps, whom O Tuathail had previously drafted in to carry out a review of the NAGP's financial governance. Bowes's report in part led to the collapse of the NAGP in May 2019.

Bowes was introduced to Village publisher Michael Smith by Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave, an outspoken critic of the Government. "He [Cosgrave] suggested to me that Village would be the place to run the story - and he was right because no one else wanted it," Bowes said, adding that Cosgrave was a friend whom he is working with on a number of health reform projects.

Varadkar's response to the Village article was to issue a lengthy statement on the day it was published, describing it as "both inaccurate and grossly defamatory". But he did not dispute its central allegation - that he had passed the document to O Tuathail, someone he would later describe as "a friend, yes, not a close friend".

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Varadkar said he had not followed "best practice" and that he regretted not having provided the document to NAGP in a more formal way.

"It was a document that I shared on a confidential basis with the president of the NAGP, an organisation that represented hundreds, if not thousands, of GPs. I wanted to get them on board, or at least that they would not oppose it and to demonstrate to it that there was nothing in it that had not publicly been announced," Varadkar told the Dail on November 3, where he apologised and took questions on the matter.

In the days leading up to that Dail statement, Fine Gael ministerial colleagues defended Varadkar across the airwaves. One talking point circulated by the Fine Gael press office was that what Varadkar had done was in the public interest - a defence somewhat controversially repeated by incoming justice minister Heather Humphreys a week ago.

On November 6, three days after Varadkar's Dail statement, the woman who made the Garda complaint received a response from the office of the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, John O'Driscoll, to say that the matter was "receiving attention at this office" and that Garda personnel would be in touch.

The following week, Bowes and Smith also filed a Garda complaint. Assistant Commissioner O'Driscoll responded personally to Smith on November 13, saying that he had initiated an examination of the matter with a view to establishing if a breach of the Official Secrets Act, the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act or Data Protection legislation had occurred. This would be undertaken by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

Bowes gave a lengthy statement to NBCI investigators in mid-December at the Village offices on Ormond Quay and later handed in his phone for examination at Rathfarnham Garda Station. The device contained copies of messages showing the contact between Varadkar and O Tuathail.

In January, NBCI detectives spoke with Simon Harris (health minister at the time of the GP contract negotiations), and in recent weeks have also spoken with several officials in the Department of Health. Department of Higher Education secretary-general Jim Breslin is among those being spoken to by gardai. He was the top civil servant in the department when the GP contract negotiations were taking place.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on either Harris's or Breslin's part.

Following those interviews with civil servants in the Department of Health, detectives satisfied themselves the document at the centre of the case was confidential in nature and, within the last two weeks, upgraded their inquiry to a formal investigation.

Investigators have yet to speak to either Varadkar or O Tuathail, both of whom say they will co-operate fully with gardai. Phone records of both men can be accessed as part of the probe.

Varadkar is considered the main person of interest and will be spoken to last, under Garda caution, once all the material gathered by detectives can be put to him.

Varadkar is understood to be frustrated by the slow pace of the investigation and the attention it is receiving in the media, which present uncomfortable headlines for him, his party and the Government.

"His legal advice is that he has committed no offence and looks forward to the matter being concluded," a spokesman for the Tanaiste said.

Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act makes it a criminal offence for an Irish official to use "confidential information obtained in the course of his or her office, employment, position or business for the purpose of corruptly obtaining a gift, consideration or advantage for himself or herself or for any other person".

One experienced senior counsel, speaking privately, believes Varadkar's actions do not meet the definition of corruption as set out in the Act. Other legal experts see it differently.

Some of those involved in the case have highlighted the NAGP's threat to campaign against Fine Gael in February 2019 - three months before the local and European elections and two months before the confidential document was passed to O Tuathail - unless they were included in pay negotiations with the IMO on a new GP contract.

Ultimately it will be for the DPP to decide if there is a prosecutable case.

"I think we have to rely on the guards to do their job. There is a lot of conspiratorial rubbish about this," Bowes said.

"I firmly believe they will do their job, their job is to deliver their evidence to the DPP. If it has been deemed that there is nothing illegal done, I would accept that entirely."

Gardai are acutely aware of the political sensitivities of the case.

"At the same time it's not going to influence the investigation. The investigators are going to do their work and go through the process as they would any other investigation," a source with knowledge of the probe said.

Within Fine Gael there is concern over the preliminary Garda inquiry being upgraded to a full criminal investigation, but not anything to indicate Varadkar is at risk. "No one wants the f**king leader being investigated under the criminal justice system. But people would be amazed if he is charged," said one Fine Gael minister.

A second Fine Gael minister said: "If you think about it, bar the gardai being cautious, there is no change in the basic information that was available 10 weeks ago - and as long as that remains the case, there is no hassle for Varadkar."

But it is unclear what new evidence, if any, gardai may have uncovered - and there is a recognition within Fine Gael that everything changes if the Tanaiste is charged with corruption offences.

"If he is charged, it's curtains," the first Fine Gael minister said.

"The reality is that he can't be Tanaiste or Fine Gael leader if he is charged."

Three senior Fine Gael TDs privately claimed last week that Simon Harris - dubbed "the minister of eternal happiness and goodness" by one colleague - has been "agitating" over the political ramifications of the ongoing investigation.

But the Higher Education Minister, who is known to harbour leadership ambitions, would deny this - and was one of the few out defending Varadkar in the media last week.

The Tanaiste has had the support of senior Coalition colleagues - but that did not stop two Fianna Fail backbenchers saying he should step aside while the investigation is carried out.

Others in Fianna Fail are more supportive.

"I remain of the opinion that his intentions were sound but he made a mistake in giving out the document. He has recognised that, apologised, and the Dail voted confidence in him following his detailing of circumstances surrounding its leaking," said Barry Cowen, the former agriculture minister.

"There is due process in the Garda investigation. It will draw conclusions and decide if there is a case to be answered or not. Nothing should be said or done to prejudice that process. Therefore I expect in the meantime that he should be allowed to get on with his job."

Taoiseach Micheal Martin sacked Cowen from the Cabinet last July after the Fianna Fail minister refused to answer Dail questions about a four-year-old drink-driving conviction. Cowen's refusal was prompted by a desire to allow due process, including a Garda Ombudsman investigation, to take place.

Some in Fianna Fail wonder why the Taoiseach is now affording Varadkar leniency, when he did not do the same for Cowen.

"There is a double standard. Barry was in the position he was in - he made his statement, there was a process taking place," said one Fianna Fail minister. "Most of the angst in Fianna Fail is nothing to do with Leo, it's about Micheal."

Fianna Fail TDs who have queried the matter with the Taoiseach or his advisers have been told that Cowen refused to answer Dail questions after being asked to do so by Martin. By contrast, the Tanaiste took questions from the Opposition on November 3.

A second Fianna Fail minister described the Garda probe as a "crock of shit" and believes it will amount to little.

A third Fianna Fail minister could barely contain their glee over Varadkar being investigated by gardai, while acknowledging the realpolitik.

"We f**king love to see him squirming," said the minister.

"Like the banks, he's too big to fail at the moment. It does knock the shine off him the longer it goes on. For now, it's OK - but if it goes to the DPP, that will escalate it again."

Therein lies the problem for Varadkar and the Coalition. The ongoing Garda investigation presents further opportunities for media stories and attention to be focused on an incident the Tanaiste would rather forget about. It presents an open goal for Sinn Fein and others to lambast the insider culture that has become toxic in Irish public life.

"This was a political stroke, pure and simple," Mary Lou McDonald said last week. "It was an abuse of power by the then Taoiseach designed to give advantage to a friend. This was about doing favours for insiders.

"Politically this cannot be tolerated."

While his Government colleagues and fellow Fine Gael members are prepared to tolerate it for now, Varadkar knows his entire political career hinges on the outcome of the ongoing Garda investigation.
On Purity Sunday 1917, 300 sex workers marched to the Central Methodist Episcopal Church on OFarrell and Leavenworth. As a curious crowd gathered, they demanded a meeting with the man who made it his lifes mission to drive them out of San Francisco: Rev. Paul Smith.

For months, the 41-year-old parson had been lecturing at sold-out venues of 7,000 people or more, railing against women entertainers. At his pulpit, he was brash and accusatory. But faced with hundreds of working women, he began to visibly shake.

I don't know your purpose in coming here, he said. I am willing to hear you, but I must limit the meeting to 20 minutes.

Smith asked two Tenderloin beat cops to guard the doors, perhaps for the womens safety or more likely for his own. Then, he gave a madam named Mrs. Gamble the floor.

What followed was the worst half hour of his life.

---

By 1917, San Franciscos infamous Barbary Coast was in its death spiral.

The anti-vice campaigns of preachers like Smith were sweeping the city and gaining widespread popular support. Along with the temperance movement (which was only two years away from banning alcohol nationwide), they aimed to clean up San Franciscos streets and wash away its rough-and-rowdy reputation.

San Francisco has a very bad name abroad, California Methodist bishop Adna W. Leonard bemoaned in 1917. It is known as the modern Babylon.

A frequent target of anti-vice sermons were the citys many sex workers. Its likely that thousands of women partook in some form of sex work, ranging from sex for money to being a cafe entertainer, essentially a lady who drank and danced with men in nightlife spots.

A 1917 San Francisco Examiner expose detailed one reporters cafe-hopping adventure. [Our] independent inquiry which has shown the uptown cafe to be the slimy hub of all the radiating evils discovered by church investigators, the paper wrote breathlessly.

Among the slimy evils witnessed were: 42 unaccompanied women drinking gin fizzes, whisky highballs and fancy cocktails at the Peacock Room, liquor being sold without meals, and women dancing with strangers. One horrified headline read: WOMEN FREE WITH SMILES.



That same day, Rev. Smith gave a speech to a large crowd at the San Francisco YMCA, railing against any woman who enjoyed an afternoon tipple.

If there are women who insist on drinking in public in the afternoons, I would suggest in all seriousness that we set up bars for them which will have no curtained booths or stained glass windows, but would be open where all the world could see them and hold them responsible for the moral standard of their conduct, he said.

That weekend, Smith and a number of other local pastors announced theyd be holding Purity Sunday, to further pressure city officials to arrest or otherwise push out the people they viewed as undesirable. When Reggie Gamble and Maude Spencer, the proprietors of a brothel on Mason Street, caught wind of the occasion, they decided to plan their own event. Together, the two women gathered over 300 sex workers who pledged to march to Smiths Tenderloin church and, for the first time, give their side of the story.

San Franciscos sedate, church-going crowd was gobsmacked to see hundreds of white and Black women marching through the city streets. They wore their Sunday best: fox furs, neatly tailored coats and flower-trimmed hats. When they arrived at Smiths church, Gamble stepped forward as the designated spokesperson for the group. After Smith nervously told them they had 20 minutes, Gamble took his pulpit.

San Francisco Chronicle archives/Hearst Media

I want to ask first, she began. How many of the women in your church would accept us into their homes, even to work? You would cast us out  where to? There isnt one among us here who would not quit this life for decent work.

Every woman here has at least one child, she said, sweeping her hand toward the pews filled with women. We are against street walking and the lives we lead, as well as you. But what are you going to do about it?

Smith, who had spent years complaining about sex workers without ever bothering to talk to one, trembled.

This is the saddest moment in my life, he stammered. He asked how many women did sex work because they couldnt survive on the wages of any other job available to them. Every woman raised her hand. He asked how many would be willing to work for $10 a week, the equivalent of $200 today. The women laughed at him.

Gamble told him she knew of one teen girl who made $25 a month at her hotel job. How long is that little girl going to stay pure with a mother and little sister to support? she asked to uproarious applause.

OpenSFHistory

Caught flat-footed, Smith tried a new tactic: deflecting blame. There are lots of things I would like to solve, he simpered, but I am only one poor individual. He suggested perhaps his congregation could help give the women necessities and shelter.

Yes, but your parishioners wouldnt let us stay among their daughters, one woman shot back.

Gamble took back the floor. There was a mother of four in her house, she said, who recently fell ill. The woman wrote to her brother, a Methodist preacher, asking for his help. He declined, and wrote her back: Trust in the Lord.

You say, I dont want these women around my church. My church must be pure, Gamble said. That is not what Christ said to the Magdalene.

You and your people say, Our boys must sow their wild oats. All right, you see before you the harvest of those oats.

If Smiths flock were true Christians, Gamble said, they would teach their boys and men to respect women. Its the men who preach morality and contribute to churches who take support from women to whom they pay wages that drive these women here into the life they lead, she said.

Then, the women in the pews began giving their testimonies to Smith. They spoke of sick children, terrible living conditions and brutal work where they were constantly in fear for their safety.

I know, I know, I know, he murmured to each as they spoke. My heart goes out to you.

Reporters noted visible eye-rolling and head shakes from the frustrated women. They began getting up and leaving, one by one. Eventually, Gamble too seemed to give up. Before she left, she turned back to Smith, now nearly alone again in his temple of hypocrisy.

Before you go to the vice meeting tonight, she said, try to think what will become of us.

---

If Smith thought at all, he decided against caring about them. He returned to raging against women at the vice meeting and, soon, the Barbary Coast would be gone.

Thanks to the pressure put on by San Franciscos religious and social elites, police did crack down on the vice districts. They conducted nightly raids and upped patrols on the streets. We can not chloroform all prostitutes, nor keep them in jail all the time, police commissioner Theodore Roche said at a community meeting, but they were trying their best. Using the Red Light Abatement Act, the city closed its brothels and sex workers scattered to the streets, making their lives even more dangerous and unstable than before. Rev. Smith had won.

As for the women who marched to his church, their fates remain shrouded in mystery. Only Gamble was quoted by name, and its not clear what became of her after the brothels shut down. Some say she became a traveling preacher which, given her powerful testimony that day, would have been a fitting career pivot.

We know more about Smith. In 1918, he made the jump to Hollywood, serving as the inspiration and creative consultant for a dramatization of his fight against the Barbary Coast. The Finger of Justice was a modest success, but Smiths Hollywood career wasnt. He flamed out of the industry soon after and went into construction.

Smith died in Los Angeles in 1936 at the age of 60. Every obituary mentioned his war against San Franciscos sex workers. His Los Angeles Times obituary, headlined Crusaders Career Ends, summarized his battle thusly:

"The campaign reached a climax when 400 women from the Barbary Coast marched into his church while he was preaching and demanded: 'What about us? We have to make a living.'

"Looking down over the assembly of Magdalenes he whispered hoarsely: 'God knows!'"
Oakland Police released an image of a suspect arrested for verbally assaulting and pepper-spraying and Asian gas station owner. Oakland Police Department

A man was arrested on assault charges after verbally assaulting and pepper-spraying an Asian gas station owner.

An argument ensued after the suspect tried to pay for his gas in all coins, KGO reported.

The incident came as hate crimes against Asian Americans have been on the rise.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Related: Democrats condemning attacks against Asian Americans

A man was arrested after he verbally assaulted and pepper-sprayed a gas station owner in Oakland, California, local news outlet KGO reported.

The gas station owner, Cwell, who did not provide his last name and is of Asian descent, told KGO the man got into an argument with the gas station's cashier because he was trying to pay for his gas in all coins on Thursday. The cashier told the man that he could not take the money in its current state because the till would not fit the dozens of quarters the man presented at the register.

When Cwell intervened, he said the suspect shouted racists remarks at him.

"He just started mouthing off ... 'You should go back to China,' like that," Cwell told KGO. "We were just bursting out laughing because it was so unbelievable."

Cwell also claimed that the man "ends up reversing his car at me," but police have not confirmed the exact details of the incident and the moment was not captured on surveillance footage.

The Oakland Police Department announced Friday that they arrested the man on assault charges, an image of whom was shared in a screenshot from surveillance footage.

"Today the case was presented to the @AlamedaCountyDA for review," the department said in a statement posted on Facebook. "OPD denounces all incidents involving hate. This is an ongoing investigation no further details will be released at this time."

Cwell said Thursday that he followed the man out of the store to get his license plate number, and the man again shouted racist remarks at him and pepper-sprayed him.

Story continues

"The guy had pulled out his pepper spray and he had shot my face, arms," he told KGO. "I ended up going to the ER to get taken care of."

Representatives from the Oakland Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The incident comes a few days after Robert Aaron Long was arrested and charged after killing eight people at three spas in the Atlanta area. Six of the eight victims were identified as Asian women.

While police have not yet ruled out the possibility of a hate crime, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said on Wednesday the crimes may have not been racially motivated, and that Long blamed a sex addiction for the attacks.

There has been a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans since the pandemic started. Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting center that has been tracking cases from March to December of last year, said they received "over 2,808 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian hate" crimes.

Read the original article on Insider
Rio De Janeiro, March 21 : Brazilian consumer watchdog has fined Apple $2 million for not including a charger in the newly-launched iPhone 12 series, accusing the tech giant of allegedly engaging in misleading advertising, selling a device without the charger and unfair terms.

Apple in October last year announced that the iPhone 12 would not come with chargers or earbuds in their boxes, citing environmental concerns. The new iPhones come with only a USB-C to Lightning cable.

Brazilian consumer protection regulator Procon-SP has now fined Apple for not including a charger.

In November, the agency said that the iPhone maker "didn't demonstrate environmental gain," reports 9to5 Mac.

According to Procon-SP, the problems with is "misleading advertising as iPhone 11 Pro consumers reported that Apple didn't repair their phones after problems with water".

The agency also cited "iOS update problems," and "unfair terms" as other issues as "Apple exempts itself from all legal and implicit guarantees and against hidden or not apparent defects".

"Apple needs to understand that in Brazil there are solid consumer protection laws and institutions. It needs to respect these laws and these institutions," Procon-SP Executive Director Fernando Capez was quoted as saying.

Apple was yet to comment on Procon-SP charges.

While the iPhone 12 mini costs $729 in the US, in Brazil the same phone is around $1,200.

Apple introduced the iPhone 12 series in October and announced that the phone would only have a charging cable inside the box, without a power adapter and headphones.

According to the company, it will reduce 2 million metric tonnes of carbon, which is equal to removing 450,000 cars in one year.
In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES Musikilu Mojeed, Festus Owete and Samson Adenekan, Anambra senator and businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah, speaks on his governorship ambition, his business, the Igbo bid for the presidency and other national issues.

Excerpts:

PT: You were known as a businessman long before going into politics. Now you are into politics full time. How has the transition been so far?

Ubah: I love being a businessman but also being a businessman does not give me the fulfilment of catering for the downtrodden. Being a businessman was not giving me the opportunity to touch the lives of people as much as I would have loved to touch.

As a businessman, there are limitations to what I can do but politics is made for people at the helm of affairs to garner resources and focus on the people, build infrastructure and do other things that will touch lives. The entire essence of politics is about touching lives and making our world a better place.

PT: But in Nigeria, some join politics just to make money?

Ubah: There are two things about making money. For example, I can talk about myself; I dont think making money in politics is the ultimate goal because I have made money, and with what God has blessed me with and I will give you statistics to this effect.

I rarely talk to the media. This might be the first time I am granting an interview in the last eight years. You can never see me in all these magazines or attending parties. I am someone that is a bit controversial and highly misunderstood but in the right sense.

Many people often take the other side of my life and it helps me sometimes. If people continue to talk about someone and the person keeps growing and he has never been indicted, he must be superhuman.

If you want to be superhuman, you must be a bit mysterious. Dont talk often, just do what is right before the sight of God.

To me, politics is where I can derive the fullness of potentials to touch lives, not about business and I can give you statistics of things I have done in this country that have distinguished me.

Let me tell you one. You have never seen anybody that has come to my height in this country that will tell you that he has never had a tax waiver to advance his business or contract. As a businessman and a politician, you can never get me on that.

PT: You have never benefited from a waiver or tax incentive?

Ubah: Never. Never in my life. You know in 2015, I can give you documents where this Lai Mohammed, the minister, wrote that I would have my day in court over subsidy. But I can tell you today for sure that I have never been indicted, my books are there.

The eyes of Nigerians were on Ifeanyi Ubah, that I would go to jail because of subsidy, fraud and other things but I kept my faith. I have kept my words till date (and) my words are as I said it.

Some of those who accused me then came back to compensate me. Many things many of them said about me have been proven wrong.

With all I have done, I kept being focused. When I was disqualified from participating in the senate election, I took a relatively unknown party and I won. I am probably the only person to have achieved such a feat in Nigeria. It is rare for a Nigerian to go into the senate with an unknown party. You will see 65-70 per cent (of senators) belonging to APC while 35 per cent belongs to the PDP, and you are one per cent.

It is about showing that the journey of a million miles starts with a step and that one with God is the majority.

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PT: Are you saying you are not going to defect?

Ubah: I would have defected if I wanted. Politics is not that if I go there I will be fighting, making unnecessary noise as an opposition. I am an opposition and I have gone there to justify my capacities, and the record speaks for itself.

PT: You are saying your mission in politics is not to make money. Are you sure about that?

Ubah: I have more than enough (money). Let me give you statistics. In Anambra today, more than 70 per cent of politicians in the state, both those that have retired and still in politics, have passed through my school of benevolence but I have not gotten the desired results.

Not only in Anambra State. I can also tell you that in the entire South-east, there is hardly any governor, outside Hope Uzodinma, that has not passed through my school of benevolence. I have helped them, funding their elections and in other ways.

I have been longing to have a real core Igbo leader from the South-east. They have all not performed as much as I have expected, the reason I have joined politics.

PT: Are you saying that they have failed the Igbo race?

Ubah: I cant say that. I should be fair to them but they have not met my expectations.

PT: You said you are not in the Senate to make money. But some Nigerians believe you and your colleagues at the National Assembly are there to steal and plunder.

Ubah: If you say someone has stolen, show me what they have stolen or are stealing. I dont want to presume what people say. I want to fight for my own soul. It may be of interest to you that during #ENDSARS I was the only politician in Nigeria that came out to confront over six thousand protesters in Anambra.

I went in when it was wild. When they were looting. I went in, fought them, beat them and even moved around with them. I moved them to a school where I addressed them and told them to go home, and they obeyed.

PT: How did you do that? Is it because of your wealth or popularity?

Ubah: No, it is not about money. It is about clear conscience. A clear conscience fears no one. See, there are politicians and there are politicians.

If you believe you are a politician, you should have come to confront them because they were agitating against politicians too.

PT: So far, has your entry into politics not affected your business?

Ubah: It has. But it is also good. My business is my business. Thank God I dont have any business that is a partnership. It affected my business and somehow my workers. Some of my workers have worked with me for 10 years but have to leave because of this. Some went another way round but we will still come back to the business, somehow.

For now, I want to finish my mission in politics. I cant tell you the timeframe because it is a life mission for me to go to strengthen things and go back to my business.

PT: Is your mission, final destination Igbo Presidency?

Ubah: No, I dont have that mantra. I can tell you for sure.

PT: Distinguished, you said you are in politics to touch lives, how many of these lives have you touched in the last two years?

Ubah: That is why I can confront #ENDSARS protesters and they did nothing to me. I cant tell you but they are many. If you want to know, come to Anambra and I will show you. I can invite you if you wont mind.

If you want, come to Anambra and I will walk with you free without police or any security operatives in view. You and I will walk the streets of Anambra and you will see.

PT: Are you saying you are more popular than the state governor?

Ubah: I dont know. When you come, you will ask him to walk with you too and you make your judgment.

PT: The Anambra election is almost here and there are reports that you are going to run?

Ubah: I am the only one today that has a ticket. I am going to run. I belong to a party many of them think has nothing to offer. I am going to run on the platform of that party. We have been begging people to contest the ticket with me but they are not showing up.

PT: So you are sure of defeating APGA and PDP to emerge?

Ubah: I defeated them in the senate election, so what is the big deal?

The same miracle of the senate election will happen at the governorship election. The Senate race is even more difficult than the governorship and I can tell you why.

During the Senate election, we also had the presidential election simultaneously. So you have forces that are above the senate. You have the House of Representatives election on the same day.

So, as you are battling with the presidential election, the House of Representatives and the Senate elections were held on the same day.

In 2019, there was a bandwagon effect that made way for the PDP because the former governor of my state was the PDP vice-presidential candidate. Everybody was almost swinging to him. You see Uche Ekwunife was an APC candidate and a few months before the election she migrated to the PDP.

Stella Oduah was in APGA and APGA was trying to play games with her and she moved.

PDP won clearly in the North and Central (senatorial districts) which brought about Uche Ekwunife defeating Victor Umeh who is from APGA. Then in the south where I come from, PDP won the presidential, won the House of Reps, but they couldnt beat me.

You see, this politics has gone beyond what you people think. It has come into a cleaner form and I dont believe in manipulation. That bandwagon effect in the North and Central could not affect my election. That shows you the essence of the strength. It is not about can he go? Once you are anointed, you are anointed. I believe that I am anointed by God, not man.

PT: The former CBN governor is also going to contest, perhaps on APGA platform. Do you think you can defeat someone like him?

Ubah: I will defeat him by the grace of God because I strongly believe that I have done more than him for my people. I strongly believe that I am more genuine in the cause of my people. I strongly believe that I have a better heart and that my people love me than him.

So, it is not about pedigree. It is not about artificial things, it is about human understanding and personal commitment before the eyes of God and man.

PT: You said you will still run under the Young Progressive Party, how have you grown this party?

Ubah: A revolution can never be televised. When it comes, it comes like Tsunami. Just watch and see.

This politics is not media politics. You are lucky I am granting this interview. I want to remain an underdog, away from the view of the media but you will see two to three months before the election.

I am the only elected personnel from YPP from all elective seats and I am okay with it though I see it as a challenge.

PT: Have you ever come under any pressure to defect to another party?

Ubah: Every day they approach me but I have been turning them down. See, if God elevated me to this position, why should I defect? It means I want to mock God. It means I have no conscience and I want to be selfish. It means I have no regard for people who toiled day and night to see that I emerged under the YPP. It means I dont understand the importance of not despising your days of humble beginnings. It means I am a normal Nigerian politician, ewedu and amala politicians, the come and chop and leave them politician. I have a conscience.

PT: If elected Anambra governor, you may end up being the only one because your party does not have members in the State House of Assembly.

Ubah: Who told you? Human management is something that every leader must have in him. Of 109 Senators in the Nigeria Senate, I am the only one from YPP and I am still coping and not complaining. Wherever God tells me to serve him, I will go and leave everything to him.

PT: In the workings of the National Assembly, you have to belong to one of the major political parties before you are appointed to important committees.

Ubah: I am not complaining. There is a leader who chooses leaders. If it pleases him to make me chairman of any committee in the senate, so be it. If he feels he likes me to be where I am, so be it. It is grace. What he has given to me that I have, I am satisfied with it.

PT: Have you been able to take good things (amenities) to your people?

Ubah: Yes. There has always been equity. You get what your colleagues get. It is only how you manage it and share it and your sincerity that matters.

Last year alone, I was able to double my constituency allocation by asking people to donate to my foundation. They donated two times my constituency allocation towards the hospital and other things I did in my state. Those are people who love me and have found confidence in me. Some did not believe in me during the senate election but now they do because of the interventions that I did.

They helped because I am a senator. They may not have helped if I was just Ifeanyi Ubah.

PT: You are in the opposition party but you seem so close to the ruling party.

Ubah: I am a Pan-Nigerian. After elections, we should all come together to work for Nigeria. Ruling or not ruling, opposition or no opposition, the worst that can happen is to put everything on hold.

PT: In the course of this interview, you have spoken much about the grace of God, how close are you to that God?

Ubah: Everything about me is God. My name Ifeanyi is God. The name they call me Ebube Chukwu Uzo is God. I place God before anything. Some of the things that I have done for God, I have not seen any of them (politicians) in this country that has done in appreciation of my love for God.

PT: You want to become Anambra governor but I know that in the time past there were certain cases against you in court. For instance, there is a case involving you and AMCON. Dont you think some of those cases may work against you in this race?

Ubah: I dont think that I have ever had a case that is bad. Some of those cases you see me in were targeted at me and every time an issue comes up, you clear it.

During the election, they will ask me some of these things and it depends on the facts that I give to the people. Between now and the election I will be launching my book that addresses some of those things.

Sometimes I get misunderstood and a little controversial, controversial in a good way. Some of those things you call cases fizzle out with time, they dont hold water. The AMCON case, for example, it is a bank that helps businesses and there was a reason why we went there. We had an agreement but was that agreement implemented? This is not the time to discuss that, but I will say it during the election if it arises, even if it may cost me my election.

I will grant another interview on AMCON, you have asked me about Anambra and I have answered.

I may be the underdog but watch and see. When you ignore a small pot, the foam from that small pot can quench a strong and burning firewood.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 07:56:36|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

SANTIAGO -- 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.

- - - -

QUITO -- 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.

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HAVANA -- Cuba registered 813 new cases and five deaths of COVID-19 on Saturday, said the Ministry of Public Health.

With these new figures, the number of infections has risen to 65,962 and the death toll to 392.

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 590 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 827,199.

The death toll from the virus reached 6,082 with nine new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 557 to 549, out of 866 hospitalized patients.

- - - -

ANKARA -- Turkey on Saturday reported 21,061 new COVID-19 cases, including 958 symptomatic patients, as the total number of positive cases in the country reached 2,992,694, said the country's health ministry.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 95 to 29,959, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,807,572 after 18,815 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours.

- - - -

RABAT -- Morocco announced on Saturday 444 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the North African country to 491,463.

The death toll rose to 8,763 with eight new fatalities during the last 24 hours, while 411 people are in intensive care units. Enditem
Thrilled scientists expressed satisfaction when, under Hong Kong waters, they observed a cuttlefish protecting its eggs, hiding them in 3D-printed clay, which are supposed to function as artificial beds for the fragile coral reefs. For these researcher-divers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the presence of wildlife in these terracotta slabs deposited last summer validates their bet to put the latest technologies at the service of the environment. Here are some pictures:


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Taxpayers are funding millions of dollars in contracts for companies that flout laws meant to reveal action on sexual harassment and pay equity, sparking Labor demands for federal intervention to force compliance.

Big companies are winning the government business despite being named on a non-compliant list that is meant to bar them from procurement contracts and financial assistance.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who is also the Minister for Women, has signalled further measures to encourage women in the workplace. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Almost a decade after big employers were told to report on the treatment of women in the workplace, the number of non-compliant companies has spiked while penalties appear to have softened.

The findings come as the treatment of women dominates Parliament, which resumes on Monday with government officials likely to face questions in Senate estimates hearings about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins two years ago.
H.R. McMaster, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, was national security adviser from 2017 to 2018. He is the author of Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World. Jonathan D.T. Ward is the author of Chinas Vision of Victory and the founder of Atlas Organization.
New Delhi:

One civilian died while fourteen others were critically injured in a grenade attack by terrorists in Jehangir Chowk area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

One of the attackers was also injured in the attack as the grenade he threw exploded near to him, said SSP Srinagar.

Some miscreant tried to throw a grenade on the deployment but reportedly it exploded close to him and he (miscreant) is injured, SSP Srinagar told ANI.

Some miscreant tried to throw a grenade on the deployment but reportedly it exploded close to him and he (miscreant) is injured:SSP Srinagar pic.twitter.com/niQE6m94n2  ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2017

All the persons injured in Jehangir Chowk grenade attack brought to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment.

Jammu and Kashmir: Persons injured in Jehangir Chowk grenade attack brought to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment. pic.twitter.com/6hwMOljiYl  ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2017

Earlier on Wednesday, some miscreants hurled a grenade on a Police station in Shopian. However, no casualties were reported as the grenade didnt explode.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have lodged an FIR in this regard and investigation is underway.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Berlin, March 21 : More than 20,000 people rallied against Germany's coronavirus restrictions in the city of Kassel during which clashes broke out between police and participants.

Protesters on Saturday ignored the city's court-approved limit of 6,000 participants, with almost all of them also refusing to wear a face mask, dpa news agency reported.

A court had only allowed a rally at a location outside the city centre, a ruling which the protesters also flouted.

The crowd had gathered in the city centre for an unauthorised rally, the police said, adding the violence erupted after protesters ignored instructions from officers and broke through police barriers.

Officers used pepper spray and batons against the participants.

Police said several people were taken into custody, but did not give an exact number.

Many who turned out in Kassel were supporters of the so-called Querdenken (Lateral Thinking) movement, comprising Covid-19 deniers, right-wing activists and anti-vaccination campaigners.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, the city had been bracing for a large turnout of far-right protesters. Police disbanded the rally in the afternoon, saying participants had violated mask and social-distancing rules.

"There's very little going on here," said a police spokesperson.

Police had expected a crowd in the low thousands to come out near the Brandenburg Gate, urged on by various far-right groups, the turnout was much lower, only in the hundreds.

According to a dpa reporter, some protesters threw bottles at left-wing counter-demonstrators.

In total, there were about 650 demonstrators at various locations, authorities estimated. Of them, about half were left-wing protesters.

A planned demonstration by critics of the government's coronavirus restrictions at Alexanderplatz, a major transport hub and shopping area in central Berlin, was cancelled, as were two motorcades.

Demonstrations last year in the German capital saw tens of thousands of Germans taking to the streets to protest lockdown measures, leading to often violent confrontations with police and hundreds of people taken into custody.
 "DeLay flunked attitude test?: Harsh penalty could be linked to lack of remorse, some experts say" | Main | Texas Court of Criminal Appeals calls permanent halt to trial court capital hearing 

January 12, 2011

An appellate amicus brief in the Rubashkin case on sentencing issues

As regular readers may recall, and as detailed in this prior post, last summer a federal district court in Iowa decided to give Sholom Rubashkin a 27-year federal prison sentence for his leadership in a financial fraud involving his kosher meat-packing plant. Having spent some time looking at various facets of this high-profile case, I was troubled by the severity of this sentence and the district court's decision-making and I decided to help put together an amicus brief on sentencing issues as the case was appealed to the Eighth Circuit.

I am pleased to report that the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) help me put together and file this amicus brief, as is detailed in this press release and this blog post from the fine folks at WLF. The full Rubashkin amicus brief and be downloaded at this link, and the WLF blog posting by Stephen Richer does an especially nice job spotlighting why I wanted to get involved and also what the brief argues:

Consider a man who has ten kids, is an active participant in his town, runs a business that provides a needed service for his religious community, and has never before been accused of a crime. Imagine that this man is convicted of financial fraud that is tenuously linked to large societal monetary loss. The alleged fraud served to keep the community business afloat, not to fund personal extravagances. What type of punishment would this man deserve? A prison sentence? If so, how long? One year? Three years? But what about 27 years?... Thats the penalty recently imposed by a judge in the Northern District of Iowa on Sholom Rubashkin, owner of Agriprocessors, a Kosher meat processing plant in Potsville, Iowa.... Washington Legal Foundation, representing 18 noted law school deans and professors, former federal judges, and former prosecutors, added its voice to the opposition on Monday, January 10th by filing a brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to vacate the sentence and remand it to another federal trial judge for resentencing.... WLFs brief makes three arguments: First, that the district courts calculation of the guideline range was contrary to the Sentencing Guidelines instruction and related jurisprudence; second, that the district court largely ignored the Supreme Courts repeated admonition that a district court must not presume reasonable a sentence within the calculated Guidelines range; and third, that the functional life sentence given to Mr. Rubashkin (who is currently 51 years old) is incompatible with his personally history and is substantively much greater than necessary to comply with the purposes of sentencing set forth by Congress.

Related posts on the Rubashkin case:

January 12, 2011 at 11:23 AM | Permalink

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Comments

How about execution instead of prison being the appropriate sentence?

I see his children and the rest as being fluff rather than a reason for leniency. And perhaps if fraud was required to keep it going then the service wasn't quite so necessary. Hopefully the 8th shrugs off this argument like the fetid garbage that it is.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Jan 12, 2011 11:49:36 AM

Professor,

In the interest of full disclosure, I think you should report whether you have been paid for this representation.

Mark

Posted by: Mark Pickrell | Jan 12, 2011 1:15:16 PM

At the district court level, Mark, I was compensated for providing some consulting advice in this matter, but I worked on the drafting and filing of this appeals brief pro bono. And in our motion seeking to file this amicus brief, these facts are disclosed. Gosh knows, I sure wish I could always get compensated for complaining about sentencing decisions I dislike.

Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 12, 2011 2:26:25 PM

Thanks, Professor. Always helpful.

And thanks, as usual, for all the work on this site.

Mark

Posted by: Mark Pickrell | Jan 12, 2011 4:25:35 PM

I would like to hear what happened to the findings of the discovery of the judge and prosecutor, their ex parte conferencing, and miscellaneous agreements about the management of this case, their prior personal relationships. I am hoping an appellate court forces them to pay all legal costs of the first trial and orders a retrial. This was a good example of the point that one should always counterattack the lawyer oppressor, the federal thug and the totally biased lawyers sitting on the bench. They are little more than organized criminal cult enterprise gang, not protecting the public, attacking productive entities, and generating government do nothing sinecures, little more productive than no show union mob jobs. Such counter discovery is a standard of due care which the defense bar refuses to acknowledge. Why? They owe their job not to the client, but to the prosecutor. GEt fired by a client, replace this commodity in minutes, at a certain level of skill. Deter the federal thug, and entire firms have to have mass layoffs.

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Thousands of hoteliers drowning in a sea of loans By Tharushi Weerasinghe They are worse off than before they received the moratorium, say stakeholders View(s): View(s):

Business owners in the hospitality industry, now entering yet another year of stagnation, claim they are drowning in accrued capital and interest on loans after availing themselves of a debt moratorium introduced by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) last year.

Enterprises were worse off than before they received the moratorium, a hotelier from Unawatuna claimed. He had taken a small-and-medium-enterprise (SME) loan via the Bank of Ceylon during the pandemic and then availed himself of the debt moratoriumonly to find that the accrued interest would be restructured as a separate loan.

The CBSL last year directed licensed banks to grant a debt moratorium to COVID-19 affected businesses and individuals. It was introduced after the first wave of the pandemic and extended for a further six months from October 2020 and it was granted for both capital and interest.

Eligible borrowers included businesses, proprietors and persons engaged in identified business sectors, SMEs, the self-employed and foreign currency earners hit by the pandemic. But it was said that the capital and interest will be converted into a term loan. The scheme will end in March and businesses fear they will be swallowed up by piled-up payments.

But Ranjan Senanayake, the General Secretary of the Ceylon Bank Employees Union, argued that the relief scheme was only ever meant as a grace period for borrowers to pay off their loans, not a cancellation of dues, interest included. Banks had been expected to devise a mechanism to ease payment of accumulated interest but most were reluctant as this is one of their main income streams.

All the hotels in the industry have been hit hard, said Sanath Ukwatte, President of the Sri Lanka Hotels Association. The small hotels and the big ones, all have their own set of challenges.

Interest payments due on loans were placing a considerable strain on the struggling industry. Ideally, they should have been waived off at times like this, Mr Ukwatte said, adding that working capital grants will help the sector prepare for an influx of visitors expected after vaccinations become more widespread.

Hotel maintenance is expensive and many venues could not afford it during the pandemic. Preparing for tourists, therefore, will again require heavy inputs. But any relief granted will bring returns as the tourism industry will provide the country with a quick economic lifeline, Mr Ukwatte insisted.

He admitted that waiving off interest could cost the banks significantly. Therefore, the Government will need to reduce bank taxes by one to two percent so they could recover losses incurred this way.

Mr Ukwatte also acknowledged the reductions already made. A further cut in the statutory reserve ratio (SRR)reserve of funds banks are expected to maintain with the Central Bankwould increase their liquidity.

The industry took the brunt of the intelligence failures that resulted in the Easter attack as well as the pandemic, he said. Therefore, it is only right that neither the hospitality industry nor the financial industry be penalized. Concessionary loans for hard-hit industries through international NGOs were also worth exploring.

A lot of places are struggling, another hotelier said. If nothing happens, they will close by the end of the year. The occasional local parties that check-in on some weekends werent enough to keep afloat.

In January, before every long weekend, the police came on TV and warned of antigen tests being carried out on the highway. So most reservations are cancelled at the last minute all stocked-up supplies gone to waste. This scare tactic hit venues hard, the hotelier related.

Many medium to large businesses have fewer challenges as many have chosen to become quarantine hotels. Of the 2,895 hotels registered with the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Board, 2,317 were SMEs. Around 200 venues are certified as safe-and-secure under the quarantine scheme.

Sixty-five percent of certification was provided to hotels with fewer than three stars, said Kimarli Fernando, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson. This accounts for 31% of the sector as a whole.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has distributed one-off grants of Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 to all registered tour guides and drivers. It had also appealed to the CBSL to extend the debt moratorium and is collaborating with the regulator to provide relief on lease payments for tourism-related vehicles. We were also able to extend due dates on utility bills and the delay the excise on liquor licenses for another year, said Mrs Fernando.

The Authority has now flagged the issue of higher local authority taxes applicable to the industry. It continues health protocol training and has since received the World Travel and Tourism Councils Safe Travel Stamp, the first in the region to do so.
David Thomas Phillips was born at St. Josephs Catholic Hospital in Lewistown, Montana on Good Friday, March 22, l940, to Helen (Munski) and David Phillips. He passed away in his home on March 14, 2021.

Thomas was their first born, and was followed by his brother Dwight, sister Margaret...then his youngest brother Duane was born on Toms 9th birthdaythey had such special birthdays celebrating together every year.

Toms Mom was a teacher and over the years he attended the schools where she taught and also went to public schools. As the younger siblings grew up they also attended their Moms schools. Back in the small one room schools, there were times when all 4 of the kids would be in Helens class at the same time. Since Tom was the oldest, and Helen often had to go to summer school, Tom helped his Dad raise his siblings. He became a good cook because of those times.

The family belonged to Catholic Church in Hilger. At that time, the priest traveled to do mass at other churches in the area, however, he didnt drive, so Tom would drive him to the churches and was a traveling Alter boy for his high school years.

Tom was in the 4th grade when he moved to Fairfield the first time. Toms Dad ran GTA Elevators around the state over the years and they did move a lot. They lived in Havre and Chinook, then back to Hilger.

Tom graduated from Fergus High School in Lewistown in l958 and a few months later he went into the Army. He was active for 6 months and would serve for the next 6 in the Army Reserves. He was very proud of his time in the service and that he was able to serve his country.

When Tom returned from the Army he moved to Belt and ran the elevator therefollowing in is Dads footsteps. A few months after moving to Belt, he met Elaine, and they were married on May 28, l960. Cory was born the next year and 6 years later they adopted their daughter Leanne.

In 1966 he moved to Fairfield for the 2nd time. Tom and Elaine raised their family on their farm south of town. He farmed and raised cows for the next 23 years.

In l990, God was calling them to take a new adventure, to move somewhere new and make more friends. They moved to Vida and continued farming there for l2 years. By then, Tom was having some health issues, and decided to move back to Hilger, where they bought a few acres and lived for l7 years. The little towns of Vida and Hilger have amazing people who were so kind and loving to them.

Tom raised cows wherever we lived. He was a true farmer and rancher. He loved classic cars, riding motorcycles and collecting toy tractors.

Tom was an FFA member in high school and then became a member of the Fairfield FFA Alumni, he enjoyed the time he spent with the local chapter, he even had the opportunity to chaperone the kids on one of their national convention trips. His grandsons were also Fairfield FFA members.

In August of 20l9, Tom and Elaine moved back to Fairfield (third time) this was a big adjustment to move from the country to town after living on a farm for most of his life. It was a blessing to move back to be close to their kids, grands, and great grands.

He had Pulmonary Fibrosis, suffered 3 heart attacks over the years, and was a diabetic for 32 years. His health never took him down until his last few months.

Tom and Elaine celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2020.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents David and Helen, and his brother Duane.

He is survived by his wife Elaine, son Cory (Lois) Phillips  Great Falls, Leanne (Greg) Hall  Great Falls, grandsons Lonnie (Kim) Lattin  Fairfield, Lane (Terra) Lattin, Spokane, WA, Zachary (Casey) Phillips  Great Falls, granddaughter Sammy (Mike) Williams, Grand Rapids, Iowa as well as 8 great-grandchildren.

Donations may be offered to the Fairfield FFA Chapter.
With a name and figure like Eva Berg - she's got to live in the Hollywood hills, right?

Not quite, but her impressive list of clients include celebs Lorraine Keane, Glenda Gilson, Alison Doody and Sophie Anderton - and they are just the ones she can reveal.

Ireland's leading Pilates expert Eva has a gorgeous wood structure studio in Dublin called The Secret Pilates Studio, which featured on RTE's Home of the Year.

And she insists that being fit doesn't mean you have to run 10k every day.

"When most people think of fitness they automatically think of running or weight training," says Eva. "However, flexibility is a very important component of physical fitness, especially if your work involves sitting at a desk most of the day.

"If your muscles are tight you will be at greater risk of injury, whereas flexible joints and muscles allow your body to stretch and bend more easily, helping prevent injury.

"Stretching in the morning helps to ease out aches and pains and stiff joints from the night before. It also increases blood flow and prepares your body for the day ahead."

Having trained extensively in California and Norway, Eva returned to Ireland in 2000 to establish her stunning studio in Rathmichael.

Her expert tuition - frequently operating on a waiting list basis - has been in huge demand among those in the know ever since.

"Pilates exercises are geared towards improving flexibility and, if done correctly, regular stretching can greatly alleviate lower back pain," continues Eva.

"An added benefit to a good daily stretch workout is that it can help hugely with bloating.

Expand Close Some of Evas famous clients include Alison Doody / Facebook

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"I incorporate a lot of de-bloat stretches into my daily 20-minute online workouts, which you can do early morning, lunchtime or before you go to bed. Try it!"

Now, in recognition of the hard work and dedication of HSE workers throughout the pandemic, the personal trainer is offering all HSE staff a month's free membership for The Secret Pilates Studio, giving access to her new daily online routines and extensive catalogue of home workouts.

Visit thesecretpilates.com or follow @secretpilates online





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Position 1: Cat stretch

Come onto the mat in a box position. Place your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.

On the inhale, sink your lower back as much as you can, but keep the neck long by looking straight down at the floor. Try not to sink the area inbetween your shoulder blades. Keep the core engaged by drawing the lower part of your stomach inwards as if you are wearing tight jeans.

Then, on the exhale, round your spine upwards as much as possible towards the ceiling stretching the spine and shoulders.

Repeat 10 times and follow your breath

Position 2: Bridge

This position is designed to increase spine mobility and release tension in the lower back.

Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet spaced hip distance apart, with your arms resting lightly on the mat.

Gently lift your bottom up on the inhale, and when you come to the top of the movement slowly melt the spine one vertebra at a time back down into the mat on the exhale.

Repeat 10 times

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Position 3: Hip flexor stretch

Your hip flexors can become tight from sitting down for extended periods of time.

Kneeling on the right knee take the left foot forward and press your body towards the left foot holding for 20 seconds as you exhale. You can rest your hands on the bent knee.

Repeat on the other side

Position 4: Upper Body Raise

Lie on your stomach. Keep your chin dropped down towards your chest.

Elbows are on the mat, slowly press into the mat with the palms of your hands until the elbows are off the floor and your upper body is raised but your hip bones are still in

contact with the mat. Keep your shoulders down and relaxed. Hold for 10 seconds.

Repeat five times

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Position 5: Seated Spine Twist

Designed to stretch the lower back through rotation and elongation. Sitting on a chair slowly and gently twist to the left holding the left side of the chair, elongate through the spine, keep the core engaged and stay for 20 seconds.

Repeat on the right side
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Young peope who define themselves as asexual have been sharing the often negative reactions they experience if they're open about their lack of sexual desire - including being told they simply haven't 'met the right person'.

One of the most prominent voices for the asexual community in the UK is 24-year-old Yasmin Benoit, a model and activist who wants to raise visibility of asexuality and aromanticism.

In an interview with the Observer, she revealed that she's been branded a 'psychopath' because of her sexuality, and that people have assumed she's been 'molested' in the past to explain her lack of sexual attraction.

One of the most prominent voices for the asexual community in the UK is 24-year-old Yasmin Benoit, a model and activist who wants to raise visibility of asexuality and aromanticism

Asexual YouTuber Lynn Saga, 23, says signs you might be asexual include not being interested in intimacy

'They were, like: 'You don't look asexual, you're probably just insecure, or you must have got molested or you must be gay? Maybe you're a psychopath', said Yasmin.

According to asexual YouTuber Lynn Saga, 23, who uses the they/them pronoun, signs you might be asexual include not being interested in intimacy, not 'rushing into a relationship' and having 'little to no crushes in your lifetime'.

In a video marking Asexual Awareness Week, they opened up about how they first knew they were asexual: 'Even though I am a very tactile person, I was never interested in sex and didn't understand that was something people wanted'.

They went on: 'Not experiencing the wanting of that kind of intimacy or feeling a connection like that is one of the biggest signs you might be asexual.'

Shelby Grace, 27, is best known for her popular gaming videos - but has also opened up about her sexual orientation, having come out as asexual on a friend's YouTube channel in January last year

British blogger Daniel Walker, 24, who runs the Slice Of Ace YouTube account told the Observer that 'nine times out of 10' he has to explain to people what his asexuality means

What is asexuality? An asexual is someone who does not experience sexual attraction. Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are. Asexuality does not make our lives any worse or any better, we just face a different set of challenges than most sexual people. There is considerable diversity among the asexual community; each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Advertisement

They said that teens are often told they 'haven't met the right person yet', with people often not acknowledging that they could be asexual.

Speaking of growing up with different desires to their friends, Lynn went on: 'All of my friends around 15, 16, 17 were starting to think about getting into relationships and being boy or girl crazy and I was just sitting over here like "What are you guys talking about?"'.

British blogger Daniel Walker, 24, who runs the Slice Of Ace YouTube account told the Observer that 'nine times out of 10' he has to explain to people what his sexuality means.

He is physically affectionate with his male partner but has no desire to have sex - however can engage in sexual activity 'comfortably' as part of his relationship.

Shelby Grace, 27, is best known for her popular gaming videos - but has also opened up about her sexual orientation, having come out on a friend's YouTube channel in January last year about being asexual.

Answering questions about her sexuality she said: 'Dating in my opinion hasn't been much different.

'The only thing it ever will maybe change is there is more of a conversations about things'.

She explained that while someone may be asexual, it doesn't mean they have no desire to engage in sexual activities.

'That is part of the whole spectrum of sexual desire, which can range from sex positive to sex neutral and sex repulsed', said Shelby.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 53F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
The loyalist group that includes representatives of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando has claimed the DUP may bring down the Stormont Executive if the Northern Ireland Protocol isn't scrapped.

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Loyalist Communities Council chairman David Campbell, who wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month to reveal the organisations were withdrawing support for the Good Friday Agreement, has revealed the issue was raised during talks between the organisation and the party three weeks ago.

"We make no secret of the fact we see this ending in the bringing down of the Northern Ireland Executive. Arlene Foster was left under no illusion that this is something she would have to take responsibility for," Mr Campbell tells today's Sunday Independent.

Expand Close First Minister Arlene Foster Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye / Facebook

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"She responded by saying it has to be clearly within the DUP's thinking but now would not be the time to do that. That would be if and when all other avenues were explored and exhausted and if there was still a reluctance in London, Dublin and Brussels to change this protocol."

He claims the DUP "won't want mention of bringing down the Executive but that is clearly in their minds as an inevitability" and dismissed any suggestion that it was an irresponsible move.

When asked about this and whether Arlene Foster mentioned this to Boris Johnson during his visit to Enniskillen last week, a DUP source replied: "He's aware of the consequences for devolution if action is not taken."

However, a party spokesman did not reply to our requests for comment last night.

As fears rise of loyalist violence against the post-Brexit arrangements and Irish sea border, Mr Campbell says it is a "working assumption" that all loyalist terror groups "would still have access to arms".

"All the loyalist groups participated in decommissioning schemes," explains Mr Campbell, "But I think anyone would be naive to think they decommissioned everything."

On the current loyalist threat, he stated: "We don't want to talk in terms of threat but the anger is such that I haven't witnessed since 1985 and the imposition of the Anglo Irish Agreement  we are approaching a very dangerous situation.

"Unless it is dealt with politically, politics will be deemed ineffective and people will therefore look to other means to demonstrate."

The LCC chairman admits he "fears everything" including those who may decide not to play by the rules, suggesting "any crank can do whatever they want  how safe are any of us?"

Asked if someone could die, Mr Campbell replies: "Potentially if things aren't resolved, yes. That has to be what we are all focused on preventing.

"We are under no illusion where the blame would lie in that situation  those who got the protocol that they wanted using the threat of violence on this island."

In today's Sunday Independent a senior member of the UDA warns that if they return to violence over the protocol Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney could be potential targets.

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"If Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar don't get rid of the protocol they will face the wrath of loyalism," the terror chief is quoted as saying. "Do I foresee us killing Catholics? No. What about attacking southern politicians? I don't foresee it, I know it  I know it's coming."

Last week Leo Varadkar's home address was scrawled beside a banner in east Belfast while Mr Coveney's home address was also painted onto a wall.

The terrorist also warned loyalists could launch "an incendiary campaign and send letter bombs to Irish politicians" if the Protocol isn't scrapped.

Another source, aligned with the UVF claimed loyalists are gathering "personal information" on Irish political figures.

Yesterday it emerged an official at Larne Port involved in administering the Irish sea border checks has been forced out of their home after threats.
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Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

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Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 16:57:11|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech to the Colombian people at the invitation of his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, as the third batch of COVID-19 vaccines provided by China arrived in Bogota, capital of Colombia, on Saturday local time.

In his speech, Xi said that in the face of the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak, the two countries have worked in unity to help each other overcome difficulties and actively carried out anti-pandemic cooperation.

Two batches of Chinese vaccines purchased by Colombia have been delivered to the South American country not long ago, Xi said, adding that the latest batch of vaccines arrived today to help boost the national vaccination program of Colombia.

Xi said he hopes that the governments and peoples of the two countries will make joint efforts to strengthen friendly cooperation in various fields including the anti-pandemic fight, so as to elevate China-Colombia friendly cooperation to a new level from a new historical starting point and bring more benefits to the two peoples. Enditem
Two Nepalese men were arrested at the India-Nepal border in Rupaidiah hereafter stolen jewellery and other items worth Rs 10 lakh were recovered from their possession, an official said on Sunday.

Assistant Commandant of Sashastra Seema Bal Anil Kumar Yadav said the Telangana Police had informed the SSB that two men fled towards Nepal after stealing jewellery and other precious items.

The border outposts were alerted and on Saturday, Lalit and Jahanvi, the two Nepalese men, were searched by the SSB on suspicion.

Jewellery and other items worth Rs 10 lakh were recovered from their possession, Yadav said, adding that during interrogation, the two men confessed to their crime.

After completing all the legal formalities, the Nepalese duo was handed over to the Telangana Police, he added.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Robina Asti, a World War II veteran and mutual-fund executive who inspired a generation of transgender people in the 2010s with her successful fight for her husbands Social Security benefits, and who just last year became the worlds oldest active flight instructor, died on March 12 in San Diego. She was 99.

Her death, at the home of her daughter Coca Astey, was confirmed by Ms. Astey.

Ms. Asti transitioned in the 1970s and had been living quietly as a woman for nearly 40 years when she applied for survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration in 2012, a few months after her husband died. It took a year for the agency to deny her application, on the grounds that she was not legally a woman at the time of her marriage.

Though most of her government-issued documents, including her pilots license and even her Social Security card, recognized her as a woman, the agencys determination of survivor benefits was based on her birth certificate, which identified her as a man.

Ms. Asti was livid. She searched online for help and found Lambda Legal, a nonprofit law firm that specializes in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
New Delhi:

The Dera Sacha Sauda sect's mouthpiece " Sach Kahoon" admitted that human remains were buried inside the premises. The search of skeletons to be supervised by a court commissioner is likely to begin today.

The statement came hours before authorities and security agencies are likely to start a search and sanitization operation inside the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters campus near Sirsa town in Haryana.



According to the Dera newspaper, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has done this act to encourage followers to donate the remains to the sect for burial and prevent these from being immersed in rivers, causing pollution.

The newspaper also claimed that the human remains were buried within the campus and trees were planted on these.

Also Read: Dera chief Gurmeet Singh gets 20 years in jail, Rs 30 lakh fine for raping two women

According to some persons, who were earlier associated with the sect before but left it later, have alleged that the sect chief killed those who opposed his activities and got them buried inside the 70- acre campus of the sect.



Ram Rahim was found guilty of rape in a case that stemmed from an anonymous written complaint in April 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers. The case was registered by the CBI in December 2002 on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Violence broke out at Panchkula after Ram Rahim was convicted in a rape case by the special CBI court leaving 38 people dead and 264 injured.

Security forces are scheduled to carry out sanitization inside Dera Sacha Sauda headquarter at Satnaam Chowk in Sirsa on Friday. Heavy security force deployment was seen at the main entrance of headquarter. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads have also been stationed near the Dera premises.

Dera administration chairperson Vipassana, who is a close aide of the sect head, said the Dera management was fully prepared for the conduct of the search and sanitizing operation.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Lakeview Regional Medical Center near Covington announced Friday that it was COVID-free for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began a year ago.

Its Facebook post touting the achievement said it was the first North Shore hospital to have discharged all COVID-19 patients.

While we know the virus is still an active threat, we are celebrating this small victory towards the greater fight, CEO Hiral Patel said.

The hospital is the latest to announce discharging its last COVID-19 patient. Earlier this week, Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, which cared for Louisiana's first coronavirus patient, said its halls were COVID-free.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

The announcements come as Louisiana's coronavirus data shows a trend of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations declining as more people receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports that more than 987,000 Louisiana residents have received their first shot of the vaccine.

Can't see chart below? Click here.
Last year while the country locked down in a bid to stave off the pandemic, Holly Carpenter and her family were waging their own personal battle, in silence.

Like so many other families, cancer had crept insidiously into their lives - silent, deadly, when the former Miss Ireland's dad, Karl, was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome.

Now, for the first time, the 29-year-old has broken her silence in an emotionally charged interview to raise vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society on a Daffodil Day like no other.

"When you hear the C word everything else just disappears," says the social media influencer as she recalls the exact moment that her parents broke the devastating news. "I immediately went to the worst case scenario and thought, 'is dad dying?'"

"I remember I was on my phone and my mum just said, 'can you put down your phone? Your dad just wants to talk to you about something.'

"I think I knew there was something wrong but it was easier to be in denial because you just don't want to imagine that something could be wrong with your parents."

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Noticing a progressive decline in her fun-loving dad, Holly explains: "He kept having to take naps and he was starting to look really thin. He went for a test, without telling my brother Ben and I because he wanted to protect us.

"He reassured us that they had caught it early and it was going to be fine, but I think he was nervous to tell us too because he was afraid of scaring his kids."

The family was still digesting the news when the threat of coronavirus exploded worldwide.

"We were told that it was a very rare form of cancer and the doctors told us that his immune system would be very low so he would be prone to catching colds, and then the next thing we knew we were in a pandemic," she continues.

"We couldn't touch anything without using hand sanitiser and we had to wear masks. It was terrifying.

"I had moved out at that point and he cocooned for the first lockdown. I'm so glad that he took it so seriously. I think in a way the pandemic forced him to take better care of himself than he ever did before."

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Deciding to stay out the rest of the pandemic in France, where they spent part of the year, Holly said goodbye to her mum and dad last June.

Ten months on, the Dublin-based businesswoman has one simple wish - to embrace her parents again.

Close to tears, she admits: "I said I wouldn't get upset, but Christmas was really hard. Not seeing my parents and my dad for this long is really hard.

"Christmas didn't happen because I was working out that we would need to be in three different airports before we got to dad.

"My mam was already baking and preparing for Christmas dinner so it was devastating when we made the call. But it wasn't a normal Christmas for so many people and we had to keep my dad safe."

The loss of time with her parents is compounded by people who have flagrantly disobeyed restrictions.

"We were thinking we could do Christmas dinner in March and now it is just getting longer and longer," she says. "I don't want to be a curtain-twitcher but when I saw people flying to Dubai and going to cool parties and then just coming home ... I have made so many sacrifices, my friends have made so many sacrifices and you're flying off on a sun holiday?

"I don't blame them - I more so blame the fact that option was available. I did find myself getting into that toxic headspace judging what other people were doing. Now I just mute people and focus on myself."

Social media, while contentious, has also been a balm to the Raheny native during this emotionally fraught time.

Until now, however, she was reluctant to share her heartbreak online.

"I am really honest with my followers and in a way Instagram has helped me through this because I put on my [phone's] ring light and put on a brave face and that helped me get through," tells Holly. "But really, I was leading a double life.

"The reason I didn't share it online is because, while I am in the public eye, my parents and brother's business isn't mine to share, and I felt like people were enduring so much.

"Other people weren't seeing their parents because they were in different counties or were high risk. I just felt like it wasn't appropriate for me to come on and get upset, but in a way now I feel like I probably should have.

"Now I think it is the right time to talk about it because so many charities have been hit and this might encourage people to make a donation and to really get behind Daffodil Day.

"My dad is so lucky because he has my mum and a great doctor and I think of people who are going through treatment alone and it is heart-breaking.

"Now he is stable, he has got medication and he is being monitored. It is just something he is always going to have to monitor, and thankfully he is coming back to himself."

Speaking of their father-daughter bond, Holly also draws strength from happier times: "Me and my dad have always been really close. We are very alike -he is not shy at all!

"He is a real character and is an entertainer so it was really scary to see someone who was so full of energy being so drained and unwell. He said if he could help people feel like they are not on their own and spread awareness then I had to share his story."

A year on from her dad's diagnosis, today everything has changed for Holly.

"When I was sitting around the Christmas table with my parents and brother in 2019, none of us could have anticipated what was going to happen," she adds. "It really has put things into perspective and made me appreciate family time.

"It has taught me to enjoy life at a slower pace. I think I was on autopilot and I realise now you can't live at that mad pace.

"You also don't have to focus on material things. I used to worry about what I was going to wear to different events and spend so much on clothes and now I think, why did I care so much?"

Having previously spoken about her own mental health struggles, meanwhile, Holly - who created accessories brand LoveLift - wants others to think before they type.

"People can be very judgemental and I've seen things where people have said that I'm a bit 'up myself'.

"Even when I was doing Dancing with the Stars, there was a bit of slagging on Twitter because of my reaction when I got booted off - but I just have an open face and I was obviously disappointed.

"I am turning 30 this year and I have been through enough: Miss Ireland, Britain's Next Top Model and modelling.

"My weight has fluctuated, my skin has been good and bad and I have had really critical remarks online, and even though I wish I didn't have all that it has actually given me thicker skin.

"Having said that, during lockdown people really aren't feeling that confident ... criticism still hurts my feelings."

As to why she's opening up now, Holly admits: "I have kept something like this to myself for a year and it has made me realise not to judge other people because you do not know what is going on in their lives.

"All I care about now is making my dad proud and hopefully making even a tiny difference."
Ask yourself what you are seeking when you scroll, says addictions therapist Patrick Maxwell

Theres another pandemic no one seems to be talking about  our addiction to all things digital.

One friend told me pre-Covid how she feared her son had failed his A-levels because of his love of gaming. Another is worried that her son rarely gets off his multiple screens. And its not just teenagers  one buddy of mine cant have a conversation with me without checking her phone 20 times like a nervous twitch.

Am I overly concerned or is this just the new normal  an evolution of human behaviour in a high-tech world? A fellow journalist recently told me she doesnt see a problem with it. Its just how we live, isnt it? she shrugged. Yes, but then again, no. Kathryn Dombrowicz, an addictions specialist at mental wellbeing clinic The Soke, says: There is a significant increase of anxiety and depression associated with increased digital use.

There are different types of digital issues we can experience  compulsive social-media scrolling, constant checking of emails, gaming and gambling to name a few. Personally, I have a love/hate affair with Instagram  while I enjoy an Insta-scroll I dislike what a habit its become. And while Netflixs documentary The Social Dilemma flagged up the dopamine-inducing power of social media, no one I know whos seen it has curbed their tech habits.

Digital addiction is not yet properly acknowledged by psychiatrists as a mental-health issue, but I predict it will be. According to Dombrowicz, the only element recognised by the ICD 11 (the official health classification system in the UK) is gaming. However, she says, Weve been watching the impact of all things digital in recent years and how it affects peoples lives. As with any addiction, it starts with good intentions, such as making you feel part of a group. But it can escalate and end up controlling you, which is when problems arise. Dombrowicz and I acknowledge the importance of social media and phones as a positive source of connection for all of us in lockdown  a lifeline, even  but will this past year entrench our digital habits further? And how do you know if you have an addiction  and what do you do about it?

Patrick Maxwell, lead therapist for addictions at Londons Nightingale Hospital, says if youre experiencing mood swings, guilt over being on a screen, boredom with routine tasks or feel euphoric when using tech, you may want to seek help. Other warning signs are if its impacting your daily life or relationships. He suggests asking yourself what it is you are seeking when you scroll/check/swipe  is it validation, escape, distraction or a coping mechanism? By finding your internal motivation you can begin to change it, Maxwell says.

Dombrowicz also advises trying relaxation techniques to manage your emotions and therapy if needed if you are hiding behind a screen. Its important, she says, to cultivate interest in other activities.

For families worried about their children, its essential to start a dialogue with them and to put boundaries in place  such as limits on screen time or when the wifi goes off. Also create interactions without screens, such as eating dinner together with no phones.

Ultimately, the digital world isnt going away, so we need to find ways of managing it. As Maxwell says, technology isnt necessarily good or bad  its how we use it that really matters.

@susannahtaylor_

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Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
The digitalization of subsurface information to collect data and improve production techniques could enhance exploration and drilling processes worldwide, led by Egypt. A new project from The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and US-based oilfield services company Schlumberger, the Egypt Upstream Gateway (EUG), will digitalize subsurface information and make the data available worldwide through this access point. It aims to provide geological data to enhance drilling and production in the countrys waters.

Taking just one year to build, the EUG is expected to collect over 100 years' worth of accumulated national onshore and offshore seismic, non-seismic, well-log, production, and additional subsurface data under a single platform, according to a Schlumberger press release.

The first-of-its-kind technology in Egypt will use these data to alleviate risk in the exploration of oil across multiple basins. Egypt hopes to lead the way through the digitalization of data to enhance access to information and encourage greater foreign investment in the sector.

The Egypt Upstream Gateway will digitally promote Egypts oil and gas bid rounds through seamless online access to the sectors data, as well as endorsing our exploration potential worldwide. Tarek El-Molla, Egypts minister of petroleum and mineral resources, explained.

We believe that EUG will create game-changing impacts by promoting Egypts E&P potential on a truly global scale, Khaled Al Mogharbel, EVP of Geographies at Schlumberger, added about the development.

Related: India Throws The Oil Tanker Industry A Lifeline



The heads of ten energy companies, including Italian Eni, American Apache, and German Wintershall Dea, signed membership agreements in the portal following its launch in February.

Over the last year, there has been a significant push towards been greater digitalisation across the oil and gas sector by both the private and public entities around the world. Oil and gas companies are now working hand-in-hand with tech firms, from giants to start-ups, who provide innovative cost and time saving solutions for energy exploration, monitoring, extraction, and delivery.

In 2020, of all oil and gas companies surveyed for DNV-GLs industry outlook report, 92 percent expected to increase or maintain levels of spending on digitalization. The main reason cited was adding value to the industry.

Previous developments in digitalization have already been made at the international level. In 2018, the Open Subsurface Data Universe (OSDU) forum was created as a means of establishing a standardised data platform where members could work in collaboration to ensure secure, reliable, worldwide access to subsurface and well information.

Over 35 oil and gas companies are currently participating in the OSDU, including founding companies Equinor and Shell. Members are contributing their knowledge and expertise to enhance the system, to develop the quantity and quality of shared subsurface data across the sector.

Emerson joined in 2020 with the aim of improving the efficiency of reservoir modelers and reservoir engineers and accelerate digital innovation across reservoir workflows. The standardisation of data through the system will help companies save time and money through a more streamlined and accurate information sharing process.

We will soon see what Egypts new EUG adds to the development of subsurface data as bidding begins on the exploration of oil across 24 regions in the Gulf of Suez, the Western Sahara, and the eastern and western Mediterranean.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Heather McGhee is the author of a new book on race in America, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.

The former head of the liberal think-tank, Demos, McGhee argues convincingly that white supremacy is a curse not just for Black people, but for white people. The path to redemption, she says, is when both races join hands to fight for their common interests, like higher wages, universal health care, and secure retirements. This battle cant be won until white Americans understand how they are harmed by racism and appreciate its ferocious legacy, and she believes that is beginning to happen.

She spoke with Tom Moran, the Star-Ledgers editorial page editor. An edited transcript appears below.

Q. In your book, you make a game-changing argument about racism in America, saying that its victims are not just Black people, but whites as well. Your prime example is the swimming pools in Jim Crow Alabama. Tell us about that.

A. During the New Deal, the government funded the building of pools, nearly 2,000 of them across the country, and many, not just in the South, were for whites only. In the 50s and 60s, many towns decided to drain their pools rather than integrate them. On the journey to write this book, I visited Montgomery where they drained the pool, and closed the entire park system, even selling off the animals in the zoo. So, obviously, white families who had once enjoyed this public benefit had to go without it.

For me, that drained pool is a metaphor. White voters turned their backs on the formula that had provided a high quality of life, once the civil rights movement required them to share it with Black Americans, whom they had been taught to disdain.

Q. You call this zero sum thinking, a mistaken belief that a gain for one group is a loss for the other. How does that play out on other issues like health care or education?

A. Sociologists have found that white Americans are more likely to view race relations through a zero-sum lens, the idea that progress for people of color has to come at the expense of white people. In health care, that means politicians have been able to get the majority of white voters to oppose health care reform, often by using dog whistles about the benefits going to Black Americans. So even though white people are the largest group of uninsured, the majority of white people remain opposed to the Affordable Care Act.

Q. You write that in the decades after World War II the federal government spent lavishly to promote home ownership, building the white middle-class, while explicitly excluding African-Americans, even requiring developers of federal projects to include racist deed restrictions. Whats the legacy of that, for Black and white Americans?

A. The legacy is a 13-1 racial wealth divide. Thats where history shows up in your wallets. It means we have more segregated communities today and that Black families, even those headed by parents who are college educated, have lower household wealth on average than white families headed by a high-school dropout. The past is not the past.

For whites? The legacy of that redline exclusion is enforced segregation, including for white people who say they want to live in an integrated neighborhood. The way the government required segregation means that white people are the most segregated people in America, living in neighborhoods that are on average 75 percent white.

Q. You write that the fear of losing social status among many whites is connected to their embrace of anti-government stinginess that has left America lagging behind other rich countries when it comes to heath care, retirement security, child poverty, and other measures of social health. Whats the evidence for that?

A. White Americans with high degrees of racial resentment, which is the feeling that Black people dont try hard enough and get special favors from the government, are 60 points more likely to oppose government spending than white Americans with low levels of resentment.

Another piece of evidence thats compelling to me is that before the civil rights movement nearly 70 percent of white Americans believed government ought to have a universal job guarantee and income. Support for that cratered after the March on Washington and President Kennedys comments around civil rights, from 70 percent to 35 percent. And its stayed that low among whites ever since, even though Black people remain enthusiastic. And of course, we know that after President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, the Democratic Party lost the majority of the white vote.

Q. What about conservatives who say they are driven not by fear of losing status, but by a desire for lower taxes and a conviction that government is wasteful and ineffective?

A. The sociological research that shows a correlation between anti-Black attitudes and anti-government attitudes suggests something deeper is going on. And this zero-sum idea, the draining the pool, is a strategic weapon deployed by elites to divide white Americans from Black and brown Americans with whom they have so much in common. Its a tactic to convince white Americans to choose their race over their class, and side with wealthier whites, even as they are harmed by it.

Q. It sounds like youre saying there is no intellectually sound reason to be a small government conservative, that it must be rooted in racial attitudes.

A. No, I think the percentage of people who are ideologically committed to the idea of small government, who would go without health care, let the minimum wage stagnate, be opposed to unions and higher taxes on the wealthy  thats a much smaller group than the share of white Americans who vote for those policies.

Q. New Jersey is considering a bill to study reparations, and Sen. Cory Booker is co-sponsoring a national bill to do so. If reparations are made to Black people exclusively, would that provoke a zero-sum backlash? Would it suffice to instead fund universal programs to lift families of all races, like Sen. Bookers Baby Bond proposal?

A. We need to do both. We need to refill the pool of public good for everyone so that more families are secure, of all races. But because of this racist history of wealth building, were not standing at the same depth of this pool. So, we need to address the exclusion of wealth building that was specifically aimed at Black people.

Q. What type of measures aimed exclusively at Black people?

A. Things like offering no down-payment for affordable homes in formerly redlined neighborhoods, as Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren suggested during the presidential primaries, and we need to make direct payments to people who are descendants of people who were enslaved and segregated and denied wealth building in the 20th century.

Q. How do you expect that to play out?

A. Reparations shouldnt be seen through a zero sum lens. Its not taking money from white people. The government did the enslaving, the excluding, the racist policies. We all pay into government today. This should be seen as seed capital for the America we deserve, where the past does not haunt our children today.

Q. Tell us about some of those you met during this journey, and lessons you learned.

A. In Mississippi I sat with auto workers who lost a union organization drive who told me white workers were not voting for union because they thought, If Blacks are for it, Im against it. In Kansas City, I spoke with minimum wage workers who realized racism was a common enemy because it kept them divided, when only joining together could they press their boss for higher wages. In Poughkeepsie, a white mother told me she kept her children in public schools with a majority of students of color, and her daughter, now in college, says it changed her life in ways shes grateful for.

Q. Your visit to Lewiston, Maine, where African immigrants are reviving the dormant downtown, was an encouraging case of communities working together to lift each other. Why is it working there, at least mostly, and how can it go national?

A. My journey taught me that organization across race lines is key to unlocking these solidarity dividends such as better economic growth, cleaner air, higher wages, things we can only do together. In Lewiston, white, Black and brown people are organizing together for the benefit of their community.

Q. A central theme of this book is that white people need to understand how much racism has cost them. Are we at a moment in history where that is starting to happen?

A. I think so. Powerful forces have tried to keep the extent of American racism hidden. And this learning that is happening now, this unlearning of American mythologies, is there. Many white people are now eager to teach themselves what they should have been taught in school, and thats extremely encouraging to me because a country that doesnt know its very recent history is doomed to repeat it.

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together https://t.co/mLBZXwzauM  Heather McGhee (@hmcghee) March 3, 2021

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) meets Afgan President Ashraf Ghani at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 21, 2021. (Presidential Palace via AP)

US Defense Secretary Meets Afghan President Amid Peace Process Review

KABULU.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in an unnanounced visit to Kabul on Sunday as Washington reviews the peace process there and its planned troop withdrawal.

Austin said on Twitter he had come to listen and learn, on his first trip to Afghanistan since his appointment.

This visit been very helpful for me, and it will inform my participation in the review we are undergoing here with (U.S. President Joe Biden), he added.

The meeting comes at a crucial time for the Afghan peace process ahead of a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops agreed by the insurgent Taliban and the administration of previous U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (C) walks on the red carpet with Acting Afghan Minister of Defense Yasin Zia as they review an honor guard at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 21, 2021. (Presidential Palace via AP)

Biden told ABC News on Wednesday that the deadline would be tough to meet and that his administration was consulting with allies and in the process of making a decision.

The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has also been traveling in the region in recent weeks with proposals including an interim Afghan government and a summit in Turkey to jumpstart the peace process.

Negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Qatars capital Doha have struggled to gain momentum and violence has risen.

The Taliban said on Friday they would like to see the process sped up but warned Washington against keeping troops in Afghanistan beyond their agreed withdrawal date.

Afghanistans presidential palace said on Sunday Austin and Ghani discussed the peace process and concerns over rising violence.

By Orooj Hakimi
Do you remember Bollywood action movies of the 90s when Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar were ruling the space? Ajay Devgn, for instance, was introduced in his debut movie Phool Aur Kaante as someone who could plant his feet on two fast-moving bikes like cakewalk.

Even though we enjoyed our favourite actors fighting in those movies, it now feels like a plastic way of showing action sequences because it never looked believable. Its not that our action scenes are believable now, but surely our perception of action heroes has changed with the new lot of actors joining the action space.

We believe these five actors have elevated the level of the action genre in Bollywood and given the opportunity, they can make a mark in Hollywood movies too.

1. John Abraham

John Abraham has surely impressed us with his action hero avatar in movies like Dhoom, Romeo Akbar Walter, Batla House, and Satyamev Jayate. Despite having done various genres like action, comedy, and drama, he himself considers himself as an action hero and we do believe that he won't feel out of the place in a Hollywood action flick.

In an interview with PTI, John had once said, I think the biggest stars are action heroes. Look at Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Dwayne Johnson. Action stars will always be evergreen. In our country, apart from me, there is Tiger Shroff who is doing great action. At the moment, two of us are doing action films. We both have different styles. There is a place for more action heroes but there are only two of us.

2. Tiger Shroff

We completely agree with John that Tiger has truly shaped himself as an action hero who has taken Bollywood action movies a level ahead. He has built a body of work that makes him stand out from his contemporaries especially in the action genre. From Baaghi to War, we have seen Tiger deliver crazy stunts and thrills in his movies.

"I enjoy doing action films. Today, whatever I have achieved is because of the films I have done, primarily the action films. All my inspirations like Jackie Chan and Hrithik Roshan have been big action heroes. So, I am inspired to be like them and I am inspired to do things like them," said Tiger, while interacting with the media at the success meet of his movie War. He hasnt ever dismissed the fact he wants to be seen as an international action hero either.



3. Vidyut Jamwal

Be it Force or Commando, Vidyut has surely carved a niche for himself as an action hero and he also believes in doing all of his stunts by himself which also makes them look believable.

In one of the interviews with PTI, he had said, I am born to do action. I can't see myself doing anything else. It is not a good thing to say but I want to be typecast as an action hero. I don't want to do a movie that has no action. Given the level of action sequences in his movies, we really wish he lands a Hollywood action movie soon.



4. Randeep Hooda

We have seen Randeep Hooda in Extraction and we know that he is a perfect fit for action movies in Hollywood as well as Bollywood. When he was asked in one of the interviews that his action sequences were quite different from those in Bollywood, he had a perfect answer to it. He said, Well, I've been doing Hollywood-style acting here in Bollywood for some time now (laughs), so the change wasn't much. But certainly, the action part was very different. We practiced for weeks. We attended workshops and started with the basics of holding a gun, firing a bullet, throwing a punch. First, it was done individually, and then it was Chris and I and then other actors. So the preparation work is what gives the scenes the spontaneity.

He added, In Indian movies, people don't pay too much attention to prepping for an action scene. They just turn-up on sets, and sometimes it's just about the star value. But Chris came for all the rehearsals. Sam was helming it (sic) as well as physically shooting it, operating the camera, jumping on top of cars, hanging from ropes to capture the scene, so that made a huge difference." He also believes that it was Extraction that gave him a chance to prove his mettle as an action hero. Here's hoping we get to see more of him in Hollywood action movies.

5. Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik, with movies like Dhoom 2, Bang Bang!, Mission Kashmir, and War, has redefined the genre of action in Bollywood. In one of his interviews around the release of War, he had said, A Mission Impossible is a benchmark. Its all in a very intelligently crafted screenplay and all the characters are very intelligent. They do not spoon-feed you. In our cinema, because we were so used to spoon-feeding at one point in time, our action films became very boring to watch. It was spoon-fed, very easy. It was like yeh kya ho raha hai sab (What is happening?). The action was for the sake of action. Now it is changing, and with War, I hope people start understanding that action needs to be devised according to the brain of the character. It has to be planned and there has to be a story in the action. Remember the time when the news of him being interviewed for the role of James Bond was doing the rounds? Well, it won't be too far-fetched to think of seeing him in a Hollywood action movie then, would it?
With both Pt Fortin hospitals now converted to Covid-19-only facilities and no 24-hour accident and emergency service, Kay Arjoon was yesterday forced to deliver her nephew while parked on the Otaheite roadside.

Arjoon, 37, her nine-month-pregnant sister-in-law, Christene, 34, and brother Ricardo, had driven from Cap-de-Ville in Point Fortin in an attempt to reach the San Fernando General Hospital before delivery.
A total of 6,137,375 people in France have got their first Covid-19 vaccine jab, representing 11.7 per cent of the adult population, as the government speeds up vaccine rollout to counter resurgence of more infectious virus variants, data from Health Ministry showed.

Meanwhile, 2,444,473 citizens (4.7 per cent of the adult population) have completed their inoculation, the ministry reported on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The French government aims to vaccinate 10 million people by mid-April, 20 million by mid-May and a total of 30 million, or two-thirds of the adults, by mid-June. It has already approved the use of vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.

On Friday, France resumed the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after the European Union's medicines regulator confirmed that the vaccine is safe and efficient.

The country's National Health Authority (HAS) recommended that vaccination with AstraZeneca shots can resume without delay and should be administered only to people aged 55 years and over.

France was one of more than a dozen EU states that had suspended the use of the British-Swedish vaccine this week following reports of people developing blood clots after the jab.

In a move to restore public faith in the vaccine, Prime Minister Jean Castex, 55, received an AstraZeneca shot on Friday. He is the second government member who received the vaccine after Health Minister Olivier Veran.

France reported on Saturday 35,327 new cases of Covid-19, up from 35,088 on Friday and 34,998 on Thursday. This marked a high level last seen in mid-November 2020, bringing the total caseload to 4.25 million in the country.

The coronavirus-linked fatalities increased by 185 to 92,167, health authorities reported.

Earlier in the day, the greater Paris region and parts of northern France entered into a one-month lockdown to curb the surge in viral circulation.

--IANS

int/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A deputy in Franklin County is back home and recovering after he was in a recent crash.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said Deputy Kerry Hallman was in a crash that required him to go to UAB Medical Center in Birmingham for surgery.

No one else was injured in the wreck.

Hallman was release this week and the sheriff's office brought him some goodies to help him with the recovery.

He is expected to make a full recovery and return to the force.
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Europe is on the cusp of a fresh onslaught of Covid-19. France is about to go into a month-long lockdown after a spike in new infections. Germany has recorded "exponential growth" and tomorrow will consider extending its lockdown and reversing plans to reopen the economy. New case numbers globally rose by 10pc in the past week, according to the World Health Organisation.

In Ireland, case numbers are hovering stubbornly on the wrong side of the 500 mark.

Newly released minutes from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) add to the gloomy outlook by dampening the prospect of the vaccine leading to an easing of lockdown by the summer.

Minutes of a meeting held last Thursday show that, even as vaccine euphoria lingered and GPs began administering the jab to over-85s, health experts discussed how to manage the public's expectations.

The minutes note that "a further surge" in Covid-19 cases will have a "detrimental effect" on vaccine roll-out.

The vaccine itself will offer "limited protection" between now and mid-summer unless case numbers fall significantly.

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"Unless we assume very low levels of transmission in the community and very high levels of vaccine effectiveness on transmission, the vaccine is going to offer a very limited level of population-wide protection from the virus between now and the mid-summer," the minutes state.

Nphet looked ahead to question the impact of the vaccine beyond the summer. The outlook was gloomy.

While emerging data shows that vaccines will play a critical role in the management of Covid-19, "it is simply too early to predict what the full impact of vaccines will be. Uncertainties and unknowns in relation to variants and vaccine effectiveness and uptake levels were noted".

The vaccine should not be considered "a control measure that will allow population-level social restrictions to be released", the minutes note. Vaccinating those most vulnerable will not mean that restrictions can be eased "without consequence".

"While the current narrative is that younger people infected with Covid-19 are only mildly affected, the reality is that a large number of those hospitalised come from younger cohorts," the minutes state.

Almost half of those hospitalised with Covid-19 are under 70.

"There is also a growing body of evidence showing that even asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases of Covid-19 can suffer detrimental health effects linked to long-Covid," the minutes state.

The Department of Health reported back the findings from its focus groups on the subject of vaccines. Young adults are outside of the regular Covid-19 discourse, rarely visit traditional news sources and have "largely been ignored" in the public discourse on vaccines.

"There are specific and reasonable concerns regarding the vaccines' long-term effects for the young adult cohort (notably in fertility)," the minutes say.

Much of the expert group's discussion around vaccines was based on a model shared by the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG), which shows how vaccination might impact virus transmission in the population.

However, while the model suggested that public health measures will need to continue for some months, "this should not undermine the important role the vaccination programme plays in protecting people from the virus".

Three weeks since that Nphet meeting, Ireland's Covid-19 numbers remain stubbornly high.

On February 19, the case numbers had dropped almost 200 to 763. Last week, the number of new cases exceeded 500 on most days, falling from 582 to 507 last Thursday.

Also on Thursday, the midlands counties of Offaly and Longford had among the highest Covid-19 rates. Tullamore emerged as the town with the highest incidence of the virus, with 484 cases per 100,000 people - 141 new cases in the past two weeks.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn cited a number of workplace outbreaks in the midlands and outbreaks among Travellers in the region. The HSE has separately begun targeting communities where outbreaks are occurring, to offer testing, such as in direct provision centres and some Traveller communities.

Dr Una B Fallon, the director of public health in the midlands, identified a trend in which people with minor symptoms, such as a runny nose, are turning up for work.

The HSE Midlands covers Westmeath, Offaly, Longford and Laois, where the focus has alternated from nursing homes to meat plants and to other workplaces as the virus works its way through communities.

Dr Fallon said she is now seeing outbreaks in all settings "except nursing homes", but she singled out larger workplaces.

"I think there is a tolerance of minor symptoms now. There are lots of cases of people going to work or going about their business and there is a huge ripple effect on other settings, including creches," she said.

"Factory workers may have a partner, they may have children and there is a ripple effect there.

"Don't go to work sick, go home and get tested."

Case numbers remaining at their current level nationally has been attributed to more transmissible new variants, while signs of public "slippage" and "drift" have been noted at some of Nphet's weekly press briefings.

The so-called UK variant - the B117 - is now the dominant one here.

The question is whether Ireland will follow Europe on the crest of a fresh wave of coronavirus.

"That's what we want to know, too," said Dr Fallon. "We want to know is this a plateau from a downward trajectory or the start of an upward trajectory."

As the Nphet minutes of February 18 suggest, another wave of Covid-19 would be "detrimental", "extending the length of time it takes to successfully vaccinate the eligible population".

At that same meeting, the Department of Health advised that while public messaging had to be "optimistic" and strike a "note of hope", it also had to be realistic.

"It is important to communicate to the public that this is a very different situation than that faced during spring 2020, and they should not expect progress to be made at a similar rate," the minutes note.

"Making and maintaining progress is more difficult now than at the start of the pandemic, and it is possible that new variants will emerge that are even harder to suppress."
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The most important dialogue we can have
Washington, March 22 : Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov returned to Moscow for consultations, according to an announcement by the Russian Embassy in Washington.

"Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on rectifying Russia-US relations," the embassy said in a post on its official Facebook page on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The embassy also posted two juxtaposed pictures, one showing Antonov, in a black jacket, at an airport and the other, an airplane -- which appeared to be the one Antonov will fly in -- with a Russian flag on the outside surface of the cockpit.

Antonov flew from New York, as there is no direct flight between Washington and the Russian capital amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Russia's TASS news agency. He will arrive in Moscow on Sunday.

Russia recalled its top envoy in the United States after US President Joe Biden said in an interview with ABC News that aired Wednesday that Russia will "pay a price" for its alleged interference in the 2020 US election.

A US intelligence report released Tuesday directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering a wide-ranging influence operation to interfere in the 2020 US election, intending to hurt Biden's campaign.

In the ABC News interview, Biden also agreed with the interviewer's claim that Putin was "a killer".

Responding directly to Biden's remarks, Putin said Thursday: "I would say to him: I wish you good health. I say that without irony or joking." "I would like to offer President Biden (the opportunity) to continue our discussion, but on condition that we'll do so what is called live, online. Without anything pre-recorded, in an open and direct discussion," Putin said. "It seems to me, it would be interesting both for the Russian people and for the US people, as well as for many other countries." Asked by reporters whether Biden regretted the "killer" statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing Thursday, "Nope. The President gave a direct answer to a direct question," adding Washington still wishes to develop its relationship with Moscow.

"The current US administration never ceases to surprise us with its absurd public statements. It's not just about the unseemly attacks against Russia's top officials, but also the absurd accusations of Russia's interference in last year's presidential election in the United States," Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said in comments posted Friday on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Washington.
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Enugu State Government said it has started rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to the 17 Local Government Areas of the state to ensure that health workers, strategic leaders and highly vulnerable get their jabs.

George Ugwu, the executive secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the vaccination exercise would last 10 days.

The Enugu government, 12 days ago, received 65,400 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja.

The state, through its ENS-PHCDA, had trained and prepared 102 vaccination teams, which comprises over 450 Primary Health Care (PHC) workers and health educators for the first batch of vaccination.

Mr Ugwu said the vaccines had a successful launch in the state and had been embraced by key and strategic leaders of the state.

The State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; his deputy, Cecilia Ezeilo; the state Chief Judge; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly; House members; traditional rulers; all Chief Medical Directors of government-owned hospitals and frontline workers at the COVID-19 isolation centres received their jabs publicly.

This is to reassure our people that the vaccine is safe and effective, with no side effect. And that what the whole world, national and state governments are doing is not a joke.

I can confirm to you that of all that have received the doses of the vaccine in the state, about 100 people, no one of them had complained of any counter-reaction for the past eight days running, he said.

Mr Ugwu said the vaccines would be sent to five PHC centres in each council area, adding that the government before now had supplied at least three solar-powered fridges at PHC centres to complement public electricity supply.

The vaccine integrity is highly maintained with the solar-powered cold-chain fridges scattered in our PHC centres and the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have the same temperature sensitivity like our other regular vaccines we administer.

Also, we have made adequate security arrangements with the council chairmen on provision of security personnel to the cold-chain stores and the vaccinators; while they go about administering the vaccine, he said.

The executive secretary noted that this phase of the vaccination, which had moved to the council areas, would cover about one per cent of the total population.

This one per cent, which is about 50,000 people, would cover all health workers, strategic leaders at the grassroots and highly vulnerable people  in terms of old age and people with underlying health issues.

We are still expecting more consignment of the vaccine in subsequent batches that will cover everybody in the state. So, those not captured in this batch will hopefully get theirs as we progress, he assured.

Mr Ugwu applauded Governor Ugwuanyi for supporting ENS-PHCDA financially in meeting the mandate for the COVID-19 vaccine and administering it to the people notwithstanding their remote locations in the state.

(NAN)
MEDELLIN, Colombia - On a January morning in the foothills of the Andes, Gonzalo Cardona Molina gave his daughter a goodbye hug, jumped on his 2015 Yamaha motorcycle and set off for the habitat of the elusive yellow-eared parrot.

Cardona had spent two decades nurturing the rare bird, a species once thought extinct. Now, they numbered in the thousands, and he was their protector - the overseer of the wild preserve in this South American nation where they thrived anew. A preserve that happens to abut one of Colombia's most notorious drug routes.

"God willing, I will be coming back to you soon," the 55-year-old told his daughter.

Three days later, a search party found his body in a shallow grave with two bullets in his chest. His slaying was the latest in a deadly wave of killings of environmentalists in Colombia, a nation where they are fast becoming almost as endangered as the species they strive to protect.

Authorities are treating it as another in a long list of killings of community activists by resurgent armed groups and other actors as a moment of shaky peace slips away. In this war-weary nation of 50 million, the 2016 peace accords between the government and leftist guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, is collapsing, sparking renewed violence as dissident fighters, right-wing paramilitaries and criminal gangs battle over trafficking routes, illicit mining and illegal logging.

"Environmentalists like Gonzalo operate in areas where there is a fight for territory," said Alex Cortes, founder of ProAves, who worked with Cardona for two decades. "The environmentalists become a hindrance."

It's not just environmentalists. An estimated 310 activists - Indigenous leaders, community mobilizers and others who got in the way of the armed groups - were killed last year in Colombia, the highest death toll since the signing of the peace deal, according to the Bogota-based human rights group Indepaz.

"We've seen a marked increase of violence, and this is reflected not just in the killings of human rights defenders, but also in the number of threats and attacks," said Juliette de Rivero, representative for the U.N. Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia.

In one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, environmentalists are being targeted for their efforts to preserve sensitive habitats used by drug traffickers and armed gangs, and their activism against legal and illegal mining, agriculture, fossil fuel extraction, and hydroelectric plants and dams. Sometimes, they're simply unwanted eyes and ears in remote regions where the Colombian government is largely absent and illicit activity thrives.

"The cause of Gonzalo's death and of many other leaders is not because they were even calling out the presence of armed groups or denouncing them, it's because of their very presence," said a Colombian government official familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution by armed groups.

"They're people safeguarding nature, they're also out there constantly observing. That's uncomfortable for the armed groups."

Statistics on their killings vary. London-based Global Witness called Colombia the world's deadliest country for environmentalists in 2019 with 64 killings. 2020 appears to have been at least as deadly, the group said.

Such violence is a decades-old scourge. But as activists increasingly come into conflict with legal and illegal interests in rural areas - and as security forces take a step back during the coronavirus pandemic - observers see a deadly surge.

In January, 11-year-old Francisco Vera, who drew attention speaking to lawmakers about the dangers of fracking, single-use plastic and animal abuse - a sort of Greta Thunberg of Colombia - received anonymous threats.

"I want to hear him scream while I cut off his fingers, to see if he keeps talking about environmentalism," read a threat from an anonymous Twitter account.

Colombian Environmental Minister Carlos Eduardo Correa says the government has made strides against illegal deforestation and is moving to protect activists.

Attacks on environmentalists "should not happen in Colombia or anywhere in the world, less against leaders like Gonzalo, who gave everything for nature," he told The Washington Post. "Gonzalo worked hard for the conservation of birds. He leaves an important legacy."

While Colombia's government blames the violence largely on armed groups, others connect it to legal companies and extractive projects. The Business and Human Rights Resource Center reported last year that 44 percent of attacks on human rights defenders were against activists who raised concerns about just five companies.

Cardona, who managed the Andean Parrot Reserve of Roncesvalles in the center of the Tres Cordilleras mountain range in western Colombia, labored for 20 years to save the endangered yellow-eared parrot. The mustachioed environmentalist, known for his perpetual smile, traveled from town to town, speaking to schools and communities about the importance of protecting the birds and the wax palms in which they nest and flourish.

"He loved the birds more than his own life,' said Kelly Rojas, his 36-year-old daughter.

The yellow-eared parrot was believed to have perished until 1999, when a small cluster was discovered near Cardona's town. Cortes, of ProAves, and a small team traveled to Roncesvalles in search of the bird. There they met Cardona, the son of a local farmer. He was eager to join their efforts.

Cardona had a fifth-grade education. But he became a self-taught naturalist, learning to spot different species of birds. He devoured texts on preservation.

"He would sit down and read and read and read," Rojas said.

He managed the parrot reserve for 15 years, protecting 12,300 acres of habitat and wetlands. He rode his motorcycle across thousands of miles of unpaved back roads, tracking bird populations, and replanting seedlings of the wax palms in the surrounding mountains. The yellow-eared parrot grew from 100 birds to 2,900 in the Tres Cordilleras region alone. Researchers at the University of Newcastle last year credited Cardona and ProAves with saving the species.

The region has long been a hotbed for trafficking drugs, guns and people. When Cardona began his conservation work, he and the other researchers were frequently caught between the sides in Colombia's brutal civil war. Cortes said they often had to ask permission from armed groups to work in the area.

The peace accords brought a temporary lull, but the violence has come roaring back.

Members of the FARC dissident group known as Compania Adan Izquierdo have established a stronghold in the region, according to local and national authorities. Paramilitary gangs have also been traversing the roadways, sparking clashes over territory.

Colombia's Prosecutor's Office confirmed Cardona's death is being investigated as the killing of a social leader by armed groups. The office declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation.

Shortly after Cardona went missing, family and friends organized a search party. Leader Salomon Munoz said his queries to locals drew looks of terror.

"They wouldn't say anything; everyone had their mouths shut," he said. "There was this fear."

One searcher spotted fresh dirt and gravel under a patch of trees. Munoz said he felt his stomach drop as he knelt down and sunk his hands into the earth.

"The first thing that appeared was his face," he said.

When Munoz and a funeral director drove the body back to be buried, he said, they were met by what seemed an entire town in mourning. At the funeral, Munoz sang a song he wrote to celebrate the parrots.

"I sang with all of my love in the church, as they put him in the ground, as they were burying him," Munoz said. "Fly fly, my little bird. Fly to the sky in peace."

- - -

Faiola reported from Miami.
ROME (Reuters) - Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb COVID-19 infections.

The protests, the first of any significance against Mario Draghi's national unity government that took office last month, were held in more than 35 squares nationwide including Rome's Piazza del Popolo and Milan's central Piazza Duomo.

Demonstrators in Rome wore dunce's caps to indicate the impact of the closures on students' education, while in Milan pupils' messages and placards were propped against their school rucksacks placed on the ground.

Numbers at each venue were limited due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.

"Open schools, whatever it takes," read one placard held aloft by a child in Rome, in reference to Draghi's famous promise to save the euro when he was European Central Bank chief in 2012.

Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, when Draghi ramped up efforts to control the virus, with students attending lessons online from home.

"We are asking for one thing: that our schools be given the status of essential public services and immediately reopened," the Rome arm of the "Open Schools" national network that organised the demonstrations said in a statement.

Since Italy's outbreak began 13 months ago schools have closed and re-opened at various times depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries.

The latest closures were the last straw for millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for child care.

The government says the closures are needed due to rising infection rates, and particularly the increasing prevalence of the variant first discovered in the UK, in which contagion is high among younger age groups.

Draghi promised on Friday that schools would be the first thing to reopen when current COVID restrictions are eased.

(Reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Frances Kerry)
One of the major challenges rocking Nigerian tertiary institutions is the high incidence of allegations of sexual harassment.

PREMIUM TIMES has reported many cases of randy lecturers in tertiary institutions, including one involving an Obafemi Awolowo University professor, Richard Akindele, caught on tape demanding sex from a female student to pass her in an examination.

Mr Akindele was later dismissed from the university and jailed for two years over the scandal. Victims in many other universities have accused their teachers of sexually harassing them. The victims are in most cases left with depression, insecurity on campus, and sometimes drop out of school.

While cases that gain public attention are sometimes handled well, others are swept under the carpet.

Using FOI to seek information

On February 24, 2011, the National Assembly passed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The aim is to give the general public access to data and information held by government agencies; exempting a few like issues of national security.

According to sections 4, 5 and 7 of the law, public institutions must grant access/response to any request for records or information within seven days. Wrongful denial of such information by any institution or public officer attracts a fine of N500,000.

Following a recent four-part series by PREMIUM TIMES on how lack of clear policies against sexual harassment in universities makes cases difficult, our correspondent in December submitted an FOI request to 20 top universities in Nigeria, seeking details of cases they had handled in the last 10 years.

The aim of the request is to test the effectiveness of the FOIA in tertiary institutions. Many of the universities failed to respect the law.

Most of them did not even acknowledge receipt of the request while some gave what legal and media experts tagged flimsy excuses for refusing to provide the requested information

Only one university gave the desired response.

Two offered excuses for not obliging the request, one acknowledged receipt but failed to respond, while 16 neither acknowledged receipt nor provided a response.

The universities

This newspaper randomly selected 20 universities in Nigeria for the enquiries.

The schools are Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Jos (UNIJOS), University of Abuja (UNIBUJA), University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Ibadan (UI), Lagos State University (LASU) and Taraba State University.

Others are Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Nasarawa State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ekiti State University (EKSU), Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Bayero University Kano (BUK), Akwa Ibom University, Ambrose Alli University (AAU) and Bauchi State University.

One response

Although UNILORIN provided adequate response to the FOI request, it did not come until a month after. Our correspondent wrote the university on December 14, 2020, but its Registrar, Fola Olowoleni, responded on January 21, 2021.

According to Mr Olowoleni, the university handled three relevant cases in the last 10 years. Two of the incidents occurred in 2016 while the last case happened in 2019.

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In 2016, a student accused Mohammed Idiagbon, the Head of the Department of English, of sexually harassing her.

The university suspended Mr Idiagbon and set up a panel to investigate the allegation. Mr Idiagbon later voluntarily resigned his appointment from the school.

In the same year, another student accused a lecturer, Tunde Saliman, of harassment. The accused lecturer was tried at the National Industrial Court (NICN) in a suit marked NICN/IL/05/2016.

The university said the court pronounced Mr Saliman guilty and he lost his job. Not pleased with the court decision, he proceeded to the Court of Appeal where he won and has since been reinstated to his job in the university.

The last case which occurred in 2019 involved a senior lecturer, Solomon Olowookere. Mr Olowookere was dismissed but his case is still before NICN in suit NICN/AB/2019.

BUK, UNIPORT give excuses

While the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Bayero University in Kano State responded to PREMIUM TIMES requests, they did not provide details of cases they have handled.

UNIPORT, according to the response by its registrar, Dorca Otto, said the request was on issues that were largely confidential.

The University of Port Harcourts Sexual Harassment Policy came into effect in October 2019. It is pertinent to note that sexual harassment proceedings within the University are largely confidential.

By the provisions of Section 12 (1) of the FOIA, 2011, A public institution may deny an application for any information which contains  records compiled by any public institution for administrative enforcement proceedings and by any law enforcement or correctional agency for law enforcement purposes or for internal matters of a public institution, but only to the extent that disclosure would  unavoidably disclose the identity of a confidential source, constitute an invasion of personal privacy under Section 15 of this Act, except, where the interest of the public would be better served by having such record being made available, this exemption to disclosure shall not apply.

Personal Information is defined by the FOIA, 2011 as any official information held about an identifiable person, but does not include information that bears on the public duties of public employees and officials. The University has also noted that there is no evidence to show that the staff and students have consented to the disclosure of such information. In the light of this, by the combined effect of Sections 12 (1) and 14 (1) FOIA, 2011, the University Management cannot oblige you with your request, the school argued.

BUK in a response by its Registrar, Fatima Mohammed, said disclosing detailed information regarding cases of sexual harassment if such exists, may lead to the disclosure of the identity of a confidential source as stipulated in Section 12 (1) (a)(iv) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 (FOI).

People who have made confidential reports may prefer to remain anonymous as exposing their information may not be in their best interests. It is, therefore, necessary to obtain the consent of all parties involved in order to avoid exposing the University to potential legal liabilities in the aftermath of such disclosure. Furthermore, it has been stated in Section 14 of the FOI Act that personnel files and personal information maintained with respect to employees and students are exempted under the Act.

Except if the individual to whom it relates consents to the disclosure. In view of the above, Bayero University is constrained to provide the information as requested. 

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the two universities, explaining that if they cannot disclose personal information, they should give a breakdown of the cases but neither of the schools responded.

While LAUTECH acknowledged the receipt of enquiries with a promise to respond accordingly, three months after, there was no response from the institution.

Other institutions like OAU, UNILAG neither acknowledged our correspondent enquiries nor responded to the enquiries.

Why the schools are wrong

Reacting to PREMIUM TIMES experience over the requests, legal experts and media specialists condemned the refusal of institutions to respond to FOI on sexual harassment cases.

They also punctured the arguments of the University of Port Harcourt and Bayero University Kano that information on sexual harassment should be treated with secrecy, saying that would cause more harm than good.

A lawyer, Festus Ogun, said it is wrong for the universities to hoard information of public interest such as those on sexual harassment cases.

The position of the law is clear that information of public interest cannot be hoarded. Information of sexual harassment cases should even be published on universitys website just like examination malpractices and other offences. Who determines public interest? It is the court that determines public interest. The university system should answer question in relating to the university, of which sexual harassment is part, Mr Ogun said.

They should not keep information on accountability because the essence of university will be defeated if issues of sexual harassment are swept under the carpet. They can as well respond that they do not have any case in their schools, thats better and could be said that they responded. Ignoring enquiries shows that the institutions are abetting lawlessness.

Section 14 (3) of the FOI law states clearly that when it comes to the issue of privacy and public interest, and the interest of the public outweighs the protection of privacy, then the interest of the public will prevail. The privacy of a lecturer who harassed a student should not be shrouded in secrecy. We cannot be talking about privacy when the humanity of another is in danger.

The schools position for not providing you with information is absurd. They have a duty to respond to your FOI as a matter of law. Another point is that the argument of privacy is lame and unproductive because section 37 of the constitution indeed guarantees the right to privacy of all citizens.

However, this right is not absolute because section 45 of the Constitution made it clear that right to privacy can be derogated with a valid law and the valid law here is the FOI Act.

If the school managements are hiding under the pretext of privacy, it does not hold water. There is no issue of law that can bring confusion. The schools should not use the law against the people, Mr Ogun said.

In his submission, Lekan Otufodunrin, a media career specialist, said the information requested by PREMIUM TIMES cannot be said to be confidential.

Normally, every institution should have a desk on FOI and the desk would help them understand the need to attend to enquiries. Sexual harassment is a matter of public interest. When a lecturer harasses students, and such a person has been tried, he should be made known.

You have even tried by justifying your request and asking them to provide statistics of cases. The information you required cannot be classified as confidential information. Such information will even help to protect students from evil people on campus, Mr Otufodunrin said.

In an earlier report published by PREMIUM TIMES on FOI, Kolawole Olaniyan, a legal adviser for Amnesty International in the United Kingdom, noted that the FoI is so central and relevant to the fight against corruption because it is essential for actualising the peoples right to know, and for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

Also, Idayat Hassan, Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) said monopolising the power to make information public negates the need for which the FOI Act was passed into law. And that is the need for openness, transparency and decentralisation of information from the side of the government to the people and thereby build trust which in turn makes room for good governance delivery.

It is heartbreaking that in a time when other countries are looking for better ways to promptly disclose information to the public and pave the way for accountability and transparency, ours is hiding theirs (its) and asking that whoever wants certain information should institute a court proceeding to compel the institution to divulge the information needed. That is not right, she said.
Vajiras pioneering steps in childrens ballet By Mirak Raheem Most often celebrated as one of the first female Kandyan dancers, Vajira who turned 89 on March 15 is rarely recognised for her other contributions to the dance form on stage View(s): View(s):

Histories of the tri-traditional dances of Sri Lanka, Kandyan, Low Country and Sabaragamuwa, generally highlight a handful of pioneering women, point out their significance as the first female dancers on stage and summarize their life stories. In these narratives, the contribution of these artists is presented as creating a space for female dancers on stage. Yet, these female pioneers emerged on stage at a critical point in the journey of the tri-traditional dances from ritual space to stage, overlapping with the early efforts of their male counterparts, both the ritual masters (the gurunnanses) and stage dancers to break in proscenium audiences. Most often these narratives do not explore the contribution of these female pioneers to transform the dance on the proscenium, as performers, teachers, choreographers, troupe leaders, producers and costume designers.

In this context, Vajiras life story provides a useful prism to understand the development and contribution of the female dancer beyond that of a performer and teacher to a co-conceiver who pushed the boundaries of the tri-traditional dance performance. Although the female dancer had historical antecedents (recorded in historical texts, literature and rock and wood carvings) and was found in specific contexts in the pre-independence era, Kandyan dance, at least in its ritual form, had no formal place for her. Vajira was preceded by individual dancers, such as Miriam de Saram and Chandralekha, who broke new ground in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Although Vajira began performing in the mid-1940s, her official debut was at the Pageant of Lanka, held to celebrate the islands independence in February 1948.

Embodying Lasya

Vajira is probably the first professional female Kandyan dancer. She took up full-time dance as a vocation, performing on stages in Sri Lanka and cultural capitals across the world. Vajira was viewed as the epitome of the female performance and was referred to as the prima ballerina of Kandyan dance. In the media she was described as embodying the lasya (loosely translated as feminine) form of the dance, whereas Kandyan is seen to be a more thandava (masculine) form, particularly in a South Asian perspective. Although Sri Lankan reviewers often highlighted her grace, they did not always capture the underlying strength and weight that she brought to the dance and her efforts to challenge her male counterparts on stage, to match their steps and leaps.

In a similar vein, the epithet highlights the recognition she garnered over five decades of performance, but refers to only one or two of many contributions she made to the dance. As a female dancer regularly performing on stages across the country and later internationally, she served as a role model for young women passionate about taking up dance as a vocation. She also served as teacher to successive generations of dancers and at 89 years of age would probably be conducting classes if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond teaching sections of the traditional repertoire as taught to her by her teacher and later husband, Chitrasena, and his guru Lapaya Gurunnanse, she developed her own pedagogy. Drawing from her exposure to other dance traditions during tours abroad and when artists such as Martha Graham visited the island (1956), Vajira developed a series of exercises to break down Kandyan dance movements that could be used to train dancers. These exercises made the processes of teaching and learning much easier and ensured greater clarity and consistency in lines and stances. In doing so she also expanded the range of movement, for instance adding floor to kneeling and standing exercises, whereas the ritual form has no movement where the dancer lies at floor level.

While establishing herself as a principal dancer in the Chitrasena Dance Company, by the late 1950s she had begun exploring choreography. This included re-setting or creating new traditional items, collaborating with the master drummer and composer Piyasara Silpathipathi and experimenting with the emerging form of dance theatre, the mudra natya.

Childrens Mudra Natya

An area rarely highlighted in articles on Vajiras contribution to dance, is her role in creating and conceiving childrens mudra natya or ballets. The term childrens ballet may conjure up an image of a year-end pantomime for students to demonstrate their skills to relatives and friends, where the focus is less on artistry and more on performance and participation. Although Vajiras productions employed simple storylines, they were often grand productions with large casts, original music scores and fantastical sets. While Vajiras productions provided space for children of different ages to perform, they did not compromise on originality or artistry.

It is remarkable that barely a decade after Chitrasenas attempts at devising mudra natya, Vajira took on the challenge of exploring the medium for child performers in the early 1950s. The mudra natya or Sinhala ballet emerged around the 1930s and 1940s and marked a significant departure from the dance dramas; the former used dance as the primary narrative tool, while the latter used a range of media such as song, spoken word and dance. She replicated Chitrasenas approach of using Kandyan dancing as the framework for the choreography without being bound by it, integrating natural movement and mime.

Vajira claims that she began producing childrens ballets because she was inspired by the talent of her students at the Kalayathanaya and felt she owed it to them to create pieces to showcase their talent. This seems to have been her ethos for choreography in general. Vajira also states that she was inspired by the musicians who lived in the Colpetty school where she lived and taught with Chitrasena. The childrens mudra natyas typically involved group scenes with different sets of children dancing in formation and solos for the more advanced and skilled (generally older, teenage) dancers, with a strong emphasis on expression and natural movement. Working with children from a broad age range (6 to 20 years), she invested significant time to develop their differing capacities. These productions gave the next generation of female soloists, such as the young Khema and Upeka, an opportunity to perform and gain stage exposure.

Kumudini was Vajiras first production, presented in the early 1950s. It is an allegorical story on impermanence, told from the perspective of a flower that blooms and is eventually trampled. For Vajira, the ballet marked an important turning point: When I started to experiment with creative dance, Chitra[sena] did not try to stop me. With 15-minute ballets I got more experience to do larger stories.

Virtuoso collaborators

The list of collaborators involved in the childrens ballets over the years include some of leading figures in the Sinhala cultural world, attesting to the originality and quality of these productions. The scores for the ballets, for instance were composed by some of the most prominent musicians of the time, including Ananda Samarakone, Amaradeva, Titus Nonis, Somadasa Elvitigala and Victor Perera. These productions provided a space for musical experimentation, such as a chorus of four live performers, in addition to an orchestra in Rankikilli (1965), for which Lionel Algama set the music, while Piyasiri Wijeratne wrote the lyrics. The evocative sets and costumes, such as those used to create an underwater marine world for Hapana (1979), were designed by the famous artist and designer Somabandu. His son, Ravibandu, took on this role for one production, Anaberaya (1976).

In devising the plots, Vajira drew inspiration from multiple sources, often finding material in childrens literature and folk stories from Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Vajira collaborated with the acclaimed local childrens author Sybil Wettasinghe to devise the plot for Nil Yakka. Hapana was inspired by the childrens book Swimmy by Leo Lionni, first published in Italian in 1963.

Although the childrens ballets were Vajiras domain, Chitrasena played a critical role in helping to provide the theatrical elements. As she noted when I produced shows he would put finishing touches at the end. These included vital elements such as sets, lighting, fund raising and advertising. Over time Anjalika, Vajiras daughter took over the childrens ballets, including with the Punchi Paada age group (4.5 to 7 years).

The childrens ballets offered Vajira the space to develop her creative skills and expand her repertoire. By the 1960s she was able to use her choreographic skills to devise sequences in Chitrasenas mudra natya; an initial effort was the swan sequences in Nala Damayanthi in 1963, where she also played one of the central roles. In 1968 Vajira created a short mudra natya, Gini Hora, for her older teenage students.

It was in the mid-1980s with the production Shiva Ranga (1985) that Vajira took on more of a central role of director, not only choreographing but also devising the plots and taking charge of other key elements of staging a mudra natya. Through the multi-dimensional role of performer, teacher, choreographer and director, she established her status as one of the most influential figures in traditional dance on stage.
Jessica Hart welcomed her first child, daughter Baby-Rae, with her fiance James Kirkham in November.

And the Victoria's Secret model, 34, has finally revealed the inspiration behind her daughter's very unique name.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Jessica revealed that the name 'Baby' was inspired by Jennifer Grey's Dirty Dancing character, Frances 'Baby' Houseman.

I' was obsessed from then': Australian model Jessica Hart, 34, (right) has finally revealed why she decided to give her daughter, Baby-Rae, such a unique name

'I have always loved the name from the movie. I can't remember how old I was when I first saw the film but I was obsessed from then' she said.

'She is going to hear "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" a million times and not know what people are going on about.'

The Los Angeles-based model also spoke about her decision to quit booze back in 2018.

'My baby is Baby, I have always loved the name from [Dirty Dancing]': The model revealed that the name was inspired by Jennifer Grey's character in the film Dirty Dancing - Frances 'Baby' Houseman. Pictured right, alongside Patrick Swayze, left

'I was off track for a little bit of my life and my modelling had been fantastic and got me to where I am today,' she said.

Jessica explained after giving up alcohol she felt that her life 'fell into place'.

Jessica and her NASCAR driver fiance James welcomed Baby in November, two weeks after her due date, and shared the news on Instagram with a gushing tribute.

On the right path: Jessica also spoke of her decision to quit drinking booze in 2018, explaining that after giving up alcohol she felt that her life 'fell into place'

Too cute! Jessica recently shared this adorable new photo of her four-month-old daughter

'11/17/2020 The day my life changed forever. Meet our little angel, BABY,' she proudly wrote.

'After 14 days past our 'due date' and 28 hours of (hell) labour, Baby joined us earth side and I haven't stopped smiling since - according to James,' she continued.

'So grateful for this little soul. Baby is everything I ever imagined and so much more. Thank you for choosing us to be your parents, Baby. I promise we won't let you down.'
How Europe botched up its vaccine rollout

Europe has lagged the United States in vaccination right from the early days of rollout and since then the gap has only widended even as some countries are facing a deadly third wave of infections. Only about 10 percent of Europeans have received a first dose, compared with 23 percent in the US and 39 percent in Britain. Interestingly, there was no single blunder but a series of small mistakes that are making the region pay a heavy cost. The bloc was comparatively slow to negotiate contracts with drugmakers. Its regulators were cautious in approving some vaccines. Europe also bet on vaccines that did not pan out or, significantly, had supply disruptions. And national governments hampered local efforts in red tape. The biggest difference, experts say, is that Europe shopped vaccines like a customer, adopting a budget-conscious approach, while the US made business with drugmakers and threw billions into the mix. Read here

Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 122,812,281 Global deaths: 2,709,627 Nations with most cases: US (29,783,723), Brazil (11,950,459), India (11,599,130), Russia (4,397,816), United Kingdom (4,304,839). Source: John Hopkins Research Center

Protesters in Germany reject restrictions

German police used helicopters, tear gas, batons and water cannons to control as many as 20,000 coronavirus-skeptic protesters who assembled in the city of Kassel, in one of Europes largest demonstrations against government virus restrictions since the pandemic began. The movement, which has also attracted far-right extremists, had been relatively quiet during Germanys second lockdown. The authorities started to ease restrictions this month, but given a new exponential rise in infections across the country, a third lockdown now appears probable. Chancellor Angela Merkel and state governors are expected to reimpose lockdown restrictions when they meet on Monday. Read here

Breakthrough in virus origin points to China animal trade

Scientists tracing the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic believe theyve identified a possible transmission source: Chinas thriving wildlife trade. Apart from the multiple theories that are floating around the origins of coronavirus, scientists point out that live animals susceptible to infection were present at a market in downtown Wuhan, the city where the first major Covid-19 outbreak was detected. Its possible they acted as a link for the virus, carrying it from bats -- likely the primary source -- to humans, say experts who was part of the team convened by the World Health Organization. Read here

Half of all UK adults vaccinated

In what is a decisive milestone in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, more than half of the UK adult population have now received their first jab of the Covid vaccine. A record 660,276 doses were administered in the UK across more than 1,600 sites on Friday  the largest daily figure yet. According to the latest government data, around 49.9 per cent 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. At least 26,263,732 people have received a first dose in total and 2,011,070 a second dose. Read here
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

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Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

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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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Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
Central African Republic former president Francois Bozize has taken charge of a rebel alliance aiming to overthrow the central government, the groups spokesman said Sunday.

Bozize seized power in the former French colony in 2003 and was ousted a decade later, an act that sparked a civil war along sectarian lines.

The government has accused him of being behind a failed offensive against President Faustin Archange Touadera in December.

Bozizes spokesman Serge Bozanga confirmed to AFP on Sunday that he had agreed in February to become general coordinator of the so-called Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), which attempted to block Touaderas reelection, only to see their offensive repulsed.

Bozanga confirmed the authenticity of a document dated February 18 stating that Bozize had accepted the CPCs leadership call.

The coalition brought together six of the armed groups that control much of the country in mid-December to launch the offensive against Touadera, just over a week before presidential and legislative elections.

Bozize, who voiced support for the CPC in December while urging a boycott of the elections, denied allegations of heading the group.

On January 4, the government launched an inquiry into him for rebellion.

Up against a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping force as well as hundreds of Russian and Rwandan soldiers and paramilitaries deployed in late December, the rebels have been in retreat since a January 13 attack on the capital Bangui was thwarted.

The government alleged that they had acted in concert with Bozize.

The constitutional court earlier blocked Bozizes bid to stand in the December presidential election, on the grounds that he was under UN sanctions over his alleged support for militias held responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 2013-14 conflict.

Touadera won re-election in the first round of the polls, according to official figures, but the turnout was just 35 percent as many voters were unable to cast their ballot.

Bozize fled abroad after being toppled in 2013.

He returned in late 2019, stoking fears that the troubled nation would be plunged once more into a full-fledged conflict.

Landlocked CAR is one of the worlds poorest nations and has seen a string of coups and wars since it gained independence from France in 1960.

Violence remains endemic in a country where two-thirds of the territory is controlled by militia groups.

Thousands of people have died in the CAR since 2013 and more than a quarter of the population of 4.9 million have fled their homes.

Of these, 675,000 are refugees in neighbouring countries.
By Hereward Holland

BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Polls will open in the Republic of Congo on Sunday, with President Denis Sassou Nguesso widely expected to extend his 36-year rule despite an ongoing economic crisis and accusations of having mismanaged the country's oil revenues.

With his grip on power as firm as ever, diplomats and analysts alike doubt any of Sassou's six opponents will unseat him, instead suggesting voter turnout as a better barometer of his popularity.

"There will be no surprises in this election," one Brazzaville-based diplomat said, requesting anonymity so as to speak candidly. "People are traumatised. They're not happy, but there's no alternative."

United Nations and European Union observers were not invited to monitor the election, and the interior ministry refused to allow the Catholic Church's 1,100 observers to take part.

Observers are optimistic that polling will play out peacefully, however, unlike the 2016 presidential election that was marred by sporadic violence.

An accord signed with opposition fighters in 2017 has spurred hopes for a peaceful aftermath.

Oil is the lifeblood of Congo's economy, making up three quarters of state revenues. But the country's 5.4 million citizens, 41% of whom the World Bank says live below the global poverty line, have little to show for it.

Extreme poverty has only increased since the last election, according to the World Bank, as oil revenues have sharply declined amid slumping global prices.

Meanwhile, the country's opaque national oil company and other key private and public sector institutions remain under the control of a group of Sassou's closest associates, transparency campaign Global Witness has said.

"All our money is outside the country," said Mathias Dzon, a former finance minister and presidential hopeful on the last day of campaigning on Friday. "Do you know which accounts? In private accounts."

Story continues

The economic crisis, kindled in part by the government's mountain of debt to oil traders like Glencore and Trafigura, will pose challenges to whoever inherits the country's highest office.

"The economic situation has been difficult since 2014, but we have faith, unshakeable faith to propel our country on the path to development," Sassou said at his final rally in Brazzaville.

Results are expected to be published within four days of voting. If no candidate secures more than 50% of votes, a second round will take place 15 days later.

(Reporting by Hereward Holland, Editing by Cooper Inveen, Bate Felix and Mark Potter)
is considering an extension of lockdown restrictions into April and the introduction of new rules for those returning from abroad after Covid-19 infections rose beyond a key level that may prompt action by authorities to prevent the health system becoming overrun.

Draft plans, seen by Bloomberg, include mandatory quarantine and tests for all people returning from a trip to another country, independently of infection rates at their travel destination. They will be discussed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders when they meet on Monday.

The national seven-day rate of cases per 100,000 people has risen to 103.9, German health agency Robert Koch Institute said on its website Sunday, taking the rate to the highest since Jan. 26. Separate data from Johns Hopkins University showed cases in the country increased by 24,034 in the 24 hours to Sunday, compared with 10,568 recorded a week earlier.

Cases in are rising again after authorities began to relax restrictions in late February and set out a plan to gradually unwind curbs. That plan depends on the infection trend, heightening the stakes for Mondays talks.

uses the incidence rate as a gauge of Covid-19s spread. If it exceeds 100 for three days in a row, an emergency brake provision allows authorities to tighten lockdown measures again. That threshold had been crossed in 9 out of 16 federal states as of Sunday, prompting some state leaders to call for uniform nationwide measures for virus hotspots.

We have an instrument that works: the emergency brake. It must be applied consistently everywhere in Germany, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung in an interview. Otherwise it will become a toothless tiger.

Regional leaders expressed diverging views on what to do ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday when asked by the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. Reiner Haseloff, prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt (incidence rate: 115.1), said people should be able to vacation within the confines of their own region. But Bodo Ramelow, president of Thuringia (incidence rate: 207.7), pleaded with the population not to go on vacation at all.

Whoever believes that you can open up entire holidaying regions without testing in the current phase of the pandemic doesnt know whats going on, Ramelow told the newspaper.

Merkels Christian Democratic Union suffered a rout in two regional elections this month. The stuttering pace of the vaccine rollout, irritation with lockdown restrictions in place since late last year and a widening scandal over claims that some conservative lawmakers profited from the pandemic have all taken a toll on her popularity.

Still, Merkel was clear last Friday about the threat to the system posed by the virus resurgence. We are seeing exponential growth in cases, Merkel said Friday. We will unfortunately have to make use of the emergency brake.

On Sunday, Merkels chief of staff Helge Braun tweeted that the draft paper circulating today didnt stem from the chancellery, as first reported by Bild newspaper.

The resolution calls for companies in Germany to offer their employees two rapid Covid-19 tests per week and states that the federal government will enact the relevant regulations by the end of March.
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Restoration of the White Bay Power Station as a cultural building and the reopening of the Glebe Island Bridge to pedestrians and cyclists are at the centre of a NSW government plan to transform Sydneys industrial harbour into a business, leisure and tourism precinct.

A draft strategy, released for consultation on Monday, revives the idea of White Bay as a technology hub previously floated by Google and puts residential development, which had been ruled out by previous governments, back on the table.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced the station  recently the target of demolition talks by his colleagues Dominic Perrottet and Andrew Constance  will be the jewel in the plan to revive the 77-hectare area, known as Bays West, three-and-a-half times the size of Barangaroo.

An artists impression of the White Bay makeover.

Bays West is so central and historically significant to Sydney that it is time to revitalise the area and make it a desirable place for people to live, work and visit, Mr Stokes said.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Thousands of Palestinian health workers, the elderly, and patients with cancer or kidney disease were set to get COVID-19 vaccines from Sunday as the health ministry ramped up its inoculation campaign.

The rollout came days after some 60,000 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca doses arrived in the Israeli-occupied West Bank via the Covax scheme of the World Health Organisation.

Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in the enclave in recent weeks, sparking a flood of patients hospital officials say they are struggling to treat.

Palestinians in the West Bank and the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip have had limited access to vaccines compared to Israelis, roughly half of whom have received the recommended two shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

Israel has resisted calls from rights groups and the United Nations to innoculate all Palestinians, saying the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority is responsible for obtaining vaccines.

The Israeli army says it has vaccinated some 100,000 Palestinian workers who have permits to enter Israel and West Bank Jewish settlements.

About 60,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine have reached Gaza from the United Arab Emirates.

Those deliveries were orchestrated by prominent Palestinian political figure Mohammed Dahlan, a rival of president Mahmud Abbas exiled in Abu Dhabi.

The Palestinian Authority is waiting for another 100,000 doses from China.

Abbas on Saturday published a photograph of himself getting vaccinated. It was not clear when the picture was taken.

The Palestinian health ministry said in early March that top Palestine Liberation Organisation officials over the age of 65 had been given shots. Abbas is 85.

As of Sunday, 2,416 people had died of COVID-19 in the West Bank and Hamas Islamist-controlled Gaza Strip.

Another 221,500 were reported infected cross the two Palestinian territories.

In Israel, more than 6,000 people have died of COVID-19, but the infection rate has plummeted and only about 18,300 people were sick with COVID-19 Sunday, the Israeli Ministry of Health reported.

The Palestinian vaccine campaign comes ahead of the first Palestinian election in 15 years. Legislative elections are scheduled for May 22 and a presidential vote for the end of July.

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

 2021 AFP
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said this week that the Atlanta-area shooting that left eight people dead should be called out as a hate crime.
OnePlus is all set to launch its new smartphone in a few days and a lot about the upcoming smartphones have been confirmed by the company itself. The new smartphone is all set to take on Samsung and Apple in the premium smartphone category while also catering to customers who are looking for an affordable smartphone. It seems like the OnePlus 9 Series is turning out to be the ultimate Android phone to own in 2021 and heres everything you need to know about the upcoming launch.



1. OnePlus 9 Pro

The marquee device to launch on March 23rd will be the OnePlus 9 Pro that is shaping up to be a true flagship filler. It will be the main focus of the company at the launch and we already have a good idea what the phone is all going to be about. For starters, the OnePlus 9 Pro has already been rated to have one of the best displays on a smartphone possible by the folks at DisplayMate. It has already received an A+ grade, a rating shared by the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro. It has already been revealed that the smartphone will feature a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO display that has a resolution of 3216x1440 pixels and supports up to 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone will support 65W fast-charging with the Warp Charger and 50W wireless charging as well.

 Oneplus

The company also revealed a partnership with Swedish camera company Hasselblad where the main camera has been tuned to deliver improved images. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau also revealed via a Tweet that the phones will be using the Sony IMX789 48MP sensor and mentioned it will be capable of shooting 4K videos at 120fps. There will be three additional cameras including an ultra-wide sensor which will know more about at the event. OnePlus also revealed via a Tweet the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomms latest flagship processor i.e. the Snapdragon 888 SoC.



2. OnePlus 9

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

The OnePlus 9 will be the second smartphone the company will be launching alongside the Pro model however it will be a cheaper alternative. The phone will be slightly smaller and will not have a few features to keep the cost low. Not much has been revealed about the second phone but we expect it to lack wireless charging and a 6.55-inch Full HD+ display. The display will have a higher refresh rate but it is currently unknown whether it will be 90Hz or 120Hz. The OnePlus 9 is also expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset since OnePlus tends to use the same SoC for its slightly cheaper model as well.



3. OnePlus Watch

 Oneplus

OnePlus has already confirmed that a smartwatch will be launching alongside the two smartphones however we dont know what it looks like as of now. The company has also confirmed that the wearable will not be running Googles WearOS which made us suspect that it may not be a proper smartwatch after all. The smartwatch is said to work more like a fitness band with features that will let users track exercises, heart rate and SpO2 or blood oxygen levels. Leaks have suggested the smartwatch could also be used to control the OnePlus TV however that remains to be confirmed as of now. We should know more about the smartwatch at the launch event and whether it will be a proper smartwatch for OnePlus users.



4. OnePlus 9R?

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

A recent announcement OnePlus points to a third phone that will be a more affordable entry similar to the OnePlus Nord. It seems like this will be an India-exclusive handset that will have similar hardware to the OnePlus Nord. The display might have a 90Hz refresh rate and a 6.55-inch Full HD+ screen which is yet to confirmed by sources as of now. To keep the cost low, the smartphone will not support wireless charging however it should make use of OnePlus Warp Charge technology. As for the SoC, there is no news which chipset will be powering the smartphone as of now but we predict it could either be the Snapdragon 865 chipset or even the Snapdragon 690 if OnePlus truly wants to compete in the budget-friendly segment.


Brave cancer sufferer Lynsey Bennett had the best-ever Mother's Day present for her two adorable daughters - her surprise arrival home.

Lynsey (32) returned to Ireland over two weeks ago after undergoing intensive cancer treatment at a specialist clinic in Mexico.

"I feel like a new woman!" she tells the Sunday World.

But the young Longford mum had to go into quarantine for over a week due to Covid restrictions and did not want to tell her daughters she was back in the country as she did not want Zoe (12) and Hailee (seven) to fret.

"I'm home about two weeks, but I had to do isolation and I had to do my mandatory Covid test," she explains.

"Then I got home on the Saturday for Mother's Day to surprise the girls. I hadn't actually told them that I was home because I didn't know how long I was going to be isolated and I wanted to make sure I had a clear test and that.

"Knowing that I was in the country but not seeing them, so I didn't want them to go through that. If you tell them a date and then next thing if there was any chance that I had picked anything up then I wouldn't have been able to get down. So I didn't want to give them false promises or hope.

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"So I just decided in the end to surprise them and it was amazing. We spent Mother's Day watching movies on the couch and of course the presents were handed out, most importantly; not that I got too many but they meant so much."

Lynsey, who is terminally ill with cancer, settled her High Court action over the alleged misinterpretation of her cervical smear slides earlier this year.

The single mum has planned her own funeral, and has set up a trust fund for her daughters, but last month she flew to Mexico with her radio DJ pal Martin Guilfoyle to attend the ground-breaking Hope4- Cancer clinic.

"I feel so revived, I feel like a new woman," she beams.

"They really did stuff to me on so many of my levels that were low, and it did seem to come back that there has been the possibility of shrinkage in my tumours, where my nodes are.

"There was no change in the one that's in my pelvis, but they do feel that there has been reduction. They do say it's not like 'the cancer is going to completely go'. It means there's some stability there for now because the cancer hasn't got any bigger at this moment."

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She adds: "I'm able to stay awake longer, I'm not napping as much. I was constantly having to sleep during the day on and off, that's gone at the minute. I have got so much more energy."

Therapy

Lynsey's routine was intense.

"It was six days a week from Monday to Saturday, from 7.10am in the morning until 3pm," she recalls. "So it was kind of nine-hour days and I would be doing lots of different heat treatments. They have a therapy over there that's a non toxic one and I used to get infusions of vitamin C, D and B17."

There were a variety of machines she used.

"There were machines that are trying to rejig and change your energy flows, because we are all made up of energy," she notes.

"It was also very much working on the emotional side of things and try and go back on things that cause you stress that might have come to the surface without you realising.

"When your immune system is low, stress can be one of the reasons to make your body mutate. I was in a hyperbaric chamber. You were zipped into it and you lay there for an hour and it just completely oxygenates your body

"I really, really wanted to boost my whole body and get my immune system back up and running. It has been four heavy years of operations and medications, as well as chemo and the radiation. So I really wanted to give my body the best boost that I could. And if it could help the cancer on top of that, that is an amazing bonus."

Nervous

Lynsey researched the clinic before her trip to make sure it would suit what she wanted.

"It's three or four weeks of my life, so it's a thing where if you go over there for a year I'd be more nervous. I did four weeks or treatment, four weeks of six days."

She has a local hospital appointment tomorrow and will have to return to Mexico in three months.

"I have to do more machines and treatments," she adds. "I have tried my best to buy the machines I could, so I am spending days doing machines, some of them are like colonic irrigation.

"Not all of them were available but I was able to get one and I use it every day. I was also very kindly gifted an infra-red sauna.

"When I came home I was able to get a hot house and a chi machine from a nice man, and it tries to help oxygenate your body. I'm also waiting on a reflexology machine."

She also has her own advice for other cancer sufferers who may be thinking about going to the Mexican clinic.

"I would never tell anybody that they need to go do something. But I would just hope that looking at my journey that it sparks something in them to think 'OK maybe there's other things I could mix in with what I'm doing'."
Though Vani is new to politics, Raos decision stumped not only Opposition but even TRS leaders. (By arrangement)

HYDERABAD: TRS leaders and cadre gave credit to party president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for the victory of Surabhi Vani Devi,

daughter of former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, in the Legislative Council election from the Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar

graduates seat and Palla Rajeshwar Reddy from the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda seat on Saturday.

The CMs eleventh hour decision to field Vani Devi is being hailed as a 'political masterstroke', which has now hit the opposition hard. In Vani's and Rajeshwar Reddy's victories, Chandrashekar Rao shot many birds with a single arrow, many opined.

He could avenge the setbacks that the TRS suffered at the hands of BJP in Dubbak bypoll and the GHMC elections by grabbing the Council seat which was held by the BJP. He proved that there is no anti-incumbency as being projected by the Opposition by ensuring the victory of Rajeshwar Reddy for the second term.

The TRS chief could check the resurgence of the BJP as well as protect his own party leaders from the BJPs Operation Akarsh through which it induces defections. There were fears that a handful of TRS leaders would switch to the BJP camp if the ruling party was dealt an electoral blow again.

Chandrashekar Rao sent a message loud and clear that BJP's performance in Dubbak and GHMC elections were an aberration and TRS remains

unbeatable in Telangana politics.

In a way, with Vani's victory, the TRS has usurped Narasimha Rao's legacy from the Congress. The exercise commenced when the CM announced that the state government would have an official year-long birth centenary celebrations of the former prime minister.

Known as a master of surprises in political circles, Chandrashekar Rao mastered the art of striking when the iron is hot and outsmarting opponents at their own game. He is known for taking decisions that are diametrically opposite to earlier trials.

While he retained the candidature of sitting MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy for Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda seat three months before polls, he kept the decision pending with regard to Mahbubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad seat, which the party had never won.

This triggered speculations that the TRS may not contest the seat to avoid another embarrassment at the hands of BJP and instead support

independent candidate Prof K. Nageshwar from the outside.

However, Chandrashekar Rao proved all these speculations wrong by fielding Vani Devi at the last minute.

Though Vani is new to politics, Raos decision stumped not only Opposition but even TRS leaders. Soon thereafter, TRS leaders and cadre took up an aggressive campaign claiming the legacy of Narasimha Rao.

For Vani, the TRS chief appointed three ministers  T. Harish Rao, Vemula Prashanth Reddy and Gangula Kamalakar  as election in-charges

besides roping in all city ministers and party MPs, MLCs and MLAs.

Such was the level of micro-level booth management that an in-charge was appointed for every 20 voters, whose duty was to meet each voter personally to seek votes, ensure that they reach the booths and cast votes in the party's favour. This resulted in a massive voter turnout, which eventually worked in favour of the TRS.
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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MELBOURNE -- Heavy rains along Australias east coast over the weekend have brought the worst flooding in half a century in some areas, authorities said on Sunday, forcing thousands to evacuate and damaging hundreds of houses.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the downpour across the state, Australias most populous with 8 million people, was worse than initially expected, especially for low-lying areas in Sydneys northwest.

Yesterday, we were hoping it will only be a one-in-20-year event, now it looks like a one-in-50-year event, Berejiklian said at a televised briefing.

People in parts of Sydneys northwest were ordered to flee their houses in the middle of the night as fast-moving waters caused widespread destruction. Berejiklian said another 4,000 people may still be asked to evacuate.

A park bench at the swollen Parramatta River as the state of New South Wales experiences heavy rains, in Sydney, Australia, March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Television and social media footage showed fast-moving water unmooring houses, engulfing roads, breaking trees and damaging road infrastructure. Emergency services estimate the total number of damaged houses to be in the hundreds.

Several major roads were closed across the state while many schools called off classes for Monday.

The flooding comes in stark contrast with the devastating bushfires that struck Australia in late 2019 and early 2020, when nearly 7% of NSW land was scorched.

Flooding risk and evacuation warnings were in place for about 13 areas in NSW, including the Hunter, one of Australias major wine regions.

People move their belongings during floods after heavy rainfall in Tinonee, New South Wales, Australia March 20, 2021, in this still image taken from drone video obtained from social media. Photo: Mandatory credit SIMMI VALGEIRSSON/ via Reuters

Several dams, including Warragamba, Sydneys main water supply, spilled over causing river levels to surge.

Meteorologists said the downpour is set to continue for the rest of Sunday, with some areas expected to get up to 200 millimetres (7.9 inches) of rain.

Emergency crews have responded to about 6,000 calls for help since the start of the rains on Thursday, including nearly 700 direct pleas for rescue from floods.

A still image taken from video shows a flooded area following heavy rains in Edmondson Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia March 20, 2021. Photo: NSW State Emergency Service/via Reuters

The extreme weather has also affected Australias COVID-19 vaccine delivery to across NSW, disrupting the countrys plans to deliver the first doses to almost 6 million people over the next few weeks.

We have to wait and see what happens with the weather in the coming days, Australian Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said at a televised briefing.
It is a crime that has haunted south-east Queensland for 3 decades. Now there are hopes a coronial inquest beginning on Monday could finally answer the question: what happened to Sharron Phillips?

The 20-year-old Ipswich womans disappearance became one of Australias highest-profile police cases.

Sharron Phillips disappearance in 1986 became Queenslands highest-profile missing person case. Credit:Fairfax archives

The last anyone heard from Ms Phillips was late at night on May 8, 1986.

After her car ran out of petrol, she phoned her boyfriend, Martin Balazs, about 11pm from a phone box at Wacol, about 18 kilometres south-west of Brisbanes CBD.
A rifle-owning Trump supporter drove 800 miles from his Wisconsin home to Washington, DC in a car spray painted with QAnon conspiracy slogans and told National Guard troops he was maybe going to do something crazy stupid on the day Donald Trump would supposedly reclaim power, it has been alleged.

On March 3, Ian Alan Olson of Waukesha County allegedly asked National Guard soldiers in the capital not to shoot him as a test...to see if they were loyal to the people or to the President.

He drove to the capital on March 3 in a 2016 blue Subaru with several orange Qs spray painted on it alongside phrases such as Trust my plan, OMW 2 DC, and WWG1WGA.

The slogans are believed to be acronyms for on my way to DC and when we go one, we go all, a popular phrase among QAnon followers.

A new HBO docu-series has named the head of QAnon as Ronald Watkins, the son of the owner of the unregulated online messaging board 8chan, where the theory took its roots and has exploded in recent years.

Q: Into The Storm is a six-part series that is airing on HBO Max on March 21.

Its filmmakers name Watkins, the son of 8chan founder Jim Watkins, as Q, the head of the right-wing, pro-Trump conspiracy theory group QAnon.

The image above released by the US Department of Justice shows a blue 2016 Subaru that was allegedly driven by Ian Alan Olson of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The letter 'Q' is spray painted on the two doors seen above

According to federal authorities, Olson is a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory whose followers believed that on March 4 Donald Trump would reclaim the presidency. The image above shows the phrase 'Trust My Plan' spray painted on Olson's car, the federal government alleges

The spray painted messages on the car include 'OMW 2 DC' and 'WWG1WGA'. The slogans are believed to be acronyms for on my way to DC and when we go one, we go all, a popular phrase among QAnon followers

'Trust the plan' is also an often-used slogan invoked by QAnon supporters who believe that President Biden's victory was part of a grand scheme orchestrated by an anonymous 'deep state' figure, 'Q', who would then blow the lid off the cabal secretly running the government and pave the way for Trump to retake power.

Olson allegedly revealed his intentions last week while he was taken into custody by law enforcement officials in his home state of Wisconsin after he fired paint balls at US Army Reservists near a military base.

'Im going to cause mass casualty' when I get out of jail,' he is alleged to have told Wisconsin police officers.

'I am ready for this. How many people need to die for a message to get across,' he is alleged to have said.

'I almost have everything ready.'

Olson is then alleged to have muttered under his breath, 'People will remember my name.'

According to the QAnon conspiracy theory, March 4 is the date on which Donald Trump would reclaim the presidency from Biden. Historically, presidential inaugurations were held on March 4, but the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which was adopted in 1933, moved the date up to January 20.

Olson told authorities that on March 4 he would be taken over by the Spirit of Christ and lead the people to unity and that things can only be resolved by the barrel end of a gun.

Olson, a resident of Waukesha County, was arrested this past Monday after he allegedly fired two or three rounds of orange paint balls from an AR-15-style paintball gun at two US Army reservists in Pewaukee.

This is for America! Olson is alleged to have shouted at the reservists before opening fire at them just outside the Wisconsin Army Reserve Center on Monday morning.

The reservists stood about 15 yards away from Olson when he allegedly fired the paintballs. None of the projectiles struck the reservists and nobody was injured, according to the federal complaint.

When the weapon appeared to jam, Olson allegedly yelled to the reservists: 'You're lucky it jammed!'

One of the reservists, a law enforcement officer, tackled Olson to the ground and held him until police arrived and took him into custody, according to the federal complaint.

Olson was arrested by the Village of Pewaukee Police Department, who conducted a search of his vehicle.

Officers allegedly found a digital camera, SD cards, a gas mask, throwing knives, a police scanner, two-way radios, a Taser, and ballistic military-style vest plates.

A search of his home by police is alleged to have turned up an AR-15 rifle with scope, suppressor, and seven magazines loaded with green-tipped and potentially armor-piercing restricted ammunition.

Olson's family also turned over several handguns.

Believers of the QAnon conspiracy theory held out hope that former President Donald Trump (pictured above on November 4) would reclaim the presidency on March 4

Officers who searched Olson's home also found a 'manifesto' allegedly written by him.

'You know I've been open about who I am since Superbowl Sunday....2 day drive, 1 full day in DC Dawn till Dusk 13 hour drive back...Came home with new friends...' he is alleged to have written in the manifesto.

'I'm flying higher than any of you including the silly 3 letter agencies like the dumb DOJ 'Jackass's I call + by now it's the whole Pentagon probably, if not this [undecipherable] will be the final blow that'll put you all on the mat, n... to stand back up...' reads another line said to be in the manifesto.

The manifesto is also alleged to have included: 'Cause on Super bowl Sunday I formally introduced you to MY f***** presence, and anyone who saw my face . . . or talked to me, spoke about me to another person, spread my picture, my f****** name, was going to remember me, Eventually, I f****** guarantee it.'

Another line allegedly read: 'you, you havent heard of me yet, just listen to this ONE video in its entirety, this One Podcast, let's sayjust share before watching, you'll understand by the end, why I say that'

Olson is also alleged to have written: '1st day in Church since childhood gave it a shot . . . so after [they] said s*** like Forgive those who trespass against you I said out loud Forgive MeFor I am about toTres[pass]" . . . . "Didnt get that far cause preacher man [undecipherable] me up on his shoulder and carried me out and I told him to call the copes for meit's a F****** moveyou dumb FedsGets attention you see then the dominos fall just how I expect then to . ..'

'I know at this point cops are coming, They treated far nicer and with respect than the church or Feds . . .' Olson allegedly wrote in the manifesto.

News of the federal complaint filed against Olson last week in the United States District Courts Eastern District of Wisconsin was first reported by The Daily Beast.

Court documents allege that a search of Olson's home turned up an AR-15 rifle, armor-piercing ammunition, and a three-page manifesto

The manifesto is also alleged to have included: 'Cause on Super bowl Sunday I formally introduced you to MY f***** presence, and anyone who saw my face . . . or talked to me, spoke about me to another person, spread my picture, my f****** name, was going to remember me, Eventually, I f****** guarantee it.'

Olson faces federal charges of attacking US military service members and assaulting officers.

SOME OF QANON'S THEORIES THE UNDERPINNING PEDOPHILE THEORY QAnon is founded on and operates under the belief that there is a deep-state organization of powerful, Democratic politicians who are pedophiles. Supporters of the theory think that for years, these pedophiles have been able to operate free from criticism by protecting each other. It also teaches that they are Satan worshipers who, after abusing children, drink their blood. None of it is true. FRAZZLEDRIP One theory that has been tied to QAnon but was not necessarily borne out of it is the idea that there is a video, found on the laptop of disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner, which shows his wife Huma Abedin and Hillary Clinton abusing a child and then drinking the child's blood. PIZZAGATE Pizzagate erupted as a theory during the first Trump election in 2016. It is the theory that the Comet pizza shop in Washington DC has been used for years as a base for the pedophile and child sex trafficking ring. Again, there is no evidence of it. Advertisement

He was initially booked into Waukesha County Jail on state charges of making terrorist threats and attempted battery and disorderly conduct.

During the booking process, Olson allegedly volunteered to officers that he had just returned from Washington, DC where he attempted to deliver a message.

He allegedly told officers that on March 3 he approached a National Guardsman and told him he was maybe going to do something crazy stupid tomorrow and that he asked him not to shoot him.

Olson told the US Capitol Police that if he were shot by the National Guard, he would know that the Guard was loyal to President Joe Biden. If they didnt shoot him, their loyalties would lie with the people.

Without being specific, Olson is alleged to have told officers that he planned to be big and that he was willing to die to fulfill this mission.

He allegedly said that his actions would be bigger than jumping the fence and that it would unite eight billion people.

US Capitol Police referred Olson to psychiatric care after it was determined that he was a danger to himself and others, according to the federal complaint.

On Tuesday, he was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court with two counts of attempted battery and one court of disorderly conduct - both misdemeanors.

Olson was then released from custody on conditions.

QAnon began as a marginalized theory that was somewhat contained to the dark corners of the internet but it exploded under Trump's presidency and was particularly bolstered by the unproven theory that widespread voter fraud won the election for Biden amid widespread conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The premise of QAnon is that there is a deep state organization of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who Trump was fighting back against throughout his presidency.

Many of the January 6 Capitol rioters are QAnon theorists.

8chan was originally created by Fredrick Brennan but he quit after the Watkins refused to remove the racist manifesto of the Christchurch, New Zealand, shooter, in 2018.

Q: Into The Storm is airing on HBO Max on March 21. Its filmmakers name Watkins, the son of 8chan founder Jim Watkins, as the Q, the head of the right-wing, pro-Trump conspiracy theory group.

Ronald's father is Jim Watkins (left). He now owns 8chan, now known as 8Kun, the online messaging board where QAnon took its roots. Frederick Brennan (right) founded 8chan and he quit in 2018 as he watched it become increasingly right-wing. He has previously said that Jim Watkins or his son is Q

Many of the Capitol rioters were QAnon followers, including Douglas Jensen, who is shown storming the Capitol wit h a Q shirt on
 Close Joe Biden says hell run for a second term in 2024

On the 65th day of his presidency, Joe Biden held his first formal press conference since entering the White House on 20 January.

In the hour-long Q&A, Biden courted controversy on migration at the Mexico border, the US relationship with China, and the potential to face off against Trump in 2024 in a rematch that see two oldest presidential candidates in US history (Biden 82 v Trump 78).

Of the 15 presidents of the past 100 years, all but for Biden have held a press conference within 33 days of being sworn into office. Donald Trump did it 27 days in, while Barack Obama outdid Trump by a week at 20 days.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg dismissed the company's role in polarising the US, blaming the "political and media environment" for promoting extremism and misinformation. His opening statement in the Senate big tech hearing came after a cutout of the Facebook boss dressed as the QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley appeared on Capitol Hill before Congress began grilling the social media platforms.

Kayleigh McEnany, former White House press secretary to Mr Trump, has meanwhile appeared on Fox News to claim Joe Biden is in badly declining health and is concealing his condition behind a Covid face mask, a baseless smear intended to undermine his first press conference as president, where questions on immigration, the coronavirus vaccine rollout, infrastructure and gun control are likely to be forthcoming.

His vice president, Kamala Harris, is also already facing criticism from Republicans Ted Cruz and Doug Ducey, Arizonas governor, after being appointed to lead the countrys response to the latest surge in asylum seekers arriving at the US border with Mexico as the administration struggles to find temporary housing for hundreds of unaccompanied children.

Read more:
London, March 21 : Another 5,587 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,291,271, according to official figures released.

The country also reported another 96 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 126,122. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

More than 26.8 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Britain broke the daily jab record for a second day in a row with more than 711,000 doses administered on Friday, the data showed.

More than half of Britain's adult population have now received the first dose, a milestone hailed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a "fantastic achievement".

The National Health Service (NHS) England has warned that Britain is going to face a "significant reduction" in vaccine supplies from March 29 onwards.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Thursday that a need to retest 1.7 million vaccine doses as well as delays to doses arriving from India are the reasons why Britain is facing a "tighter" supply in Covid jabs next month. But the British government insisted that the country is on course to offer all adults a dose by the end of July.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ben Wallace today dismissed growing calls from Tory MPs to speed up the nation's exit from lockdown as he said it would be wrong to 'throw away' progress in 'the final mile'.

The Defence Secretary said the country has 'made incredible sacrifices over the last year' and now is the time to 'buckle down'.

The Government is facing a Conservative backbench revolt over Boris Johnson's roadmap, with angry MPs arguing the approach is based on 'dates, not data'.

Tory rebels have pointed to the fact that more than 26million people in the UK have now received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine as they said life should be able to 'get back to normal more quickly'.

They said there is now 'increasingly positive data on deaths and hospital admissions' but despite this the Government 'appears almost entirely focused on dates' already set out by the Prime Minister.

Mark Harper, the chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, said 'reasonable people' will now be questioning why Mr Johnson does not speed up the easing of restrictions.

Meanwhile, the CRG's Steve Baker echoed a similar sentiment as he said 'the time has come for this dark chapter in our history to come to an end' amid a row over extending the Government's draconian Covid powers.

Boris Johnson is under growing pressure from Tory MPs to speed up the nation's exit from lockdown

Mark Harper, the chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, said 'reasonable people' will now be questioning why Mr Johnson does not speed up the easing of restrictions

MPs are expected to vote on the PM's roadmap later this week and they are also likely to be asked to vote on keeping in place the controversial Coronavirus Act.

The Act underpins Covid rules and MPs are fearful the Government will ask to keep powers until October, despite the fact the last step for unlocking in the PM's exit strategy is set for June 21.

The lengthy extension has sparked fears of a possible reimposition of rules in the Autumn.

Mr Wallace today dismissed calls to speed up the easing of restrictions as he said the Government does not want to put at risk the progress that has been made.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: We have, all of us, whether you are NHS workers or members of the public made incredible sacrifices over the last year to make sure that we try and get on top of this pandemic.

We are in a place at the moment where, unlike many other countries, we have started to get on top of it, slowed the flow into hospitals, started to reduce the tragic loss of life and started to rollout the vaccine at an unprecedented level.

I dont think now is the time to throw that away, or potentially put that at risk.

I think now is the time, the final mile is the most important thing for us all to make sure we buckle down, get through the different stages the Prime Minister set out, the next one being the 29th of March and then another one on the 12th of April and slowly but surely all of us together make sure we tackle this dreadful pandemic.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Harper said: 'As Easter approaches, families would normally be making plans to visit and stay, and people could be forgiven for thinking that getting together would be possible to do safely.

'However, the Government's roadmap - which appears almost entirely focused on dates rather than the increasingly positive data on deaths and hospital admissions - means that such activity will involve breaking the law.

'Reasonable people will wonder whether the Government has got this balance right. Staying with your family won't just be illegal for Easter weekend, it will be unlawful until May 17 at the earliest - whatever the data say. The roadmap is "dates, not data".'

Mr Harper, a former chief whip, also warned that keeping the provisions in the Coronavirus Act until October 'will raise concerns that curbs will be reintroduced in the Autumn.'

He added: 'When this first started, protecting the NHS and saving lives was achieved by people staying at home.

'It's now achieved by getting vaccinated and we have seen dramatic falls in deaths and hospital admissions. We should be able to get back to normal more quickly if we are following the data, not dates.'

Meanwhile, lockdown critic Sir Desmond Swayne told the Observer: 'The whole point of having a successful vaccine campaign is that we want to take advantage of it.

'We mustn't forget the huge economic costs involved with continuing with lockdown a day longer. I do feel that we've got an excess of caution and not enough sense of urgency about the damage.'

Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, added: 'People are exhausted, they're tired. They're still frightened. The last thing we want to do is just ramp up that anxiety. We should be de-escalating it.'

Many Tory MPs are increasingly concerned at the toll the continued national lockdown is taking.

The Sunday Express reported that a group of five Cabinet members  Chancellor Rishi Sunak, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick  are the leading voices opposing any further delay in the lifting of restrictions.

Mr Baker, deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, questioned why tight restrictions are still in place.

'With so many vulnerable people now vaccinated, people may ask why restrictions the Government is bringing in this coming week are tougher than they were last summer when we didn't have a vaccine,' he told the newspaper.

'The detention powers in the Coronavirus Act are disproportionate, extreme and wholly unnecessary. Renewing them would not be reconcilable with the Prime Minister's guarantee that we are on a 'one-way road to freedom' by June 21.'

He added: 'The time has come for this dark chapter in our history to come to an end and for us to reclaim our freedoms once and for all.'

Mr Baker told Sky News this morning he is currently unsure how big the Tory rebellion will be when the votes take place.

Steve Baker told Sky News he is unsure how many Tory MPs will vote against the extension of the laws but said the Government will win because of support from opposition parties

But he said that thanks to the support of opposition parties the Government's plans will not be stopped.

He said: It is very difficult to say until we have seen the exact detail of what the Government is tabling and how the votes will come.

But lets be absolutely clear because it seems that Labour and the SNP will vote for any old authoritarianism these days it looks like the Government will of course get their business with an enormous majority.

But I do think it is important that some of us do seek to hold the Government to account with these extraordinary powers.
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A Chinese military vessel is seen near the Whitsun Reef, March 7, 2021. Photo by Reuters.

The Philippines expressed concern about hundreds of Chinese military vessels it said were spotted this month in the South China Sea, the latest example of tension in the crucial waterway.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored in line formation at a reef on March 7, a cross-government task force said late on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin, asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the ships presence, told a journalist on Twitter: "Only if the generals tell me. In my watch foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces."

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea expressed concern about overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation.

Chinas Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered.

An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated Chinas claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea, but Beijing does not recognize the ruling. China in recent years has built islands in the disputed waters, putting air strips on some of them.

In January, the Philippines protested a new Chinese law allowing its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a "threat of war."

The United States has repeatedly denounced what it called Chinas attempts to bully neighbors with competing interests, while Beijing has criticized Washington for what it calls interference in its internal affairs.

The Chinese vessels were at the Julian Felipe Reef, also called Whitsun Reef, in Manilas exclusive economic zone, the task force said, describing the site as "a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs."

"Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time," it said in a statement.

The Philippines vowed to monitor the situation and "to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea.
Police report that white supremacists are attacking cell phone towers

According to The Intercept, conspiracy theorists and far-right white supremacist groups are increasingly targeting cellphone towers and other critical infrastructure 'to incite fear, disrupt essential services, and cause economic damage with the United States and abroad.'

The Hill summarizes the findings:

In more than one case, they've succeeded in interrupting resources for law enforcement and emergency services personnel, according to the report [by the New York Police Department], which lists several recent cases. One involved a neo-Nazi chat group whose "members strongly supported exploiting civil unrest in the United States by attacking the country's infrastructure," The Intercept reported, while another was tied to the 5G conspiracy theory, which claims without evidence that the electromagnetic waves put out by 5G towers are harming peoples' immune systems and are responsible for the coronavirus pandemic.

The NYPD has not publicly commented on the report, which mentions attacks in other states as well, including a bombing in Nashville in December. The Intercept also obtained a document from the Department of Homeland Security that revealed three intelligence reports about vandals targeting cell towers in New York, West Virginia and Tennessee on the day of and before the insurrection on the United States Capitol in January.

https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/543805-police-report-that-white-supremacists-are-attacking-cell

https://theintercept.com/2021/03/17/5g-white-supremacists-conspiracy-theorists-critical-infrastructure/

https://news.slashdot.org/story/21/03/18/2139227/police-report-that-white-supremacists-are-attacking-cell-phone-towers
Press Release

March 20, 2021 IMEE: DOH, NTF CRIPPLING NATIONAL VACCINATION PROGRAM Entire industries are being blocked by the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force (NTF) from procuring Covid-19 vaccines, Senator Imee Marcos revealed Saturday. Marcos got hold of a draft administrative order, about to be passed on for President Duterte's signature, that will prevent the country's largest manufacturers of tobacco, milk, sugar, soda, and alcohol, as well as multinational firms based in the Philippines from assisting the government's national vaccination program. "That means the entire San Miguel group, the whole Lucio Tan group, Puregold, Nestle, Destileria Limtuaco, all soft drinks producers, Tanduay, Ginebra, White Castle, et cetera," Marcos pointed out. "Kapag di makabili ng mga bakuna itong mga malahiganteng kumpanyang ito, na 50 percent ido-donate sa publiko dahil walang pera ang gubyerno, paano pa tayo makakadagdag ng bakuna?," Marcos added. (If these giant companies cannot buy vaccines, 50% of which will be donated to the public because the government lacks funding, how else will we acquire more vaccines?) Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, explained that the administrative order will not only slow down the vaccination of the targeted 70% of Filipinos to achieve herd immunity this year but also diminish the government's ability to generate much needed revenue to fund its national vaccination program. "We are about to see a total wipeout of the 50-percent donation of vaccines by these large companies, donations which are stipulated in each tripartite agreement among private entities, vaccine manufacturers and the government," Marcos said. "These companies are the biggest contributors to the government coffers through excise taxes. How ironic that this administrative order was conceived amid a shocking spike in Covid-19 cases and just weeks away from the tax payment deadline in April," Marcos added. Section 5 of the administrative order states that the NTF and the DOH shall review all requests of private entities to procure vaccines "to ensure that private entities who will be part of the agreement are not in any way related to the tobacco industry, products covered under EO 51 series of 1986 or the "National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplement and Other Related Products" or other products in conflict with public health." Marcos cited Binondo-based Chinese newspapers reporting that NTF chief Carlito Galvez Jr. disapproved the vaccine importation requests of members of the three largest Filipino-Chinese chambers of commerce. The reports echoed Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.'s lament via Twitter that the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FCCCII) was being blocked from importing 500,000 doses of the Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac after a deal had already been signed. "The administrative order totally contradicts the "shared responsibility" and collaboration the government has sought from the private sector and other organizations through its Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19," Marcos said.
COVID Cases Are Spiking In A Dozen States With High Vaccination Rates

By: Tyler Durden

As Europe struggles with a "third wave" of COVID infections that's forcing more governments to reimpose at least some lockdown measures, the US is finding that the number of newly confirmed cases is climbing again, with some of the biggest week-over-week increases seen in states that had been praised for their vaccination diligence.

The US is adding roughly 55K new cases per day, a level that it has plateaued over the past months (though deaths have continued to move lower). Yesterday, health authorities counted 56.9K new case, and 1,052 deaths.

COVID cases are spiking in 13 states over the past week. The rebound in new cases in states like Michigan (which is leading the country over the past week with a 53% spike in new cases) Nevada, Maryland and Connecticut are raising concerns about whether new variants discovered in New York State, along with other variants like the Kent Strain (B117) and other international strains.

Notably, Michigan is above the US average in terms of its vaccination rate according to Johns Hopkins Data. State officials are blaming variants for the surge, citing a similar dynamic seen recently in Florida and New York. Other states among the highest in vaccination ratesincluding West Virginia, Maine and Montanaare also dealing with case spikes. Of the 13 states with rising cases, only two - Mississippi and New Hampshire - have below-average vaccination rates.

New data from the CDC indicate that the California strain accounted for 13% of all new coronavirus cases that were genetically sequenced as part of a new federal program in late February. An additional 7% of the samples were the strain from the UK.

As the US tops 115MM vaccine doses given, here's a look at how close each US state is to vaccinating 100% of its population.

In other news, NY and NJ have continued to ease restrictions on restaurants and indoor dining as restrictions are expected to loosen further heading into next month.

Circling back to these new strains, scientists and health officials are on edge because both the UK and Cali strains spread more easily than their predecessors and seem to be more resilient to some of the medicines used to treat COVID-19. The California strain has also shown signs of resistance to the current crop of COVID-19 vaccines, which is just a reminder that a second generation of jabs is already being designed. Studies have found that the California strain, which is one of two new strains first sequenced in the US, is 20% more infectious than other strains.

It's just a reminder that while President Joe Biden keeps talking about families and friends gathering to celebrate July 4 without masks, there's reason enough to worry about another surge in new cases.

Source: COVID Cases Are Spiking In A Dozen States With High Vaccination Rates | Populist Press 2021 
Relatives of nursing home residents who died of COVID-19 attacked Andrew Cuomo on Sunday for 'inflicting an unimaginable horror on the most vulnerable', accusing him of a callous disregard for their relatives' lives after his controversial decision to allow convalescent patients back into their facilities.

Dozens of people gathered Sunday at the We Care Memorial Wall in Brooklyn to call for the governor's resignation or impeachment, with some holding signs saying they were 'Cuomo Covid Orphans' because of Cuomo's nursing home policies.

The memorial, which stands about 10 feet high and is full of photos and other memorabilia from people who died of COVID-19 while in nursing homes, is erected in front of the Cobble Hill Life Care Center in Brooklyn, the site of a number of those deaths, according to 77ABC.

It was a year ago this week the New York governor ruled that nursing homes must readmit residents who had tested positive for COVID-19, so they could recover in their nursing homes and free up hospital beds.

He reversed the decision on May 10, but by then thousands of people had been readmitted to the care facilities, and the pandemic was killing huge numbers of elderly people in nursing homes.

Cuomo even wrote a book about his 'leadership' during the crisis after he became a national hero with daily televised press briefings - something relatives of those who perished in nursing homes say is particularly galling.

Cuomo has now been accused of covering up the true scale of the deaths, after the attorney general, Letitia James, found that 15,000 residents had died - meaning Cuomo's official tallies undercounted the deaths by as much as 50 per cent.

Relatives of those who died of COVID-19 in New York nursing homes gathered on Sunday

At the memorial wall, dozens of protesters gathered to call for Cuomo's resignation or impeachment - some held signs that said they were 'Cuomo Covid Orphans'

A box that is labeled 'Cremated Remains' is at the memorial wall for those who died after Cuomo's nursing home policies sent COVID-19 patients released from hospitals back into nursing homes

Dawn Best told the press conference on Sunday that Cuomo 'killed our mothers and fathers'

The U.S. Justice Department is looking into the issue, and the governor's possible cover-up of the true numbers.

'He said: people go to nursing homes to die. No, Governor Cuomo - they go to nursing homes to live, and be cared for,' said Dawn Best, whose 83-year-old mother Carolyn Best died of COVID in a Long Island nursing home.

'He likes to say it's the federal fault. And people didn't know back then. This is not true,' she said, pointing out that Cuomo stated on March 27: 'Coronavirus in a nursing home can be like a fire through dry grass.'

She continued: 'He knew what would happen, and he did it anyway.

'A third grader would know not to send a COVID patient in with grandma.

'Governor Cuomo says this is political. This is not political, Governor Cuomo. This is as personal as it gets with us.

People pasted pictures of their loved ones - and many held signs calling for Cuomo's resignation

The 'We Care' Memorial Wall was assembled in front of a care home in Brooklyn

'You killed our mothers and fathers. And you knew what would happen when you forced the coronavirus patients in with them.'

Cuomo has insisted that he was following federal guidelines at the time. He has dismissed much of the criticism as political attacks.

Best said he 'screwed the numbers,' and accused him of having 'inflicted an unimaginable horror on the most vulnerable among us.'

She concluded: 'He hid the numbers because he had a book coming out.'

Cuomo's book about leadership during the pandemic was published on October 13 - much to the fury of the relatives.

Cuomo is facing an investigation into the decisions he made during the COVID pandemic

Around 15,000 care home residents are now known to have died - up 50% from the official tally

Many of those gathered in Brooklyn on Sunday demanded Cuomo resign, or be impeached.

Among them was Ron Kim, a Democrat assemblyman representing Queens, whose uncle died from COVID-19 in a nursing home.

Kim has been a staunch critic of Cuomo's, and last month the governor rang him to berate him, threatening to ruin his career.

Ron Kim told the crowd that 'decent people' would take on Cuomo and fight for justice

'I wasn't afraid of his bullying tactics. I was afraid he would escape accountability,' said Kim, who was frequently cheered by the crowd and thanked by the speakers.

He said he was unsure how to handle Cuomo's threat, until his wife told me him that he needed to carry on his fight for justice.

He said: 'She told me: I married a decent man.

'That's what this is about: decent people coming together to take on the most powerful man in New York. Because together, decency will win.'

Tracey Alvino, a co-founder of Voices for Seniors, told the story of her father Daniel, who died aged 76 on April 14, while recuperating in a care facility from surgery.

She strongly criticized Melissa DeRosa, Cuomo's top aide, who admitted in a private call to state Democrats in February that the administration had 'froze' when asked for the death tolls, and dragged their heels in providing the figures.

'He is one of Governor Cuomo's uncounted,' she said, noting that he was not a care home resident but died in one.

'He may be just a number to Melissa DeRosa, that she omitted from her report.

'But to my family, he was the glue that kept us together.'

She added: 'We don't want an apology. We want answers, accountability and justice.

'We demand the resignation of Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Zucker, and all the other dirty cronies that make up to Cuomo crime syndicate.'

Zucker is Dr. Howard Zucker, the head of New York State's Health Department.

Alvino also rubbished Cuomo's claim that the criticism of him was political.

'He killed Democrats. He killed Republicans. And he killed people that couldn't care less about politics - who only cared about the New York Mets,' she said.

'He signed an executive order that sentenced thousands of people to death.'
Bud tender Nick Brice arranges a display of marijuana products at Tradecraft Farms in Vista, Calif., in 2019. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

In vast stretches of this country, its now legal for an adult to buy and use marijuana. But that perfectly legitimate activity can still get you fired from your job. A few White House staffers learned that the hard way recently.

The Daily Beast reported that dozens of White House staffers have been suspended, asked to resign or assigned to remote work due to past marijuana use. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted on Friday that five workers were let go, though she told the Daily Beast that there were additional factors at play in many instances for the small number of individuals who were terminated.

Even though adult use of marijuana is legal in more than a dozen states, it remains illegal under federal law. Applicants for White House jobs are asked about past drug use as part of the vetting for the security clearance they'll need to work there. Yet the Biden administration announced last month that past drug use wouldnt automatically disqualify someone from getting a job in the White House. It was an acknowledgement that its getting harder to find employees, especially young ones, who havent used marijuana. Because its legal in many places.

Now, 16 states and the District of Columbia  which collectively hold one-third of the American population  have legalized the adult use of marijuana. Thirty-six states, with nearly 70% of the population, have legalized medical marijuana.

Federal prohibition is woefully out of step with the facts on the ground, and this White House staff issue is just another example of that illogical conflict.

A White House spokesperson told the Daily Beast: This decision was made following intensive consultation with career security officials and will effectively protect our national security while modernizing policies to ensure that talented and otherwise well-qualified applicants with limited marijuana use will not be barred from serving the American people.

We dont know all the specifics on why some individuals were fired or sidelined for admitted marijuana use. Still, if their use was in a state that has moved past prohibition, its hard to see how buying and consuming state-legal pot would amount to a national security threat. One big reason to legalize marijuana is to eliminate the black market that is dominated by drug cartels. The federal governments reefer madness mentality perpetuates the illicit drug trade and slows the efforts to make marijuana a regulated and taxed industry.

Story continues

Plus, it's just unfair to punish people who thought they were engaging in a legal activity, if that's what happened here. The federal government is way behind the curve on marijuana. Instead of hewing to the old drug warrior mentality, the Biden administration ought to be pushing policies and practices that reflect the cultural and political shift on marijuana. That starts with backing bills in Congress to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level to end the conflict with state legalization efforts.

The mixed message on marijuana is a quandary for President Biden, but its one he can help fix.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Mumbai: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar addressed a press conference on Sunday (March 21) in relation to the allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Pawar pointed out that the letter sent by the ex- Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh was not signed by the former.

The allegations against the Maharashtra Home Minister are serious. The Maharashtra CM has the full authority to take a decision regarding an inquiry on these allegations against the Home Minister, says NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's letter to Chief Minister.

The veteran politician while refuting the allegations against Anil Deshmukh said, the letter addressed to the Chief Minister didnt showcase any proof or concrete evidence. The timing of these allegations against Anil Deshmukh has to be looked into. Why now?"

I don't know whether efforts are being made or not to topple the government (Maharashtra). All I can say is they will have no impact on the government: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar pic.twitter.com/06vb9Ln1Zz  ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2021

Before the press conference, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had summoned Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and party chief Jayant Patil to discuss the grave issue.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief, Raj Thackeray demanded Anil Deshmukhs resignation against the grave charges against him.

Anil Deshmukh should resign immediately. The main issue is that of an explosive-laden vehicle being found near the residence of an industrialist. I request the Central Government to intervene. The State government cannot investigate this matter, said Raj Thackeray.

Additionally, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also spoke on the issue. He said, If Rs 100 cr was the target by the Home Minister (Maharashtra) then what was the target by other ministers? Uddhav Thackerays government has lost the moral authority to govern the State even for a day.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Office in Maharashtra has released a statement saying, Letter from Param Bir Singh was received at 4:37 pm today via a different email address, not his official one & was without his signature. The new email address needs to be checked. The Home Ministry is trying to contact him for the same.

Following which former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh cleared the air. He said, the letter to Maharashtra CM was sent from my email ID only.
The 170-year-old Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont  which said last year that its future is uncertain  will transform into a graduate and online university, officials said.

The historic Catholic schools undergraduate program remains in limbo, with a probable focus on transfer students.

Notre Dame de Namure is among many small liberal arts campuses across the country that struggled with declining enrollment and financial difficulties even before the pandemic. Most recently in the Bay Area, Mills College, a womens college founded in 1852, announced Wednesday that it will stop enrolling first-year students after the fall, and will grant its final degrees in 2023.

Notre Dame de Namur never announced it would close. But in early March 2020, interim President Daniel Carey said the campus would say by March 13 of that year whether it would close, prompting a protest of about 100 students and professors demanding that its doors stay open.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Campus officials made periodic announcements throughout last year about hopeful developments  such as restarting admissions for some of its graduate programs and reaching a labor agreement with faculty through Aug. 2021.

This year, university officials and the Board of Trustees said the schools future will be mainly online and focused on graduate programs. After the pandemic the university also hopes to resume some in-person instruction.

We were not closing, we were trying to find our way forward, trying to find a sustainable future, Melissa McAlexander, the universitys spokesperson, said Saturday. Were really building on the strong graduate programs that we have.

Notre Dame de Namur will transform into a primarily graduate and online university, potentially with undergraduate degree completion programs, university officials and the Board of Trustees announced Jan. 25.

McAlexander said those programs are expected to focus on transfer students finishing their bachelors degree at the university, though details are not finalized. She said the campus is coordinating with community colleges to set up a robust transfer program.

The school had been losing students in recent years, with undergraduate enrollment plunging by a third between 2016 and 2020  to 680 students from 1,023, the university reported. Graduate enrollment fell by nearly 30% in the same period, to 515 from 730. This semester, as the schools future has been in doubt, undergraduate enrollment dropped even further, to just 159 undergraduates  an 85% drop from five years ago. Graduate enrollment is roughly the same as last year.

McAlexander said the university will provide more information in the coming days about reopening admissions for its master of business administration and master of public administration programs.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this undated file photo, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya, right foreground, is seen with his band of armed extremists. Philippine troops captured an Abu Sayyaf rebel commander blamed for years of ransom kidnappings and on Sunday, March 21, 2021, rescued the last of his four Indonesian captives, the military said. (AP Photo, File)

Philippine troops killed an Abu Sayyaf rebel commander blamed for years of ransom kidnappings and on Sunday rescued the last of his four Indonesian captives, the military said.

Marines wounded Amajan Sahidjuan in a gunbattle Saturday night and he later died from loss of blood on Kalupag Island in the southernmost province of Tawi Tawi. Two other militants managed to flee and dragged along the last of four Indonesian hostages but troops finally rescued him on Sunday, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. said.

On Thursday night, three Indonesian men were rescued by police who also captured one of their Abu Sayyaf captors along the shores of South Ubian town in Tawi Tawi.

The military said the Abu Sayyaf militants led by Sahidjuan were fleeing assaults in nearby Sulu province when their speedboat was lashed by huge waves and overturned off Tawi Tawi.

A military officer said the militants were attempting to cross the sea border to Tambisan Island in neighbouring Malaysias Sabah state to release the captives in exchange for a ransom of at least five million pesos ($104,000), but the Philippine military got wind of the plan and launched covert assaults.

The officer, who has a keen knowledge of anti-Abu Sayyaf operations, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to speak publicly.

Vinluan said the rescue of the Indonesian men, the last known hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf, would allow government forces to finish off the ransom-seeking rebels.

It will just be relentless in a massive and focused military operation because, now, we would not worry about kidnap victims getting hit, Vinluan told reporters by telephone.

Vinluan said there were about 80 Abu Sayyaf gunmen left in Sulu and outlying island provinces. One of their remaining elderly leaders, Radulan Sahiron, has fallen ill and was wounded in a recent offensive in Sulu, he said.

Sahidjuan, who uses the nom de guerre Apuh Mike, has been blamed for carrying out ransom kidnappings since the early 1990s. He was reportedly among Abu Sayyaf militants who attacked the southern largely Christian town of Ipil in 1995, where they killed more than 50 people after robbing banks and stores and burning the town centre in one of their most audacious raids.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small but violent group that has been separately blacklisted by the Philippines and the United States as a terrorist organization for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings. Some of its factions have aligned themselves with the Islamic State group.

The militants have been considerably weakened by years of military offensives, surrenders and battle setbacks but remain a national security threat. They set off a security alarm in the region in recent years after they started venturing away from their jungle encampments in Sulu, a poverty wracked Muslim province in the largely Roman Catholic nation, and staged kidnappings in Malaysian coastal towns and targeted crews of cargo ships.
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Thousands of employees of Nanhua Metal Gem Craft Co., Ltd. in Nanhai of Guangdong Province, China, gathered at the entrance of their factory to protest pay cuts and unpaid social insurance by the company on March 18 and 19, 2021. (Supplied)

Chinese Regime Cracks Down on Workers Mass Protest in Guangdong Province

Thousands of workers in Chinas Guangdong province gathered in front of their workplace to protest pay cuts, overtime work without pay, and overdue social insurance owed by their employer.

The labor protests broke out in front of Nanhua Metal Gem Craft Co. Ltd. in Nanhai, Foshan City, overnight on March 18 and extended into March 19.

Local authorities sent a large number of police to observe and eventually crack down on the protest. More than 40 workers were arrested.

The protest started around 6 p.m. on the evening of March 18. The crowd of more than a hundred employees gathered at the gate of the factory increased to a sizeable two and then three thousand by late evening.

Thousands of employees of Nanhua Metal Gem Crafts Co., Ltd., in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China, gather in front of their factory to protest pay and conditions on March 18, 2021. (Supplied)

Mr. Lin, an employee at the company who attended the protest, told The Epoch Times that around 70 police vehicles sent to the protest around 2 a.m. on March 19. No arrests were made overnight and the situation was relatively normal, everyone was rational.

But the next morning on March 19, police started arresting workers.

Around 10 a.m., 400 or 500 police and special police suddenly showed up and started arresting workers. The special police were holding shields, and the police were armed with guns. They arrested whoever they saw at the scene, Lin said, adding that around 40 to 50 people were arrested, including female workers.

The Chinese authorities mobilize a large number of police to suppress a workers protest, arresting 40 to 50 workers in Foshan city, Guangdong Province, China, on March 19, 2021. (Supplied)

The Epoch Times obtained a video showing police at the scene of the protest making arrests.

Some factory workers told The Epoch Times that the company currently has 4,000 to 5,000 employees, with most of them having worked there for more than ten years. The company used to pay their salaries on a time rate system, and there was a lot of overtime pay.

However, since the start of the pandemic last year coupled with the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade war, the foreign trade-based company has encountered operating difficulties and delays to orders, leaving workers with work for only three days a week.

And then, when work restarted full-time after the New Year this year, employees discovered that the company had switched to a piece-rate instead of hourly rate payment system. Employees were also asked to sign new contracts with the company, according to Mr. Li, another employee of the company.

Li said that after the change, employee monthly salaries dropped from 4,000 to 5,000 yuan ($770), to 2,000 to 3,000 yuan ($460). Many workers have had no choice but to take a second job after work to support themselves and their families.

Besides the sharp drop in pay, Lin said that social insurance issues were another major trigger of the protest. Now, 90 percent of employees cannot resign due to their social insurance payments that are tied to the company. Lin started working at the factory in 2005 but was not paid social insurance until 2011.

Most people now protest because of this issue. We asked the boss to make up for the overdue social insurance that they owe us, Lin told The Epoch Times. We have tried many ways to talk to the management of the factory and we went to the local government of the township for help. They didnt do anything. So the workers were forced to protest, since theres no other way. We were all doing it spontaneously. Theres no leader organizing it.

The workers said that the companys treatment of employees has also declined since 2018, including lowering quality of work meals and cancelled holiday banquets, among others factors.

According to public data, Nanhua Metal Gem Craft Co. Ltd. was established in 1996 and its business scope includes the production and sale of items like watch cases, straps, semi-precious stone craft products, metal ornaments, assembly clocks, and metal crafts manufacturing.

Worker protests over labor issues in China have been on the rise as they struggle with low paid jobs that offer little social welfare protections. Their conditions have been worsening alongside the deteriorating Chinese economy in recent years, especially following the pandemic last year.

Thousands of delivery drivers in Shenzhen were on strike last month over lowered pay, while the president of the nations delivery drivers alliance was arrested for mobilizing the drivers across the country to take action to protect their rights. Earlier this year, migrant worker protests erupted around the country as they demanded wages owed to them from before the lunar new year.

According to Hong Kong-based NGO China Labor Bulletin, in the six months leading up to March 20, there have been 502 strikes and 277 calls for help from workers regarding labor issues throughout mainland China.

Gu Xiaohua contributed to the report.
Aizawl/New Delhi, March 21 : Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide asylum, food and shelter to those refugees who have arrived in the state since the military seized power in Myanmar last month.

Zoramthanga in a letter to Modi sought his intervention so that the refugees from Myanmar are given asylum, food and shelter in India.

Referring to Union Home Ministry's advisories to the Chief Secretaries of the four northeastern states bordering Myanmar and also to the Assam Rifles and Border Security Forces for taking action to prevent illegal influx from Myanmar into India, Zoramthanga said, "This is not acceptable to Mizoram." "I understand there are certain foreign policy issues where India needs to proceed cautiously. However, we cannot ignore this humanitarian crisis," the Chief Minister said in his letter.

He added that the Mizoram's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs met the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday and Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday and discussed the issue during the Parliament session.

Zoramthanga said in his letter that India as the largest democracy in the world and Myanmar's immediate neighbour needs to do more and open up more in this matter.

Amid the government tightening the security along the India-Myanmar border to prevent influx from across the border, Zoramthanga on Sunday held a virtual meeting with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung.

Zoramthanga after holding the discussion with Aung, tweeted: "Had a fruitful meeting this morning with Zin Mar Aung, Foreign Minister, Myanmar. Our thoughts and prayers are with Myanmar in these trying times." Mizoram government officials when contacted by the IANS said that they are not in a position to disclose the discussion between the Chief Minister and Myanmar Minister.

Mizoram government delegations comprising state's Member of Parliament and senior leader of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) had already met separately with Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and others in Delhi and persuade them to impress upon the government not to forcefully push back the Myanmar nationals sheltered in Mizoram.

According to Mizoram's Rajya Sabha member K.Vanlalvena over 300 Myanmar nationals including 150 police personnel besides women and children have crossed the border are currently taking shelter in Mizoram.

Local people and officials said that the number of refugees from Myanmar took shelter in Mizoram since March 3 had already crossed over 400.

Officials in Aizawl said that the Mizoram government team at the instruction of Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Friday urged the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai to provide relief to the people sheltered in the bordering state after fleeing from the neighbouring military coup-hit Myanmar.

"While ruling out the possibility of deporting these refugees until situation in Myanmar gets back to normal, members of the team requested the central government's intervention for providing necessary relief measures to refugees staying in Mizoram and expressed hope that India will take a more proactive role and raise a stronger voice in support of people fighting for restoration of democracy in Myanmar," said a Mizoram official statement.

The four-member team comprising Mizoram's Lok Sabha C.Lalrosanga, Rajya Sabha member K.Vanlalvena, the State Planning Board Vice-Chairman H.Rammawi and Mizo National Front Adviser Rosangzuala, also made similar appeal to the Union Home Secretary. AVanlalvena while discussing the matter in the Rajya Sabha last week urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider the plight of the people protesting against the military rule in Myanmar and relax its policy towards Myanmar refugees crossing over to India.

Mizoram statement's further said that the state government and NGOs in Mizoram have been providing immediate help and shelter to these refugees.

Meanwhile, the MHA had recently given directions to the chief secretaries of four northeastern states -- Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur -- sharing borders with Myanmar to not entertain Myanmar refugees. It also instructed Assam Rifles to seal the border and prevent entry from the neighbouring country, the statement said.

Mizoram government official said that the Deputy Secretary (NE), MHA, Krishna Mohan Uppu, in his letter said that the Ministry's Foreigners' Division had also issued instructions to the chief secretaries on February 28 for asking law enforcement and intelligence agencies to take prompt steps for identifying illegal migrants, their restrictions to specific locations as per provisions of law, capturing their biographic and biometrics particulars, cancellation of fake Indian documents and legal proceedings, including initiation of deportation.

The letter, available with IANS, reiterated that the state governments and UT 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 four northeastern states share a 1,643 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar where power has been transferred to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1.
UK at its usual two-tongued game View(s):

In the days of the American Wild West (not that it is not wild any longer), the Native Americans, chased out of their lands and robbed of their possessions, were even cheated of promises made in official treaties. So much so that one Native American Chief famously said White man speak with forked tongue.

Long before this 19th century recorded characterization by Chief Joseph of his white trading partners and Washington officials, Native Americans were deceived and herded into reservations with broken promises.

But centuries before that, British imperialism was running roughshod over countries London had conquered or acquired as trophies of war. I was reminded of colonial history and British governance at home today where the great democracy we have been taught about at school, is shaking somewhat at the foundations.

It is not uncommon for British parliamentarians pitching for one cause or the other to turn to the Mother of Parliaments to air their views using as ballast unproven statements based on unspecified estimates as happened at last Thursdays debate to castigate Sri Lanka.

Not that there is nothing to be said about the diplomatic mess that Sri Lanka is making on its journey to wherever. But what is galling is that it should come from countries such as the UK which has made a hash of its own politics under Prime Minister Boris Johnson parading his self-delusionary cleverness that is more suited to a comic opera.

The gathering British storm to overwhelm Sri Lanka in Geneva this week when the resolution drafted by the Core Group led by the UK is put to the test, reminded me somehow of the UKs reaction when Colombo by some misconstrued camaraderie co-sponsored the 2015 US-and-UK-led resolution at the Geneva sessions.

Besides showering praise for adopting this historic resolution, the British Minister of State for Asia Hugo Swire said that for Sri Lanka to fulfill its enormous potential it must address the legacy of its past.

The pontifical Swires reference to past legacies might have been more meaningful and less hypocritical had the country he represented done so over its inglorious history of empire.

At the time I had just been reading a book by Kwasi Kwarteng, called Ghosts of Empire and subtitled Britains Legacies in the Modern World. Mr Kwarteng, whose parents were from Ghana, has a PhD in History from Cambridge University and had then been recently elected an MP.

In his well-researched and enlightening book, he identifies Iraq, Kashmir, Burma, Sudan, Nigeria and Hong Kong as somewhere new difficulties have arisen as a result of British imperialism and continue to baffle both politicians and diplomats.

While the present-day champions of civil liberties and human rights were spewing forth their honeyed words marinated for days in a mix of hypocrisy and bovine waste, our resplendent isle was all agog over the Geneva genuflection that it missed a revealing news story then.

That news report proves, if proof was at all necessary after decades of sanctimonious humbug emanating from London and Washington, how committed these purveyors of piffle in the two capitals really are to civil liberties in their own territory.

The story is important because it involves the two principal players  Washington and London  that were instrumental in pushing Sri Lanka to the dock in Geneva after continuous castigation for alleged war crimes and human rights abuses as though they were whiter than the whitest lilies and smelled like attar of roses.

Among the many news reports that appeared in the British media, one headlined the story Tortured Briton leaves Guantanamo after 13 years. Though that headline seems somewhat premature  the release had still to be cleared by Congress  it captures the essence of a story that tells how the US treats the detained with the complicity of their transatlantic cousins.

There are many other reports of British conduct in various theatres of recent warfare that violate human rights and international humanitarian law but space restrictions do not permit telling them here.

Now to fast forward six years one comes to the Johnsonian era of Conservative politics where Tory populism has come to the fore. Just last week what is called the Police Bill for convenience, passed its second reading in the Commons.

Those particularly concerned about human rights including minority rights, right to dissent and freedom of speech might have shown more ardour in taking up cudgels against the authorities who are strengthening the hands of senior police officers and the Home Secretary to restrict protests in unprecedented ways.

Ironically at the time the bill was before parliament, Police were manhandling women protestors at a vigil to mark the murder of a young woman, Sarah Everard, causing an uproar over police actions.

The murder of Sarah Everard has placed the UKs public institutions under intense scrutiny, raised questions as to why prosecutions against sexual abusers remain at an all-time low, and highlighted the threats faced by women and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds, according to experts.

Everard went missing on March 3  she was last seen walking home from a friends house near Clapham Common, in London. Her remains were found in woodlands a week later in Kent, a nearby county, and identified on March 12, reported Anu Shukla for Al Jazeera.

Interestingly the Police Bill, which has more horrific features that trample on human rights that the UK seemingly seeks to protect, proposes 10 years jail for damaging a statue or memorial whereas the jail term is less for the offence of rape.

Such is the authoritarian populism that now forms part of the Boris Johnson Conservative agenda that the police bill was pushed through parliament with MPs and public given hardly a week to scrutinise the 300-page bill. Such is the determination to hustle legislation through parliament that the democratic credentials Johnson parades under are more a charade than a genuine show of democratic intent.

With the United Kingdom, less united now than before and struggling under the Brexit mess that Johnson and his cronies have brought upon the country, Johnson and Co are trying to divert attention elsewhere from the domestic screw up with foreign policy ventures.

It must surely remind

Sri Lankans of affairs closer home.

(Neville de Silva is a veteran Sri Lankan journalist who was Assistant Editor of the Hong Kong Standard. Later he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Bangkok and Deputy High Commissioner in London).
Claudias glasses often fog up above her mask during the hours she spends kneeling over blueberry bushes at the farm she works at in Marion County. She shakes them clean to avoid contaminating them with the pesticides that get on her clothes.

But she never removes her mask during her long work days.

She has diabetes and asthma and worries about what would happen if she contracted COVID-19, or brought the virus home to her husband and 11- and 9-year-old daughters. Even with the mask, the 40-year-old fears she could ultimately be exposed to the virus because she says she has to share a rarely sanitized porta-potty and washing station with other workers.

Yet she has continued to work through the pandemic, and even through the wildfires last September, when she found herself coughing up ash in the fields. She ran through her savings when she lost her job at a cannery due to the pandemic last March and was out of work for two months. If she misses a work day now, she said she wont be able to pay her bills.

Im happy to have a job and have a wage and be able to cover my expenses, but I dont like risking my health or my familys health, she said in Spanish, through an interpreter. Thats something that weighs on me.

Claudia, an immigrant who asked that her last name not be published, is one of the thousands of Oregon workers whose lives changed dramatically a year ago when the severity of the coronavirus pandemic came into focus.

Tuesday marks one year since Gov. Kate Brown issued a stay-home order that shut many stores and offices while requiring strict safety precautions in other businesses.

Since then, Oregon has faced the most dramatic economic downturn in state history and among the most profound shifts ever in the way people work. From the states farms to its factories, from its restaurants to grocery stores, the pandemic has changed the lives of Oregons workforce and exposed stark economic disparities.

For some, the vaccine rollout offers hope for the year ahead: A chance for industries to be revived, a sense of safety in the workplace to be restored and finally a return to normalcy. But that still feels distant to many. Farmworkers will become eligible to receive vaccines at the end of March, but many other frontline workers wont be eligible until mid-April under Oregons current timeline.

The pandemic has been strange because its been this massive collective experience, said Michael Hartig, a TriMet bus driver. But the effects of it have been very unevenly distributed.

THE FRONTLINES

Nearly 260,000 Oregonians lost their jobs as the states jobless rate soared above 13% in the first month of the pandemic, worse than at any point during the Great Recession. The Oregon Employment Departments antiquated computer system proved wholly incapable of handling a flood of new claims as tens of thousands of unemployed workers went months without receiving payments.

ONE YEAR SINCE OREGONS STAY HOME ORDER

A year into the pandemic, Oregons unemployment rate still hovers at 6.1%. Thousands are approaching one year without employment, and many remain unsure of when, or if, their industries will return.

Others have retained their jobs but havent had the luxury of working from home. Frontline workers, many of whom are women and minorities in low-wage jobs, have been asked to risk their own safety by continuing to go to work.

Over the last year, more than 19,000 Oregonians have contracted COVID-19 in the workplace and nearly 100 have died, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The largest outbreaks have occurred at prisons, food processing facilities and farms.

Hartig developed a grim fatalism in the early weeks of the pandemic, convinced he would contract COVID-19 while driving his bus route. He hasnt, but he also hasnt been able to shake that fear, especially as TriMet has increased capacity on its buses.

Still, the 37-year-old has felt a sense of duty providing transportation to vulnerable individuals and other essential workers during a pandemic. He has had elderly passengers take the time to thank him when they step onboard his bus. Those moments have helped carry him through the last year.

But Hartig has also had passengers grow angry when he has asked them to wear masks. One passenger screamed obscenities at him and got so close to his face as he screamed that Hartig could feel the passengers spit land on his cheek.

When its bad, its really bad, he said. Then, you have the long-term chronic stress of feeling constantly exposed to the risk of infection. That has really taken a toll. At the same time, I feel really grateful to still be employed throughout this whole thing.

A year into the pandemic, Melody Gramley also is still anxious about being exposed to the virus working for a Salem grocery chain.

Before the pandemic, the 57-year-old used to travel from store to store in a sales role, but she has been working on the floor more often since the pandemic started.

Early on, when it was still unclear whether the virus could be easily transmitted through surfaces, Gramley would immediately throw her clothes in the washer and take a shower when she came home from working out of fear that she could expose her husband and 24-year-old daughter. She also stopped seeing her 11-year-old grandson, who is immunocompromised.

In the beginning, I was really stressed out, Gramley said. I had other employees coming to me and asking, How are we supposed to handle this? I had to push through it, just like everyone else. If you have bills you have to pay, you have to do it.

Over time, Gramley has adjusted to a new routine. She puts on two masks before work each day, wears rubber gloves during her shifts and sanitizes her work area as often as possible. As coronavirus cases have fallen within the state, she has felt safer spending limited time with her grandson.

But she recently had to work in a store where she said five employees had tested positive for COVID-19. On another occasion, a customer informed her that they had been exposed to the virus but had decided to shop at the store anyway. That incident served as a stark reminder of the risk she is taking each day at work.

Gramley said she feels particularly frustrated by Gov. Browns decision not to prioritize grocery store workers in the early phase of the states vaccine rollout. Hartig, too, believes bus drivers should have access to the vaccine sooner.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that essential workers be included among the first groups to receive the vaccine, many of those workers wont be eligible to get vaccinated until April 19 under Oregons current guidelines. In contrast, grocery workers, public transit employees and other frontline workers in Washington became eligible for vaccines Wednesday.

There are a lot of strong retail workers out there, Gramley said. They somehow find the strength to get up every morning and do their jobs, even though they are exhausted. Its not easy, especially when you are told you are essential, and then told you have to wait to get the vaccine.

A YEAR WITHOUT WORK

Yanying Chen took a job as a waitress at Wongs King Seafood in 2012, the year she and her husband emigrated to the United States. She held that job until last March when Oregon temporarily halted onsite dining, prompting the dim sum restaurant to lay off its staff.

Two months later, Chen, 40, received a letter from the restaurant informing her it was closing for good.

Since then, she has applied for numerous jobs, but nothing has panned out. The restaurant industry has been particularly hard hit by revolving restrictions that have limited onsite dining to various degrees throughout the pandemic.

In Chens case, securing a job has been particularly difficult because she has to stay home during the day to help her two children with distance learning while her husband continues to work as a self-employed handyman. She only speaks a little English, further limiting her employment options.

Many of her former colleagues at Wongs King struggled to overcome language barriers when navigating Oregons dysfunctional unemployment benefits system. Chen, though, said her eighth-grade son, Jiayuan, is fluent in English and walked her through the process shortly after she was laid off. She has been receiving jobless benefits since last March, which has enabled her family to continue to pay the mortgage on their house in Happy Valley.

I still feel stressed and nervous, she said in Cantonese, through an interpreter. I dont know how long things will be like this or what it will look like in the future, but I do really appreciate my family getting unemployment, so we can still meet our basic needs.

Chen is optimistic that things will change in the year ahead as schools reopen, at least in a modified capacity, which could enable her to finally secure another job. But she remains unsure whether there will be any jobs for her if the restaurant industry doesnt rebound.

Alexandra Weitzman, who has been the pastry chef at ChefStable Catering for five years, is facing the same uncertainty. While the state has slowly begun to ease restrictions on many businesses, large events are likely to be one of the last to return. Weitzman said she often caters corporate events, something that may not be as appealing to companies if employees continue to work from home after the pandemic.

That reality has been hard to process.

Weitzman remembers the shock she felt when she learned last March that the state was banning large events. Overnight, her life changed completely. She was laid off and, as a single parent, her full-time job became helping her six- and nine-year-old with distance learning.

But she has tried to maintain a positive outlook over the last year, taking time to appreciate the trips to the river and the daily walks shes been able to take with her children around east Portland during the extra time she has spent at home. She was able to access unemployment benefits quickly last year, and considers herself lucky to have been able to keep up with her bills during the pandemic.

Weitzman has since returned to part-time work helping with the ChefStable Kitchen Collective, the restaurant groups ghost kitchen concept, but wont be able to resume full-time work until her children are back in school. Shes optimistic that there will be a job for her at ChefStable at that point, but what that looks like is less certain.

I always tell people Ive had the best job. When it shut down, it was shocking, Weitzman said. Now, its a year later and we still dont know, is this going to be a thing anymore? Theres really no telling whats going to happen.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
The Mississippi River's West Bank levee is shown near Myrtle Grove, where Louisiana hopes to build a $1.5 billion structure to divert sediment-laden water from the river, right, into a channel leading to Barataria Basin.
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Spring breakers invading Miami Beach have become so uncontrollable that authorities imposed a curfew on Saturday and declared a state of emergency as SWAT teams were seen moving in to clear people out.

A SWAT vehicle was filmed moving down Ocean Drive - a popular party street - and using an LRAD, also known as a sound cannon, to get people to disperse, video posted to Twitter shows.

The move to control the crowds followed weeks of wild partying in Miami Beach, which is no stranger to uncontrollable spring break throngs of young people.

But this year the volume is clearly higher than in previous years, said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, who's expressed concern about the lack of coronavirus restrictions - like wearing a mask - in Florida.

'I think it is in part due to the fact that there are very few places open elsewhere in the country, or they're too cold, or they're not open and they're too cold,' he said.

The crowds of young people crushing the beach city have sparked worries of a coronavirus super-spreader event, while alcohol-fueled partiers have been starting fights in restaurants and in the streets, officials said.

Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements said he is concerned the situation will become unmanageable.

Scroll down for video

Miami Beach Police Department officers pile on top of someone to arrest them as they enforce the South beach 8pm curfew during spring break, in Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday.

Miami Beach Police Department officers arrest a man as they enforce the South beach 8pm curfew, which was called

A police line and ATVs are seen as cops work to disperse large crowds in Miami Beach on Saturday amid a curfew order

Miami Beach Police detain a man as he plays loud music on a wireless speaker on Ocean Drive last week, during the start of the crackdown on Spring Breakers

Before police moved in, it was an increasingly chaotic scene, with people dancing on top of cars and stopping traffic

A large crowd of people participate in a party on a street, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday as people were seen not wearing masks

Police then moved in to enforce the 8 pm curfew, telling people to get off the streets and go home as crowds swelled

A Miami Beach Police Department vehicle moves throw a crowd of spring breakers during a party in Miami Beach, Florida

Cops were seen arresting a man during a curfew crackdown on partygoers in Miami Beach on Saturday

A man was seen in handcuffs after police officers arrested him during a curfew crackdown in Miami Beach on Saturday

On Saturday night, crowds were seen stampeding away from the scene screaming, while the man taking the video suggests that cops 'may be spraying pepper balls as they did in the past.'

Other videos posted to Twitter showed massive groups of people partying on the streets after the curfew began.

In one video, a man was seen throwing money into the air as cops move in and cheers from the crowd are barely heard over the sound cannon. In another, a group of girls were seen twerking in front of a group of cops.

'I hear cops coming from every direction, so I want to make sure they're not going to swarm this corner,' says Joel Franco, a man who has posted videos documenting Saturday night's curfew.

A large crowd of people participate in a party on a street, during spring break in Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday

Police move in to disperse massive crowds of spring breakers in Miami Beach on Saturday during a crackdown on curfew

Later in the night, Ocean Drive was seen nearly empty as cops closed down streets and made spring breakers disperse

It was all fun until the cops moved in. People danced on cars, sat on cars and partied down before police dispersed crowds

Franco said in a live video that the crowd breaking appears to be a multi-agency effort, with helicopters from Miami-Dade police, a SWAT vehicle from Coral Gables and officers from other agencies.

In another video posted Twitter, a man wearing Joker makeup waves an American flag while standing on top of a car screaming 'COVID is over baby' and throwing money into the air.

Later in the night, Ocean Drive was seen nearly empty after cops made everyone disperse and photos posted by Miami Beach police show street sweepers cleaning leftover debris.

Locals laughed off the security measures put into place on Saturday, Daily Beast reported.

Earlier in the day and throughout the week, young people have swarmed the beach and the rest of the city of Miami Beach. A group of women dance on the beach during spring break parties in Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday despite a curfew order

A large crowd of people participate in a party on a walkway near the beach, during spring break in Miami Beach on Saturday

As crowds grew larger, police called a Saturday night curfew in an effort to keep things under control, they said

By nightfall, the party had moved to the streets of Miami Beach - with huge crowds of maskless revelers ahead of curfew

Crowds were seen stampeding away from the scene screaming, while people online reported that cops fired pepper balls

A SWAT vehicle was filmed moving down Ocean Drive - a popular party street - and using an LRAD, also known as a sound cannon, to get people to disperse

Miami police posted photos showing an aerial view of Ocean Drive after crowds were cleared out amid a new curfew to control unruly crowds

'Honestly, closing down Miami Beach means nothing. People are just going to flock to Brickle and Wynwood. People just need to go,' a 32-year-old Miami resident told the outlet.

For the next 72 hours, visitors will have to leave streets and restaurants will close their doors at 8pm in the main tourist areas of South Beach, the epicenter of the city's party scene, authorities announced.

Their doors cannot open again until 6am each morning, authorities said.

The three bridges that connect the island with mainland Miami will be closed to traffic from 10pm. Only residents, workers and hotel guests will have access.

It's unclear how long the curfew will remain in effect, but Interim City Manager Raul Aguila told the Miami Herald that he recommends keeping the rules in place through at least April 12.

A countywide midnight curfew was already in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'This is all about the public safety folks,' said acting City Manager Raul Aguila.

City of Miami Beach Police officers are ready to enforce strict rules part of the zero tolerance campaign

City of Miami Beach Police officers arrest several males on Ocean Drive and 10th Street on Saturday

People watch as City of Miami Beach Police officers arrest several males on Ocean Drive and 10th Street as spring break has officially begun on Saturday

Referring to photos of huge crowds gathering on the main Ocean Drive strip, he added: 'It looked like a rock concert. You couldn't see pavement and you couldn't see grass.'

'These crowds are in the thousands,' Aguila said. 'Were at capacity.'

Over the last several days viral videos have emerged showing fights in restaurants which caused serious damage in addition to prompting diners to flee without paying expensive bills, according to local press reports.

On Thursday, a fight that started at a restaurant on Ocean Drive ended with multiple arrests after police fired pepper balls into the crowd, Daily Beast reported.

On Thursday night 'we had an issue where hundreds of people ran at one particular time. Tables and chairs were thrown and used as weapons,' said Clements, the police chief.

He added that police had hoped it was a one-time event but 'last night we had three of those situations and we had a young lady that got hurt as a result of trying to run away from a crowd.'

'We can't continue to be fortunate. We have to do some things that are going to mitigate those circumstances,' he said.

The curfew comes as a prominent bar, the Clevelander South Beach, announced it was temporarily suspending all food and beverage operations until at least next Wednesday after crowds crammed Ocean Drive, breaking out into street fights.
New Delhi, March 21 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the farmers' protest, which began from Punjab, has become a revolution with farmers from all states uniting against the Centre's three farm laws, and assured his AAP's support to it.

Addressing a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Punjab's Moga district, the Aam Aadmi Party chief expressed his gratitude to the state's people for opposing three agricultural laws enacted by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government.

"I have come here to express my gratitude for raising your voice against Centre's three draconian laws. They (BJP) say only few states' farmers are opposing the farm Bills, but it is not the truth. Your struggle from Punjab to Delhi's borders has become a revolution across the nation and people of this country are not ready to accept these farm laws which are framed for giving benefit to some selected corporates," he said.

Kejriwal said that the AAP has stood in support of farmers since beginning because it was the need of the hour and the farmers' agitation against farms laws was for a genuine cause. Had not Punjab's farmers raised their voice against Centre's farm laws, they would have lost their valuable land, he said.

Attacking both the BJP and the state's ruling Congress, he said: "You were promised subsidised electricity, waiving of farm loan, government job from each family and many more, but in return, you got nothing from these political parties which ruled the state for last 70 years. Farmers have only their land and this Modi-led Central government wants to snatch your land." Slamming the BJP, he claimed that when farmers from Punjab reached Delhi's borders, the Centre tried to develop pressure on his government to send them into stadiums.

"When you (farmers) reached the Delhi border, the Delhi Police sent a file to the Delhi government asking to put you in different stadiums. I noticed their plan.. they wanted to put you in stadiums so that you remain inside like in jails. But, I did not sign that file despite massive pressure from by the Centre. That is why the BJP is now taking revenge from AAP government now," he added.

Kejriwal said that his party's support of the farmers did not go down well with the BJP and therefore they introduced the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) (Amendment) Act 2021 to give all power the Centre's appointed Lt. Governor.

"The BJP is doing it because AAP government did not refused to accept their instructions to put you (farmers) in jails. Instead, I stood in your support and all my leaders and workers participated in protest as sevadars," he said.

Kejriwal also accused the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal of joining hands with the BJP in making of the three farms laws.

Scores of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been sitting on protest at three borders of the national capital - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur and demanding rollback of the three farm Bills passed by the parliament last year.
She's been treating her almost 18 million Instagram followers entertained with a plethora of swimwear snaps over the past few months.

And Salma Hayek, 54, kept the visual delights coming on Sunday morning, when she took to Instagram to share a shot of herself posing in a maroon swimsuit.

The Frida star looked sensational as she struck a pose in the form-fitting ensemble, which featured a pendant embellishment and plunging halterneck.

Incredible: Salma Hayek, 54, treated her fans to another visual delight on Sunday morning, when she took to Instagram to share a shot of herself posing in a maroon swimsuit

Accessorising with a par of stylish sunglasses, the Oscar-nominated actress wore her raven locks in curls as she relaxed on an expansive oceanfront glass balcony.

Captioning the scintillating snap, Salma simply added the hashtag: '#sundayfunday.'

Last month, Salma showed she remains as loved-up as ever with her billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault, 58, when she shared a snap of herself with him as they celebrated 12 years of marriage on Valentine's Day.





The actress took to Instagram to post a snap of herself wearing a black bikini under a cream crocheted cover-up as she kissed her smiling partner on the cheek.

Special day: Last month, Salma when she shared a snap of herself with her husband Francois-Henri Pinault as they celebrated 12 years of marriage on Valentine's Day

With her raven locks tied in a bun, the Mexican-born actress donned a pair of stylish sunglasses as she stood before her husband, who went casual in a grey T-shirt.

Captioning the heart-warming image, the screen star made no mention of their anniversary as she simply wrote: '#happyvalentinesday.'

Screen star Salma and her husband have hunkered down together amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

Pinault is CEO and chairman of luxury fashion conglomerate Kering, which is the owner of high-fashion brands including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen.

Dashing: They tied the knot during a romantic ceremony in Paris on Valentine's Day back in 2009, two months before they would go on to renew their vows in Venice. Pictured in 2019

The pair are famously private about their relationship, but have revealed that they first met during a lavish gala in Italy in 2006.

They got engaged in 2007, right around the same time that they announced Salma's pregnancy with daughter Valentina, now 13.

Lavish nuptials followed on Valentine's Day, 2009, in Paris. They then renewed their vows two months later in Venice.

Stunning screen star Salma has previous gushed about their marriage  and even revealed the secrets to its success.

Beautiful family: They are the proud parents of daughter Valentina, now 13. Pictured in 2019

'[Pinault] is the best husband in the world,' she told Allure in 2015. 'I get to be who I am with him, and I dont feel that somebody tries to limit me.'

She has also insisted on remaining financially independent from the hugely successful businessman.

Salma revealed: 'I have a system in my life that I've chosen, where my expenses from before the marriage are my expenses. And he goes, "I know. That's why I want to marry you."

'Maybe that's also part of what works great in my marriage. I still have my independence. But he likes it. I get a lot of respect from him.'
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
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After a winter surge in which 1,000 or more new coronavirus infections were confirmed each day, the pandemics grip on the Alamo City is loosening.

But even as case counts, deaths and hospitalizations decline, San Antonio officials say it would be premature to celebrate  or to let up on social distancing and other precautions.

Dont get relaxed yet, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement Saturday. COVID is still widespread in our community.

Nirenberg exhorted residents to continue wearing facemasks, saying on Twitter: Weve come this far, San Antonio. Lets beat this pandemic together.

The Metropolitan Health District reported 281 new cases Saturday, up from 138 on Friday.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

One new death was reported, that of a man in his 50s who had been hospitalized at VITAS Inpatient Care. He died within the past two weeks.

Over the last month, Metro Health has reported 593 COVID-19 deaths, bringing Bexar Countys fatality toll since the start of the pandemic to 2,997.

Area hospitals were caring for 191 coronavirus patients Saturday, 10 fewer than on Friday.

Seventy-one of those patients were in intensive care  a slight drop from 75 the day before  and 41 were on ventilators, the same as on Friday.

On ExpressNews.com: What you need to know about Abbotts new mask order

Just last month, San Antonio hospitals were treating 615 coronavirus patients  of whom 232 of whom were in intensive care units and 141 needed the assistance of ventilators to breathe.

As of Saturday, COVID-19 patients accounted for 5.1 percent of all hospital patients, a marked improvement compared with the winter surge.

The turnaround stems in part from an increase in the number of people who have been vaccinated against the virus.

Some 222,609 residents of Bexar County have been fully vaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Thats 11.4 percent of the population.

An additional 183,243 county residents have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Get vaccinated

WellMed has 9,000 appointments available for first doses of the Moderna vaccine. To schedule an appointment, call 833-968-1745 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker

As of Saturday evening, the registration portal for the citys vaccination hub at the Alamodome had no available appointments. To receive a text alert informing you when appointments have opened up again, text VACCINE or VACUNA to 55000.

University Health System also did not have open appointments for its vaccination hub at Wonderland of the Americas mall. To find out when appointments have become available again, visit www.UniversityHealthSystem.com to subscribe to the Health Focus newsletter or download the University Health mobile app.

Information on vaccinations and on coronavirus testing can be found at COVID19.SanAntonio.gov. Residents can also call 311.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway
A Eufaula man was arrested Friday following a cyber tip from the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Eufaula Police Chief Steve Watkins said Jeffrey Scott Nolin, 36, has been charged with possession, and possession with intent to disseminate, obscene matter containing visual depictions of persons under 17 involved in obscene acts.

Watkins said Nolin was arrested following a search warrant for possessing several videos depicting child pornography. The warrant originated from an investigation of another person and through multiple subpoenas of records.

The investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be filed, Watkins said. Nolin is being held in the Eufaula City Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Eufaula police at (334) 687-1200 or the Anonymous Tip Line at (334) 687-7100.


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A Brazil consumer-protection agency fined tech giant Apple for selling iPhone 12 without chargers in the market. The fine costs about $2 million and was filed by Procon-SP which is located in the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

It can be remembered that starting from the iPhone 12 line of the tech giant, the packaging of their phones will come in smaller sizes. It is because earbuds and chargers will not be included in their boxes, unlike their previous rosters of iPhones.

ALSO READ: Apple Sued for Allowing Telegram on App Store Despite Violent, Hateful Content

Brazil Regulators vs Apple

The chargers that are not in the boxes of Apple's iPhone 12 have raised the eyebrows of the agency that fights for the consumer's protection in the country. Moreover, 9to5 Mac noted that it is not the first time Procon-SP has questioned Apple regarding their new policy.

"Apple needs to understand that in Brazil, there are solid consumer protection laws and institutions," said Fernando Capez, Procon-SP executive director. Capez also noted that the company must abide by and respect the laws and institutions in the country, according to a Gizmodo report.

PC Mag highlighted that every iPhone 12 comes with a lightning to USB-C cable, apart from the device. The earbuds that are usually included in the box are also omitted by the company expecting that every customer should have their own EarPods and chargers.

The agency asked the company whether they will reduce their price for the iPhone 12 given that chargers and EarPods will not be included. However, the agency reported that they did not receive any response from Apple.

It can also be remembered that Samsung, Apple's competitor soon released their flagship phones, following the iPhone12's release. Samsung included chargers in their boxes to continue satisfying their fans.

iMore noted that Procon-SP asked for an explanation from Apple as to why the company decided to remove the power adapters from the boxes. However, the agency is not convinced with Apple's response saying that it a part of their commitment to the environment.

Brazil Regulators and Other Concerns

Procon-SP is not only concerned about the power adapter's presence in the box. The agency has also accused Apple of misleading advertising, selling devices with factory defects, and maintaining unfair terms with consumers.

iPhone 11 pro consumers reported that Apple did not repair their phones after problems concerning water. Some users reported problems on their devices after updating them and the company was not able to give them help. Unfair terms of the company show that Apple exempts their self from all legal and implicit guarantees. Including hidden or not apparent defects.

In addition, "the software distributed by Apple... is not covered by warranty," said Procon-SP adding that the company did not guarantee that the product will work uninterruptedly.

Although Apple was fined by the regulator in Brazil, Apple can still appeal to the decision through Brazil's court system if they want to. The matter can be taken to court if there is no resolution is agreed upon by both parties.

RELATED ARTICLE: Apple Sues Former Employee for Stealing, Leaking Trade Secrets to Media

WATCH: The Real Reason The iPhone 12 Doesn't Come With A Charger - from Payette Forward
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
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.
One person was killed and three were wounded in a bomb explosion in southeastern Iran, the state news agency IRNA reported, blaming a "terrorist group" linked to Tehran's enemies.



The attack reportedly occurred in the city of Saravan, the site of recent violence, in the restive Sistan-Baluchistan Province.



A group "linked to global arrogance," a phrase that in Iranian media usually describes the United States and its allies, had carried out "the explosion at one of Saravan's squares, leading to one being killed and the injury of three citizens crossing the street," IRNA said.



Sistan-Baluchistan has a border with Pakistan and its population is mainly Sunni ethnic Baluch.



The province has long been a flash point for cross-border attacks by separatists and Sunni militants.



The incident came almost one month after deadly confrontations with fuel smugglers in Sistan-Baluchistan.



Iranian authorities said two people, including a policeman in Saravan, were killed in those clashes.



But the UN Human Rights Office said at least 12 people were reportedly killed, two of them minors, and accused Iranian security forces of using excessive force.

Based on reporting by AFP and IRNA


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Local officials are looking to set up a permanent spay and neuter program in order to address concerns with Guam's stray animal population, according to Chelsa Muna-Brecht, director of the Department of Agriculture, who was updating members of the Islandwide Beautification Task Force on Tuesday about the status of ongoing stray animal roundups with village mayors.

The Mayors' Council of Guam Stray Animal Round Up Committee leadership met Wednesday with Cornell University professor Paul Maza, who led a spay/neuter program in Bahrain.

According to Muna-Brecht, Maza is hoping to visit Guam in June to set up a temporary spay/neuter clinic.

The director said the officials discussed nonsurgical options for spaying and neutering, programs tried in other countries, what needs to be provided to the professor and his team, how many dogs could be serviced while the team is here, and options for euthanization when the team is on island.

Maza set up three conditions for euthanization: If the dog is seriously injured, seriously ill or extremely aggressive. This doesn't differ from the roundup program, according to Muna-Brecht.

Strays taken from villages are sent to the Guam Animals in Need shelter, where they may be adopted. But if the animal is aggressive and GAIN agrees, the animal would be euthanized, Muna-Brecht said.

Right now, there is no spaying and neutering program open to the public or to address strays on Guam.

"A lot of people have their private veterinarians that they go to, and that's who they're going to continue going to. But for those who don't get regular veterinary care for their pets, then this would be more of an option for them," Muna-Brecht said regarding a permanent program.

The meeting with Maza helped identify resources needed to get his team and other groups to Guam, and helped push the island closer to bringing in the group to at least get the spay/neuter program started.

"And then possibly setting up a permanent recurring travel arrangement with them," Muna-Brecht said.

On Tuesday, she told the Islandwide Beautification Task Force that a permanent program would have 30 to 40 different traveling veterinarians. Muna-Brecht envisioned a quarterly rotation.

But a "sweet spot" would be to hire a permanent veterinarian to consistently perform spaying and neutering throughout the week, who can ideally perform several procedures in an hour, rather than the typical one or two, Muna-Brecht said.

GAIN wants someone on staff to perform this type of spaying and neutering regularly. A requirement for adoption is to spay/neuter the animal, but the standard wait time is about 2 months for the procedure.

For now, Muna-Brecht could not say when a permanent program could be set up on Guam.

"We're just trying to move as quickly as we can toward one," she said.

Officials are also working with Sen. Clynton Ridgell on amending Guam law so that veterinarians have "reciprocity" when coming from off island, Muna-Brecht said during the task force meeting.

"Because right now, they're only allowed to be on island and practice for about five days and then they have to leave," she said.

Other changes officials are working on include removing a restriction on releasing animals once they've been spayed or neutered and mandating microchipping.

Mayors began rounding up stray dogs and cats in February, beginning in Santa Rita. The program is moving to one village at a time and is now set up in Tamuning. However, some villages are also turning animals in to GAIN.

The GAIN shelter has an additional 11 kennels that were repaired and one more pending repairs, as of Tuesday, which are reserved for mayors for the strays, to avoid overcrowding. There have been some communications challenges because some mayors were bringing in dogs although their villages where not yet part of the roundup, nor did they notify Mongmong-Toto-Maite Mayor Rudy Paco, Muna-Brecht told the task force on Tuesday.

"It created a little bit of an influx and space issue. So we're working on that part," she said.

According to Paco, who heads the MCOG animal roundup committee, 42 stray dogs were turned in to GAIN in February between Santa Rita and Mongmong-Toto-Maite, and at least 11 cats from Santa Rita.

For Tamuning, 18 dogs and 2 cats were turned in as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Tamuning Mayor Louise Rivera. Because other villages are turning in dogs and cats as well, Paco said he will do a head count at the end of the month to get a total

For years, residents have asked mayors to address the stray population in the villages.

"We're doing pretty good in this roundup," Paco said. "You know, at least we're trying."

However, Anna Van Seters, founder of the Guam-based Boonie Baby Foundation, stated that the focus should be on spaying and neutering the strays, removing their ability to reproduce.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday (March 21) blamed herself for not recognising the "true face" of the influential Adhikari family of Purba Medinipur district.

Venting her ire against Suvendu Adhikari, her protege-turned-rival who is pitted against the TMC leader from Nandigram constituency for the coming assembly polls, Banerjee said at an election rally here, she had even heard rumours the Adhikari family had built an empire worth Rs 5,000 crore.

The chief minister said, she will get it investigated once she is voted to power.

Most members of the Adhikari family, which holds considerable political clout in the district, have either joined the BJP or expressed a desire to join the saffron party.

Veteran TMC MP Sisir Adhikari - father of Suvendu Adhikari - joined the BJP at Egra on Sunday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders of the party.

She compared the Adhikari family with "Mir Jafar" (traitor) and said the people of the region will not tolerate it and give befitting replies with ballots.

Mir Jafar, the military general of Bengal's last independent Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, is considered a traitor for deceiving the besieged Nawab during the Battle of Plassey in 1757 which paved the way for British rule in India.

"I say I am a 'big donkey' (Ami ekta boro gadha) for having failed to recognise them. I don't know (about it), but people say their `empire' is worth Rs 5,000 crore and they will use the money to buy votes. But don't vote for them," Banerjee told the rally.

The TMC chief also described the BJP as a party of "rogues and goons".

She also blamed the Adhikari family for ruling the district as "zamindars" (landlords) by taking full control of the area, claiming that even she was not allowed to hold public meetings there.

Highlighting that all works like health, roads and other schemes were undertaken by the state government and not by the Adhikari family, Banerjee urged the crowd to keep the BJP out of West Bengal to maintain peace and further the pace of development.

Earlier too, she had described Suvendu Adhikari as a traitor, pointing out that she had blindly supported him when he was in the Trinamool Congress.

Banerjee also attempted to play the nationalistic card by raising slogans of "Bande Mataram" and "Jai Hind".

Banerjee left her Bhowanipore constituency in Kolkata to contest against her former lieutenant and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram seat, where an anti-land acquisition movement catapulted the TMC to power in the state in 2011.

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The Bilabiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has called on the military Joint Task Force (JTF) to flush out criminals from the community.

The community, in a letter dated March 21, appealed to the JTF deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta to deploy its surveillance boats to the area to fish out miscreants.

The letter was signed by Peter Pinne, the Amananawei (Paramount Ruler) in Bilabiri 1 and Minna Fun, the Amananawei of Bilabiri 2.

Other signatories are David Bazigha, the chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Bilabiri 1 and Esau Joshua, the CDC chairman in Bilabiri 2.

The letter stated that the community leadership had resolved to rid the area of pirates, militants, oil thieves and kidnappers.

It added that the development was an expression of support by the people of Bilabiri to the governments efforts at maintaining a peaceful atmosphere for legitimate economic activities.

The community leaders said the entire settlement comprising youth, women and elders was unanimous in its resolve to stamp out criminality and pledged its support to aid the JTF to achieve its mandate.

The letter said some miscreants, who burnt down the palace of the monarch, were engaged in kidnappings and other criminal activities that undermined the security of the oil-rich community.

The Bilabiri community hosts oil production facilities operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Nigeria Ltd.

The leaders noted in the letter that miscreants in the community had rebuffed internal efforts to check their nefarious activities through established traditional mechanisms.

It is an established norm that the king and other authorities as listed above are the custodians of tradition, law and order in conjunction with the established security apparatus of the Nigerian state.

When the governed are showing no sign of obeisance or refusing to subject themselves to constituted authorities, a higher force or authority will have to be invited to quell the inferno before it degenerates to an uncontrollable fiasco.

In event of collapse or total breakdown of law and order within our community, the leaders are always the ones to account for it.

It is on the strength of these that we invite you to come to our aid and end the criminal behaviours of some of our boys who have become bigger than the kingdom, the letter stated.

(NAN)
New York has joined a growing list of more than a dozen states that have confirmed at least one case of a worrisome coronavirus variant first found in Brazil.

The variant of concern, known as P.1, is highly contagious and has in some cases reinfected people who had already recovered from the coronavirus. About 48 cases of the variant have now been reported in at least 16 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is now in at least 25 other countries.

Scientists expect that variants will soon become the dominant source of infection in the United States. The country has been racing to vaccinate as many people as possible before that happens, even as some states are loosening lockdown restrictions.

Florida has recorded 21 cases of the P.1 variant, the most of any state, according to the latest C.D.C. data. At least 49 states and Puerto Rico have reported about 5,500 cases of the variant first identified in Britain, which could soon be the dominant form of the virus in the United States. Another 180 cases of a variant first found in South Africa have also been reported.
If AIADMK wins, it will be BJP's victory, DMK chief Stalin tells people

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Kancheepuram (TN), Mar 21: Even if the AIADMK emerged victorious in a single seat, the victor would be a 'BJP MLA' and hence people should vote for his party and its allies in the April 6 Assembly elections, DMK president M K Stalin appealed to the electorate here on Sunday.

In his campaign at Uthiramerur near here, Stalin said he had been saying that his party-led combine would win 200 out of 234 segments in Tamil Nadu. However, considering the feedback from the people to his continuous campaign across the state, the DMK top leader said, "only we are going to win in all the 234 constituencies."

Even if the AIADMK won a single seat in Tamil Nadu, the victor would not be an "AIADMK MLA but only the BJP MLA." The lone AIADMK Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Theni, P Ravindhranath, who is the son of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam functioned only as a 'BJP MP' and this proved his contention, he claimed.

"...we should not allow the BJP (to win) and similarly, the AIADMK also must not come (succeed)," he said and asked the people to remember this aspect. Reiterating his allegation of corruption against Chief Minister K Palaniswami, the DMK chief claimed that the AIADMK is a 'branch' of the BJP.

TN elections 2021: DMK's Stalin slams AIADMK for 'not fulfilling' previous poll promises

Palaniswami has time and again dismissed such graft allegations as lies and derogatory. DMK has tremendous confidence that all its poll assurances including the Rs 1,000 'rights' assistance per month to women family heads could be fulfilled, he said.

"After I announced this promise (Rs 1,000 assistance for women), Palaniswami declared that Rs 1,500 would be provided to women as if the AAIDMK is going to come to power... ...for sure Palaniswami is not going to assume power and they may even promise a helicopter and aircraft for every household," Stalin claimed adding the people were not ready to believe the AIADMK's electoral promises.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 01:51:48|Editor: huaxia

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BUDAPEST, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government on Saturday reported a record 11,132 COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour span, raising the national total to 560,971.

In the past 24 hours, a record 227 people had died from the disease, taking the toll to 18,068 in the country, according to figures from the government's coronavirus information website.

As of Saturday, 1,520,350 people had received at least one shot of a vaccine, while 465,643 had two jabs, the website showed.

"Due to their vulnerability, the elderly are still the first in line for the national vaccination program," the government informed, adding that vaccination would be continuous throughout the weekends.

The website also recalled that due to the drastically rising number of patients, the COVID-19 restrictions currently in force until March 22 in Hungary have been extended for "at least" another week.

The Hungarian government has been supplementing its vaccination program with Russian and Chinese vaccines to fight the third wave of the pandemic in the country. So far, Hungary has gained access to vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Sinopharm.

Hungary, the first European Union member state to purchase a Chinese vaccine and authorize its use, started to administer the Sinopharm vaccine on Feb. 24. Enditem
The Prime Minister's father has waded into the Tory civil war on China by urging him to 'stand up' to the hawks accused of seeking a 'new Cold War' with Beijing.

Former MEP Stanley Johnson said it is 'absolutely vital' that Britain continues to 'work very closely' with the Chinese government 'even more' post-Brexit.

The 80-year-old, whose son Boris Johnson was praised by George Osborne for 'seeing off the hotheads' last week, rubbished Tory demands that the UK should be tougher despite a year of tensions with China.

Speaking to Times Radio, he said he was suspicious of a 'tendency' among Conservatives to 'cook up' a conflict with Beijing, saying that it does not make 'any sense' to try to match Beijing 'weapon for weapon'.

Instead, Mr Johnson Sr called China 'the key to so many things' - from climate change to the world economy and the pandemic - and hinted that Tory passions could be 'redirected' to Brussels instead.

'China is absolutely not a bette noir. It's the key to so many things,' the Prime Minister's father said. 'In political terms, it's absolutely vital we work very closely with China. He (the Prime Minister) is right not to write off China at this point - on the contrary, I think he's right to move to discussions with China, important discussions.

'It is inevitable, even more inevitable now that we have left the EU.'

Asked whether the UK should be tougher with Beijing, he went on: 'Well, I don't think we're going to do that. I don't think there's any way in which we can match China weapon for weapon for weapon.

The Prime Minister's father has waded into the Tory civil war on China by urging him to 'stand up' to the hawks accused of seeking a 'new Cold War' with Beijing

Critics say President Xi Jinping China is 'much more aggressive in its region', citing the 'crackdown in Hong Kong' and the 'appalling treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang'

The flash points in the war of words between Britain and Beijing Britain and Beijing have clashed repeatedly in recent years with tensions between the two sides steadily rising. The main issues of contention have been the treatment of the Uighur people, the coronavirus pandemic, Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G network and Hong Kong. Human rights abuses against the Uighur China has faced repeated accusations of human rights abuses against the Uighur people in Xinjiang province. Boris Johnson today said Britain has led the world in 'expressing our deep concern' at China's treatment of the Uighur people as he insisted the UK will continue to defend its values on the world stage. The UK Government is under growing pressure from Tory MPs to take a tougher stance on the issue amid calls for sanctions to be imposed on any Chinese government officials involved in human rights abuses. There have also been calls for the UK to boycott the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, something Mr Johnson has signalled he is not in favour of. The Government has been highly critical of Beijing, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stating last July that it is clear that 'gross, egregious human rights abuses' are being perpetrated against the Uighur people in northern China. Beijing has rejected the accusations of human rights abuses. Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, last year hit back at the 'false accusations' after he was confronted with video footage of Uighur people being detained and forced onto a train in Xinjiang. Free speech and Hong Kong Beijing's decision to impose a controversial national security law on Hong Kong last year prompted the UK to announce a path to citizenship for three million Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) status. Critics argued the national security law would be used as a tool to crackdown on dissent after a wave of pro-democracy protests in the city. China accused the UK of treating it like a 'hostile country' in the wake of the citizenship decision and warned Britain will 'pay the price'. Tensions further increased this month after China approved a controversial 'patriotic' plan to control elections in Hong Kong, prompting Mr Raab to accuse Beijing of further 'hollowing out' democracy. Coronavirus cover-up Downing Street prompted fury in Beijing in May last year after it said there are 'questions that need to be answered' about the origin of Covid-19. Number 10's comments came after then-US president Donald Trump claimed to have seen evidence the disease came from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Mr Trump made the explosive claim but refused to reveal what the evidence was. Number 10 would not be drawn on the specifics of Mr Trump's comments but again reiterated its desire for an international probe into the start of the outbreak. Huawei The UK Government announced in January last year that Chinese communications giant Huawei would be granted a role in building Britain's new 5G network. But ministers then performed a U-turn in July, with the firm banned from the network while all of its existing 5G technology will be stripped out by 2027 over national security concerns. Links to UK universities Ex-minister Jo Johnson recently highlighted the issues of collaboration between UK universities and China, saying the risks were 'poorly understood'. A study led by the PM's brother suggested there had been a significant increase in funding from the communist state, including in sensitive areas such as automation and telecommunications. It also raised questions over whether collaboration could threaten freedom of speech. 'The UK urgently needs to put in place a framework for this key relationship so that it will be able to withstand rising geopolitical tensions. Failure to do so risks real damage to our knowledge economy,' said Mr Johnson. Advertisement

'I do not think that makes any sense at all, we've got to engage with China at an intellectual level. Look at the number of Chinese students at British universities today. Can you imagine the effect on British universities, even the financial effect on British universities, if we had a rupture now with the Chinese?

'I mean, a lot of them would just go out of business, that they are so dependent on Chinese students, Chinese research, and so on and so forth. So I feel quite strongly.

'I would be worried by a tendency in the Tory party to suddenly, you know, cook up... maybe they'll be distracted by Ursula von der Leyen. We'll see, maybe their aggressive instincts can be redirected to Brussels at this point in time.'

Mr Johnson Sr met Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming and emailed his worries about coronavirus to British officials in February of last year.

Accidentally copying in the BBC, the Prime Minister's father used his personal email address to share an account of the discussion with the environment minister Lord Goldsmith and other government officials.

'Re the outbreak of coronavirus, Mr Liu obviously was concerned that there had not yet - so he asserted - been direct contact between the PM and Chinese head of state or government in terms of a personal message or telephone call,' he wrote.

The Chinese Ambassador told him the Prime Minister had not yet directly contacted Beijing, while sources told the BBC Mr Johnson Sr was not acting on behalf or at the request of the British government.

In his interview with Times Radio, Mr Johnson Sr also revealed that he sang The Hippopotamus Song with the Chinese Ambassador during one meeting.

The environmentalist also said the Prime Minister is wrong to oppose carbon taxes, adding: 'If it comes to the question of carbon taxes, I think we would absolutely need to go down that route. If the government suddenly said 'so sorry, we cannot go into the aspect of cross border carbon taxes', which is fundamental if you're going to have to deal with climate change, I think I would then stand up.'

His intervention comes amid a raging Tory revolt over the Government's strategy for relations with China after its Integrated Review was published last week.

The security document takes a much softer tone on China than to Russia, saying that although it is an 'authoritarian state' it will be 'an increasingly important partner'.

'China is an increasingly important partner in tackling global challenges like pandemic preparedness, biodiversity and climate change,' the report says.

'We will continue to pursue a positive economic relationship, including deeper trade links and more Chinese investment in the UK.'

Unveiling the document last week, Mr Johnson told MPs that the Government had been at the forefront of criticising Beijing over human rights abuses.

'There is no question that China will pose a great challenge for an open society such as ours,' he said. 'But we will also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests.'

Tory defence select committee chief Tobias Ellwood said he had hoped Mr Johnson would take the opportunity to 'call out' China for the 'geo-strategic threat it is'.

Intelligence committee chair Julian Lewis warned that the 'grasping naivety of the Cameron Osborne years' towards China 'still lingers' in some departments, while Foreign Affairs committee head Tom Tugendhat said the review was only a 'start' in rebalancing the UK's approach.

Former MI6 chief Alex Younger also warned China poses a 'generational threat' and the idea it will adopt Western values on freedom and democracy is 'for the birds'.

Mark Sedwill, the former Cabinet Secretary, said the UK must be willing to 'contest, contain, confront' China when it 'breaks international norms' as he warned the Western alliance must show greater unity when challenging Beijing.

The former national security adviser said China is now 'much more aggressive in its region' and 'like all authoritarian regimes, respects strength and unity'.

He said if the West is going to 'push back effectively' against 'unacceptable' Chinese behaviour then 'we need to do so with a sense of common purpose across the Western alliance and that has been sadly lacking over the past few years'.

Lord Sedwill was grilled on the UK's relationship with China during an appearance in front of the House of Lords' International Relations and Defence Committee.

He told peers that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping China is 'much more aggressive in its region' as he cited the 'crackdown in Hong Kong' and the 'appalling treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang'.

He said: 'We have to, while maintaining the access to the economic opportunities, the imperative to cooperate with China on the big environmental challenges and some security challenges, we must also be able to contest, contain, where necessary confront Chinese behaviour when it breaks international norms.

'I think we have seen that is a trend in Western countries' policy generally, very robustly in the United States, actually robustly here too in my view, Australia as well for example, less so among some of our other allies, but I hope they will bring themselves to the same appreciation of the need to stand in solidarity to contest, confront, contain China's unacceptable behaviour because when we do have a sense of common purpose then I think that is our best opportunity of influencing it.

'China, like all countries, like all authoritarian regimes, respects strength and unity among the West and we need to show more of that.'

However, former chancellor George Osborne hit back at Tory hawks as he praised the Prime Minister for 'seeing off the hotheads' who he claimed want to start a 'new Cold War' with the Chinese government.

The former Evening Standard editor said he sees 'a lot of continuity' between the new strategy for relations with China and the 'golden era' approach he took when he was in power with David Cameron.

Some Tory MPs believe the PM's new Integrated Review is too soft on China and want the Government to take a tougher approach

George Osborne hit back in the Tory civil war over China as he praised Boris Johnson for 'seeing off the hotheads' who he claimed want to start a 'new Cold War' with Beijing. Former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill said the UK must be willing to 'contest, contain, confront' China when it 'breaks international norms'

Speaking to the House of Lords' International Relations and Defence Committee, Mr Osborne said he believes Mr Johnson is correct to recognise the 'threat' posed by China while also seeking to 'engage' with the country.

'China is changing, becoming more assertive, but the question of how you deal with it has not changed,' the former chancellor said.

'And that to me is why I think Boris Johnson should be congratulated for seeing off the hotheads who want to launch some new Cold War with China and instead promoting an approach that is realistic about the threat that China poses but also wants to engage in the opportunity.

'Talks about increasing trade, talks about increasing investment from China and essentially tries to co-opt China rather than confront China and to me that was the approach back then and it is the approach today.'

Mr Osborne said he believed his approach of 'engaging with China in a more meaningful and deeper relationship that recognised the threat but also sought to try and co-opt China into the international order' was 'realistic'.

He added: 'It was a deeper relationship and frankly reading the Government's security document that they published yesterday, I see a lot of continuity in what is being proposed now and I very much welcome that.'

Mr Osborne said there 'have been things that China has done that are not acceptable' as he mentioned interference in Hong Kong and 'suppression' of the Uighur people in Xinjiang province.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 02:04:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- With all the world's eyes upon them, China and the United State have wrapped up their high-level strategic dialogue held in Anchorage, Alaska.

Undoubtedly, the China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties in today's world. Therefore, for the two sides, dialogue is always better than confrontation.

During this round of dialogue, the two sides conducted candid, in-depth and constructive communication on their respective domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations, and major international and regional issues of common concern.

They expressed their willingness to enhance cooperation or coordination in some specific areas. For instance, the two sides are committed to strengthening dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change and will establish a joint working group on that subject. In the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit, the two sides will hold talks on facilitating activities of each other's diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues related to media reporters.

The talks in Anchorage once again proved that communication and dialogue based on mutual respect can help the two sides increase trust, reduce misperceptions, properly manage differences and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

What needs to be clarified is that the fundamental purpose of China's development is to ensure that the Chinese people can live a better life and to benefit all humankind. Win-win cooperation is an important principle of China's development and a golden rule in China's external relations. China has no intention to interfere in the political system of the United States, nor challenge or replace its status and influence.

The U.S. side should take a right approach to China's political system and development path, its influence on the world as well as its major policies.

Meanwhile, the U.S. side should also respect China's core concerns such as sovereignty and security, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs on Taiwan and issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

In Anchorage, the United States reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question, which sent a right signal to the rest of the world.

After all, the essence of China-U.S. relations is of mutual benefit and win-win results, rather than a zero-sum game. The two countries will gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Neither side can afford the consequences of conflict and confrontation.

They should trust rather than suspect each other, understand rather than blame each other, and cooperate rather than obstruct each other.

In the past few years, due to Washington's irrational suppression of China's legitimate rights and interests, China-U.S. relations have encountered unprecedented difficulties. This situation should not continue any longer. The only right way is to follow the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

Moreover, enhancing coordination and cooperation between China and the United States, the two major players with global influence, is to follow the global trend of peace and development, which will also meet the expectations of the international community.

Forming cliques, turning back the wheel of history, inciting ideological divisions, or instigating confrontation will lead to nowhere.

China is ready to work with the United States to uphold true multilateralism, and provide more public goods with better quality for the international community.

The two countries can cooperate on three most pressing tasks facing the international community -- fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and promoting world economic recovery -- and strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, so as to expand their cooperation on a bigger scale.

During the dialogue, 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.

They also exchanged views on a series of other topics, including climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar, and agreed to maintain and enhance communication and coordination.

In the 1970s, then far-sighted leaders of China and the United States worked together to break the ice in bilateral relations, and charted the course forward for bilateral cooperation.

Today, China-U.S. relations have arrived at a new critical juncture in history. Beijing and Washington have the responsibility, capacity and wisdom to find a way for major countries with different political systems to get along with each other. To that end, it requires an even grander vision and greater political courage.

After all, it is always correct to choose working together instead of decoupling each other, and to choose tearing down barriers rather than building more walls. Enditem
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After six years of blackout in MagbonAlade and seven surrounding communities in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged to intervene with the aim to restoring power back in affected towns.

The issue was formally brought to the Governors notice at the weekend during his two-day working visit to Free Trade Zones in the area. The affected towns are Magbon Alade, Alasia, Orimedu, Eleko, Osa Oroko, Ise, Akodo, Solu  all in Ibeju Local Government Area.

Mr Sanwo-Olu met with traditional rulers and village heads in the area during which the Onilekki of Lekki, Liasim Ogunbekun, presented the problem before the Governor.

According to the monarch, the cause of the power outage could not be traced, while the power distribution company operating in the area has not given specific reasons for the blackout.

Mr Ogunbekun said despite the repairs carried out on the transmission cables that bring electricity into the affected towns by the council leadership, members of the communities have not had electricity for more than 30 minutes in the last six years.

The monarch said: This is the sixth year that we have had electricity in our communities. Nobody has explained to us what the problem is, but we were told it is due to faulty transmission cables that takes electricity into the communities. Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area chairman rose to the occasion and changed all the cables. Yet, we only had light for 30 minutes. Since then, all the towns have been in darkness. We make passionate appeal to you, Mr. Governor, to intervene in this matter.

The disclosure surprised Governor Sanwo-Olu, who said the matter was never brought to his notice. He said the council chair only informed him during the tour of the free zones.

The Governor promised to personally take charge of the process towards restoring electricity back in the affected communities.

He said: I was taken aback when I was informed by the Local Government chairman that the whole communities have not had electricity in the last six years. I asked if the problem was caused by transformer, he said the issue was beyond that. I didnt believe the story until you (the traditional rulers) are telling me now. This is so bad. I will find out whether the issue came from Ibeju.

God willing, I will personally take full charge of the situation and ensure we solve the power problem for you. Your only task is to constantly remind the State Government through your Local Government chairman. This is a problem we cannot neglect; we must solve it with the urgency it demands.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state government had started making the move to strengthen security in communities surrounding the Free Trade Zone areas, disclosing that the state was considering the possibility of upgrading a police post in Akodo village to a full-fledged Divisional Police Station. The move, the Governor said, will be discussed with Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.

Other traditional rulers at the meeting include Onise of Ise, Ganiyu Adegbesan; Oloshoroko of Osa Oroko, Ebenezer Oyiri; Elemoro, Tajudeen Elemoro, represented by Raji Elemoro, and Onisolu of Solu, Muyideen Balogun.
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This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-03-21, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
Troy Carter led the field but will face Karen Carter Peterson in a runoff after the two Democratic state senators from New Orleans won the top two spots Saturday in a congressional district that stretches from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

Unofficial but complete returns showed Carter with 36% and Peterson with 23%.

The winner will replace Cedric Richmond.

Gary Chambers Jr., a Baton Rouge activist and advocate fell just short of making the runoff with 21%, or about 1,550 votes behind Peterson. Businessman Claston Bernard, who had the Louisiana Republican Party endorsement, finished fourth with 10%.

The unofficial turnout was 17.9%, or just about what the Secretary of State's office predicted.

Saturdays result sets up an April 24 runoff between two candidates who generally vote the same way. But Carter is aligned with Richmond, who endorsed him and vacated the seat to be a senior adviser to President Joe Biden and represents a more moderate brand of Democrat.

Peterson, 51, is aligned with progressive women in the Democratic Party, most notably Stacey Abrams in Georgia, and took more aggressive stands than Carter on some issues.

Carter, 57, has a reputation for working more amicably with his colleagues than does Peterson, and he emphasized that throughout the race.

Thanks to his good relationships with others, Carter won a long line of endorsements from local current and former elected officials, including state Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge; Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, a Republican; former state Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego; and New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno, a Democrat.

The Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO also endorsed Carter, and that generated thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from unions.

Petersons campaign relied more on out-of-state help thanks to national relationships she built in Washington as chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party and as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Peterson won a number of endorsements from Democratic female members of Congress, and also support from three former chairs of the DNC: Howard Dean, Thomas Perez and Donna Brazile, who is originally from Kenner.

+4 Why Troy Carter says he's 'more ready now' to win a seat in Congress Troy Carter appeared on the cusp of being elected mayor of New Orleans in 2002. He was young, handsome, and well-known to voters, having spent

EMILYs List, which aims to elect pro-choice female Democrats, spent nearly as much as Peterson in the primary, with a pro-Peterson television ad and mailers that attacked Carter, even though he, too, is pro-choice.

Peterson has been close to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, but the mayor stayed out of the race. Maggie Carroll, a political adviser to Cantrell, didn't respond to an email Friday asking why she hasn't supported a candidate.

In a sign of Peterson's weakness Saturday, Chambers led her in Orleans Parish.

Carter and Peterson both expressed support for increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, for the Biden administrations $1.9 trillion economic relief package, for impeaching President Donald Trump and for ensuring that COVID vaccines are made available to the poor.

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

+4 Karen Carter Peterson isn't afraid of confrontation: 'Karen always punches up, never down' In a speech during an April 2000 visit to New Orleans, President Bill Clinton singled out Karen Carter Peterson, then a 30-year-old, newly min

Peterson and Chambers endorsed the Green New Deal  the district includes the so-called "Cancer Alley" industrial corridor in the River Parishes  and efforts to accelerate the move away from fossil fuels. Carter more cautiously supports the framework of the Green New Deal.

Chambers, 35, had run for office only once before  he failed to unseat state Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, in 2019  but was hoping to harness a huge social media following that he acquired after challenging East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Connie Bernard for shopping online during an impassioned board discussion on the renaming of Lee High School, named after the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Claston Bernard was banking on his conservative message of self-reliance, his unique status as a Black conservative and his star power as a two-time Olympic decathlete. Only 12% of the district is Republican.

What Gary Chambers Jr.'s narrow path to winning and replacing Cedric Richmond looks like Gary Chambers Jr. would have had no shot at replacing Cedric Richmond in the U.S. House if the race had been run as recently as five years ago.

In all, the race featured 15 candidates, including eight Democrats, four Republicans, two independents and one Libertarian, Mindy McConnell.

Carter raised the most of any candidate  $1.07 million through Thursday  followed by Peterson, Chambers, Bernard and Desiree Ontiveros, who owns Badass Balloon Co. in New Orleans. But the spending by EMILYs List to help Peterson meant that their combined efforts outspent Carter.

The top two candidates will face off in a district that is one of the poorest in the country. It is mostly based in Democratic areas of metro New Orleans. About 44% of the voters live in New Orleans, 24% in Jefferson Parish (mostly on the west bank), 20% in the River Parishes and 12% in Baton Rouge, according to an analysis by John Couvillon, a Baton Rouge-based pollster and demographer.

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

A Republican-majority state Legislature drew the 2nd Congressional District a decade ago to be the only one that would favor electing a Democrat. Richmond, who first won the seat in 2010, kept winning reelection every two years through 2020 without a serious challenge. A senior adviser to Biden during the presidential campaign, he was rewarded with a plum White House post. He resigned on Jan. 15 to head the Biden administrations Office of Public Engagement.

Reflecting its strong Democratic tilt, Biden won 75% of the district in 2020. About 61% of the voters are Black.

The campaign generated few fireworks as the candidates mostly campaigned by speaking to different interest or neighborhood groups nearly every night via Zoom.

WDSU-TV broadcast the only televised debate during the campaign on Wednesday, featuring Peterson and Chambers. Carter pulled out, saying he didnt want to participate unless the station included other candidates in the 30-minute event.

What Gary Chambers Jr.'s narrow path to winning and replacing Cedric Richmond looks like Gary Chambers Jr. would have had no shot at replacing Cedric Richmond in the U.S. House if the race had been run as recently as five years ago.

One only-in-New Orleans moment occurred during the campaign when a Mardi Gras Indian accused a former king of the Zulu Pleasure and Social Club of trying to force him out of the race.

Belden Batiste, a political independent and flag boy in the Yellow Pocahontas of the Mardi Gras Indians known as "Noonie Man," said in February that New Orleans City Councilman Jay Banks visited him at his house uninvited and warned Batiste to drop out. At every opportunity, Batiste had been blasting Peterson, who, like Banks, is a member of the BOLD political organization. Banks denied threatening Batiste and said he went only to help Batiste.
More than 6 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been sent to 76 nations, while 4.5 crore doses have been administered to beneficiaries in the country till now, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday.

He also called for making the vaccination drive a "Jan Aandolan" (mass movement).

"Until this morning, nearly 4.5 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to the people in this country. More than six crore doses have been sent to 76 nations," Vardhan said during a media interaction at the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) here.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party (BJP) president J P Nadda have called for making the vaccination drive a 'jan andolan' (mass movement)," he said.

In a major boost to entrepreneurship in life sciences, Vardhan, the Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, inaugurated IMTECH Bio-Innovation Centre which is an extension of the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC)-CCMB, Hyderabad.

The aim of the IMTECH Bio-Innovation Centre is to become a hub for life sciences, biotechnology start-ups and MSMEs from all over the country in a short span of time.

Sanjeev Khosla, director, IMTECH apprised the minister about the various activities of the institute and especially the work done by scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic in the last one year.

"... Science has the potential to solve many of our longstanding issues, they may belong to any sector. When I see the science happening in all the labs of CSIR and other places, I feel convinced that it (science) has the potential.

"That is why, we have been telling our scientists that we have to have a very people-centric approach and whatever we do in the labs, it should have a connect with the people for the future," Vardhan said.

The minister also urged the scientific community to use their experience around coronavirus to be ready for any unforeseen thing like (the disease) which the future may throw up.

"I have told the scientific community that they developed a lot of experience during COVID pandemic. They rose to the occasion and helped us in a big way. They should be ready for any unforeseen thing like this (coronavirus) which the future may throw up," he said.

Vardhan said the Bio Innovation Centre will help the start-ups as well as MSMEs.

"The Narendra Modi government stands rock solid behind anyone who has got a bright idea and wants to convert that idea into an entrepreneurship, discover or develop something new, which can help solve some of the long-standing unresolved problems of the countrymen and maybe alleviate their sufferings and make their lives better. That is what the idea of this 'Start-up and Stand up' movement is," he said.

He said a special fund worth almost over Rs 900 crore was established to help the industry expedite research for COVID-19 vaccine.

Vardhan also inaugurated Centre of Excellence for Intelligent Sensors and System at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation here, as well as a vaccination help desk at Dadu Majra colony here, an event organised by the city unit of the BJP.

Also Read: India sees sharpest 5-day rise in COVID-19 cases in 10 months

Also Read: India records 40,000 daily fresh COVID-19 cases for first time in 4 months
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David Cameron sent several text messages to Rishi Sunak in the course of lobbying for a bank, it has been reported.

The Sunday Times says the former prime minister messaged the chancellors private phone about allowing Greensill Capital into a state-backed loan scheme.

The bank has since collapsed and potentially left taxpayers on the hook for millions in underwritten loans.

There is no suggestion that Mr Cameron acted unlawfully and most of his texts reportedly went unanswered.

Labour last night called on Mr Sunak to set the record straight amid questions about how he responded to lobbying for Greensill by his Tory colleague.

In a letter to the chancellor, Mr Sunaks Labour counterpart Anneliese Dodds asked Mr Sunak to explain whether he had personally spoken with the former Tory prime minister during the course of the lobbying.

Read more:

Ms Dodds said the revelations raised urgent questions about the chancellors priorities and decision-making during a pandemic and demanded the government launch a full and thorough investigation.

An investigation by the Financial Times this week revealed that Mr Sunak had stepped in to give Greensill Capital another hearing after Treasury officials decided not to include it in the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF).

We need to understand why it appears a bank advised by a former Conservative prime minister was given so much access to the Treasury compared to other Covid loan lenders. These questions are even more serious and urgent given Greensills later collapse, Ms Dodds said.

The chancellor has a duty to protect the public finances. Taxpayers will rightly want to know if David Cameron played any role in the Treasurys decision to open government-backed loan schemes to Greensill Capital, putting hundreds of thousands of pounds of their money at risk.

The chancellor must urgently set the record straight by answering the questions Ive posed today.

Mr Camerons lobbying efforts have raised further questions about the revolving door between government and the private sector.

As well as clarifying whether he had spoken to his former Tory colleague, Mr Sunak is being asked by Labour to explain the Treasurys decision-making process, and what steps he had taken in relation to documented concerns about Greensills stability.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Hannah Vitos of the Blenheim Art Foundation, poses for a photograph next to artist Ai Weiwei's Gilded Cage (2017) sculpture in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 1 May 2021 People swim in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool bridge across two exclusive residential blocks standing next to the US Embassy in Nine Elms, in London, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 AP UK news in pictures 31 May 2021 People enjoy the hot weather at Brighton beach Reuters UK news in pictures 30 May 2021 People venture into the sea as they enjoy themselves during a hot day on Brighton Beach AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2021 Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeenshire, which reopens after lockdown restrictions were eased PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Downing Street in London REUTERS UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA

Ultimately, Greensill was not allowed access to the CCFF, but was, after persistent requests, permitted to issue state-backed loans under the separate Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

The loans contributed to taxpayers exposure to debts linked to the collapsed banks.

An HM Treasury spokesperson said: Treasury officials regularly meet with stakeholders to discuss our economic response to Covid.

The meetings in question were primarily about broadening the scope of CCFF to enable access for providers of supply chain finance, which  following a call for evidence and discussions with several other firms within the sector  we decided against and informed the businesses concerned.
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Your iPhone smartphone has secret codes that could identify if someone is spying on your device. Security experts claimed that these codes would help you know if someone is hijacking your calls or texts.

Also Read: Microsoft Office Files Now Used by Hackers to Spread Malware: IoT Under Attack

According to Gadgets Hacks' latest report, hackers and other malicious actors have various methods to listen to your phone conversations with other users. One example of this is exploiting the SS7 protocol vulnerabilities on the user's network provider.

On the other hand, cybercriminals could also use a software-defined radio to hijack your LTE calls. However, spyware, malware, and other device viruses are usually the ones used by hackers to breach your iPhone.

Aside from these, Toms Guide previously reported that various apps could be used to hijack your phone messages and calls. But, these secret codes on your iPhone could help you know if someone is reading or listening to your conversations.

How to use your iPhone's secret codes

Your iPhone's secret codes are also called interrogation codes. To use them, all you need to do is dial the code in your device's Phone app. After that, you can now click the call button. If you are not familiar with or have no idea what these codes are, here are their functions:



*#62# - Call Forwarding When Unreachable

*#67# - Call Forwarding When Busy or Rejected

*#21# - Non-Conditional Call Forwarding

*#004* - Conditional Call Forwarding

*#002# - All Call Forwarding

*#61# - Call Forwarding When Unanswered

Another method to use

Besides checking the secret codes, you can also check if your call's toggle button is off. The first thing you need to do is navigate to your iPhone's Settings apps. After that, you need to click the "Go To Phone" option and then tap on the "Call Forwarding" button.

On the other hand, if you have two lines on your iPhone, you can do the mentioned process on each of the lines. Once you are finished, you can now check if there is only one toggle button on your device that is off. If you see this, then your device is safe from hijacking.

Related Article: Apple M1 Is Vulnerable Against First-Browser Side-Channel Attacks, Security Researchers Say

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trumps impeachment acquittal in the U.S. Senate despite a bipartisan 57 to 43 vote to convict will prove to be a pyrrhic victory for him.

The images of the Jan. 6 insurrection that he incited are forever seared in the hearts of Americans. They cannot be erased. The fence-sitters among the voting public now recognize the danger posed by this wannabe autocrat. No longer can he claim to be the purveyor of democracy. No longer can he preach of law and order. No longer can he keep hidden the seditious actions of his militia-led base.
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Atlanta, March 21 : Hundreds of people gathered in Atlanta to protest hate crimes against Asian-Americans, days after multiple shootings in and around the US city that killed eight people, among whom six were Asian women.

Saturday's protest, which saw demonstrators march from Woodruff Park to the State Capitol, was billed as a #StopAsianHate event calling on people to "come together to grieve, heal and support", reports Xinhia news agency The crowd was heard chanting slogans including "Stop Asian hate!" and "We are what America looks like", as they proceeded and ultimately gathered at Liberty Plaza.

The demonstrators were also waving American flags and carrying posters that read "We are not the virus", among others.

In front of the State Capitol, Georgia's two newly-elected Senators, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, led the crowd in a moment of silence.

"I just wanted to drop by to say to my Asian sisters and brothers, We see you, and, more importantly, we are going to stand with you," said Warnock, calling for a "reasonable gun reform".

Warnock, Georgia's first African-American Senator, was joined by Ossoff, who said: "Let us build a state and a nation where no one lives in fear because of who they are or where they or their family come from." Robert Aaron Long, 21, a white man, admitted to police that he had killed four people inside two spas in Atlanta and four others at a massage parlour in suburban Cherokee County on Tuesday.

Police are still working to establish a motive, including looking into whether racism played a role in the carnage and if the attacks can be classified as hate crimes.

"No matter how you want to spin it, the facts remain the same: This was an attack on the Asian community," said state Representative Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House.

Noting that the shooter targeted businesses run by Asian-Americans, Nguyen said: "Let's join hands with our ally community and demand justice for not only these victims, but for all victims of white supremacy." President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris travelled to Atlanta Friday, meeting with Asian-American community leaders there and imploring the American people to stand up to and speak out against hate.
Welcome youth activism to halt spike in environmental destruction offers a glimmer of hope for the country View(s):

The increasing number of reports of environmental destruction and devastation across the country suggest a spike in such activities on an unprecedented scale. The media is awash with stories where forests and other protected lands are being desecrated with no concern for environmental protection concerns. Even if only 50 percent of what is reported in the electronic and print media is true, one can conclude that the damage being caused is of an unprecedented magnitude that has never been witnessed in the country before.

What is most baffling is how these environmental crimes are being committed in broad daylight with little or no intervention by the authorities to curb such activities. Unlike other crimes such as the sale of narcotics which can be sold stealthily, harm to the environment cannot be inflicted in secrecy and inevitably has to be done openly in daylight in the full view of the public.

How such miscreants escape the eye of the Police and Forest and Wildlife officers is difficult to fathom. The only explanation is that some of them are hand in glove with those who are causing such destruction and deliberately turn a blind eye to all that is happening.

Precisely because the cutting down of trees in protected reserves are acts of high visibility it cannot be too difficult to contain such illegal activities. All it requires is regular policing in which case clear directives have to go out from the top.

The dangers arising from environmental destruction are too well known to bear repetition but Dr. Ajantha Perera, the environmentalist turned politician, pointed to one such danger on the Newsline programme on MTV Television last Friday.

She drew attention to the fact that global warming resulted in islands succumbing to increased sea levels and Sri Lanka being an island could face various challenges in the future.

The reports in the media showcase some of the consequences of environmental damage in the past with the human-elephant conflict being one of the most prominent. Almost daily one hears of villagers being killed or attacked by elephants who enter the homes of these helpless people as a result of their natural habitats being encroached upon.

The State seems totally impervious to the situation with no serious or concerted action being taken to provide redress to the populace. This is evident from the fact that a satyagraha has been going on in the Hambantota District for more than 60 days with the Government still unable to address the grievances of the satyagrahis which is all to do with the human elephant conflict.

In this pall of gloom that is descending on the environment, the glimmer of hope is the sight of the youth lining up in opposition to the marauding spectre of environmental destruction. Recently 18-year-old Bhagya Abeyratne caught the headlines when she drew attention to the destruction in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Appearing in the Sirasa Lakshapathi programme, the teenaged A/L student spoke her heart out about the destruction going on in Sinharaja right before her eyes.

Speaking about the three big elephants that had roamed the reserve and how one of them was now not to be seen, Bhagya lamented that maybe those vested with the responsibility of preventing environmental destruction may have been too busy to look into it.

But what was striking was the speed with which a Police Offcer and thereafter a Forest Officer visited the house of the teenager in Rakwana to record a statement. Minister C. B. Ratnayake was quick to caution Bhagya from a public platform to make sure of her facts.

This overreaction to a spontaneous statement by a youth is viewed by many as an attempt to stifle the voices of the youth who are awakening to the dangers arising from the current trend of enormous environmental destruction.

A wide range of individuals ranging from the Buddhist clergy, politicians and environmentalists hailed Bhagyas remarks and her resolute stand not to be intimidated. National Peoples Power Parliamentarian Harini Amarasuriya viewed the reaction of Government officials as a threat to freedom of expression.

This is what happened to Bhagya. She expressed her opinion and now she is being taken to task by state officials. It was an unnecessary reaction as she has not committed a crime and has not done anything wrong. There is no need for the Government or the Police to intervene her opinion, said Dr. Amarasuriya.

Dr. Amarasuriya also said environmental destruction is at an all time high and that the Government sees environmental activists as a threat and were extremely intolerant of dissent.

They do not need to be edgy if they are doing the right thing. This Government got elected with a 2/3rds majority so why should they be edgy? asked Dr. Amarasuriya.

The Free Media Movement too came out strongly and condemned the response and comment made by government authorities and officials deeming it a serious violation of the right to freedom of expression.

It is good to see young people expressing their concerns over environmental destruction. The civil society should rally round her and speak for her rights. She has done nothing wrong and she has not broken any law. This is a violation of her right to freedom of speech. She deserves admiration and support as shes raising some pertinent questions, Open University of Colombo s Department of Legal Studies Head Camena Gunaratne said. She is also a specialist in Environmental Studies.

Another overreaction by the Government to the increasing expression of discontent by the youth to the large scale destruction of the environment took place last Friday when Colombo Municipal Council workers moved into take down a huge mural which had been put up at the Vihara Mahadevi Park to depict and protest what was described as the ecocide taking place in the country.

According to the Daily Mirror online edition report on March 19, 2021, the mural which is 7020 feet, was put together by children who are part of the Youth Wing of the Wildlife Nature Protection Society. They were protesting against the ecocide taking place in Sri Lanka such as the killing of elephants, destruction of forests and elephant corridors etc.

According to the organisers the mural was put up after gaining approval from the CMC and Police.

However, eyewitnesses and organisers had told the Daily Mirror that following instructions by the Presidents Office, the CMC had begun taking down the mural to which the organisers had produced all the necessary approvals.

The excuse they used was that we did not have permission to use the scaffolding which had been used to put up the mural since it was very heavy, one of the organisers said.

At a time when the elders seem helpless in halting the environmental destruction taking place in the country, the activism of youth in this sphere gives the country a glimmer of hope.

(javidyusuf@yahoo.com)


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Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday ruled out imposition of a fresh lockdown in the state despite a surge in the fresh COVID-19 cases. Gujarat's overall tally of cases rose to 2,87,009 with the addition of 1,580 new infections on Sunday.

"As Chief Minister, I assure you that there will be no new lockdown," Rupani said in his Facebook Live address to people of the state. He also appealed to citizens to not believe in rumours.

"The state government had to take steps like discontinuing offline education in schools and colleges, extending the hours of a night curfew, and imposing restrictions on hotels and restaurants in cities due to the rise in the number of cases.

"Now that the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing, we have once again taken a strict action. When the number of cases decreases, everything will go back to normal," the CM said.

Rupani said the government's concern is that people do not suffer due to the pandemic and that their jobs are not affected. He also appealed to people to exercise caution and to adhere to COVID-19 norms.

"The government will not take steps that will adversely affect livelihood of the people. They should not lose patience," he said. Rupani said the government was not interested in fining people for not wearing face masks.

"A fine of Rs 1,000 is collected from people for not wearing masks on the order of the Gujarat High Court," he said. Rupani said people should follow norms like maintaining social distance, wearing masks and using sanitiser.

"(Eligible) People should get themselves vaccinated when their turn comes. They should not go out unnecessarily and avoid gatherings," he said.

The CM said the state is now conducting more number of COVID-19 tests.

"At the same time, adequate number of beds and essential medicines are being made available. The vaccination is also gathering pace," Rupani added.
The name of Alan Boardman will be familiar to many residents of the Costa del Sol. The 64-year-old Mancunian has been involved with several associations and charity platforms since arriving in Mijas in 2004. He has also helped raise thousands of euros for different causes throughout the pandemic.

A former board member of the Salon Varietes Theatre and co-founder of the Simply Surviving group, Alan also founded Mijas Walking Tours in 2016. He has now decided to use his street tours of Mijas as another means of raising funds for worthy causes. The tours take place several times a week and Alan selects a different charity each month. In February, he raised 545 euros for the Salon Variete's appeal, while this month's walks have so far raised 175 euros for the Donkey Dreamland sanctuary in La Cala de Mijas.

Fascinating stories

The tours, which are conducted in English, are free, but Alan suggests a donation of five euros. The tour is limited to groups of nine people, which, as Alan points out, enables him to offer "an intimate guide to the history of the village and its fascinating stories."

The two-hour walk involves a tour of the lesser-known areas of the village, and Alan offers his vast knowledge concerning the Spanish Civil War and its effect on Mijas. One of his points of interest is the house of Manuel Cortes, the Mijas mayor who spent 30 years hiding in a secret room of his home to avoid arrest during Franco's dictatorship. As well, the walk includes the route to the secluded chapel perched on the mountain overlooking Mijas. Alan also sets up a WhatsApp group with links to topics discussed during the tour.

"We have lived in the village for a long time and it suddenly occurred to me that there was not a walking tour of Mijas. There are many lovely things to see here, but the aim is to get under the obvious and take visitors into the real Mijas," Alan explains to SUR in English.

Alan, who owns a small shop in Mijas, is also hoping to help local businesses survive the effects of the pandemic. Because of the current regulations, the tours are only attracting locals, but Alan hopes that when restrictions are lifted, and the tourists return, he will be able to help more causes.

"The idea is to try to get people interested in Mijas, because it is like a ghost town. I want to do my bit to help fellow business owners because the situation is so bad. There are also many charities that have really been under pressure because of the pandemic, so we are concentrating on helping them," he says.

He already has seven tours planned for April and reservations can be made by e-mail mijasmagic@yahoo.co.uk or by telephone 6105 22605. For information about times and availability, see the Mijas Walking Tours Facebook page.
Local civic activists and Myanmar nationals in Korea hold a rally at the May 18 Democracy Square in Gwangju, in support of the ongoing pro-democracy movement in Myanmar against the military coup, March 13. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



To the people of Gwangju, where a pro-democracy movement in 1980 was suppressed by a military junta and hundreds of citizens were killed or went missing, the current demonstrations in Myanmar against its coup and the military's violent crackdowns are not something they can ignore.



Noting the similarities between the May 18 Gwangju uprising 41 years ago and the ongoing protest in Myanmar, citizens in Gwangju are showing solidarity and carrying out activities to support the Southeast Asian country's pro-democracy move.



According to the May 18 Memorial Foundation, Sunday, more than 100 civic organizations in the southwestern city formed a solidarity group recently to show their support for the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar.



The solidarity group has been carrying out activities near Gwangju Bus Terminal every Sunday to raise citizens' awareness of the pro-democracy protests in Myanmar. A fundraising campaign is also underway to deliver relief supplies to the protesters there.



The Gwangju Asia Sisterhood Network has also been holding a rally every Saturday since the beginning of March at 5.18 Democracy Square. In the rally, Gwangju citizens and students from Myanmar pound pots and pans, which is Myanmar's tradition "to drive out evil or bad karma by the roaring noise from tin or metal buckets," which became a signature activity showing the Myanmar people's disapproval of the military coup.





Monks from Jogye Order, Korea's largest Buddhist sect, and Myanmar nationals residing in the country conduct an "ochetuji" march from the Myanmar Embassy in Korea to the office of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Seoul, March 12. Korea Times photo by Han Jin-tak

Besides these activities, civic groups in Gwangju have issued statements to call for the restoration of democracy and peace in Myanmar. They are also urging people and the international community to continue paying attention to the issue.



"There are many similarities between the Gwangju Uprising in 1980 and the protests in Myanmar. The military coup, citizens' protest and the military's violent crackdown on civilians remind us of what happened here 41 years ago," said Jang Heon-kwon, head of the Gwangju Association of Christian Community. "It is important for the citizens of Gwangju to support Myanmarese people's disobedience movement against the military, with the same mind we had when we protested military rule."



In May 1980, pro-democracy movements took place across the country against the martial law declared by the military junta led by Chun Doo-hwan. Gwangju became the center of the uprising, and the military suppressed the civilian protesters violently. More than 200 citizens were killed or went missing and thousands of people were injured, but unofficial data shows there might be a larger number of deaths.





People watch an art exhibition at the May 18 Democracy Square in Gwangju, March 13, organized to show support for the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar. Yonhap
New Delhi, March 21 : The joint phygital showcase by FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week on its final day would see Bollywood personalities like Ananya Panday, Dia Mirza, Aahana Kumra, Lara Dutta, among others turn showstoppers and dazzle the ramp.

The first live showcase presented by 6Degree at 5 pm would see five unique designers showcasing their upcoming collections along with their star showstoppers. Actor and ex-Miss Universe Lara Dutta would be seen walking the runway for designer Sanjukta.

Pooja Hegde would be seen as the showstopper for designer Varun Chakillam, followed by a showcase by designer Shaveta and Anuj featuring showstopper Divya Khosla Kumar.

Designer Gazal Mishra returns to the platform with television heartthrob Aahana Kumra as her showstopper. Television star and 'Big Boss' Season 11 first runner-up Hina Khan would be seen walking the runway for Tatwamm by Abhishek and Vinita.

The Fusion Edit by Taneira scheduled to be telecasted live at 7 p.m. would showcase 12 sari collections through a symphony called 'The Song of the Forest'. The fashion film would be graced by actor Dia Mirza.

Ending the five-day fashion extravaganza on a high, Lakme Absolute Grand Finale Designer Ruchika Sachdeva of Bodice would be seeing showcasing a collection that emphasizes the importance of staying happy and finding happiness around us.

Lakme Brand Ambassador Ananya Panday would be the showstopper, drawing the curtain on the five-day joint phygital event by FDCI and Lakme Fashion Week.

(Puja Gupta can be contacted at pujag@ians.in)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 06:52:19|Editor: huaxia

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NIAMEY, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Court of Niger validated Sunday the results of the presidential election, confirming that Mohamed Bazoum of Niger's ruling Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-TARAYYA) is elected president of the Republic of Niger.

According to a press release read on Nigerien public television, Bazoum gained 55.66 percent of the votes during the second round of presidential election held on Feb. 21.

His opponent, candidate from the Democratic and Republican Renewal Party, Mahamane Ousmane obtained 44.34 percent of the votes.

President of Niger's Constitutional Court, Bouba Mahamane, said that the number of voters was 4,473,121 out of some 7.4 million registered, which was a turnout of 62.91 percent.

Mohamed Bazoum is expected to be sworn in as president of Niger on April 2 this year, for a term of five years.

According to Niger's Constitution, the presidential candidate that gets more than 50 percent of the votes will win the election.

If no one gets more than half of the votes in the first round, the candidates with the top two votes will enter the second round of competition.

Bazoum and Ousmane gained 39.3 percent and 16.98 percent of the votes respectively during the first round of Niger's president election held on Dec. 27, 2020.

The first round of Niger presidential and legislative elections was held on Dec. 27. More than 7.4 million people were called to vote in about 26,000 polling stations and choose among 30 candidates the successor of incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is not running for a third term, as well as 171 representatives in parliament among 4,205 contestants representing more than 100 political parties. Enditem
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Turkey is trying to pull Egypt to Ankara's side in the energy rivalry over the eastern Mediterranean by sending constructive signals to Cairo after Turkish hard power tactics in the region failed to bear fruit. Yet Turkeys courtship seems remains unrequited as Egypt has yet to directly respond to Ankaras advances.

Ankaras foreign policy, which is based on the Blue Homeland doctrine calling for a more aggressive posture on maritime rights, envisages that Turkey should mend ties with Egypt and Israel to counter the Cyprus-Greece blocs territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean. From Ankaras vantage point, Egypt could secure a greater maritime jurisdiction area in the contested waters by reaching a maritime deal with Turkey and withdrawing from the deal it reached with Greece and Cyprus.

The rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey during the election of Libyas new interim leaders has raised expectations for a possible partnership between the two countries over the eastern Mediterranean, and a fresh sign from Cairo has further encouraged Ankara to push for its goal.

On Feb. 18, Cairo announced a new bid round for hydrocarbon exploration in some blocks in the eastern Mediterranean, including in Block 18, a disputed area between Turkey and Greece. A map published along with the announcement was in line with Turkeys self-proclaimed continental shelf boundaries in the disputed waters.

This is a very important development, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, hailing the map during Turkeys Blue Homeland naval exercise. We have many shared historical and cultural values with Egypt, he added, hinting that the coming days could see further progress on the matter.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also weighed in, saying Turkey could negotiate a maritime demarcation deal with Egypt.

Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also confirmed Ankara's willingness to advance its ties with Cairo. A new chapter can be opened, a new page can be turned in our relationship with Egypt as well as other Gulf countries to help regional peace and stability, Kalin told Bloomberg. Egypt is an important country in the Arab world, I mean it still remains the brain of the Arab world, the heart of the Arab world.

Turkeys official Anadolu New Agency argued that the Egyptian map released for the tender announcement was a manifestation of Cairos acknowledgment of Turkey's territorial claims in the disputed waters and its willingness to negotiate a maritime deal with Ankara.

Greece, in turn, promptly moved to reinforce its relationship with Egypt. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on March 4 to discuss bilateral issues, especially in energy and east Mediterranean cooperation. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias traveled to Cairo and met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on March 8. The top diplomats stressed strong bilateral relations and friendship during the meeting, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said. Judging by the reports of Turkeys pro-government media, Greece was alarmed by the warm breezes between Egypt and Turkey.

While the Turkish officials' remarks might have been aiming to prepare the Turkish public to a potential normalization with the Sisi administration, Ankaras optimism seems to be misleading for a number of reasons. First, Block 8  one of nine blocks that Egypt launched a tender for in the eastern Mediterranean in February  is to the east of the 28th meridian and hence out of the scope of the maritime demarcation deal Egypt and Greece agreed on in August 2020. The agreement, which aimed at countering a controversial maritime deal reached between Ankara and Libyas Tripoli government, covers an area between the 26th and 28th meridians.

Egypt limited the scope of this deal to the 28th meridian as it claims no right to the east of this meridian where Athens and Ankara have overlapping territorial claims, including the maritime boundaries of the Greek island of Kastellorizo just off the coast of Turkey. Thus, the map of the tender Cairo published wasnt an indication of a dramatic shift in the Egyptian stance over the disputed waters.

Furthermore, following Dendias talks in Cairo, the Egyptian government updated the map accompanying the tender announcement, redrafting the boundaries of Block 8 and removing the parts of it that extended to the west of the 28th meridian.

Turkish foreign policy analyst Aydin Sezer said Egypt was tacitly supporting Greeces territorial claims over the east of the 28th meridian by updating the map.

The maritime deal between Egypt and Greece is not an obstacle to a separate maritime one between Turkey and Egypt. Yet Cairos intention to keep the maritime deal it reached with Greece and Cyprus limits the area it can negotiate with Turkey to between the 28th and 30th meridians. This in turn means Turkeys goal to team up with Egypt to counter Cyprus' and Greeces territorial claims would go down the drain as the maritime deal Ankara reached with the Tripoli government overlaps with the deals Egypt reached with Cyprus and Greece.

Retired Adm. Cihat Yayci, who is also known as the architect of the Blue Homeland doctrine, warned that a limited maritime deal with Egypt for the east of the 28th meridian would spell the collapse of the Libyan deal and a loss of some 40,000 square kilometers of territory in the disputed waters. Yaycis warning might be seen as an admission of the backlash over Ankaras controversial Libyan move.

Sezer also concurred that such a deal would be a trap as it would legitimize Greece's and Cyprus territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey is facing a situation in which high prices would be paid because of the missteps, he told Al-Monitor. The current impasse shows that Erdogans government has failed to foil the plans of Turkeys regional rival as he once claimed.

While some Turkish officials have voiced cautious optimism, saying the technical talks between Ankara and Cairo were still ongoing, the Egyptian media reports indicate nothing much has changed on Egypt's part. Diplomatic sources told Egypts Al-Sharq that Cairo has no intention to negotiate a maritime deal with Turkey in the short run, adding that Cairo maintains its rejection of the maritime deal reached between Ankara and Libyas Government of National Accord.

Moreover, Turkeys military presence in Libya, Ankaras support of the Muslim Brotherhood (which Cairo designated a terrorist organization) and Erdogans anti-Sisi posture still remain as major barriers to the improvement of ties. Although Erdogan has scaled down his angry outbursts against the Egyptian leader, the Turkish president still salutes his supporters with a Rabia sign marking the resistance of Muslim Brotherhood members.

Unal Cevikoz, a former Turkish ambassador and now a senior member of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party, said Ankaras failure to normalize diplomatic relations with Egypt  a regional powerhouse in the Middle East and North Africa  during the past eight has been a grave mistake on the Turkish governments part.

Still, Cevikoz said it is never too late to mend relations and called for a complete overhaul in Ankaras Egypt policy. The gap [between the two countries] has widened because of a general blindness in Turkeys foreign policy and a tension-oriented approach over a dialogue-oriented one, Cevikoz told Al-Monitor. Closing this gap and establishing fair, equal and well-balanced ties with Egypt require highly serious efforts. A comprehensive approach is needed that extends well beyond the [goal of a] maritime demarcation deal.
There may be no bigger ignored energy reality than that of low-cost natural gas. In 2020, for instance, Henry Hub national prices averaged just $2.05 per MMBtu, their lowest in decades. And this came as U.S. gas production dropped and demand stayed quietly on par with 2019 levels despite the economic devastation of Covid-19. Looking out on the futures curve, as of mid-March, gas prices remain incredibly low, with pricing now below $3.00 through the 2020s. For reference, gas averaged over $6.00 in the era before shale and fracking from 2000-2008.

Low prices for U.S. gas truly are a great thing. Gas is now second to sister fuel oil and supplies 33% of our energy  and 40% of our electricity, double the share of second-place coal. Low and stable natural gas prices have benefitted families and helped businesses reduce costs, saving a family of four, for instance, $2,500 per year since 2007. This is most important for lower-income and communities of color because electricity is the most indispensable form of energy. Low-cost energy might be our most vital weapon in the pursuit of racial justice: as a percentage of income, poorer Americans spend three to five times more on energy than wealthier ones do. Even before Covid-19, nearly a third of Americans struggled to pay their energy bills. And low-cost energy is the key to growing our economy. It frees up more money for the consumer spending that constitutes almost 75% of U.S. gross domestic product. Moreover, our climate-driven goal to use more electricity in transportation, in buildings, and in industry hinges on affordability. President Biden has promised more low-cost, abundant natural gas to give unions a competitive advantage for a massive infrastructure and manufacturing build-out. Every time the Department of Energys National Modeling System peers into the future, it sees lower and lower priced natural gas (see Figure). Such low prices over the long-term will make market penetration more difficult for politically favored but naturally intermittent wind and solar power. Electrification can only increase the need for gas because it could increase our power demand 65% or more. Since the shale revolution took off in 2008, the U.S. has added about 130,000 MW of gas capacity, a 33% increase for state-of-the-art generating units built to stand for generations. As seen for other technologies, cost reductions for renewables are bound to flatten out as they evolve. It typically goes unmentioned, for instance, that high grading means that many of our windiest and sunniest locations have already been taken. But more wind and solar development actually depends on low-cost gas: gas is dispatchable and the backup for their natural intermittency. More gas gives wind and solar a commercial chance. For example, the U.S. now has some 530,000 MW of gas generation capacity, versus less than 2,000 MW of battery storage, with most of that able to run for only a few hours before needing a recharge. From an environmental perspective, low-cost gas is crucial because fuel switching in most markets still pivots on gas versus coal  that is, higher-cost gas will simply mean turning to higher-emission coal. Policymakers should take note: Americans will not tolerate higher-cost energy. Democrats in major oil- and gas-producing states like New Mexico and Pennsylvania are concerned that worsening anti-oil and anti-gas policies at the federal level will erode support within their own states. (And no wonder: oil and gas contributed $2.8 billion to New Mexicos budget in 2020.) With the 2022 midterm elections looming on the horizon, such energy malpractice will not be tolerated.

The primary reason why our National Energy Modeling System continually sees lower gas prices is robust production (see Figure). Even through the calamity of Covid 2020, U.S. gas production dropped only 1%. Looking forward, new U.S. gas production will easily outpace our demand growth to keep domestic prices low.

The U.S. fracking industry (i.e., shale), for instance, which now supplies 85-90% of our gas, deploys evolving technologies to do more with less. Consolidation in the business is complementing deep-pocketed bigger companies with smaller, more agile, and technically advanced ones, creating a synergy that will continue to cut costs. Break-even prices dropped 30% last year, as belt tightening in the industry has excited Wall Street.

This boom in U.S. gas production, bringing lower costs, will have even more countries shopping for American gas. After starting exports of shale from the contiguous 48 states in February 2016, the U.S. now exports gas via LNG to over 40 countries. We operate six export terminals holding 11-12 Bcf/d of capacity. A new one is slated to start up in October, and our build-out is wisely ongoing: the global LNG market is expected to double to ~100 Bcf/d by 2040.

All of this comes as the International Energy Agency has credited U.S. gas usage for the American feat of cutting CO2 emissions faster than any country in history. And low-cost gas has allowed us to avoid the overbearing regulations and expensive energy that has plagued Europe via the failed Kyoto Protocol.

The strong environmental performance of more gas explains why new Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm supports LNG exports. American gas is critical to lower CO2 emissions in coal-dominated Asia. With some 520,000 MW of new coal generation in the works globally (equal to about half of China's total coal capacity), U.S. LNG is integral to the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Facing ESG pressure and net-zero goals, U.S. electric utilities are pressing the gas industry to continue to improve its climate profile, specifically through cutting methane emissions at upstream production sites and leakage along midstream systems. Along with low prices, these measures will help preserve gass role in power generation for decades to come. The Department of Energy, for instance, projects that gas generation will increase 20% through 2040, easily remaining our main source of power.

To illustrate, the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association continually update and expand their Natural Gas Sustainability Initiative, which provides gas companies with a standard methodology to report methane emissions across their systems. Methane comprises 95% of natural gas, so methane, naturally, is a sellable product that the industry wants to capture more of  and the progress has been significant:

Utilities are committed to taking both an upstream and downstream approach by encouraging natural gas suppliers to continue to take steps to lower their methane emissions. New in 2021 - completing a two-year effort - we have expanded this effort by engaging natural gas producers and the midstream companies on a reporting platform that encompasses the entire value chain, and calls for using consistent protocols to report their methane intensity. This is not meant to replace regulations, but to provide a meaningful tool to increase transparency and to continue to decrease emissions, David Anderson, Chair, American Gas Association, March 2021

Jude Clemente is the editor at RealClearEnergy.
Washington, March 21 : The Russian Embassy in Washington confirmed that the country's Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov has returned to Moscow for consultations after he was recalled late last week.

"Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on rectifying Russia-US relations," Xinhua news agency quoted the Embassy as saying in a Facebook post on Saturday.

The Embassy also posted two pictures along with the post, one showing Antonov, in a black jacket, at an airport and the other, an airplane, which appeared to be the one the Ambassador would fly in, with a Russian flag on the outside surface of the cockpit.

Antonov flew from New York, as there is no direct flight between Washington and Moscow amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Russia's TASS news agency.

He will arrive in Moscow on Sunday.

Russia recalled its top envoy in the US after President Joe Biden said in an ABC News interview on March 17 that Russia will "pay a price" for its alleged interference in the 2020 American election.

A US intelligence report released the previous day directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering a wide-ranging influence operation to interfere in the election, intending to hurt Biden's campaign.

In the ABC News interview, Biden also agreed with the interviewer's claim that Putin was "a killer".

Responding directly to Biden's remarks, Putin said on March 18: "I would say to him: I wish you good health. I say that without irony or joking.

"I would like to offer President Biden (the opportunity) to continue our discussion, but on condition that we'll do so what is called live, online. Without anything pre-recorded, in an open and direct discussion.

"It seems to me, it would be interesting both for the Russian people and for the US people, as well as for many other countries." Asked by reporters whether Biden regretted the "killer" statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing on March 18: "Nope. The President gave a direct answer to a direct question." She added Washington still wishes to develop its relationship with Moscow.

But, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said: "The current US administration never ceases to surprise us with its absurd public statements.

"It's not just about the unseemly attacks against Russia's top officials, but also the absurd accusations of Russia's interference in last year's presidential election in the US."
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 20, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you.

Multiplan Corporation F/K/A Churchill Capital Corp. Iii (NYSE:MPLN)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/multiplan-corporation-f-k-a-churchill-capital-corp-iii-loss-submission-form?prid=13889&wire=1

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 26, 2021

Class Period: July 12, 2020 - November 10, 2020

Allegations against MPLN include that: (a) MultiPlan was losing tens of millions of dollars in sales and revenues to Naviguard, a competitor created by one of MultiPlan's largest customers, UnitedHealthcare, which threatened up to 35% of the Company's sales and 80% of its levered cash flows by 2022; (b) sales and revenue declines in the quarters leading up to the Merger were not due to "idiosyncratic" customer behaviors as represented, but rather due to a fundamental deterioration in demand for MultiPlan's services and increased competition, as payors developed competing services and sought alternatives to eliminating excessive healthcare costs; (c) MultiPlan was facing significant pricing pressures for its services and had been forced to materially reduce its take rate in the lead up to the Merger by insurers, who had expressed dissatisfaction with the price and quality of MultiPlan's services and balanced billing practices, causing the Company's to cut its take rate by up to half in some cases; (d) as a result of (a)-(c) above, MultiPlan was set to continue to suffer from revenues and earnings declines, increased competition and deteriorating pricing dynamics following the Merger; (e) as a result of (a)-(d) above, MultiPlan was forced to seek continued revenue growth and to improve its competitive positioning through pricey acquisitions, including through the purchase of HST for $140 million at a premium price from a former MultiPlan executive only one month after the Merger; and (f) as a result of (a)-(e) above, Churchill III investors had grossly overpaid for the acquisition of MultiPlan in the Merger, and MultiPlan's business was worth far less than represented to investors.

Story continues

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGI)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/renewable-energy-group-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=13889&wire=1

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 3, 2021

Class Period: May 3, 2018 - February 25, 2021

Allegations against REGI include that: (1) due to failures in the diesel additive system, petroleum diesel was not periodically added to certain loads by the Company and was instead added by the Company's customers; (2) as a result, Renewable Energy was not the proper claimant for certain BTC payments on biodiesel it sold between January 1, 2017 and September 30, 2020; (3) as a result, Renewable Energy's revenue and net income were overstated for certain periods; (4) there was a material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting related to the purchase and use of the petroleum diesel gallons when blending with biodiesel; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Lordstown Motors Corp (NASDAQ:RIDE)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/lordstown-motors-corp-loss-submission-form?prid=13889&wire=1

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 17, 2021

Class Period: August 3, 2020 - March 17, 2021

Allegations against RIDE include that: (i) the Company's purported pre-orders were non-binding; (ii) many of the would-be customers who made these purported pre-orders lacked the means to make such purchases and/or would not have credible demand for Lordstown's Endurance; (iii) Lordstown is not and has not been "on track" to commence production of the Endurance in September 2021; (iv) the first test run of the Endurance led to the vehicle bursting into flames within 10 minutes; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140.

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Vincent Wong, Esq.

39 East Broadway

Suite 304

New York, NY 10002

Tel. 212.425.1140

Fax. 866.699.3880

E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com

SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/636675/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-MPLN-REGI-RIDE-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines




Burma Myanmar Charity Staff Detained in Yangon

Rescue workers from the Thukha Kari charity carry away a wounded protester during a police crackdown on an anti-regime protest in Yangon.

Three members of the Yangon-based Thukha Kari humanitarian charity, including its chairwoman, were detained by the security forces in Hlaing Tharyar Township on Sunday morning.

The charity, founded by the former journalist Ma Shwe Hmone, provides medical treatment, funeral services and food to poor citizens.

Hlaing Tharyar contains Yangons largest industrial zone and is home to hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, many of whom live in squatter settlements in the township.

Last Sunday, around 50 residents were killed by the security forces in a crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations in the township.

The three charity staff were reportedly detained by the security forces near the Pan Hlaing Bridge while traveling to donate food to a squatter settlement.

The group also rescues wounded protesters after crackdowns on peaceful anti-regime demonstrations.

Rescue volunteers and social welfare organizations delivering humanitarian services to wounded protesters have been attacked and detained by the security forces.

On March 3, four charity volunteers in North Okkalapa in Yangon were kicked, beaten with rifle butts and then detained by riot police during a crackdown on a demonstration.

The charitys ambulance was also destroyed by the security forces.

SEO: junta, civilian deaths, crackdown, military regime, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, coup, military in politics, rule of law, Tatmadaw, National League for Democracy, human rights, democracy, November 8 general election, Min Aung Hlaing, State Administrative Council, civil disobedience movement
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If repetition were the only key to learning, just about everyone in state government would understand Dan Greensteins message that sweeping reforms no longer can wait if Pennsylvanias 14 state universities are to remain viable.

Greenstein, chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, repeatedly has called upon legislators to support his plan to restructure the system for survival and for the systems governing board to enact it.

Thursday, testifying before the state Senate Appropriations Committee, Greenstein got everyones attention: Unless we figure this out, he said, I will be recommending to the board that we come back to the Senate next year with a legislative package to dissolve the system because if we continue to go down this path what youre going to see is that cross-subsidization is going to drain all of us.

Cross-subsidization means that universities in the system that do well financially subsidize those that perpetually struggle. Now, Greenstein testified, those higher-performing institutions no longer can afford that.

Enrollment has declined for the 10th consecutive year, to 93,708 students systemwide. And projected enrollments for all universities are down for at least the remainder of this decade because of a reduced population of college-age residents. The situation is more dire in Pennsylvania than in other states because of the relatively older average age. And it is exacerbated further by greater competition for students than in most states.

The state system aggressively has cut costs. An early retirement incentive, for example, has reduced the payroll by more than 600 employees over the past two years.

Greenstein has proposed to combine Lock Haven, Mansfield and Bloomsburg universities into one institution and California, Clarion and Edinboro universities into another to save on administrative costs, while combining the systems resources to make the system as a whole more attractive to more students.

Its a sound proposal to fulfill the systems mission of making college accessible to students everywhere in Pennsylvania.

Jamie Martin, president of the systems faculty union, said Greensteins comments were irresponsible. But it would be even more so to pretend that sweeping change is not necessary as the system withers. If the board does not enact sweeping change, the Legislature should be prepared to do so.
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Doyin Okupe, former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has apologised over a series of comments he made about Igbo presidency in 2023...

Doyin Okupe, former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has apologised over a series of comments he made about Igbo presidency in 2023.

Okupe, in a now-deleted post via Twitter on Saturday, said only through a national consensus can an Igbo emerge president in 2023.

The former aide added that such a consensus cannot emerge until the core north forgives the Igbo over the 1966 coup that led to the killing of Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto.

A national consensus for Igbo presidency cannot evolve until the core north forgives the Igbos for the killing of Sardauna of Sokoto by Nigerian soldiers of Igbo extraction in the 1966 Coup, he had tweeted.





His comments did not go down well with some Nigerians, who took to the micro blogging platform to lambast the former aide.

Amid the backlash, Okupe, on Saturday, took to his Twitter handle to apologise to Igbo and other Nigerians who were offended by the post on Igbo presidency.

I tender my unreserved apology to the Igbos and other Nigerians who felt offended by my post on igbo presidency and the north. I never intended to hurt or demean the Igbos. Instead I wanted 2 help actualise the dream. I regret the said post, and I am truly sorry, he wrote.
On the occasion of World Water Day on March 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' campaign at 12:30 PM via video conferencing.

During the virtual launch campaign, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) will be signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.

The Ken Betwa Link Project is the first project of the National Perspective Plan for the interlinking of rivers in the country. The Campaign will be undertaken across India, in both rural and urban areas, with the theme "catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls". It will be implemented from March 22 to November 30 - the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country.

The agreement for the Ken-Betwa Link Project starts the inception of the inter-state cooperation to implement former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision to carry water from surplus to drought-prone areas to water-scarce areas through interlinking rivers.

The project involves the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a canal for linking the Ken and Betwa river for the transfer of water from the former to the latter. The project also involves the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and the Bina Complex Multipurpose Project.

As per the statement, the interlinking of rivers project will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectare, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and will also help in generating 103 MW of hydropower.

PM Modi will also launch a Jan Andolan to take water conservation at the grass-root level through people's participation. It is intended to nudge all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to the climatic conditions and subsoil strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater.

After the event, Gram Sabhas will be held in all Gram Panchayats of each district (except in the poll-bound states) to discuss issues related to water and water conservation. Gram Sabhas will also take 'Jal Shapath' for water conservation.

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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Novelist Phillip Roth could face getting canceled after his biographers posthumously revealed allegations from his life reflecting misogyny seen in his books.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who died in 2018, was known for penning novels throughout the 20th Century filled with 'enormous rage and disappointment with womenkind,' as described by literary scholar Mary Allen in 1976.

After his death in 2018, critics surmised that that Roth, whose family was Jewish, would face a reckoning for his portrayal of women and Jews in his work and has previously been called anti-Semitic, The Conversation reported.

Now, two separate biographers have claimed revelations of his real life 'sex and depravity' could spur a reassessment of work and depictions of women, the Times of London reported.

Philip Bloom, left, is pictured with ex-wife and actress Claire Bloom- who has previously made her own claims of misogyny in her own memoir

Novelist Philip Roth is pictured during a ceremony at the White House in 2011 where he received the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama

Ira Nadel, author of Philip Roth: A Counterlife, wrote that he was 'as sexually obsessed in real life as he was in literature,' the outlet reported.

Nadel's biography, set for release on March 29, 'offers a full account of his development as a writer,' according to publisher notes on Amazon.

Blake Bailey, for his authorized Philip Roth: The Biography, received independence and complete access from the author himself to spend years pouring over his personal archive and interviewing his friends and lovers.

In his book, Bailey claims Roth visited London brothels and chose female students to attend a seminar based on their attractiveness and flirts with younger women the older he gets, according to the Times of London.

In a visit to London, Roth allegedly went looking for Chinese prostitutes on Curzon Street in Soho.

'God, I'm fond of adultery,' said Roth, who had left his wife behind.

Roth was married twice in life. He met Margaret Martinson when he was 23 in 1956 and married her in 1959.

Williams, who was four years older than him, worked as a secretary at the University of Chicago and was the inspiration for some of his female characters.

Williams faked a pregnancy and abortion and the couple separated in 1963, according to The Atlantic.

Roth married Bloom in 1990 and the couple divorced in 1994. She later wrote a memoir in which she said he is a man filled with 'a deep and irrepressible rage' toward women

Roth, whose family was Jewish, has often criticized for 'anti-Semitic' portrayals in his works

She withheld her consent for a divorce and later died in a car crash in Central Park in 1968.

In 1976, Roth began living with English actress Claire Bloom  who starred in A Streetcar Named Desire and nearly 60 other films. Roth married Bloom in 1990 and the couple divorced in 1994.

Bloom later wrote a memoir called Leaving a Doll's House in which she described him as controlling and claimed scrutinized every decision she made.

She also described him as a self-centered misogynist and wrote that he is a man filled with 'a deep and irrepressible rage' toward women.

Bloom claimed also claimed that Roth forced her daughter by a previous marriage, Anna Steiger, to move out of the house because she 'bored' him.

Claire Bloom is pictured with Philip Roth at the 38th Bafta Awards in 1986. A biographer argued Bloom was viewed by Roth as 'the quintessential example of his betrayal by women'

Before his death, Roth wrote a 'point-by-point' rebuttal of Bloom's memoir that legally embargoed for several more years before it can be released, the Times of London reported.

'He could not stop litigating the past. He wanted to control the story from the grave,' Nadel told the outlet.

Nadel argued that Bloom was viewed by Roth as 'the quintessential example of his betrayal by women,' the Times of London reported.

Sandra Newman, an American novelist, told the outlet that another fight over his work is due and that modern audiences will be less forgiving for the misogyny in his life and work.

'Looked at from the point of view today, the books are on the wrong side of MeToo. They often have a central male who is a victim of cancel culture,' she told the outlet.

When asked by the Times of London if he believed Roth would ever get cancelled, Bailey said: 'You never know these days.'

'But I think there will always be an audience for Roth's work in certain quarters, and a non-audience in others,' he said.

'I hope my biography helps Roth's image; though it doesn't spare his lapses, it does portray him as a rather touching human versus a label of whatever sort.'

After his death, many think pieces were published about Roth and misogyny, including one from The New York Times titled 'What Philip Roth Didn't Know About Women Could Fill a Book.'

'Philip Roth is celebrated for bringing my family's tiny slice of the world into the American pantheon, widening the literary canon to include American Jews. It is hardly news to point out that he accomplished this feat at the expense of Jewish women,' novelist Dara Horn wrote in the article.

She continued: 'Roth's three favorite topics  Jews, women and New Jersey  all remain socially acceptable targets of irrational public mockery, and Roth was a virtuoso at mocking the combination of all three.'

'Roth, who achieved true greatness in depicting people like himself, never had the imagination to give these women souls,' she added.

In an article by the Canadian Jewish News, Sarah Horowitz wrote: 'I confess that I am among those women readers who both admire Roth's literary greatness and often feel put off by the female characters in his novels.'

'When I first encountered Roth's novels as a young reader, I could not read them without feeling as though they were a negative commentary on my own being.'

She added: 'The Roth misogyny debate opens up a larger question about genius and morality. What do we make of literary genius  really, any kind of genius  that encompasses attitudes we find objectionable, even immoral?'

Carmen Callil, one of the judges on a panel when Roth was up for a Man Booker award, resigned in protest when she learned he would get the prize, Reuters reported at the time.

Mike Witcombe, a Lecturer at Bath Spa University, noted in an op-ed for The Conversation that Roth often writes his feminist critics into his fiction.

In Roth's 1990 novel Deception, Roth writes himself in as the protagonist and places the fictional version of himself in a courtroom to defend himself from charges of misogyny.

'This is an argument that Roth was inviting his readers to take part in. Many have taken up the challenge,' Witcombe wrote.

'Few scholars would defend scenes such as the one we find in 1974's My Life as a Man, in which an instance of domestic abuse is described in a manner so laconic that it comes across as indefensibly vicious to many modern readers  including myself.'
London, March 21 : Britons' summer holidays abroad are "extremely unlikely" due to the risk of travellers bringing coronavirus variants back to the UK, a government advisory scientist said.

"I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely," Xinhua news agency quoted Mike Tildesley, a member of the government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, as saying to the BBC on Saturday.

"I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July, for instance, and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

"What is really dangerous is if we jeopardize our vaccination campaign by having these variants, where the vaccines don't work as effectively, spreading more rapidly," he added.

According to the government's "roadmap" to exit the lockdown, the earliest date people in England could go for a holiday abroad is May 17.

Currently for Britons, foreign holidays are not allowed and returning travellers have to quarantine.

More than 26.2 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

in a tweet on Saturday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now vaccinated half of all adults in the UK." However, there are concerns that the variants such as the ones first emerged in Brazil and South Africa, may spread more easily or that vaccines might be less effective against them.

The National Health Service (NHS) England has warned that the country is going to face a "significant reduction" in vaccine supplies from March 29 onwards.

Last week, Hancock had said that a need to retest 1.7 million vaccine doses as well as delays to doses arriving from India are the reasons why the UK is facing a "tighter" supply in Covid jabs next month.

But the government has insisted that the country is on course to offer all adults a dose by the end of July.
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Keir Starmer is at risk of turning Labour into "the party of the establishment", the leader of one of Britain's biggest unions has said.

Len McCluskey, the general secretary of Unite, warned that the opposition leader would be "ditched into the dustbin of history" unless he changed his approach.

It comes after Sir Keir blamed a "vaccine bounce" for Labour losing ground to the Tories in recent opinion polls.

In an interview with LBC radio on Sunday Mr McCluskey, whose union donates large amounts of money to Labour, was highly critical of Sir Keirs approach.

The Unite general secretary said the leader, who has been in place for around one year, had missed the opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic.

The truth of the matter is at that the moment, the direction that we are travelling, that he seems to be taking us down, is to turn Labour into a party of the establishment," he said.

Read more:

If that happens he will not become prime minister in 2024, he will be ditched into the dustbin of history.

I am urging Keir to look at his pledges, to reject the siren voices of the ghouls of New Labour and to stick to the radical policies that will win back the Red Wall seats.

Some Labour members have criticised the party for being too ready to abstain or back the government on issues like police spies and Brexit, and for not articulating a convincing alternative to the Tories' approach.

Others on the left of the party say Sir Keir's allies are purging socialists from the party, pointing to Jeremy Corbyn losing the whip and the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey. Sir Keir's team says the decisions are part of the party's commitment to tackling antisemitism, which dogged the previous leadership.

But speaking on Sunday Mr McCluskey pointed to the leadership's treatment of Mr Corbyn as having caused a breakdown in relations between Sir Keir and his biggest donor.

Keir Starmer took control of the party around a year ago (Getty Images)

He said the Labour leader was elected to his job on a left-wing programme but had apparently jettisoned aspects of it when he took up the post. Sir Keir has dropped commitments to EU free movement, and was earlier this month criticised for his stance on corporation tax rises.

At the moment nobody quite knows what Keir stands for, nobody quite knows what Labour stands for," Mr McCluskey told the radio station.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21st May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. 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The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. 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He will be the next prime minister in 2024 - not an overall majority but a hung parliament - if he wins back the red seats by arguing on the radical platform that he was elected on.

He was elected to make the moral case for socialism, he was elected on ten pledges that people said were Corbynist.

Keir Starmer's office declined an opportunity to respond to the union leader's commentary.
The UK's two important sectors, dairy and potato growing, will be badly hit by over the next 30 to 50 years, the country's national weather service the Met Office has warned in a study.

The research found that heat stress in dairy cattle is projected to increase significantly in key dairy regions of the UK, particularly in south western England, Xinhua news agency quoted the study as saying on Saturday.

Heat stress conditions are met around two-to-three days per year, but in the period 2051-2070, this could extend to around one month per year on average, said the study.

Published in the Climate Risk Management journal, the study also covered the impacts on the potato sector due to late blight, a disease affecting potato crops which occurs in warm, humid weather.

The crop disease is likely to occur more often across in 30 to 50 years' time, according to the Met Office, with the greatest increases in western and northern regions.

"Projections show potential for major impacts on UK Our study found that future dairy cattle in parts of the south east (of England) may be exposed to heat stress for an extra two months per year. At the moment, cattle in the south east experience around a week per year of these stressful conditions," said Freya Garry, author of the study.

The UK plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 as part of its effort to deliver its legally binding commitment to bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

The international community, including both developing and developed countries, already recognised the importance of joining hands in tackling

In 2021, China and will host the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) and the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), respectively.

--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.)
Her experiences have now inspired her to write her debut novel The Best Things

She said she and her husband had to panic-sell their house and move into a flat

The TV presenter, 52, admitted that she had almost a year of 'sleepless nights'

Mel Giedroyc revealed that she almost became bankrupt due to a big mortgage

Television star Mel Giedroyc has revealed that she and her husband had to 'panic-sell' their house and move into a 'tiny' flat after almost becoming bankrupt due to their huge mortgage.

The Unforgivable presenter, 52, said that she and her husband Ben Morris were put in a 'tricky' situation when her work dried up and they had taken out a mortgage they couldn't afford.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mel explained that they almost became bankrupt and were forced to panic-sell their house and move into a rented flat with their daughters Florence, 18, and Vita, 17.

Mel said: 'We had basically borrowed far too much money to buy a house we couldn't afford  and then we lost it.'

Mel Giedroyc (pictured in April 2019) has revealed that she had a year of 'sleepless nights' after almost becoming bankrupt and having to panic-sell her house due to a huge mortgage

The former Great British Bake Off host said they had taken a 'gamble' on the 'stupid house' after the bank lent them a large amount of money that they didn't have.

Mel admitted that she had a year of 'sleepless nights' when her work dried up and they were in a situation that they 'couldn't afford' due to their sizeable mortgage.

Mel explained: 'I had a horrific feeling for about a year of sleepless nights, thinking, "We're in a situation we can't afford".'

She added: 'We only bought it because the bank lent us a stupid amount of money  we didn't have that money, it didn't exist  and that really got me thinking.'

Mel was quick to add that they were never going to be 'homeless' and were very 'lucky' they managed to sell their house quickly and move into a 'tiny flat'.

Mel said she and her husband Ben Morris had to panic-sell their house and move into a 'tiny' rented flat with their two daughters Florence, 18, and Vita, 17 (pictured in December 2014)

But Mel said the experience taught her an important lesson and showed her who her 'real friends' were, including her comedy partner Sue Perkins, 51 (both pictured)

She continued: 'I don't want to spin some sob story  we were never going to be homeless. But we had to sell our house very, very quickly and we moved into a tiny flat we rented and put all our stuff in storage.'

But the difficult experience taught Mel who her 'real friends' were, with Mel admitting that one of the people who supported her throughout was her comedy partner Sue Perkins, 51.

Mel said: 'You know who the absolute real diamonds are, who don't give a toss about your status or what you've got.'

The former Great British Bake off presenters, who both left the show in 2016 when the series moved to Channel 4, have been best friends for more than 30 years after studying at the University of Cambridge together.

Mel admitted that almost losing her house also taught her an important lesson and forced her to 'reset', and it has now inspired the storyline for her debut novel, which is largely about money and status.

Her novel, The Best Things, which is set to be released on April 1, follows the story of a family who have to figure out how to survive and find their way back again after they run out of money.
Raipur, March 21 : Congress stragegists at the national level had never thought that the party would be in such a commanding position in mineral-rich Chhattisgarh, where the BJP was undefeated till late 2018 with three back-to-back victories in the Assembly polls, with the faction-ridden grand old party looking down and out.

Sujeet Kumar Raipur, March 21 (IANS) Congress stragegists at the national level had never thought that the party would be in such a commanding position in mineral-rich Chhattisgarh, where the BJP was undefeated till late 2018 with three back-to-back victories in the Assembly polls, with the faction-ridden grand old party looking down and out.

But then the saffron party encountered a hard working, street fighter OBC leader in Bhupesh Baghel (59), who single-handedily demolished the BJP in the Assembly elections held in 2018. In the 90-member state Assembly, the BJP presently has 15 seats, while the Congress enjoys a massive majority with 70 seats, a regional outfit has four seats and the BSP has two MLAs.

BJP leader Raman Singh became the Chief Minister in 2003 by sheer luck, and not by choice, but he defied all the odds to remain at the top post for 15 years.

On the contrary, Baghel earned the Chief Minister's post in 2018 with sheer hard work. So it doesn't come as a surprise when political analysts say the Bhupesh era must go on for a decade and more if mineral-rich Chhattisgarh has to prosper properly.

Baghel was subjected to repeated humiliation during the BJP regime. He was even put in jail in 2018 ahead of the Assembly polls, but he fought fearlessly and inspired the Congress grassroots cadres with his fighting spirit, leading the party to a stunning victory in the elections which brought down the curtain on the 15-year BJP rule.

In the high-octane polls in 2018, the BJP surprisingly drew a blank in its poverty-hit tribal bastion of Bastar and Surguja regions, which account for 26 Assembly seats.

The impressive performance of Baghel in almost two-and-a-half years in office has given food for thought to many in the party, and also those outside it, that he can be a potential leader for the Congress at the national level in the years to come.

In fact, the Congress has already started giving him crunch assignments outside the state to change the party's fortune. Presently, he is leading the Congress campaign in poll-bound Assam as the party observer, stationed in Dibrugarh with his core team to revive the Congress in the Upper Assam division, which had voted in bulk in favour of the BJP in the 2016 polls.

Soon after he took oath in December 2018 as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Baghel waived off farmers' loans, which was a pre-poll commitment, before coming up with the idea to revive rural economy with the launch of the 'Narwa, Garwa, Ghurwa and Bari' scheme for the farmers.

Among other schemes, the Rajiv Kisan Nyay Yojana ensures highest ever per tonne payment (Rs 2,500) to the farmers on paddy procurement, while the Godhan Nyay Yojana provides for procuring cowdung at Rs 2 per kg from livestock farmers.

Baghel's efforts to tackle malnuitrition in the tribal areas with a focus on improved health and education facilities in the remote belts have also started to yield results.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The Scottish Health Secretary today defended her under-fire boss Nicola Sturgeon, claiming the First Minister has 'led by example' while accusing her critics of playing 'partisan politics' amid growing calls for her resignation.

Cabinet minister Jeane Freeman also said leaks accusing the SNP leader of misleading the Scottish Parliament over her handling of sexual harassment claims against Alex Salmond themselves broke the MSP Code of Conduct.

The Scottish First Minister is currently 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 Ministerial Code - a resignation offence. Then on Tuesday, a Holyrood committee is expected to rule that she misled parliament.

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.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News, Ms Freeman said 'we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves', and instead claimed Mr Salmond's complainants had 'suffered most' from the botched probe into the allegations.

Mr Salmond denied allegations of harassment against him and he was cleared at trial last year of sexual assaulting nine women. He also won a civil case over the Scottish Government's handling of the investigation, resulting in a 500,000 payout.

Today, Ms Freeman also accused the Scottish Tories of playing 'partisan politics', claiming that the party was calling for Ms Sturgeon's resignation 'even before the First Minister appeared in front of that Committee'.

It comes as Scotland's Constitution Secretary compared calls for Ms Sturgeon to resign with shouts of 'lock her up' at Donald Trump rallies.

The Scottish Health Secretary today defended her under-fire boss Nicola Sturgeon, claiming the First Minister has 'led by example' while accusing her critics of playing 'partisan politics'

Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman defended Nicola Sturgeon, claiming the First Minister has 'led by example' while accusing her critics of playing 'partisan politics'. She said 'we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves', and instead claimed Alex Salmond's complainants had 'suffered most' from the botched probe into the allegations

Scotland's Health Secretary Jeane Freeman looks at First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on March 16, 2021

An Opinium survey published before the news emerged last night found that 51 per cent of Scots believe Ms Sturgeon should resign if she is deemed to have broken the ministerial code, compared to 35 per cent who say she should stay in place

Hard week at the office, Nicola? The three days which could make-or-break Sturgeon's careeras she faces result of two inquiries AND a vote of no confidence MONDAY James Hamilton QC, Ireland's 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 Salmond's 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 Sturgeon's side, critics fear she will be free to continue as First Minister with impunity. TUESDAY The final report from a cross-party inquiry of MSPs is to be published. The committee has been probing the Scottish government's 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

'I think we can dismiss some of that at least as a bit of partisan politics 40-odd days out from a Scottish election, and focus our attention on what the genuinely independent report from Mr Hamilton QC says,' the Scottish Health Secretary said.

'The Committee report is not yet concluded. What we have is... leaks from that Committee which is actually, as it happens, against the MSP Code of Conduct.

'The situation here is important, it's serious. What's most serious actually is that the Scottish Government made serious mistakes in handling and implementing the policy on harassment, and the people who have suffered most from that are the women who brought the complaints.'

She continued: 'The First Minister has led by example throughout and I think the public, particularly the public in Scotland, have seen how open and frank her leadership is, particularly over the last year when we've been dealing with the pandemic'.

The fallout has centred on Ms Sturgeon's 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 Ms 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.

However, any findings from the independent Mr Hamilton, the Scottish Government's 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 Ms Sturgeon's 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, Ms Sturgeon would be expected to resign.

Demands that Ms Sturgeon resign have grown in recent weeks, with former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson yesterday calling the First Minister 'head girl' of the 'Old Boy's Club' as she urged her to 'consider her position'.

She was joined by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who piled pressure on Ms Sturgeon as he said there 'should be a resignation' if there is found to have been a breach of the ministerial code.

'The First Minister was absolutely clear in the foreword to the [ministerial] code that she would lead by example and therefore she would follow the letter and the spirit of the code,' he said.

Scottish Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins told the BBC's Sunday Show that the First Minister should step down.

He said: 'The evidence is not just clear but overwhelming that Nicola Sturgeon has misled parliament on countless occasions. If you are a minister in the Scottish Government you have to abide by the ministerial code.

'The ministerial code makes it absolutely clear that if you mislead the Scottish Parliament you resign. She misled the Scottish Parliament and she needs to resign.'

However, Scotland's Constitution Secretary condemned the leak as 'unforgivable' and said it was done to 'damage Nicola Sturgeon'.

He compared the treatment of Ms Sturgeon to the shouts of 'lock her up' directed at 2016 Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton during Trump rallies

Michael Russell told the programme: 'What you've just heard is a version of the Trump cry 'lock her up' - if you remember that used to be shouted at every Trump rally, that's what you've just heard, and the Tories have been doing it for weeks and it's thoroughly unpleasant, and it's focused on an individual, and it's focused on undermining the Scottish Parliament.

'It's utterly discreditable and the people of Scotland need to have their say about it.'

A spokesman for the First Minister has said she stands by the evidence she gave to the Holyrood committee and accused it of resorting to 'baseless assertion, supposition and smear'.

Mr Russell said: 'She sat for eight hours and gave evidence on oath to that committee and answered every single question that was put to her but what has happened is that somebody, and I would dearly like to know who, and I hope the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament is determined to find out who, somebody decided to leak one piece of information, we don't even know the full piece of information, with the sole aim of damaging the First Minister, damaging the SNP, damaging the Scottish Parliament to get their retaliation in first.

'That was disgraceful, it needs to be condemned, but what really needs to be condemned is the way that the women are being left out by the person who did that.'

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 the former First Minister were handled. The Scottish Tories 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

Ms Sturgeon gave evidence for eight hours about the Scottish Government's botched investigation into Mr Salmond in 2018

Ruth Davidson accused Ms Sturgeon of attempting a 'cover-up' after new evidence emerged of warnings it could look 'shifty' if information continued to be withheld during Mr Salmond's legal challenge

Allegations, discussions, denials and a 'forgotten' key meeting between Sturgeon and Salmond November 2017: Allegations regarding Alex Salmond's behaviour are raised with the SNP by Sky News. Nicola Sturgeon said she spoke to him about this  and he 'denied it'. No further action was taken. March 29, 2018: Ms Sturgeon meets Geoff Aberdein - Mr Salmon's chief of staff - in her Scottish parliament office where she has admitted they discussed the possibility of a meeting with Mr Salmond. Ms Sturgeon  after initially forgetting about this meeting  says there was 'the suggestion that the matter might relate to allegations of a sexual nature'. April 2, 2018: Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond meet at the First Minister's home. According to Ms Sturgeon, this is the first time she heard of the complaints made against him. Despite this, she has insisted that the matters discussed were party business. No minutes were taken at the meeting. What she previously said: On January 8, 2019, Ms Sturgeon tells the Scottish Parliament she 'first heard' about sexual harassment allegations against Mr Salmond on April 2. In 2018, Andrew Marr asked Ms Sturgeon: 'Had you heard any stories about him before it broke in the press?' She responded: 'Obviously, absolutely not. Until, well I've said previously Alex Salmond informed me about these complaints in April, that was the first I had known.' And what she later said : In 2020, giving written evidence to the Holyrood into her government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond, she said she 'forgot' about the March 29 meeting until 'late January/early February' 2019. She wrote: 'From what I recall, the discussion covered the fact that Alex Salmond wanted to see me urgently about a serious matter, and I think it did cover the suggestion that the matter might relate to allegations of a sexual nature.' September 14, 2018: A judicial review is launched after complaints by Mr Salmond over the fairness with how the claims against him were handled. January 8, 2019: The Scottish government conceded defeat in the judicial review a week before it was due to launch. Mr Salmond wins 500,000 in legal fees. The court ruled the probe into Mr Salmond had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias. January 2019: Ms Sturgeon tells MSPs that Mr Salmond first told her about a probe into him on April 2. March 23, 2020: Alex Salmond is cleared of all sexual assault charges and his supporters demanded a full inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of the scandal. October 7, 2020: Ms Sturgeon claims she 'forgot' about March 29, 2018, meeting with Mr Aberdein. January 24, 2021: Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, Ms Sturgeon denies misleading the Scottish Parliament after 'forgetting' to tell MSPs about her meeting with Mr Salmond's aide on March 29, 2018. February 2021: The High Court in Edinburgh rules Mr Salmond's evidence claiming his former chief of staff met with Ms Sturgeon on March 28, 2018, to discuss sexual assault allegations against the former first minister can be released. Advertisement

The interventions from Ms Davidson and Sir Keir came after it emerged a committee of MSPs said the First Minister's 'inaccurate' evidence to them amounted to a 'potential breach of the ministerial code', which is generally considered a resignation offence.

In a further leak it is claimed that the inquiry has also concluded it is 'hard to believe' Ms Sturgeon did not know of concerns about Mr Salmond's behaviour before November 2017.

Ms Sturgeon brushed off the extraordinary committee conclusion last night, insisting she stood by 'all eight hours' of evidence she gave and accusing opposition members of playing politics.

The SNP leader also appeared to lash herself to the separate report from James Hamilton QC on whether she broke the ministerial code - which is expected within days. Tory sources suggested the stress on that inquiry was an indication of rising 'desperation'.

Polls have shown that a majority of Scots believe Ms Sturgeon should quit if she is found to have flouted the conduct rules, with the controversy also inflicting huge damage on support for her drive to split up the UK.

Even if she fends off the resignation calls the row looks set to dominate the run-up to crucial elections in May. The Tories are set to turn up the heat by staging a vote of no confidence on Wednesday.

Sections from the bombshell report - set to be officially released on Tuesday - have been leaked two weeks after Ms Sturgeon gave testimony about her role in the Scottish Government's botched investigation into Mr Salmond in 2018.

Ms Sturgeon had insisted she did not offer to intervene in the complaints process against Mr Salmond during a meeting with him on April 2, 2018.

Yet by a slim majority verdict of 5-4, the committee, which voted down party lines, said that this was in 'fundamental contradiction' to testimony from Mr Salmond.

They say Mr Salmond's account was corroborated by his legal adviser, Duncan Hamilton QC, who told the inquiry that Ms Sturgeon said: 'If it comes to it, I will intervene.'

The report concludes: 'Her [Ms Sturgeon's] written evidence is, therefore, an inaccurate account of what happened and she has misled the committee on this matter. This is a potential breach of the ministerial code'.

Arriving at her home last night after the first leak emerged, Ms Sturgeon said she stood by her eight hours of testimony.

She said: 'What's 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 make that clear.

'So this partisan leak tonight before they've finalised the tonight before they've finalised the report is not that surprising.'

But Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has stepped up calls for her to resign, saying: 'We cannot set a precedent that a First Minister of Scotland can mislead the Scottish Parliament and get away with it. We have to trust that the First Minister will be truthful. We no longer can.'

Ms Davidson added in a statement issued yesterday: 'If Nicola Sturgeon has a shred of integrity, she should be considering her position. She has every opportunity to do the right thing and resign.'

Even members of Ms Sturgeon's own party were fearing the worst, with one senior SNP source admitting: 'I think she's damaged goods.'

An SNP source admitted there were growing concerns about Ms Sturgeon's 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 Hamilton's independent investigation into her adherence to the Ministerial Code, and looks forward to the publication of its findings.'

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.'

It seems MSPs did not go as far as to say Ms Sturgeon 'knowingly' broke the code, but the findings will put immense pressure on her position.

Ms Sturgeon has claimed she was informed about a media inquiry relating to the then-First Minister's alleged behaviour towards female Edinburgh Airport staff in November 2017 and that was the first she had ever heard of any claims of inappropriate behaviour.

But Sky News reported that the committee believes Ms Sturgeon should have acted upon any information about her predecessor's conduct.

It also revealed the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints is 'concerned' about the meetings Ms Sturgeon had with Mr Salmond after he revealed he was being investigated, and why it took the First Minister more than two months to tell the head of Scotland's civil service what she knew.

According to Sky News, the committee's findings state: 'The committee finds it hard to believe that the first minister had no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Alex Salmond before November 2017.

'If she did have such knowledge, then she should have acted upon it. If she did have such knowledge, she has misled the committee.'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) is awaiting the judgment of two inquiries, which will rule on whether she broke strict parliamentary rules

SNP MSPs make up almost half of committee investigating Sturgeon SNP: Linda Fabiani (convener), Alasdair Allen, Stuart McMillan, Maureen Watt Conservative: Margaret Mitchell (deputy convener), Murdo Fraser Labour: Jackie Baillie Liberal Democrat: Alex Cole-Hamilton Green: Alison Johnstone Advertisement

The MSPs reportedly add: 'She should have made the Permanent Secretary aware as soon as possible after the April 2 2018 meeting, at which point she should have confirmed she would cease contact with Alex Salmond.'

Asked this morning if Ms Sturgeon should resign, SNP MP Drew Hendry again insisted that the Hamilton inquiry will be critical.

He told BBC Radio 4: 'This leak is just another indication of how certain members have abused this process.

'The independent inquiry for James Hamilton QC and I think we should await the outcome of that inquiry before asking such questions.

'The very fact that the Tories have, since minute one, prejudged this inquiry - you heard Douglas Ross say that they've been saying this for weeks and weeks, before the evidence even came out, before they even heard from Nicola Sturgeon tells you everything you need to know about the way they've approach this committee process.

'I'm attacking the way this has been prejudged, it's almost unheard of to committees to be led in this way, for committees to be prejudging the situation, whether it's at Westminster or Hollyrood.

'It's indicative of the way this whole thing has been weaponised by the Tories as part of the process. This has not been conducted in any spirit of trying to get to the facts.'

Pressed on whether Ms Sturgeon should resign if the independent James Hamilton inquiry finds her to have broken the ministerial code, Mr Hendry said: 'I'm not going to prejudge it. I'm not going to do what the Tories have done.

'I'm sure Nicola Sturgeon when she gets the details of that inquiry, which is due very soon, will be able answer any questions on that as they come up. It's for her to take the deliberations on board and make whatever decision she feels as appropriate.'

He added: 'She's sometimes not got everything absolutely right, and she's been honest about that as well, but she's also been clear with the evidence that she's given. So let's wait for James Hamilton and let's wait for the public.'

SNP MSPs account for almost half of the nine-strong committee. They are four in number, while the Conservatives have two, and Labour, the Lib Dems, and Greens just one, broadly reflecting the total number of Holyrood MSPs.

Ms Sturgeon submitted written evidence to the Holyrood Inquiry as well as a gruelling eight-hour oral testimony earlier this month.

The Holyrood Inquiry was tasked with investigating the Scottish Government's bungled handling of sexual harassment complaints made against the former first minister.

A successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the investigation being ruled unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias', with a 512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees. Mr Salmond was also later acquitted of 13 charges following a criminal trial.

Ms Sturgeon is also awaiting a report from James Hamilton QC, who will rule specifically on whether she broke the ministerial code.

Critics accuse her of breaking the code by misleading Parliament on when she first learnt of allegations against Mr Salmond.

Ms Sturgeon previously claimed to have learnt about the allegations when Mr Salmond informed her at her home on April 2, 2018.

It later emerged she had had a meeting with Mr Salmond's former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, on March 29 in her office.

Ms Sturgeon claimed to have 'forgot' this meeting and later explained she thought they were talking about harassment in 'general terms'.

She is also accused of failing to record crucial meetings, and pursuing the case against Mr Salmond despite lawyers telling her to drop it.

An Opinium survey published before the news emerged last night found that 51 per cent of Scots believe Ms Sturgeon should resign if she is deemed to have broken the ministerial code, compared to 35 per cent who say she should stay in place.

But the research, carried out on March 11, exposed a deep political divide, with 62 per cent of SNP voters thinking she should keep her job.

Blow by blow, how Nicola Sturgeon's eight-hour evidence before the Salmond inquiry unfolded

Earlier this month, Nicola Sturgeon faced eight hours of brutal testimony before the committee investigating the Scottish Government's botched handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond.

A lively session at Holyrood saw the First Minister fend off questions from MSPs with varying degrees of success.

Here, MailOnline looks back on the key flashpoints from the hearing in the wake of the inquiry concluding she misled Parliament.

Sturgeon dismisses Salmond's claim of a plot

Ms Sturgeon used her opening statement to rubbish Mr Salmond's claims of a concerted conspiracy to bring him down and remove him from public life.

She rubbished the 'absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond'.

She said 'that claim is not based in any fact' and she had 'no motive, intention or desire' to 'get' her predecessor.

The inquiry into Mr Salmond was launched after a number of women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment.

Sturgeon fights for her career: Key quotes at the Holyrood inquiry On Alex Salmond's claims of a conspiracy to bring him down: 'I feel I may rebut the absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond. That claim is not based in any fact.' 'Alex Salmond was one of the the closest people to me in my life - I would never have wanted to get Alex Salmond. I had no motive intention or desire to get Alex .' On Alex Salmond's inappropriate behaviour: 'That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know, just from what he told me, that his behaviour was not always appropriate. 'And yet across six hours of testimony, there was not a single word of regret, reflection or a simple acknowledgment of that. I can only hope in private the reality might be different.' On the meeting at her home on March 29, 2018: The meeting 'did indicate a harassment-type issue had arisen, but my recollection is he [Salmond's chief of staff] did so in general terms.' On the meeting at her home on April 2, 2018: 'It was the detail of the complaints under the procedure that I was given on April 2 that was significant and indeed shocking'. On Mr Salmond telling her about the allegations against him: 'A moment in my life that I will never forget' On the prospect of allegations concerning Mr Salmond being made public: 'The thought of this becoming public, and I would have to comment on it, horrified me. Absolutely horrified me. It made me feel physically sick.' On the handling of complaints against Mr Salmond 'I am deeply regretful, deeply angry and will always feel incredibly bad for, principally, the two women who were let down, and the wider implications in terms of the cost to the taxpayer.' On claims the Scottish Goverment 'delayed, obstructed, obfuscated' the progress of the Holyrood Inquiry: 'I would not accept the characterisation.' On serving as deputy first minister under Mr Salmond 'He was a tough guy to work for. If he was displeased with you, you knew about it.' On a member of her staff leaking the name of one of the complainants to Mr Salmond's former chief of staff. 'I am not accepting that that happened, therefore I am clearly not accepting that was authorised' Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs the idea that those involved were 'concocting' allegations was false, and they came forward of 'their own free will'.

But a successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the investigation being ruled unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias', with a 512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees.

Mr Salmond was later acquitted of 13 charges following a criminal trial.

The Holyrood Inquiry instead puts the spotlight on Ms Sturgeon and her Government's handling of the harassment complaints.

Indeed, at points the committee convener ticked off Ms Sturgeon for shifting the focus on to Mr Salmond, saying: 'He's not under trial, your actions are.'

MSPs demand Sturgeon provides critical evidence

Ms Sturgeon came under mounting pressure to produce evidence relating to the investigation into Mr Salmond.

Labour's Jackie Baillie launched a blistering take-down of her failure to provide critical records of meetings and asked why no senior Government figures had resigned for the botched 2018 investigation into Mr Salmond.

Ms Sturgeon has also been accused of a cover-up by Scottish Tories, who are forcing a vote of no confidence over claims she broke the ministerial code by misleading Parliament.

Ms Baillie said: 'I don't think I have felt quite so frustrated in my 22 years of being on parliamentary committees as with this one,' she said.

'We have waited for information from the Scottish Government, the stuff we have received has been partial and late.

'The legal advice has taken two votes in Parliament and a motion of no confidence in John Swinney before we saw it last night at six o'clock. And there is information missing.'

Ms Baillie added: 'We have waited till the 11th hour for the legal advice, we get partial legal advice.'

She asked Ms Sturgeon: 'Do you understand the frustration of the committee? Do you understand that it looks as though the Government doesn't want to give us critical information?'

Committee deputy convener also said Margaret Mitchell said that that it had 'faced delay, obstruction, obfuscation' from the Government in its requests for evidence, and said some documents remained outstanding.

Ms Sturgeon replied: 'I would not accept the characterisation.'

Sturgeon says probe into Salmond 'right thing to do'

The First Minister said she 'deeply regretted' how the investigation into Mr Salmond was handled but stood by the decision that a probe was necessary.

She added that the complaint procedures used to investigate Mr Salmond were drawn up in late 2017, in the wake of the MeToo movement, and were drafted by civil servants, not her.

She said: 'The Scottish Government despite the mistake it undoubtedly made, tried to do the right thing.

'As First Minister I refused to let the age old pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants.'

But she added: 'That is not the same thing as saying I wanted this to be in the public domain.

'The thought of this becoming public, and I would have to comment on it, horrified me. Absolutely horrified me. It made me feel physically sick.

'I would have been very relieved if it had never come out into the public domain.

'I had nothing to gain from it and only a lot of pain and grief associated with it.'

Sturgeon hits back at claims she broke ministerial code

The Scottish Conservative group in Holyrood accuses the First Minister of breaking the ministerial code on three counts.

First, she misled Parliament on when she first learned of the allegations; she previously claimed April 2, but Mr Salmond says March 29.

Second, Ms Sturgeon failed to record the meetings she had with Mr Salmond concerning the allegations.

Third, Ms Sturgeon pressed ahead with the investigation against Mr Salmond despite being warned by her lawyers they would lose the case.

Ms Sturgeon said that she was 'relieved' to be appearing before the inquiry to lay out her side of the story.

She recalled harassment claims arising on March 29 during a meeting with Mr Aberdein, but said it was spoken about in a non-specific sense - and that she only realised it was in relation to Mr Salmond during a meeting with him on April 2.

Describing the April 2 meeting in her home with Mr Salmond, she said while he denied the complaints against him he gave his account of the incident which 'he said he had apologised for at the time'.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs: 'What he described constituted in my view deeply inappropriate behaviour on his part, perhaps a reason why that moment is embedded so strongly in my mind.'

She said she did not 'immediately record the April 2 meeting' as she did not want it to become public and risk 'breaching the confidentiality of the process'.

She added she had no intention of intervening in the investigation process and did not intervene, saying to do so would have been an abuse of her role.

Addressing the judicial review, Ms Sturgeon said there was strong prospects of defending the challenge and as late as December 11, 2018, the advice given was it was 'very clear there was no need to drop the case'.

She said she followed the advice of law officers so did not breach the ministerial code, as has been claimed.

Labour's Jackie Baillie launched a blistering take-down of her failure to provide critical records of meetings and asked why no senior Government figures had resigned for the botched 2018 investigation into Mr Salmond

Withering assessment of Salmond's testimony

In her evidence the First Minister said she felt 'sad' she had come to blows with her old political mentor, which has ripped to the heart of the SNP ahead of May's Holyrood elections.

She told MSPs: 'In all the legitimate considerations of this, sometimes the human elements of this situation are lost. Alex spoke on Friday about what a nightmare the last couple of years have been for him, and I don't doubt that.

'I have thought often about the impact on him. He was someone I cared about for a long time.'

However, she called into question the former first minister's character for not recognising his inappropriate behaviour during his own appearance last Friday.

Ms Sturgeon said: 'I found myself searching for any sign that he recognised how difficult this has been for others too. First and foremost to the woman who believed his behaviour to be inappropriate.

'But also to those who had campaigned with him, worked with him, cared for him and considered him a friend and now stand, unfairly accused of plotting against him.

'That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know, just from what he told me, that his behaviour was not always appropriate.

'And yet across six hours of testimony, there was not a single word of regret, reflection or a simple acknowledgment of that. I can only hope in private the reality might be different.'

Ms Sturgeon, 50, served for seven years as Mr Salmond's deputy before succeeding him as first minister in 2014.

She told MSPs that he 'was a tough guy to work with' and on occasions told him he had crossed a line with his behaviour.

Their close relationship and strive for Scottish independence over many years also manifested in a close relationship between their staff.

Claims Sturgeon's staff leaked identity of complainer to Salmond's ally

Ms Sturgeon said she regarded Mr Aberdein as a friend, but denied claims that one of her staffers had revealed the identity of one of the female accusers to him.

Labour's Jackie Baillie pressed the First Minister on the claims and called it an 'extraordinary breach of confidentiality' and, if proven, a 'sackable offence'.

But Ms Sturgeon said: 'I am not accepting that that happened, therefore I am clearly not accepting that was authorised.'

The First Minister accepted this was a 'matter of contention'.

She added: 'Certainly in relation to one of the complainants Alex Salmond was pretty clear he had found out through investigations of Scottish Government social media accounts he had found out who that was.

'And in relation to the other one, and this is the bit I am perhaps speculating on, it must have been the case when he got that letter, because he knew about the incident because he had apologised to the person.

'So my assumption would be that he would have known that without anybody having to tell him. And I know from what he told me he found out the identity of the other one through his own investigations.'

A statement from Mr Salmond's spokesperson released as Mr Sturgeon was giving evidence said: 'Mr Salmond has lodged a formal complaint with the permanent secretary to the Scottish Government under the civil service code, on the conduct of the official who is alleged to have breached civil service rules, by disclosing the name of a complainant in the Scottish Government process.'

Claims Sturgeon's staff leaked to Daily Record to bury bad press about her

Further scrutiny focused on a leak to the Daily Record newspaper that that revealed details of the complaints against Mr Salmond.

Ms Sturgeon said: 'I can tell you they didn't come from me, or anyone acting on my instruction or request.'

And she said she had no knowledge of claims conveyed by Ms Baillie that the Daily Record was leaked the information to spike an upcoming story on Ms Sturgeon.

'That is a new part of the conspiracy I'm hearing for the first time,' Ms Sturgeon said.

Ms Sturgeon was also confronted by Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell about her knowledge of 30 sexual harassment claims against five SNP ministers over the course of 10 years.

Responding after Ms Mitchell described the complaints, Ms Sturgeon said: 'Forgive me, I don't know exactly what you're referring to in terms of five SNP ministers.'

If Scottish police come knocking, I'll 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 Sturgeon's 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 Scotland's 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 Salmond's 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 Salmond's former chief of staff.

It ensured critical elements of Mr Salmond's 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 Salmond's 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.
Patna, March 21 : The nursing staff at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) began an agitation on Sunday over the cancellation of leaves till April 5.

The nursing staff, particularly women, are angry with the authorities for the cancellation of weekly leaves, natural leaves and festival leaves (Holi) in view of the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

The staff sat on a dharna inside the medical superintendent's office at PMCH, demanding a roll back of the decision given that Holi is one of the most important festivals in Bihar. The nurses raised slogans against the Bihar government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"We had written letters to the medical superintendent and Dean of PMCH on Saturday, but they refused to pay attention to our plea," said a women nurse, requesting anonymity.

As per the directive, doctors, junior resident doctors, medical superintendents, directors, paramedical staff, JNM and ANM employees will not be able to take leave till April 5.

The health department further directed those medical staff who are on leave to join their respective hospitals and medical colleges immediately.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar had directed the top officials of the health department to scan the travel histories of every individual coming into Bihar.

Due to Holi on March 29, migrant labourers are returning homein large numbers. The Chief Minister has directed the officials to intensify checking at the railway stations, bus stands, airports etc. and make people aware about the second wave of Covid-19 outbreak.

Vibha Kumar Singh, a civil surgeon in Patna, said: "We have declared 15 micro containment zones in Patna and are closely monitoring the development. We will increase the number of containment zones accordingly." "In the last 24 hours, 88 new Covid-19 were reported from different parts of the state. Among them, 41 cases were reported from Patna, including two persons who succumbed to the disease. We have 472 active cases in Bihar at present," said an official from the health department.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The lines of cars at Taco Bell in West Brighton inspired a line of thought: why not write a series about fast food? Obviously Staten Islanders love it  thats another interesting conversation on how our palates have been primed. But then I hit a roadblock after interviewing dozens of natives and the story just stopped: the subject matter is too vast. Even if lumping the topic into restaurants of the past, present and future, it still results in an endless conversation. But we have to start somewhere and heres what came to light in the chit-chat.

On the nostalgic vein: fond memories of places vary with age and towns in which weve lived  Nathans in the Masters Shopping Plaza in New Dorp, Chuckwagon and A&W, both in Dongan Hills, Wetsons in Port Richmond Center and Dongan Hills, Baccis Charcoal Haven in New Dorp, to name a few spots to continually pop up in chats of the old days.

By those standards, food blogger Janessa Rubino, 44, tender of the Eat Your Heart Out New York Facebook page, remembers more recent places of yesteryear like Taco Time, a small, wannabe Taco Bell, as she explains it.

Originally from the East Shore and speaking of days when Palmer Video thrived, Janessa said, Id say around 1992, I remember Kenny Rogers Roasters on the corner of Hylan Blvd and Reid Avenue where Perkins now stands. I lived down the block and would walk there for rotisserie chicken and homestyle side dishes, similar to Boston market.

A native of Dongan Hills, I remember that as well. As a slickly promoted, national brand new the borough would have it, the place was so wildly popular it was literally overrun by ravenous Staten Islanders  oh, and my family is included there so, sincerely, no judgements  where it could be a complete zoo on a Saturday night.

In our experience at Kenny Rogers, as his chicken played out on the Isle of Staaten, it was not uncommon to wait for up to an hour or learn late into the process that it had a run on its headlining bird or ribs. Its no longer a chain in the United States after about a five-year run domestically.

Operating for over 40 years from 1921 until 1966, would Al Deppe's be included in fast food nostalgia? (Staten Island Advance File Photo)

Now, when were talking fast food we mean a nationally promoted operation that offers the kind of menu easily shoveled down in the car. Mom and Pop places dont dwell under this umbrella of eats, particularly in the pizza department, unless were queuing up for Pizza Hut, Pizzeria Uno, (both which I love,) Papa Johns or Dominos. And if the restaurant offers waiter service to seated patrons, the words fast food are off the table.

As for East Shore places, Dr. Adrienne Ferretti of Grasmere observes a lack of national brands in the area.

Were talking burgers, chicken and pizza. Theres really nothing in Grasmere and Arrochar, observed Dr. Ferretti. The most we have in Stapleton is a McDonalds. We always have to travel for something.

She said, Burger King is our closest. We had a little McDonalds across from Perkins but that closed. The Golden Arches shut in 2020, one of three stripped from the borough.

Dr. Ferretti recalled Chuckwagon, formerly of Dongan Hills  driving into the parking lot for chili dogs and a root beer late at night after Perry Mason.

It felt so naughty. You could eat in the car in your pajamas, she said.

William Seaquist of Great Kills poses inside of White Castle restaurant in Grant City after he won the Craver Nation sweepstakes and will receive $12,000 in meal credits, or sliders for life, to his favorite fast food chain. Tuesday August 28, 2012. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo) Staten Island Advance

Bill Seaquist of Great Kills recently spent some time with me at the new Taco Bell in West Brighton to ponder the national brand situation in the borough. On background: Seaquist is the winner of a lifetime supply of White Castle burgers, a cult figure in the competitive eating world.

It seems like anytime we have something new on Staten Island its popular and people do love the name recognition of a brand theyve seen for years, Seaquist said as the Taco Bell restaurant staff served customer after customer in the backdrop. He reminded of what KFC looked like when it opened in New Dorp  the line of cars was insane.

Yes, free smells at Jimmy Johns. (Please no landfill or Staten Island low tide and/or wetland comments kindly.) (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Staff-Shot

To find our fast food future, we must search our souls on why some places have failed, like Nathans, which died at the Mall and in Mariners Harbor. Various Quiznos shops have come and gone and we cut Little Caesars off at the knees a few years ago.

We unwrap the goods and inspect it. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Then there was the tragedy of Jimmy Johns, a trio of Midwestern-born places spread among Dongan Hills, Eltingville and New Dorp where free smells (part of their branding) came as fast as it went. With Ariemmas and other Boars Head-harboring delis in various hoods, that was like selling air conditioners in Alaska  run right out of town like Kenny and his magical roasters.

Since there is no more A&W for frosty mugs with root beer, Ill see you at Taco Bell for sippy cups of Mountain Dew.

Keep in touch.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
The story of Fiammetta who followed her shepherd father up the mountains to take online lessons when Italy closed schools.

Schools in Italy's 'red zones' are closed under the nation's covid-19 restrictions, meaning millions of children of all ages are taking lessons online from home.

Not so in the case of 10-year-old Fiammetta, in the northern Trentino province, who is connecting with her fourth-grade teachers and classmates from high up in the mountains, surrounded by goats.

Fiammetta at her studies. Photo ANSA.

Fiammetta is taking remote learning to new levels, attending her online lessons at a height of 1,000 metres, where she joins her shepherd father as he tends to his herd of goats on the mountainside.

The schoolgirl's classroom has become the wild pastures of the mountains above her primary school in Mezzolombardo, amid a herd of 350 goats, cared for by her Sardinian father Massimiliano who produces cheese and ricotta.

Fiammetta follows her papa up the mountains as her mother is a social health worker and cannot take the girl to her workplace, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

"Fiammetta is very good at school and the mountain environment teaches her the importance of adapting" - he told ANSA - "We solved logistical problems thanks to the mobile phone hotspot. Luckily the connection is good in Val di Sole."

Fiammetta in between lessons. Photo TgCom24-Mediaset.

In between lessons Fiammetta helps her dad look after the animals. "After all" - he tells ANSA - "they are two very different learning tools but both are very useful for the development of a child."

Cover photo Martina Valentini - Reuters

STAMFORD  Not everyone was immediately enthusiastic about getting the COVID-19 vaccine and you can count the head of Stamfords health department, a local family doctor and the president of the citys NAACP chapter among their number.

But all three overcame their own reservations and they shared how during a virtual town hall Thursday in the hopes that their experiences might help reassure residents, especially those within communities of color.

Dr. Jennifer Calder, who has been the citys health director since 2016, said that even she was initially reluctant to get the vaccine.

I too had questions and originally  despite being a trained molecular biologist and infectious disease epidemiologist who understands vaccine development in clinical trials  I was not going to take the vaccine, Calder said. But once I had the opportunity to read the pages of clinical trials and the results reported to the FDA, I changed my mind and I took the vaccine because I am convinced its safe.

Dr. Tabitha Fortt, a family physician in Stamford, said she was also hesitant at first.

Ive heard of messenger RNA, Fortt said. Ive heard it used in rare instances  in cancer gene therapy, but I never heard it used on a widespread basis for vaccinations. So I waited. I educated myself on the facts and the data.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both mRNA vaccines.

Fortt said she thought about her focus as a family doctor on preventing illness, and after learning how effective the different vaccines were at preventing symptomatic and severe disease, she was convinced she needed to get it.

One of the worst things we can do in regards to our health is to wait until the crisis sets in, when the situation is so severe that we have to be rescued, she said. And I didnt want to put myself in that situation.

When I look at the opportunity to use everything available to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and even death, my logical conclusion was that I had to get the vaccine, added Fortt, who has partnered with the city and the NAACP to conduct testing in Stamford.

Guy Fortt, the president of the Stamford NAACP and Dr. Tabitha Fortts husband, said he initially wasnt interested in receiving the vaccine partly because of incidents in history, like the Tuskegee experiment involving black men in Alabama. But then he spoke to his wife and read a number of studies.

Im in the age category that theyre talking about people passing away or getting sick from this virus, and I did not want to do that, Guy Fortt said.

He received his first shot at Stamford Hospital earlier this month, alongside Mayor David Martin.

And believe me, it was very, very scary for me, Guy Fortt said. But at the end of the day, I had to do it, and I knew that I had to do it.

Calder said communities of color have had lower adoption rates of COVID-19 mitigation habits and higher rates of COVID vaccination hesitancy. At the same time, she noted, such communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

The city, Stamford Health and community groups have worked together on an initiative called No Barriers, with vaccination events aimed at socially vulnerable populations.

Guy Fortt said the NAACP would never tell you, You have to make a decision on what it is that you need to do.

Still, he said, if youre not interested in doing it, really rethink your mindset, and consider the risk.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 02:39:24|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 590 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 827,199.

The death toll from the virus reached 6,082 with nine new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 557 to 549, out of 866 hospitalized patients.

The total recoveries in Israel rose to 802,244 with 1,516 newly recovered cases, while the number of active cases decreased to 18,873.

The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Israel has reached nearly 5.16 million, or 55.5 percent of its total population, since the vaccination campaign began on Dec. 20, 2020.

On Friday, the country's COVID-19 reproduction number, also known as the R number, decreased from 0.68 to 0.66.

The R number is an indicator used to determine how fast the COVID-19 is spreading, as an R number greater than 1 means that the number of patients increases at an exponential rate and multiplies from time to time.

Also on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the number of active patients among its soldiers had dropped to 159, the lowest figure in the Israeli army since Nov. 23, 2020.

A total of 938 soldiers are currently in home quarantine, the IDF added. Enditem
Karl Stefanovic has criticised New South Wales Emergency Services Minister David Elliott for trying to shift blame to his cabinet colleague, Water Minister Melinda Pavey, over the Warragamba Dam overflow.

Sydney's biggest water catchment is continuing to spill over as heavy rain batters the city causing widespread flooding, cutting off roads and towns in low-lying areas.

Warragamba dam, which supplies water to more than 3.7 million people in Sydney and the lower Blue Mountains, is having its first significant overflow in 30 years.

It is spilling out enough water to fill Sydney Harbour every 24 hours, and as the flooding crisis grows there has been blame shifting between government departments.

Mr Elliott argued water should have been released from the dam in preparation for the deluge, saying 'a full and frank discussion' with Ms Pavey would be needed.

Stefanovic on Monday's Today Show blasted David Elliott for engaging in a war of words with Melinda Pavey during the catastrophic weather event

Warragamba dam, which supplies water to more than 3.7 million people in Sydney and the lower Blue Mountains, is having its first significant overflow in 30 years

'You are involved in this public stoush which I don't think is helpful in any way, shape or form with your Water Minister Melinda Pavey,' Stefanovic told Mr Elliott on the Today show on Monday.

'You say that the water should have been released from the Warragamba Dam a couple of weeks back. She says that's completely and utterly naive. What's going on?'

Mr Elliott responded: 'Today is not a day for me to have a fight with everybody. I have to make sure the SES volunteers have everything they need.

'As I said yesterday I am not going to be having a fight over this. I'm on the public record for Baulkham Hills to say that we need to monitor mitigation.'

The Warragamba spillway is releasing water at the rapid rate of 450 gigalitres a day, almost enough to fill the size of Sydney Harbour which hold 500GL.

Thousands more homes could be flooded in the next two days as a result.

'It's naive to think we could have reduced the dam to 25 per cent which is the number on current projections that would have avoided a spill,' Ms Pavey said.

'We've never had the dam below 38 per cent and this is a one-in-50-year event.'

The latest dam spill occurred amid the NSW Government's controversial plans to raise the dam wall by at least 14m to 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.

Water spilling from the dam in Sydney's south-west began flowing into the Nepean-Hawkesbury River catchment, now on track to see flood levels even worse than the catastrophic 1961 disaster.

Rising floodwaters in Sydney's west and north-west are now higher than the disaster 60 years ago, where residents in low-lying areas were ordered to leave their homes on Sunday night before floodwaters peak.

Thousands more homes could be flooded in the next two days as enough water spills out of the Warragamba Dam to fill Sydney Harbour every day. Pictured: flooding in Penrith on Sunday

Locals gather on a flooded residential street near the swollen Nepean River as the state of New South Wales experiences widespread flooding and severe weather on Sunday

Water NSW modelling suggests 1500GL of water will flow into Warragamba in coming days, about 75 per cent of the dam's storage capacity

That rate could increase as inflows to the dam storage continue to rise.

Water NSW modelling suggests 1500GL of water will flow into Warragamba in coming days, about 75 per cent of the dam's storage capacity.

Parts of Penrith and other areas along the Nepean were ordered to evacuate on Sunday as NSW battles devastating floods after days of unabated rain.

There are 20 evacuation orders in place running from the Mid-North Coast down to the Illawarra, including Sydney and western Sydney, with more expected to be declared on Monday.

Almost NSW 200 schools will be closed on Monday but with the extreme wet weather continuing, decisions will be made hourly on further closures.

The BOM expects Monday to bring the worst flooding event to the area northwest of Sydney since November 1961 - 60 years ago.

Floodwaters are expected to rise to major levels on Monday morning and inundate places such as Windsor, Pitt Town, North Richmond, Freemans Reach and Colo.
A study examining gender barriers in the U.S. military's most elite units has found restrooms to be a source of contention between male and female troops, with a third of men saying they would never use unisex bathrooms and 61% of women saying they were fine with them.

Male troops cited risk, hygiene and privacy as reasons for opposing gender-neutral bathrooms, although the study authors theorized that the resistance is tied to men wanting to preserve the status quo of the predominantly masculine special operations community.

The study, "Maintaining Male Exclusivity: Porcelain Privilege in the Military," published last month in the journal Armed Forces & Society, grew out of larger research conducted in 2013 and 2014 that sought to explore the advantages and barriers to women serving in special operations units.

Read Next: Army Denies Majors Appeal to Get Valor Award Back After Trump Pardon

At the time of the study, Special Operations Command was weighing whether to request an exemption to a policy change that allowed women to serve in ground combat specialties.

The researchers said toilets were not a focus of the project but were mentioned without solicitation more than 350 times in 27 separate focus groups with 198 participants, sparking their interest in the subject.

According to the study, which was first reported by Stars and Stripes, nearly one-third, or 33%, of men said they would "never be willing to share a unisex bathroom facility with women, while well over half, 61%, of women indicated they would use a unisex bathroom all the time."

The researchers defined a unisex bathroom as a single facility that used flip signs or had designated times for individual use.

The men raised concerns about women's hygiene requirements, citing their own perceptions of a woman's need to shower and maintain cleanliness for health reasons.

They also said they didn't want to lose access to private male-only spaces, expressing an "inherent fear that integrating women into men's bathroom space will necessarily mean a loss, not of privacy for women but of the privileged status of men-only spaces," the researchers wrote.

"There's a lot of things that you don't hold back in a team room. It's behind closed doors," a male service member told the researchers. "You do what you need to do to get whatever accomplished and you say what needs to be said. You put a female in the mix and then there's people getting offended."

"Invoking the language of hygiene, risk, and privacy, men pointed out the unique embodied differences that mark women as unfit to integrate into Special Forces while subverting other motives intended to preserve the toilet as a privileged male-only space," the authors wrote.

In discussing the bathroom politics, the participants implicitly indicated that special operations was a "workplace where women did not belong."

"Men, having the full privilege of being the default in the military, see any change to the gender hierarchy as a disruption of that system which has come to feel like the natural order."

At least one female participant was nonplussed.

"All I'm saying is the bathroom's open all the time. You have stalls. Go in the stall. The showers are closed. Grab your towel, put it on before you get out. You're not walking around the company naked, and that's all I'm saying," she said.

Women currently serve in a number of ground combat specialties that previously were closed to them, although the numbers are minuscule in the elite forces. Last year, a female Army National Guard soldier graduated from Special Forces training, earning her Green Beret and a Special Forces tab. More than a dozen women have graduated from Army Ranger school and, in 2017, a woman became a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

At least two women have graduated from the Marine Corps' infantry officer course, and women have made it through the second phase of the Marine Corps' Special Operations Command's assessment and selection course but weren't chosen to continue.

Roughly a dozen women have attempted battlefield courses under the Air Force's Special Warfare Training Wing.

No women have completed Navy Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S), although an officer completed the SEAL Officer and Selection process and then later selected a different warfighter specialty as her top choice.

The study did not include or ask about bathroom use by transgender service members, because it was conducted before transgender individuals were allowed to serve.

The authors said their research is relevant to today's military and professions, like policing and firefighting, where issues of physicality, privacy and locker rooms are a concern.

They concluded that men's discomfort with sharing toilet and team spaces with women -- and women's willingness to use such spaces -- are "an indication that the underlying logic of sexism needs to be addressed" in integrating male-dominated professions.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify that the study population was Army special operations, not Special Forces.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Female Air Force Pioneer's Message to Women: 'Don't Ever Accept a Barrier'
Sunday, March 21, 2021





Photo from U.S. DHS website

NBC's Meet the Press today featured Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Watch the video at the link.

Mayorkas connected the problems with the policies of the Trump administration, which he said dismantled the orderly, humane and efficient way of allowing children to make their claims under United States law in their own country. We are rebuilding those orderly systems both in Mexico, in close partnerships with the Mexican government, and in the countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, he said.

Mayorkas said that the administration is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services to build temporary facilities for unaccompanied minors to get them out of border patrol stations, which he admitted is no place for a child.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2021/03/dhs-secretary-mayorkas-on-the-treatment-of-migrants-at-the-usmexico-border.html
Piatt County Sheriff David Hunt, shown back in his office at the Public Safety Building in Monticello after recovering from COVID-19 in late April 2020, announced his retirment effective July 1.
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
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's government has been in talks since March 13 about potentially importing excess COVID-19 vaccines from the United States, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter on Saturday.

The Foreign Ministry and the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, in cooperation with the Health Ministry, are negotiating with the U.S. government, according to the ministry's tweet.

The White House on Friday announced plans to "loan" 4 million AstraZeneca shots that have already been produced in the United States to Canada and Mexico. The White House has no plans to loan doses to other countries, according to an administration official.

Brazil is facing the world's second-deadliest outbreak of coronavirus after the United States, that has worsened with a new wave in recent weeks pushing the hospital system to the brink of collapse. On Friday, the Health Ministry reported a daily record of 90,570 new cases in the prior 24 hours, as well as the second deadliest day since the pandemic began.

The federal government has been slow to roll out vaccinations in the country, with some local governments needing to halt immunizations at various points due to lack of supplies.

On Friday, Reuters reported that Brazil's government had not asked the United States for excess vaccines despite plans to share doses with Mexico and Canada, citing two people familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Jake Spring and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Grant McCool and Daniel Wallis)
LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, March 20, 2021, the County of Los Angeles changed its brewery and winery re-opening guidelines to align with the State of California as a direct result of the legal action taken by the PARRIS Law Firm.

On Friday, March 19, attorneys from the PARRIS Law Firm filed an amendment to their original class action lawsuit against the County of LA on behalf of Transplants Brewing, LLC. The suit demanded an immediate response as the County continued to unconstitutionally discriminate against Transplants and other breweries and wineries that do not have on-site kitchen facilities.

On Saturday, March 20, 2021, Los Angeles County immediately changed its order allowing breweries, distilleries and wineries to reopen for indoor service if food is provided and outdoor service with no food is provided.

"It's unclear why the county continues to discriminate against breweries and wineries, but it finally came to its senses and revised the guidelines allowing Transplants and other independent businesses to begin getting back to business," said attorney Khail Parris. "These establishments have been hit the hardest because they rely on regular customers to make a profit, and between the pandemic and the completely inconsistent guidelines provided by the County of Los Angeles, they were barely holding on."

The firm initially filed its complaint in September of 2020 calling out the County's overreaching standards for wineries and breweries. In October, the lawsuit forced the County Board of Supervisors to change their guidelines. Unfortunately, the PARRIS Law Firm had to file an amended complaint to once again for the County to abide by the State of California's guidelines.

To read the firm's March 19, 2021 Filing, click here.

To read the County's order, click here.

To read Appendix Y which specifically governs breweries and wineries, click here.

About PARRIS Law Firm

The PARRIS Law Firm is recognized as one of America's top personal injury, employment, and environmental law firms. With a proven track record of fighting for justice on behalf of families and individuals, the firm boasts numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. To learn more about the firm, please go to: www.parris.com

Contact

Dante Hickles

[email protected]

SOURCE PARRIS Law Firm

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New Delhi, March 21 : Demanding the issuance of a revision plugging all the loopholes in the press note 2 of the FDI policy, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Sunday announced that trade associations across the country will undertake an 'e-mail Satyagraha urging Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to accept the long pending demands of CAIT and to immediately plug all the loopholes.

The CAIT also announced that more than 40,000 small and big trade associations across the country will observe March 25 as 'e-commerce Democracy Day' and on March 28, traders all over the country will burn effigies of Amazon and Flipkart as part of 'Holika Dahan' at more than 1,000 places across the country to register their resentment against the foreign funded e-commerce companies controlling, monopolising and dominating the e-commerce space through subterfuge entities like Cloudtail.

The CAIT said that DPIIT meeting India-based representatives from Amazon, Flipkart percolated within the cover of its respected apex chambers of commerce and industry is akin to falling for wolves in sheep's clothing.

"It is perfectly fine for DPIIT to meet any of these executives under their own company's banner, but deeply problematic for them to be allowed to pass off their machinations under the holy banners of CII, NASSCOM, Assocham, PhDCCI, NASSCOM, FICCI etc.," CAIT said.

"These 'Macaulay Putras' are stooges serving a colonising power. The foreign handler/s in question are eating into our trade dynamic and mechanism. Meeting the 'Macaulay Putras', acting as chairmen and co-chairmen of e-commerce committees in our apex chambers, is a confusing signal to agencies like ED probing these very handlers, 'Macaulay Putras' and downstream entities," the body added.

CAIT said that both Amazon and Flipkart have been behaving like "cowboys" in India for far too long and their business model persists with gross malpractices despite several public warnings by Goyal. Their scant respect to Indian laws, rules and regulations has made a joke of the country's marketplace model applicable on these foreign platforms.

It is time a strong word is sent out by the DPIIT that India's administrative system is capable of protecting the sanctity of its own laws and rules.

Therefore, a thorough plugging of loopholes needs to be released without further loss of time, it said.

CAIT also announced to expose the illegal and unauthorised cartel of e-commerce companies, brand owing companies and banks, which are working hand-in-glove to cause further damage to the business of traders in the country. These entities have come on a common platform to flout Indian laws and rules.

A comprehensive memorandum will be handed over to about 700 district collectors in the country on March 25 exposing this unethical cartel of banks, brand owing companies and e-commerce platforms, it said.
The flurry of suspensions by some countries, mainly in Europe, of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports that a small number of people had developed blood clots after receiving the jabs has drawn a debate among health experts in Nigeria.

It has been over two weeks since Africas most populous nation received almost 4 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines. In Lagos, Nigerias largest city and most affected by the disease, authorities said over 12,000 people have been vaccinated 48 hours after the state commenced vaccination.

While Nigerias first phase of vaccination is mainly for health workers and other frontline groups, the news that there were side effects among a few people receiving the Oxford jabs in other countries is further escalating the already existing scepticism about the vaccines.

Flurry of suspensions

Austria was the first country to commence an investigation of potential blood clots caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Blood clots are solid clumps that form inside the blood. It can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

Authorities in Austria said they halted the vaccine rollout while investigating the death of one person and the illness of another after taking the shots, according to Reuters.

In a swift move, at least 15 other countries such as Norway, Thailand, Iceland, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, DRC Congo, Denmark and Ireland, and some of Europes largest economies, Germany, France and Italy, said they were halting the use of the vaccine or some particular batches of it. Some, like Germany and France, have since reversed the suspension of the vaccines.

The suspensions were mostly precautionary as many countries that halted inoculation could not provide concrete evidence of the vaccine causing the effects.

Both the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency have insisted that the shot is safe and that countries should continue using it.

The British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, also defended its vaccine strongly, stating that there is no link to increased risk of fatal brain haemorrhages and blood clots.

Around 17 million people in the EU and UK have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population, Ann Taylor, Oxford/AstraZenecas chief medical officer, said in a statement.

Amid the safety concerns, some high-income countries like the UK and developing countries such as Nigeria and Ghana have chosen to continue the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Health experts weigh in

While the Nigerian government has repeatedly expressed confidence in the Oxford vaccine, assuring of its safety, health experts that spoke to PREMIUM TIMES shared divergent opinions on concerns raised about the vaccines.

Former chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Mike Ogirima, said the move to suspend the rollout of the vaccines by many countries is precautionary with no objective evidence.

WHO has come out to denounce the side effects alluded to Astrazeneca vaccine. Now, we need as a sovereign nation to conduct an evaluation on the recipients of the vaccine locally to ascertain the untoward effects of the vaccine, the medical doctor said.

I have not heard of any adverse reactions from Nigerians that have received the vaccines. I am prepared to receive it, he said.

Henry Ewononu, a public health advocate, said the suspensions and blood clot concerns are causing anxiety. He, however, said there should be no cause for panic yet as no side effect has been identified in Nigeria.

Over 70 million have received the vaccines, and 30 or so reported issues with blood clots, he said.

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I agree that blood clotting disorders can be frightening enough, but lets now start advising patients on symptoms to look out for while allowing science resolve this in a standard way.

Officials at the vaccination sites should make available hotlines for reporting adverse reactions and trained officials promptly advise patients on what to do, he said.

The medical doctor said the health community has a role to play in bridging the knowledge gap about COVID-19 vaccines.

Medical and Health officials should not allow the vacuum where the people will now depend on whoever is not qualified to lead in medical advisories to guide the people.

On this note, I call on the professional associations in the health sector to form a coalition to penetrate the community and saturate it with wholesome information and serve as a bridge between the people and government to assuage their concerning anxieties, he said.

Promise Akubo, a public health research expert, gave a different view. He said the governments suspending the vaccines are showing how concerned they are about their people.

Theres need for monitoring and control in every scientific process, which administration of the vaccine is.

Government and all the stakeholders in the management of COVID-19 cases should by now be on their toes. Vaccine rollout shouldnt be hurriedly carried out. It is important necessary evaluation is done so that people are not exposed to side effects with grievous health implications, he explained.

For Confidence MacHarry, security and health data analyst with SBM Intelligence, the ripple effect of the rising concerns about the jabs are that it is playing into the hands of vaccine sceptics.

Thats for sure. There would be increased resistance to vaccine efforts, he said.

Nnimmo Bassey, an environmentalist, expressed worry over the development. He however pointed to a bigger problem.

All these events point to the fact that we need to rebuild our healthcare delivery system. We ought to be in the best place to make our own medicines, including vaccines. And we should be vocal in the struggle to have patent-free and accessible vaccines and other drugs needed for a pandemic of this nature.

It is time for the nation to wake up. Platitudes and wringing of hands wont do. More pandemics will happen with the rate of ecological damage going on in the world. Our own environment has been so bastardized and rendered us extremely vulnerable to diseases.

It is as though we have forgotten the dictum that cleanliness is next to godliness. For a highly religious nation, environmental care should be a topmost priority, Mr Bassey explained.

AstraZeneca vaccines

The AstraZeneca vaccine is important, especially to the COVAX arrangement, the UN-backed effort that promises access to vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries population.

It was through its subscription to the arrangement that Nigeria received 3.94 million doses of the vaccine out of the overall expected 16 million.

Because it is relatively cheap, easy to make, and store, the AstraZeneca vaccine is regarded as the most suitable for developing countries like Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported on nine things you should know about the AstraZeneca vaccines.
Aerial view over the neighborhoods and streets of Philadelphia PA USA (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Sixteen missing children have been rescued after a month long operation by the US Marshals Service.

At least four of the recovered youngsters were connected to child sex trafficking in the Philadelphia area, officials say.

Authorities began Operation Safeguard on 5 February when a marshals task force took over 26 missing children cases at the request of law enforcement agencies.

The marshals said that the children were considered some of the most at risk cases in the Philadelphia area, based on sex trafficking, exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse and medical or mental health conditions.

Our hope is for a better future for the 16 children we recovered, said Eric Gartner, the US marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

I applaud the exceptional cooperation among our respective agencies in combating this most abhorrent affront to society.

Read more:

Our resolve remains steadfast in finding other children in peril.

The Marshal Service was assisted in the operation by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Bucks County Children Youth Services, the Philadelphia Police Departments Human Trafficking Unit, and the FBI.

The marshals created a missing-child unit after Congress passed the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

Since 2015, the marshals service has recovered more than 1,700 missing children.
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Kent Taylor, the founder and chief executive of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, died by suicide on Thursday after suffering from post-Covid-19 symptoms, the company and his family said in a statement. He was 65.

After a battle with post-Covid-related symptoms, including severe tinnitus, Kent Taylor took his own life this week, the statement said.

Mr. Taylor fought the condition, but the suffering that greatly intensified in recent days became unbearable, the statement said. It added that Mr. Taylor had recently committed to funding a clinical study to help members of the military who also suffer with tinnitus, which causes ringing and other noises in the ear.

His body was found in a field on his property near Louisville, Ky., the Kentucky State Police told The Louisville Courier Journal. The official cause of death is pending autopsy results, the Oldham County coroner, David Pendleton, said on Monday. The State Police, which did not respond to a request for comment, are investigating the matter, Mr. Pendleton said.
She was told to remove the reference to Mr. Trump on the students shirt in December 2016 after she went to the administration office to pick up drafts of the yearbook pages, the lawsuit said.

Ms. Parsons said she had agreed to alter the photo but was confronted by the student after the yearbooks were handed out in June 2017. Why did you edit the word Trump off of my shirt? the student asked. She told him to talk to the principal.

Later that day, one of the students parents emailed Ms. Parsons, saying the students picture had been edited without his/our permission.

I would like to understand who made that decision, the email said, according to the lawsuit. We felt the shirt he wore was appropriate.

Two other students then complained that a Trump logo and a quote attributed to Mr. Trump had been removed from the yearbook.

Ms. Parsons said in her suit that the logo had been cropped out by a photo vendor and a student who worked on the yearbook had left the quote out by mistake. Nevertheless, outrage was already exploding in Wall, a township of about 25,000 near the Jersey Shore that voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 and in 2020.

Ms. Parsons said the school administration had begun a public campaign to shield itself from responsibility by creating a false narrative that she was responsible for the changes.
On a sloping bluff overlooking the noisy, perpetually busy Houston Ship Channel, cut off from a nearby working-class neighborhood by railroad tracks, a machine shop and other workaday ship-channel enterprises, is a green and leafy oasis called Glendale Cemetery. Most Houstonians, I suspect, dont even know the graveyard exists - I didnt until a few years ago - and if they know, they may not know how to get to it (short of by hearse).

Parking next to the machine shop on a sunny morning last week and stepping across the tracks, I found the iron gates secured with several rusty locks, so I climbed over. (Straddling the iron bars, I couldnt decide which Chronicle headline would be worse: Local columnist arrested for trespassing, or Local columnist impaled on cemetery barricade.)

Glendale Cemetery, not to be confused with the renowned Glenwood Cemetery a dozen miles up the bayou, is the oldest cemetery in Houston. On a compact 6 acres two blocks east of Broadway, beneath spreading live oaks and mature magnolia trees, it was established in 1826 as the Harris Family Cemetery (renamed Glendale in 1893). A full decade before there was a Houston, the graveyard was a peaceful final resting place overlooking the bayou.

In the corner nearest the Ship Channel is the oldest marker in the graveyard. As a blue-and-white barge slowly floated past, I stood at the grave of John Birdsall, a New York politician and circuit judge who moved to Texas in 1837. That same year, President Sam Houston appointed Birdsall attorney general of the Republic of Texas. The next year, Houston appointed him pro tempore chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He died in 1839 at age 37.

Birdsall was the victim of a yellow-fever epidemic, as were the first 31 people interred at the pioneer graveyard. They were quickly buried in a mass grave with no markers to remember them.

Near the Birdsall grave is a marker commemorating a relative by marriage who at age 39 also died during a yellow-fever epidemic, in New Orleans. His name was John Richardson Harris, and in todays parlance, he was a go-getter.

Born in New York in 1790, Harris married Jane Birdsall in 1813, and the couple settled in a small town in upstate New York before migrating to Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Thats where they met Texas empresario Moses Austin, who persuaded them to join his fledgling colony. Sailing his own sloop from New Orleans in 1823, Harris explored several sites along the Texas coast before nosing into Buffalo Bayou. He took possession of some 4,428 acres of land at the confluence of Brays and Buffalo bayous, where navigation ended. The Harris grant today would extend from Buffalo Bayou on the north to Airport Blvd. on the south.

With his wife and children still in Missouri, the young New Yorker immediately began laying out a town he named Harrisburg, most likely after himself and perhaps after Harrisburg, Pa., which bore the name of his great-grandfather. Within a few months the new Harrisburg boasted a general store and the first steam-powered sawmill in Texas. Shaping lumber from majestic primeval pine trees rafted directly from the banks of the bayou, Harriss mill was soon a profitable business. He and his three brothers also captained a fleet of sloops and schooners that plied the Gulf Coast from Harrisburg to New Orleans and southward to Tampico. Two of their schooners, the Rights of Man and the Mauchana, would later be used in the Texas Revolution.

In December 1835, the provisional government on the verge of separating from Mexico named Harrisburg the capital of the free, sovereign and independent Republic of Texas. Four months later, Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna burned the town to the ground. Rebuilt in 1839, some 1,400 people moved back.

By then, the young man who bequeathed his name to the town had been gone for a decade. A granddaughter, Adele Briscoe Looscan, erected a cenotaph in his honor in the 1930s, but hes actually buried in New Orleans, the city of his death.

In the death of Mr. John R. Harris, the Texas Gazette noted at the time, the colony has lost an enterprising citizen, and his friends have been bereaved of one whose loss will not easily be replaced.

He seems to have been the only one of that early period who foresaw the future of Buffalo Bayou, on whose bosom now float big ships from foreign and domestic ports, Looscan, the granddaughter, wrote in 1928 in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly.

Three years after her arrival, Harriss widow, Jane Birdsall Harris, hosted the cabinet of the Texas provisional government, desperate men on the run from the Mexican army. Although poorly equipped to accommodate this large accession to her household, she cheerfully made them welcome, and sacrificed her own comfort for their convenience, Looscan wrote.

After cabinet members fled to Galveston, the Harriss home, sawmill and other valuable property went up in flames with the rest of Harrisburg. The family was not compensated, although Looscan wrote that the man who actually kindled the flame returned to rebuild the house for the widow Harris and her children. He used logs hewn by Mexican prisoners captured at San Jacinto.

The First Congress of the Republic of Texas formed Harrisburg County in 1836 and changed the name to Harris County three years later. Houston annexed Harrisburg in 1928.

So, the county known far and wide is named after a man few know, despite his achievements. Why is that, I asked local historian Dan Worrall. Why is his name - and the name of his noteworthy wife barely worth a mention in the history books?

[Harris] died too soon, and so missed his time in the spotlight, Worrall said, noting that the town he laid out was a much better site for a city than the one the Allen brothers founded more than a decade later.

With deep water and a naturally wide bayou, with lumber being shipped to Mexico from the Harris sawmill, Harrisburg already was a working port by the time Santa Annas soldiers torched it. Worrall noted that Harrisburg also was the original terminus of the San Felipe Trail, meaning that cotton from the colonys interior could go there, the most efficient shipment route to international trade. (As I mentioned in last weeks column, Worrall is the author of a book about the historic significance of the San Felipe Trail.)

Making their slow way up Buffalo Bayou in 1836, the Allen brothers immediately recognized the superiority of the Harrisburg site. They tried to buy the remains of the town from John Harriss heirs, but the family was embroiled in a probate fight and the land was not for sale.

The young New Yorkers looked inland. Although it took steamboats three days to negotiate the 12 miles to their landing, with passengers and crew alike clearing away overhanging branches and submerged debris, the Allens managed to build a city. And a viable port. In Worralls words, the rest is history.

Sitting on an old wooden bench inside Glendale Cemetery, I realized that I like this part of Houston. I like the peacefulness of the graveyard but also the noise, the bustle, the ceaseless enterprise of the adjacent ship channel just outside its gates. Its all a reflection of the ambitious young man who got it started. And we hardly know his name.

**

If you would like to visit the cemetery, dont scale the fence. Call the Glendale Cemetery Association for information (281-288-7888).

djholley10@gmail.com

Twitter: holleynews
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Virtual Summit to put spotlight on logistics and supply chain automation

Companies involved in logistics, warehousing, and supply chain will have the chance to learn how automation can improve their performance and help manage the ongoing challenges of Covid-19.

They can also learn to manage disruptions to supply chains, and how to manage social distancing rules and remote workforces, at the Middle East Warehousing, Logistics & Supply Chain Technologies Forum on March 22-23.

The event is timely given that 78% of CIOs from logistics, manufacturing and trade companies in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region are currently engaged in, or about to start, a formal digital transformation program, and much of their success may hinge on the type of platform they adopt, according to a recent report from research and strategic consulting firm, IDC.

Furthermore, the potential upside for organizations that get their digital transformation strategy right is significant, with spending on digital supply chain and logistics in META forecast to reach $8.5 billion by 2023, according to a recent IDC report Building the Warehouse of the Future: Catering to the New Decade.

On the first day of the event, Richard van der Meulen, VP solution consulting, Infor Supply Chain, will deliver a keynote on How supply chain transparency is critical for the modern day supply chain.

On day two, Khaled AlShami, senior director, solution consulting, MEA, Infor, will host a panel discussion titled: Smart Warehouse: Adopting new technologies to accelerate the productivity and efficiency of the warehouse.

The panel will feature Angad Singh, regional director, Aramex; Shankar Subramoniam, executive director  Freight and Logistics National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL), UAE; and Shailen Shukla, chief logistics officer, WIZ Holding, giving broad insights into the potential benefits of adopting smart warehouse solutions.

AlShami said: Organisations in the logistics, warehousing and supply chain sector can turn the challenges they face into opportunities by embracing automation. I look forward to discussing the latest trends, challenges and opportunities with peers at the event, and to raise awareness of the benefits of automation at this event.

Infor is a platinum sponsor of the Middle East Warehousing, Logistics & Supply Chain Technologies Forum. -- Tradearabia News Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 21:14:30|Editor: huaxia

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-- Having lived in China for 14 years, Australian architect Mark Unger has long been curious about the daily lives and work of CPC members.

-- Thanks to Xinhua's China Chat show, he was given the opportunity to meet and spend time with ordinary CPC members, visit historical CPC sites, and delve deeper into the world's largest political party.

-- He was joined by French chef and entrepreneur Corentin Delcroix, British English language advisor Sarah Sharman, and Canadian business analyst Katia Houle.

SHANGHAI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Against the picturesque backdrop of Shanghai's illuminated skyline, Australian architect Mark Unger's thoughts traveled to the metropolitan city in 1921, when the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was convened.

Inspired by his recent visit to a full-size replica of the building in which the founding members of the CPC first gathered, he said, "I did take the time to imagine them all sitting around, getting passionate about this idea, and from little things, big things grow."

Having lived in China for 14 years, Unger has long been curious about the daily lives and work of CPC members. And thanks to Xinhua's China Chat show, he was given the opportunity to meet and spend time with ordinary CPC members, visit historical CPC sites, and delve deeper into the world's largest political party.

On this trip, he was joined by French chef and entrepreneur Corentin Delcroix, British English language advisor Sarah Sharman, and Canadian business analyst Katia Houle.

ENCOUNTERS IN SHANGHAI

On a drizzly morning in Shanghai, Unger met Hua Lei, a young female CPC member who serves as the Party branch chief in Shanghai's Ruihong No. 1 residential community.

In the compound's community hall, Unger took part in many activities for the elderly. There were dancing and handicraft classes, a pingpong game, and a birthday party for a resident who turned 100 that day -- all organized by Hua.

"Are you ambitious about getting into politics?" Unger asked Hua.

She replied that she didn't really have such an ambition, and said that all she wanted to do was to focus on her current job and deliver good results.

However, managing a residential community for the elderly is no easy task. Hua's duties include managing public activities, attending to the health and well-being of residents, and providing a series of daily community services.

"She was on call 24/7, but there was nothing about her that made it (seem) like a burden for her," Unger stated.

"She was really into it," he added. "Hua was really impressive, and some of her responsibilities were amazing."

Despite her family's Chinese origins and her work experience in Shanghai, Houle didn't know much about the CPC.

In the medical service center of the Caohejing community, Houle met the center's director Shen Lei, who showed her his daily duties and spoke about his journey as a CPC member.

Director of the medical service center of the Caohejing community Shen Lei introduces the epidemic prevention and control work to Canadian business analyst Katia Houle at a quarantine hotel in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

"When he was in university, he had the pure intention of joining the CPC to contribute to society. And then now it's just part of his life," said Houle.

During her visits to different clinics, departments and a quarantine hotel operated by the medical center, Houle was impressed by Shen Lei's strong sense of responsibility.

"Shen Lei had to sacrifice the time with his family and gave up his vacation to help during the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinate medical staff and services," said Houle.

In her view, he is an ordinary representative of the CPC as a whole, which is able to mobilize and coordinate social resources efficiently.

"You can see with the coronavirus, the 90 million CPC members are all out there in the front, ready to tackle any issue and bring solutions," she added.

Inside a busy restaurant on Shanghai's Anyuan Road, Delcroix met his interviewee Yuan Qinghua, a local taxi driver.

It was the first time the French chef became fully acquainted with a CPC member after living in China for 15 years.

During his conversation with the taxi driver, Delcroix learned that joining the Party is a selective and competitive process rather than just a signature on a piece of paper.

He was also surprised that after the rigorous application process, recommendation and scrutiny, becoming a Party member comes with more responsibilities.

"He did some volunteering in some metro stations when there was a big flow of people," Delcroix said. Yuan also volunteered during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

In a suburban factory an hour from the city, Sharman spent time with Shen Huiqin, a quality supervisor at Joyson Safety Systems, a major supplier for Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai.

Shen Huiqin showed Sharman around her workplace and spent some one-on-one time with her.

During their discussion, Sharman learned that a lot of work and learning comes with being a CPC member.

"They are regularly studying, working on self-improvement and studying a lot about the party," said Sharman.

NEW IMPRESSIONS

During the trip, the group gained a sense of history by visiting the original site of the first CPC National Congress in the downtown area, and its full-size replica located in the Shanghai Film Studios Amusement Park.

Their itinerary also included a visit to the Shanghai International Studies University, where they spoke with a number of students.

Canadian business analyst Katia Houle (2nd L) and French chef and entrepreneur Corentin Delcroix (1st L) talk with a university student who is also a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Shanghai International Studies University in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Cen Zhilian)

Delcroix and Houle struck up an in-depth conversation with a young CPC member there and were impressed that "the student joined the Party after a long time of independent thinking rather than as an unreflective decision."

"It was more of a self-conviction thing. I think it was nice to hear that he had that thinking process rather than just accepting it directly without questioning it," said Delcroix.

In the final part of the group chat, the visitors reached the consensus that their day spent with the Party members had refreshed their impressions of the CPC.

Delcroix said that he thought the Western stereotype of communism has stagnated since the Cold War.

"A lot of people think communism itself is just scary, without understanding it at all," he said.

Yet he pointed out that the judgment of a political party ultimately depends on its results rather than any form of stereotyping.

"People, in the end, do care about their standards of living, which is the most concrete (result)," he said, noting that the most important and pragmatic criterion is development across generations.

Four foreigners talk about their impressions on ordinary members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Xinhua journalist Miao Xiaojuan during the China Chat show in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Haiwei)

Houle said she used to believe that CPC members are mainly officials who actually work for the Party.

"What really surprised me is that some of them are just daily members. They have fewer political roles. It is more social involvement and aiding society," she said.

"The CPC has gained a strong foundation in China and cultivated a sense of pride for the people who are part of it," she said. "But outside China, not everyone understands and feels the same about it."

She said she had initially thought, "the CPC did not really care about the Western world and keeps focusing on nothing but its own duties."

But she found that that was not the case. "Actually, through the entire experience with the Party members, I realized it is the initiative of the CPC and China to kind of open a dialogue in a way that would actually speak to Western media," she added.

Sharman ended the chat with a positive note: "I would like to tell my friends how close I once came to the CPC and how wonderful the experience was." 
Germany is set to extend its coronavirus restrictions into April despite mass anti-lockdown protests.

Thousands of protesters angry at Covid-19 restrictions rallied in cities across Europe over the weekend, even as several nations reimposed partial lockdowns to fight new surges in infections.

A memo from several of Germany's regions said the country's partial lockdown should be extended into April because of rising infection rates driven by Covid variants.

Germany is set to extend its coronavirus restrictions into April despite street protests

Thousands of protesters angry at Covid-19 restrictions rallied in cities across Europe over the weekend, even as several nations reimposed partial lockdowns to fight new surges in infections

And the country's chancellor, Angela Merkel, announced on Sunday that she was keen to go ahead with the extension.

Travel needs to be cut to a minimum, with quarantines and negative tests required for those re-entering Germany, the memo warned.

The prospect of further curbs will infuriate the thousands of protesters who marched against existing restrictions in the Germany city of Kassel on Saturday.

Police there used water cannon, batons and pepper spray to disperse the crowds, which they estimated to number up to 20,000.

The march was organised by activists from both the far left and the far right, as well as peddlers of baseless conspiracy theories about the pandemic and vaccines.

A memo from several of Germany's regions said the country's partial lockdown should be extended into April because of rising infection rates driven by Covid variants. And the country's chancellor, Angela Merkel, announced on Sunday that she was keen to go ahead with the extension

Protesters also marched in Amsterdam, Vienna, the Bulgarian capital Sofia, and Switzerland over the weekend.

Thousands also protested the coronavirus restrictions in London on Saturday, many of them carrying signs promoting coronavirus conspiracy theories.

Britain on Sunday warned the EU over its threat to halt exports of AstraZeneca's vaccines, in a row that has heightened post-Brexit tensions between London and Brussels.

Travel needs to be cut to a minimum, with quarantines and negative tests required for those re-entering Germany, the memo warned

'If contracts get broken, and undertakings, that is a very damaging thing to happen for a trading block that prides itself on the rule of law,' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News.

Anglo-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca has delivered only 30 percent of the 90 million doses it promised the EU for the first quarter, infuriating European leaders and complicating the continent's already struggling rollout.

Brussels has accused London of operating its own de facto export ban to achieve its vaccine success, a claim furiously denied by the British government.
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PioneerNB BHPian

Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Pune Posts: 32 Thanked: 120 Times

My experience with a used Maruti Celerio AMT Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds, with such a rich childhood experience in a small town named Udhagamandalam I grew up with friends who had similar passion. Blessed to be surrounded by blessed people, I got to travel in many cars/ bikes at a fairly early age and wanted to get behind the wheel as soon as possible.



After a few years (thats how 90s kids still treat themselves) ended up in Pune and was finally able to afford a second hand car. And I ended up with a Celerio AMT.







Wait a minute I know and please let me explain more on why Eleanor ended up as Creep-enor.



1. First pre owned car, so need to test waters with low investment.

2. Budget set till 4Lakh.

3. Car age up to 5 years.

4. Less than 40,000 Kilometers.

5. Well maintained, the Team BHP guidelines.

6. Good vibes: the car must give good positive vibration

7. Prefer a car serviced at ASCs.

8. Automatic: Travelling in self-drive cars and in Pune I realized the clutch was slowly making me hate driving so tilted towards AMT/Automatic as a first owning experience(anyways future is electric and automatic so why bother).

9. I am a travel freak and do not want to be checking my already strapped pockets for fuel cash (Period: super happy with the 18Km/ltr I am getting).

10. Low maintenance costs (let me circle back to this later).

11. Known brand and ease of access to service centers and spares.

12. Petrol (Period).

13. I must be aware of the issues while buying the car and not be taken by surprise later.



I wanted to go the pre-owned route for my first car because:



A. Have an OCD to be spic and span, so a new car in Pune would bring my heart out my throat within a few days: scratches, chips and what not: once I heard a person comment its Pune bro expect scratches and move on, to a Grand i10 owner whom he scratched with his ape.

B. No car in India excites me to shell out money. Jimny, Tata HB2 and Thar (5 doors, rendered) makes me go weak, a year/two after they launch I will lay my hand on a new one. Ford Endeavor is my dream and I am working hard to hopefully achieve it one day.



Decision Rationale



I had shortlisted numerous hatchbacks, my base list consisted of the below table, have excluded the below cars/brands for reasons pertaining to myself alone. Wagon R: Too boxy and high speed stability. Alto: Wonderful go cart where we sit down also like in a go cart. Datsun: Could not connect with the design and I do not see many cars in Pune. Chevy: Because GM told GB to India.



The representation is basis second hand costs in Pune and my judgment basis staying in Katraj. It brings out Swift, Grand i10 and Celerio at the top, I test drove numerous cars amongst the lot.



Grand i10: The Achilles heel is fuel efficiency due to it being a proper TC and service cost: so it was thrown out: I loved the feature packed and well done interiors (test drove an almost new car(2 year old) with remote start stop button, ahh the comfort and lack of security). There are so many almost new ones on sale in Pune, must be the fuel consumption panic that makes people sell the cars within 2/3 years of ownership.



Swift: Not many Amts out there but the Dzire had many. I was comfortable to look at a sedan also and went for many test drives. It ticked all boxes. Simply flawless and fun to drive, even in AMT it did what it was required from it. It was overpriced be certified or normal. True value seems even more priced than new cars if we calculate the costs of depreciation.



Tiago: I loved the cute styling but Pune has 5 service centers and none close to my home. I even went to the showroom to see if I can get a new one (they had a fancy EMI scheme), but the attitude of the sales staff is cockier than the potshots Tata keeps taking at other brands for safety.



Kwid: Lovely vehicle, artificially butch and well proportioned. The car in which I took a TD had some issue or might be natural. Though the seat was positioned fully back the minute I released my feet from the accelerator I could feel my knee bruise the steering. And also the control knob for gear looked flimsy. A wonderful and premium design poorly executed.



Buying experience @ Kothari Hyundai, Tikal road Pune



All dealers for Car Trade, Mahindra, TrueValue were charging a premium for good cars and their certification.



With continued research I found a Swift Dzire AMT (2016) and a Celerio AMT(2015). My primary interest was the Swift. After test driving both I felt Celerio calling out to me. Somehow I am a guy of comfort factor and the Celerio managed to over shadow Swift in terms of cost, cleanliness and positive vibrations (dont know how many BHPians relate to this)

I was given to understand that the Celerio was used as a secondary highway car for a businessman in Pune to travel to Pune/Mumbai once/twice a month. The ticket holder had numerous toll tickets to prove and also:



1. The car has covered 33K Kms in a span of 5 years.

2. The ASCs records were matching, drove her to the ASC and got records checked and did a basic mechanic check even before booking the car.

3. Highway machine and driver driven.

4. Nonsmoker and clean interior.

5. The dealer had swapped the seat covers and done a thorough cleaning(must have reads our TBHPs tips to sell a used car thread), the car looked almost new(bear with me)

Went ahead and booked the Celerio VXI, it seemed a bit over priced at 4.20 Lakh they were asking, bought it down and it still seemed overpriced: checked cartrade for value and it was in between the low and high range of 3.5L to 4.2L.



Cost to bank: 3,75,000 INR: Bank transfer using personal loan

Booking date: 24 Jan 2020

Insurance: Valid till April 2021



In all its glory:



Issues I was aware of while taking delivery:

1. Both bumpers painted, was informed that it is usually done for all cars

2. Battery to be changed

3. Rusting issue below battery holder

4. Insurance renewal

5. PUC is going to be 6 month affair rather than yearly affair due to BS3



Bringing the car on track:



My first stop was to get the car serviced

1. All fluids replaced

2. Battery change

3. Normal periodic service

4. Changed left headlight to HID: DIY

5. Black roof: Local chap



The service was done at authorized service center in Parvati industrial estate and it cost around 15K INR including the battery.



During a routine full body clean I was told that the spare tire trunk had some rust issues near the leak seal: this was a shocker for me as this issue was nonexistent during my check: NOTE: Mumbai travel history was a warning sign I failed to recognize. Had the same rectified immediately along with the battery bay rust by going to Katraj body shop of Maruti and it cost around 19K INR.





It has been a restrictive year till now, but my Odometer reads 43K, 10K KMs in a year.



1. Am I happy: Yes, I am!

2. No touch screen, rear camera must be difficult right? Naa, happy with my one plus connected to the Pioneer deck and reverse parking sensors ensure I dont reverse over confidently.

3. How is the AMT? I am a light footed person, like a cat. I dont stomp the accelerator /brake /clutch. And I feel the AMT set up is best suited for people who have feather light foot: BHPians: This can be a debate topic

4. Head nod bro: Every time there are more than 2 people on board, but very evident on Ghats and mall parkings. Occasionally I use a combination of manual and hand brake in Ghats and I feel like Tokyo drift while I creep my way out.

5. Maintenance @ ASC: Normal PMS stands at 10K INR, the service advisors scare you into buying additional stuff, Demyto is my next bet for yearly PMS and spot jobs.



Overall I am happy with the car, not many niggle.

I did not see any safety ratings in this purchase because genuinely there is not much of a balance of AMT, cost saving, safety and reliability out in the used car market in this budget.



On the bright side: whenever I upgrade in future I will be having a hell of an upgrade in terms of comfort to accessories.



Truth be told: I like the Celerio, easy to zip, easy on the pocket and honestly it is FUN TO DRIVE*.



*Recently DIY'ed spring buffers of Autoclue on to the front suspension and it entirely changed the driving dynamics of the car, much planted now







A huge shout out to Audioholics thread: My Maruti Celerio ZXi(O) AMT - A rare variant - Team-BHP (team-bhp.com) which helped me decide and understand the Celerio better.



A parting shot





As long as you enjoy the drive, it does not matter what you drive. Any one else having memories where you are racing around your friends in bicycles and imagining it to be Bikes/ Cars? For the sake of it I had renamed my cycle to, with such a rich childhood experience in a small town named Udhagamandalam I grew up with friends who had similar passion. Blessed to be surrounded by blessed people, I got to travel in many cars/ bikes at a fairly early age and wanted to get behind the wheel as soon as possible.After a few years (thats how 90s kids still treat themselves) ended up in Pune and was finally able to afford a second hand car. And I ended up with a Celerio AMT.Wait a minute I know and please let me explain more on why Eleanor ended up as1. First pre owned car, so need to test waters with low investment.2. Budget set till 4Lakh.3. Car age up to 5 years.4. Less than 40,000 Kilometers.5. Well maintained, the Team BHP guidelines.6. Good vibes: the car must give good positive vibration7. Prefer a car serviced at ASCs.8. Automatic: Travelling in self-drive cars and in Pune I realized the clutch was slowly making me hate driving so tilted towards AMT/Automatic as a first owning experience(anyways future is electric and automatic so why bother).9. I am a travel freak and do not want to be checking my already strapped pockets for fuel cash (Period: super happy with the 18Km/ltr I am getting).10. Low maintenance costs (let me circle back to this later).11. Known brand and ease of access to service centers and spares.12. Petrol (Period).13. I must be aware of the issues while buying the car and not be taken by surprise later.A. Have an OCD to be spic and span, so a new car in Pune would bring my heart out my throat within a few days: scratches, chips and what not: once I heard a person comment its Pune bro expect scratches and move on, to a Grand i10 owner whom he scratched with his ape.B. No car in India excites me to shell out money. Jimny, Tata HB2 and Thar (5 doors, rendered) makes me go weak, a year/two after they launch I will lay my hand on a new one. Ford Endeavor is my dream and I am working hard to hopefully achieve it one day.I had shortlisted numerous hatchbacks, my base list consisted of the below table, have excluded the below cars/brands for reasons pertaining to myself alone.The representation is basis second hand costs in Pune and my judgment basis staying in Katraj. It brings out Swift, Grand i10 and Celerio at the top, I test drove numerous cars amongst the lot.: The Achilles heel is fuel efficiency due to it being a proper TC and service cost: so it was thrown out: I loved the feature packed and well done interiors (test drove an almost new car(2 year old) with remote start stop button, ahh the comfort and lack of security). There are so many almost new ones on sale in Pune, must be the fuel consumption panic that makes people sell the cars within 2/3 years of ownership.: Not many Amts out there but the Dzire had many. I was comfortable to look at a sedan also and went for many test drives. It ticked all boxes. Simply flawless and fun to drive, even in AMT it did what it was required from it. It was overpriced be certified or normal. True value seems even more priced than new cars if we calculate the costs of depreciation.: I loved the cute styling but Pune has 5 service centers and none close to my home. I even went to the showroom to see if I can get a new one (they had a fancy EMI scheme), but the attitude of the sales staff is cockier than the potshots Tata keeps taking at other brands for safety.: Lovely vehicle, artificially butch and well proportioned. The car in which I took a TD had some issue or might be natural. Though the seat was positioned fully back the minute I released my feet from the accelerator I could feel my knee bruise the steering. And also the control knob for gear looked flimsy. A wonderful and premium design poorly executed.Buying experience @All dealers for Car Trade, Mahindra, TrueValue were charging a premium for good cars and their certification.With continued research I found a Swift Dzire AMT (2016) and a Celerio AMT(2015). My primary interest was the Swift.I was given to understand that the Celerio was used as a secondary highway car for a businessman in Pune to travel to Pune/Mumbai once/twice a month. The ticket holder had numerous toll tickets to prove and also:1. The car has covered 33K Kms in a span of 5 years.2. The ASCs records were matching, drove her to the ASC and got records checked and did a basic mechanic check even before booking the car.3. Highway machine and driver driven.4. Nonsmoker and clean interior.5. The dealer had swapped the seat covers and done a thorough cleaning(must have reads our TBHPs tips to sell a used car thread), the car looked almost new(bear with me)Went ahead and booked the Celerio VXI, it seemed a bit over priced at 4.20 Lakh they were asking, bought it down and it still seemed overpriced: checked cartrade for value and it was in between the low and high range of 3.5L to 4.2L.Cost to bank: 3,75,000 INR: Bank transfer using personal loanBooking date: 24 Jan 2020Insurance: Valid till April 2021In all its glory:Issues I was aware of while taking delivery:1. Both bumpers painted, was informed that it is usually done for all cars2. Battery to be changed3. Rusting issue below battery holder4. Insurance renewal5. PUC is going to be 6 month affair rather than yearly affair due to BS3Bringing the car on track:My first stop was to get the car serviced1. All fluids replaced2. Battery change3. Normal periodic service4. Changed left headlight to HID: DIY5. Black roof: Local chapThe service was done at authorized service center in Parvati industrial estate and it cost around 15K INR including the battery.During a routine full body clean I was told that the spare tire trunk had some rust issues near the leak seal: this was a shocker for me as this issue was nonexistent during my check:. Had the same rectified immediately along with the battery bay rust by going to Katraj body shop of Maruti and it cost around 19K INR.It has been a restrictive year till now, but my Odometer reads 43K, 10K KMs in a year.1. Am I happy: Yes, I am!2. No touch screen, rear camera must be difficult right? Naa, happy with my one plus connected to the Pioneer deck and reverse parking sensors ensure I dont reverse over confidently.3. How is the AMT? I am a light footed person, like a cat. I dont stomp the accelerator /brake /clutch.4. Head nod bro: Every time there are more than 2 people on board, but very evident on Ghats and mall parkings. Occasionally I use a combination of manual and hand brake in Ghats and I feel like Tokyo drift while I creep my way out.5. Maintenance @ ASC: Normal PMS stands at 10K INR, the service advisors scare you into buying additional stuff, Demyto is my next bet for yearly PMS and spot jobs.Overall I am happy with the car, not many niggle.On the bright side: whenever I upgrade in future I will be having a hell of an upgrade in terms of comfort to accessories.Truth be told: I like the Celerio, easy to zip, easy on the pocket and honestly it is FUN TO DRIVE*.*Recently DIY'ed spring buffers of Autoclue on to the front suspension and it entirely changed the driving dynamics of the car, much planted nowA huge shout out to Audioholics thread: My Maruti Celerio ZXi(O) AMT - A rare variant - Team-BHP (team-bhp.com) which helped me decide and understand the Celerio better.A parting shot
A proposal in the Congress would designate June 19 as a national holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. But a key Black congressman says another day might be better.

Why it matters: The nation is struggling with how to commemorate and discuss emancipation amid a racial awaking, and the disagreement about even the date that it should be marked shows the effort still faces some major obstacles.

The details: A group of House and Senate Democrats recently introduced a bill to declare June 19 as a paid federal holiday to honor the end of slavery in the U.S.

For years, Juneteenth has been celebrated in Houston and Galveston, Texas, to commemorate U.S. Major General Gordon Granger issuing General Order No. 3 during the Civil War.

That order announced that, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, that all slaves are free. It was one of the last places in the U.S. where enslaved people learned of emancipation.

Juneteenth recently has become a day marked in other cities and became a rallying point last year following the death of George Floyd.

The intrigue: Companies and trade groups, like Spotify and the American Hotel & Lodging Association, are endorsing the idea of making Juneteenth a national holiday.

"Creating a new national holiday for Juneteenth brings even greater meaning to the unifying power of travelwith the holiday having the potential to help the nation heal and create a more perfect union, said Tori Barnes, the U.S. Travel Association's executive vice president of public affairs and policy.

Some companies, like Altria, Nike, and J.C. Penney, have allowed employees to take the day off.

Yes, but: House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said not everyone sees Juneteenth as the moment of emancipation, and other days should be considered.

"Yeah, I don't accept the notion that Juneteenth is the day that Blacks were freed from slavery. Now Juneteenth was the day that Black folks in Texas got freed from slavery. So it was a Texas holiday."

Clyburn said Jan. 1, 1863, is significant to him. That's the day U.S. Gen. Rufus Saxton gathered a diverse crowd at a site of a former plantation in South Carolina for one of the earliest readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.

"About 4,000 people there did not continue in slavery."

What to watch: Supporters of an emancipation remembrance holiday will have to agree on a day and then write a bill that will face resistance in a divided Senate.
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Authorities in Miami Beach are facing allegations of racism after extending an 8pm curfew and state of emergency in response to largely black crowds of spring break revelers, who officials say are 'overwhelming' the city with unruly behavior.

Miami Beach police have arrested more than 1,000 people in the past month, and faced criticism after using pepper balls and sounds cannons on the crowd on Saturday night, which black leaders called 'unnecessary force'.

'I was very disappointed,' Stephen Hunter Johnson, chairman of Miami-Dade's Black Affairs Advisory Committee, told the Miami Herald. 'I think when they're young black people [on South Beach], the response is, 'Oh my God, we have to do something.'

City officials say they are concerned about the potential for the large crowds to drive the spread of coronavirus, and cite lawless behavior and rampant property destruction as additional reasons to impose the curfew, which on Sunday was extended up to three weeks.

Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements told Herald his officers only fired tear gas on Saturday as the crowd began to surge toward them. He said police wouldn't fire the pepper balls simply to break up a crowd, and that the incident would be reviewed internally.

On Sunday night, huge crowds of thousands once again defied curfew to party in the streets of Miami Beach, but police were noticeably more hands off following the racism allegations, gently encouraging the spring breakers to leave the area.

Defiant crowds lingered on the streets long after curfew, throwing cash in the air and jumping on cars as they taunted police ordering them to disperse.

Huge crowds again defied curfew in Miami Beach on Sunday night, after frustrated city leaders extended a state of emergency saying the wild crowds on the streets pose a risk of escalating the coronavirus pandemic

Thousands of Spring Breakers have arrived in the South Florida area for the annual spring break ritual, prompting city officials to impose an 8pm to 6am curfew as the coronavirus pandemic continues

Defiant crowds of revelers ignored the order for the second night in a row on Sunday taking to the streets and throwing cash in the air as they taunted police ordering them to disperse

City Manager Raul Aguila noted that the crowds weren't eating at restaurants or patronizing businesses generating badly needed tourism dollars, but merely congregating by the thousands in the street

Authorities in Miami Beach are facing allegations of racism after extending an 8pm curfew and state of emergency in response to largely black crowds of spring break revelers. Above, crowds are seen on Sunday night

At an emergency city commission meeting on Sunday, the city's manager said the crush of spring breakers was 'overwhelming' the city and the measures were needed to quell 'the potential for violence, disruption and damage to property.'

'These aren't your typical spring breakers,' Interim City Manager Raul Aguila said, according to the Miami Herald.

The police arrested more than 50 people on Saturday night after calling for the curfew; at least eight firearms were confiscated.

To enforce the curfew, police have erected road blocks on major bridges leading to Miami Beach from the mainland, infuriating residents who say it took them up to four hours to return home on Saturday night.

City officials have said the massive and unruly crowds might not be college students - and instead could be adults heading to Florida, one of the states that has fully opened amid others still clamped down with coronavirus restrictions.

In recent weeks, South Beach saw brawls, crowd stampedes and police confrontations involving the use of pepper balls. Miami Beach police have made over 1,000 arrests since February and at least five officers have been hurt on the job, the department said.

This weekend, thousands of people have packed the city's Art Deco Cultural District resulting in bedlam and lawlessness.

Restaurants have reported that many patrons are 'dining and dashing' without paying their checks, and an outside patio at one eatery was severely damaged.

Some businesses have decided to shut down temporarily. The Clevelander on Friday shut down food and bottle service for five days after a fight broke out at the venue.

City officials have said the massive and unruly crowds might not be college students - and instead could be adults heading to Florida, one of the states that has fully opened amid others still clamped down

On Sunday night, huge crowds of thousands once again defied curfew to party in the streets of Miami Beach, but police were noticeably more hands off following the racism allegations

A Miami Beach police officer informs people on an 8pm curfew on Sunday as officials try to control wild Spring Break crowds

A Spring Breaker twerks next to a police car after curfew on Sunday night. Cops in Miami Beach were more hands off on Sunday, following allegations that their crowd control efforts the day prior were racially motivated

A woman flaunts her freedom as spring breakers look on during the second night of curfew in Miami Beach on Sunday

After police in tactical gear and SWAT vehicles used pepper balls and sound cannons to disperse the crowds on Saturday night, black church leaders decried the tactics as an unnecessary use of force and racially motivated, as many of the revelers pictured in Miami Beach over the weekend have been black.

An email and phone call to Miami Beach Police was not immediately returned Sunday.

Mayor Dan Gelber told an emergency meeting of the city commission that all manner of out-of-town and out-of-state visitors, not just college students, were filling the streets since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on February 26 called the state an 'oasis of freedom' from coronavirus restrictions.

'It looked like a rock concert. All you could see was wall to wall people,' City Manager Raul Aguila told the commission.

Mayor Dan Gelber told an emergency meeting of the city commission that all manner of out-of-town and out-of-state visitors, not just college students, were filling the streets

Cops order Spring Breakers to disperse on Sunday in Miami Beach. More than half of the more than 1,000 arrests were from out of state, said Aguila, adding many are coming 'to engage in lawlessness and an anything goes party attitude'

Police try to control the crowds after an 8pm curfew goes into effect in Miami Beach on Sunday night

Police and goodwill workers from the city of Miami herd large crowds off Ocean Drive on Sunday for a second night in a row. The Miami Beach city commission on Sunday voted to extend an extraordinary 8pm curfew and emergency powers

In recent days, thousands of people have packed the city's Art Deco Cultural District resulting sometimes in lawlessness

Cops responded Sunday with a heavy presence but softer tactics than the night before, slowly pushing the crowd west

Miami Beach has drawn many black revelers, and black church leaders have accused the police of using 'unnecessary force' to break up the crowds

More than half of the more than 1,000 arrests were from out of state, said Aguila, adding many are coming 'to engage in lawlessness and an anything goes party attitude.'

He also noted that the crowds weren't eating at restaurants or patronizing businesses generating badly needed tourism dollars, but merely congregating by the thousands in the street.

Aguila said he noticed a surge on Friday night and imposed emergency powers on Saturday to set a curfew and close streets and highways in the area.

The commission on Sunday agreed to grant Aguila the authority to extend the curfew and street closures for up to three more seven-day periods as needed, starting on Tuesday.

Gelber said the mass crowds gathered at a time when the surrounding county was experiencing 1,000 new infections of COVID-19 each day and with 50 to 100 people being hospitalized each day.

Miami Beach police officers direct people away from the area as an 8pm curfew is in place on Sunday in Miami Beach

Women in revealing outfits are seen on Sunday night in Miami Beach, where crowds defied curfew for a second night

The police arrested more than 50 people on Saturday night after calling for the curfew; at least eight firearms were confiscated. Pictured, Spring Breakers resist calls to disperse on Sunday

Mayor Gelber said the mass crowds (above on Sunday) gathered at a time when the surrounding county was experiencing 1,000 new infections of COVID-19 each day and with 50 to 100 people being hospitalized each day

Large crowds gathered on Ocean Drive for a second night in a row on Sunday as cops struggled to enforce curfew

The festivities took an ugly turn as some of the men in the crowd jumped on a parked car and trashed it on Sunday

The trashed vehicle is seen in the aftermath as cops try to push Spring Breakers away from Ocean Drive

After days of partying, including several confrontations between police and large crowds, Miami Beach officials had enough and on Saturday ordered the first emergency curfew from 8pm til 6am.

On Saturday night, officers in bulletproof vests dispersed pepper spray balls to break up wild groups that descended on sunny South Beach by the thousands, trashing restaurants and flooding the streets without masks or social distancing despite COVID-19 restrictions.

A SWAT vehicle was filmed moving down Ocean Drive - a popular party street - and using an LRAD, also known as a sound cannon, to get people to disperse, video posted to Twitter shows.

Tourists were urged to stay inside their hotels and pedestrians or vehicles were not allowed to enter the restricted area after 8pm.

The emergency order caused confusion, and defiance, in some cases. It was announced at 4pm, just four hours before it was to go into effect.

Videos flooded social media during that time as rebellious - but largely nonviolent - crowds refused to disperse.

Some people responded by jumping on top of cars, twerking and throwing money into the air.

An officer surveys the crowd ahead of Sunday's 8pm curfew in Miami Beach after curfew was extended for three weeks

Cops were out in force on Sunday night but showed a softer hand after racism accusations from black leaders

Police wait for the 8pm curfew in Miami Beach on Sunday. In recent days, thousands of people have packed the city's Art Deco Cultural District resulting in bedlam

Around 9pm on Saturday, Miami Beach Police tweeted pictures of empty streets.

'Our city in this area has become a tinder,' Mayor Gelber said at a press conference Saturday. 'And we can't have a policy of simply hoping it's not lit.'

The curfew comes as the iconic bar, the Clevelander South Beach, announced it was temporarily suspending all food and beverage operations until at least March 24 after crowds crammed Ocean Drive, breaking out into street fights.

At another restaurant next door, tables and chairs were smashed during a fight, news outlets reported.

Local officials and businesses have struggled to balance courting tourists to boost the economy while doing so safely amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Police patrol Miami Beach Sunday afternoon, as spring breakers walk down Ocean Drive the scene of last night's trouble

On Sunday morning roadblocks were seen on Ocean Drive as a state of emergency and curfew orders remain in effect to curb wild partying

Miami Beach was relatively empty on Sunday morning with only joggers and a few beach goers

Miami tourism officials say billions of dollars were lost when the pandemic first erupted last year, canceling spring break and forcing beach closures across the Sunshine State. The city's tourism arm just spent $5 million on its biggest national advertising campaign in 20 years.

At the same time, local officials banned alcohol from the beach, along with all alcohol sales after 10pm in an effort to curb partying. The city even sent cellphone text messages to tourists warning, 'Vacation Responsibly or Be Arrested.'

'Spring break in Miami Beach may be one of the great rites of passage, but only if you plan on following the rules. Otherwise, you might as well just stay home and save yourself the court costs,' the message read.

But local officials have struggled to enforce COVID ordinances. Under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis pro-business stance, Florida has no statewide mask rules, limits on capacity or other such restrictions.
DORAL, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 19, 2021 / The company believes that software should be a high performance asset, not an expense. Following that principle, Silver Bullet has been providing logistics solutions to global players for over two decades.

Global forwarding operations are only becoming more complex over the years, which makes the work of companies like Silver Bullet more important than ever. Silver Bullet is a software solutions provider that specializes in providing tools to assist companies with their logistics needs.

This includes assisting companies with a variety of freight operations, including importing and exporting goods through ocean, air, and trucking. This is achieved through a modular platform with a vast number of integration options, which helps it meet a variety of enterprise needs.

In an interview with the Logistics Tech Outlook magazine, Silver Bullet's Business Services Director Marcia Dorer explained the strengths of their software.

"We designed and developed a modular, comprehensive, and adaptable logistics business software platform for this market. Logistics customers can deploy the functionality that is specific to their service platform and, when appropriate, add modules that support additional services," she said.

The modular platform allows customers to develop their own applications to expand the platform's capabilities, or they can rely on Silver Bullet's team to do that.

"We empower our clients with the tools to astonish their customers with extraordinary service," Dorer added in the same interview.

This modular approach is crucial to make sure that clients can always get what they need out of the platform. This beats the traditional one-size-fits-all solution often put forward by software providers, which forces companies to change their operations in order to conform to the limitation of the software they are using.

Logistics software solutions built by Silver Bullet Technologies are designed to avoid that problem and empower clients to provide excellent service. This is the consequence of one of the company's core principles, as they put forward that software should be a high performance asset, not an expense.

The company's freight forwarding software is a good example of this at play. It can help companies:

Remain compliant with regional transport regulations by checking license requirements, screening denied party lists, managing tax requirements and more;

Manage and electronically submit digital documents such as Export declarations, Air Waybills, Invoices, Transport Orders, Arrival Notices, etc.;

Configure Milestones and Alerts to automatically track and report on all shipments and send notifications based on your business rules;

Display customer-specific service requirements, special notes and handling instructions on-screen for any party involved in a freight bill.

And that's just a small sample of what the software can do. The full list of base-level capabilities is available on https://www.silverbt.com/freight-forwarding-software/, and those can be further expanded through the use of software integrations.

On top of helping to make the platform more robust and flexible, integration also enables automation tools to be used more effectively. It does so by allowing software solutions to exchange information between them, which makes it easier to automate tasks, allocate workflow, and put together detailed reports of ongoing operations. All without having to manually bridge the gap between different solutions.

Contact:

Dexter Dorer

dexterstephen@silverbt.com

305 606 5941

SOURCE: Silver Bullet Technologies, LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636637/Silver-Bullet-Technologies-is-Expanding-Its-Freight-Forwarding-Logistics-Software-Solutions-in-Europe
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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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

In whats been an unprecedented and difficult year for education, theres been little reason for teachers, students and parents to cheer.

One notable exception, however, has been a statewide rise in graduation rates of two percentage points during the 2019-20 school year, lifting the state graduation rate to 76.9%, according to the Public Education Department.

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State Education Secretary Ryan Stewart told the Journal it was an especially impressive accomplishment given the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced New Mexico students into virtual learning throughout much of the past year.

Its a real testament to the attention that our school districts paid to making sure that they could support their seniors, Stewart said.

But, with the majority of New Mexico students having learned remotely most of the current school year, its unclear how graduation rates will be impacted moving forward. PED recently called on districts statewide to reopen in-person learning in April.

That includes Santa Fe Public Schools, where the graduation rate shot up nine percentage points over the past year. Superintendent Veronica Garcia said the PED providing extra time for students to graduate helped many seniors cross the finish line, especially those who were struggling.

That I think made a big difference for everyone statewide, Garcia said.

Significant increase

However, school leaders say graduation rates are a point of concern for the 2020-21 school year. In October, nearly half of all Santa Fe middle and high school students were failing at least one class, a trend mirrored across the state as students continued to struggle with virtual learning.

Were really concerned because theres a high failure rate among our seniors, Santa Fe High School Principal Carl Marano said. I just know the longer that this would have gone on, with everything being completely remote, it would have definitely been a dramatic decrease for sure.

Stewart agreed that virtual learning only was not a successful model for New Mexicos students.

If we had any notion that we could just push everything online, we were disabused of that notion this year, he said.

Marano said he hopes the districts recent shift to hybrid learning will help more seniors graduate before the year is out. Eighty-six percent of Santa Fe High seniors graduated last school year  an increase of 11 percentage points over the previous year  but only 75% are on track to graduate so far, Marano said.

At Capital High School, 70% of students are on track to graduate, Principal Jaime Holladay said. She said that graduation rates need to be examined in context with previous years and that Capital has been trending in a positive direction over the past few years.

It really is making those meaningful connections with students, cheering them on and helping them to stay motivated, she said.

SFPS graduation rates have improved dramatically over the past decade. In 2011, the rate stood at a paltry 56%, but rose to a record 86% in 2020.

The most recent increase, however, still stands out as an abnormally large one for Santa Fe. Stewart said that, in his time working in the educational field, increases like that are rare for large school districts.

I dont think you typically see a one-year gain of that magnitude when youve got that level of sample size, Stewart said. I do think that its extremely significant.

Changing the rules

In April 2020, after the pandemic had already interrupted in-person learning, PED issued guidance for districts to adopt a pass/fail grading system in place of the letter grading system. While Santa Fe kept letter grades, other districts, such as Albuquerque  which accounts for around 25% of the states student population  went to the pass/fail system.

And, while graduation rates went up on a statewide scale, some districts saw a lower percentage of graduates than in previous years.

Pojoaque Valley Schools, just north of Santa Fe, for instance, saw fewer seniors graduate in 2020 than it did the year prior, with the final rate dropping about five percentage points to 71%.

Pojoaque Valley Superintendent Sondra Adams said many more seniors last year elected to earn their GED diploma rather than graduate. Many students, she said, found virtual learning to be an extremely difficult adjustment and others had to start working to help their families.

The reasons, when I went back and reviewed it, were pandemic-related jobs or online virtual learning, Adams said.

Currently, 35 students of Pojoaques senior class of 155 are in danger of not graduating. Adams said they have invited at-risk students back to in-person learning in hopes of getting them back on track  so far, five have taken advantage of the offer.

Adams said not having traditional mile markers for a senior year  such as prom and a formal graduation  can make it more difficult to retain students who may already be on the edge of not graduating, and that these problems are statewide.

Our students deserve the right to graduate, she said. And, hopefully, we can improve that.

Other data points for the class of 2020 have remained blank. Standardized testing, an important set of achievement data for the state, was canceled soon after the pandemic hit.

When asked how seriously numbers for the class of 2020 should be taken and whether it should be considered a year with an asterisk, Stewart said graduating students had made a significant achievement by succeeding during a difficult year.

I think that they deserve to be applauded and that their teachers deserve to be applauded for being able to make it happen, he said.
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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: COVID-19 vaccines contain aluminum, a toxic ingredient that enters the brain and causes disease.

THE FACTS: The COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use in the United States do not contain any aluminum, according to their ingredient lists. Nor do the AstraZeneca or Sputnik V vaccines.

Some Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, as well as some vaccines used against other diseases, do use tiny amounts of aluminum to help boost the immune response. This method is safe and the quantity of aluminum is trivial compared to what humans encounter elsewhere in everyday life, experts say.

Aluminum has been used in vaccines since the 1930s as an adjuvant, or immune booster, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The amount of aluminum in a shot is minimal  similar to the amount of aluminum found in a liter of baby formula, the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia explains.

Posts circulating widely on social media this week weaponized long-held misconceptions about the safety of aluminum in vaccines to stoke fears in the population about getting a COVID-19 shot, even though most coronavirus vaccines that are currently in use dont contain the ingredient. A video viewed more than 200,000 times on Instagram featured footage from a February 2020 committee hearing in the Connecticut General Assembly in which a doctor testified that the aluminum in vaccines is dangerous.

Its false to suggest that the aluminum in vaccines is the cause of significant health problems, according to Dr. Christopher Gill, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Boston University School of Public Health. The safety of aluminum adjuvants has been researched extensively, and there are no harmful effects detectable, Gill told The Associated Press in an email.

The amount of aluminum in a typical vaccine is about a thousand times less than the recommended safe dose for aluminum exposure, Gill said.

Its also far less than the amount of aluminum we expose ourselves to from things we eat, drink and touch on a daily basis, according to Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and director of the Vaccine Education Center.

Social media users commenting on the Instagram post also interpreted it to refer to the COVID-19 vaccines that have become more widely available in recent months. Thats misleading as most COVID-19 vaccines currently in use contain no aluminum.

Some Chinese COVID-19 vaccines do use aluminum adjuvants, according to their ingredient lists.

Other immunizations that use aluminum adjuvants include vaccines against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus and the DTaP vaccine, which protects children against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

In all cases, vaccines containing adjuvants are tested for safety and effectiveness in clinical trials before they are licensed for use in the United States, and they are continuously monitored by CDC and FDA once they are approved, the CDC says on its website.
San Francisco, March 21 : A court in Nevada has sentenced Russian citizen Sergey Medvedev to 10 years in jail for being a part of a transnational cybercrime enterprise engaged in mass acquisition and sale of fraud-related goods and services, including stolen identities, compromised credit card data, computer malware, and other contraband.

Medvedev was sentenced for his role in a criminal group known as Infraud Organization which victimised millions of people in all 50 states of the US and caused more than $568 million in financial losses, the US Department of Justice said in a statement on Friday.

Along with Medvedev, the US court sentenced Marko Leopard, 31, of North Macedonia, to five years in jail as part of the Infraud case.

"Sergey Medvedev, aka 'Stells', 'segmed', and 'serjbear', 33, of Russia, pleaded guilty in the District of Nevada to one count of racketeering conspiracy in June 2020 and was sentenced today to 10 years in prison," the US Department of Justice said.

According to court documents, Medvedev was a co-founder of Infraud along with Syvatoslav Bondarenko of Ukraine.

From November 2010 until Infraud was taken down by law enforcement in February 2018, Medvedev was an active participant in the Infraud online forum, operating an "escrow" service to facilitate illegal transactions among Infraud members.

For several years, Medvedev served as Infraud's administrator, handling day-to-day management, deciding membership, and meting out discipline to those who violated the enterprise's rules, the US Department of Justice said.

Infraud was a criminal enterprise that existed to enrich its members and associates through a myriad of criminal acts of identity theft and financial fraud.

Infraud facilitated the sale of contraband by its members, including counterfeit documents, stolen bank account and credit account information, and stolen personal identifying information.

The enterprise, which boasted over 10,000 members at its peak and operated for more than seven years under the slogan "In Fraud We Trust," is among the largest ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

Infraud was responsible for the sale and/or purchase of over four million compromised credit and debit card numbers, the US Department of Justice said.

The actual loss associated with Infraud was in excess of $568 million, it added.
The Queen is 'constantly frustrated with Prince Charles' who will 'never live up to her sense of duty', a royal expert has claimed in a new documentary.

Clive Irving, author of the new biography The Last Queen, believes no members of the royal family have 'measured up' to Her Majesty's enduring sense of duty.

During the Channel 4 documentary Queen Elizabeth: Love, Honour and Crown, which airs tonight at 9pm, Irving argues that the Queen, 94, has 'never really understood' her eldest son Charles, 72, - heir to the throne - and is 'puzzled by him.'

Scroll down for video

The Channel 4 documentary, Queen Elizabeth: Love, Honour and Crown, which airs tonight at 9pm, sees royal commentators discussing the Queen's relationship with her oldest son, and heir to the throne. Author Clive Irving said the Monarch is 'constantly frustrated' with Prince Charles (Pictured: The Queen and Prince Charles at the 2019 Braemar Highland Games)

Irving also said the Queen was more drawn to being 'openly affectionate' with Prince Andrew (Pictured: Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2019)

Irving also claims that Prince William is the only royal who fully appreciates the Monarch's 'very dedicated sense of duty', saying: 'All those around the Queen never measure up to that at any point. Her own family has not measured up to that. Charles never measures up to that.'

The royal author also said the Queen is more drawn to Prince Andrew, 61, than his older brother, saying: 'To this day, she's more openly affectionate to Andrew and more forgiving toward Andrew than she is towards Charles.'

Also discussing the different characters of the siblings, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, called Charles 'the polar opposite to younger brother Andrew'.

She said: 'He's [Andrew] noisy, bumptious, very charming, when he wants to be. He can be arrogant and rude; he has some characteristics of his own father.'

Clive Irving, filmed during a recent interview about his latest book, The Last Queen, is one of many royal commentators appearing in the Channel 4 documentary

Prince Andrew pictured wearing a face mask as he arrived out for an early morning ride at Windsor today

The Duke Of York arrived in a Range Rover and could be seen waving with his hand in the air (pictured)

Discussing the different characters of the siblings, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, called Charles 'the polar opposite to younger brother Andrew'. Pictured, Prince Andrew arriving at Windsor today

The Duke of York could be seen heading out horse-riding with two others at Windsor this morning

Prince Andrew donned a helmet and padded blue jacket as she headed out in the brisk weather conditions this morning

Prince Andrew pictured out for an early morning ride at Windsor this morning

Seward added that Andrew's active service in the Navy, following Prince Philip, including piloting helicopters on missions during the Falklands War ensured he had returned 'like a war hero, his mother was proud'.

She said that as first and second in line to the throne at that time, Charles and Andrew represented 'everything the monarchy could be'.

The documentary claims to be an 'in-depth examination of several dramatic conflicts between Crown and Family during the Queen's long reign' and begins with looking at the Queen and Prince Philip's early romance in the mid Forties.

This week, a source close to the royal family claimed Prince William does not believe he is 'trapped' inside the system of the British monarchy, something claimed by Prince Harry

The couple's wedding in 1947 was, it's mooted, supposed to be a low-key affair but was hijacked by the need to offer some post-war jubilation and turned into a much grander national celebration.

The programme also suggests that Prince Philip, 99, who's recovering from a month-long stay in London hospitals following a recent period of ill health, played a significant role in modernising the monarchy.

Declassified documents obtained by Channel 4 also reveal that the Queen granted her permission for Princess Margaret's ill-fated engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorcee - but that the Monarch had to strike a deal with then Prime Minister Anthony Eden for the potential wedding to get the green light from the Government

The documentary features now-declassified documents, including one shedding light on Princess Margaret's ill-fated engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorcee who was equerry to King George VI.

The Queen couldn't offer her consent for a wedding to go ahead because she is head of the Church, which didn't allow divorcees to marry in church at that period in history - but some have claimed that the Monarch had tried to 'thwart' the marriage, which the documents now disprove.

The documents obtained by Channel 4 show the then Prime Minister Anthony Eden had to also give his consent, and the Queen and the PM struck a deal for a wedding to go ahead. The couple didn't make it down the aisle, however, with Princess Margaret eventually calling off their love affair.

This week, a source close to the royal family claimed Prince William does not believe he is 'trapped' inside the system of the British monarchy, something claimed by Prince Harry during his interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this month.

Instead, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the throne behind his father, has 'accepted' his role and 'the path set for him', royal sources say.

'He is very much his grandmother's grandson in that respect of duty and service,' the source, who is close to both brothers, told the Sunday Times.

Queen Elizabeth: Love, Honour and Crown airs on Sunday 21st March at 9pm on Channel 4
New set of quarantine guidelines for returnees to Sri Lanka By Kumudini Hettiarachchi, Ruqyyaha Deane & Meleeza Rathnayake View(s): View(s):

The quarantining guidelines for those returning to Sri Lanka have changed as of Thursday (March 18).

Here are the guidelines, according to the Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena:

All those returning to the country without getting both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine 

Those going into hotel quarantine will be released in 7 days, followed by 7 more days in home quarantine, if both the 1st (done when they come into the country) and the 7th day RT-PCR tests are negative.

Those going into state quarantine centres will be released after the 10th day, followed by 4 more days in home quarantine, if both the 1st (done when they come into the country) and the 10th day RT-PCR tests are negative. The 14-day home quarantine, they underwent earlier has been scrapped.

All those returning to the country after getting both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine 

Both doses of the vaccine should have been taken two weeks prior to their arrival.

If the on-arrival RT-PCR test is negative (they will have to wait in a hotel for a short period until the results are given), they can leave for home. Thereafter, they will have to undergo another RT-PCR test on the 7th day.
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A local priest, who has been fined by gardai for celebrating public Mass, has vowed that he will continue to say Mass and exercise his constitutional right even though people are complaining.



Mullahorans Fr PJ Hughes, writing in the parish bulletin this weekend, informed parishioners the gardai have issued a fine because I celebrated Mass with people present.



The Irish Catholic Newspaper reported yesterday that Fr Hughes was fined 500. They also report that sources close to the priest have suggested he is determined not to pay the fine and is prepared to go to jail if necessary.



Last November, gardai approached Fr Hughes and requested that he close the church when he is celebrating Mass to prevent parishioners from attending.



From Mount Temple in Westmeath, Fr Hughes is critical of health and government officials, suggesting that life has become burdened by restrictions and that their advice has turned people against each other.



He says, We are committing a grave mistake by rejecting our Lord and God Jesus Christ by staying away because government officials say we must. I do not accept and will not accept this demand.



Fr Hughes, relocated from the Leamonaghan parish in Offaly, to become parish priest in Mullahoran in August 2019, and he acknowledges that by his actions he is not obeying and going against the advice of Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Francis Duffy.



Here is what Fr Hughes wrote in his message to parishioners in the Mullahoran and Loughduff bulletin this weekend;



I do not accept the negative message of our leaders who are telling us to stay away from Jesus. He is there for us in the sacraments and wants to give himself to us.



Life has become burdened by restrictions; health officials telling us to wear masks and not to go to the church in case we catch the virus. This has turned people against each other.



If I wish to wear the mask that is fine, but I am not obliged to challenge others who do not wish to wear it. That is their free choice and constitutional right and it should not be taken away from them.



If Christians were as determined to spread the message that Christ is our Saviour as they are to challenge others for not obeying restrictions laid down by this government then we would be on the right track and truly living Lent. May we recognise Gods mercy and be drawn to him rather than be obsessed by regulations and restrictions.



Next Sunday begins the journey of Holy Week. It is hard to believe that for a second year people cannot come to take part in the ceremonies of Holy Week.



Despite the size of the church and the holy place that it is because of the presence of Jesus in the Holy Tabernacle, the church has been deemed a hot spot for the spread of the virus by the gardai. The majority of people are healthy and able to go shopping, bring their children to school and many are working in enclosed environments.



We are committing a grave mistake by rejecting our Lord and God Jesus Christ by staying away because government officials say we must.



I do not accept and will not accept this demand by people who do not realise the wrong they are doing. It is our constitutional right to protest so long as it is peaceful; it is our constitutional right to practice our faith and assemble to pray together.



For those who are afraid of catching the virus in the church then they have the free choice to stay home and live their lives as they think it best to do.



I have been reported again and the gardai have issued a fine because I celebrated Mass with people present. I will exercise my constitutional right even though people are complaining, even though I am not obeying my bishop when I go against his advice. We cant just reject Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
BrianAJackson/iStockBy SOPHIE TATUM, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- The Education Department announced this week it would fully forgive the federal loans of borrowers who enrolled in schools that "engaged in certain misconduct."



Under the Trump administration, some students were only given partial relief, the department said. The Education Department estimates the new formula could help approximately 72,000 borrowers receive $1 billion.



"Borrowers deserve a simplified and fair path to relief when they have been harmed by their institutions misconduct," said the new Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, in a statement. "A close review of these claims and the associated evidence showed these borrowers have been harmed and we will grant them a fresh start from their debt."



In 2019, then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos faced intense scrutiny over her handling of the issue when she appeared before the House Education and Labor committee. The Education Department says it will now ensure borrowers with approved claims "have a streamlined path to receiving full loan discharges," including individuals who previously received "less than a full loan discharge."



The department added that it will also be "pursuing additional actions, including re-regulation, in the future."



Democrats, including House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott of Virginia, applauded the move.



"For more than four years, defrauded borrowers and their families have lived under a cloud of education debt that they should not have to repay," he said in a statement. "I applaud the Biden Administration for doing the right thing by making these borrowers whole, and I can only imagine the mixture of joy and relief they are feeling today. This announcement is lifechanging for tens of thousands of people across the country."



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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Congratulations on your admits. Fantastic job!It is always a little tricky with MBA when your goal is entrepreneurship or startups. Traditionally start ups dont have the luxury or the benefits of paying for a business school degree. (Unless we are talking about companies like Uber snd Airbnb that have thousands of employees, millions if you count the drivers... I consider these tech, not startups). Traditional startups also often have a much shorter time horizon and are looking to hire experienced professionals that are able to affect change immediately and can bring strong track record with them. Sometimes that means its a business school graduate but often its not. Also, if youre starting your own business, going to business school can help in the sense that you can nurture your idea and work on it while youre at school. You can also recruit classmates and join various business plan competitions and get connected with venture capitalists and people who could mentor you along the way. Getting a mentor is super important. At the same time you are digging yourself deeper into debt and it is challenging to be the start up mode when you potentially not making any money and having rent and a loan payments due. The traditional entrepreneurship books recommend starting your own business while youre still employed for that particular reason. To minimize risk, they recommend it starting a new venture well you have a job and a paycheck and if it doesnt work out, then your loss is only your time. I have known a few people who went on to start the round ventures out of business school. Not because they couldnt find a job but because they wanted to. There are always folks who start a business because nobody will hire them. Anyway, they all took slightly different paths. Some of them did nothing with their school network well some of them teamed up with their classmates. Some of them participated in business fun competitions and one while others did not. Are usually the biggest help and assistance you can receive his financial. The biggest question is how can your business degree help you land funding. That is often the difference between a successful start up and the failed one....Anyway, on to school choices... IMD has traditionally been almost like an executive MBA program so its no wonder that you liked and appreciated their approach the most. Thats like flying business class versus economy  they to have more experienced candidates and have a smaller class size with a tight on network. Their application process has traditionally been most grueling with seven essays. Im not sure if they have simplified it since. They tend to focus on mid to upper management groups. You get the benefit of a more senior network. Much smaller one though. I dont know how their selectivity is. Did you get a sense from them alums about the responsiveness of the alums?At the same time, Im not sure that IMD is the best school for entrepreneurship between a high cost that would require sinking money in and the more traditional corporate network, it seems a great choice for somebody to try to break into a multinational corporation rather than a start up.While I think IMD Theres a fantastic school. I really do. In your case I think its probably better to focus on either Cambridge or IESE. And the choice is pretty straightforward. I would consider your options based on the program links and whether you feel you need the internship in the summer as the primary choice.I could see both Cambridge and IESE working out fairly well. Theres a pretty strong tech and mobile start up activity in Barcelona. It is also pretty cosmopolitan but you probably will need to learn Spanish sooner or later. At the same time, I dont think its a dealbreaker since it is pretty cosmopolitan.At the same time, I would be careful about the program that is not very selective of its students. Less selectivity means less unity within The Alumni community. If anyone can get in, that means theres nothing special about being a part of this group and that takes a toll on the alum response rate. Id research that a bit more perhaps.PS. I would consider a fourth option which is not going to business school. Entrepreneurship and start ups are not very traditional business school recruiting paths. Thus when you graduate from one of these three programs, you need to have some thing thatll make you attractive to start up. The biggest Driver of your value proposition will need to come from your work experience. That will be scrutinized a lot more than your degree or grades.... and if you already have a strong background, perhaps makes sense to try recruit without waiting for 18 months? Just saying. Not trying to throw your plans off but you do have more than three options._________________
Stepping up his attack on the



BJP-led Centre over the three new farms laws, Congress leader on Sunday said the government wants to snatch the income and future of farmers for the benefit of a few top businessmen in the country.

He was addressing a function in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur to disburse cash benefit to farmers and cattle-rearers under the two schemes of the state government through a recorded video-message in Hindi.

"What we had promised to farmers, we have fulfilled it today. You know the government of India is heading on some other path. It has brought three farm laws against the farmers. The central government wanted to snatch the income and future of farmers and hand it over to two-three big businessmen," he said without naming anyone.

Hailing the Bhupesh Baghel-led dispensation in Chhattisgarh, Gandhi said he is happy that his party's governments in Chhattisgarh and other states are walking on the path of supporting farmers, labourers, small businessmen, youth and women.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation and GST rollout, Gandhi said, "Narendra Modiji's government implemented 'notebandi' and GST, and today you can see that India has failed to create employment."



In contrast, the Chhattisgarh government extended support to farmers and strengthened the rural economy, he said.

"We pumped in money into the rural economy and therefore, Chhattisgarh has not been facing any trouble (during the coronavirus crises), which is being faced by other states," he added.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel transferred Rs 1,104.27 crore into the accounts of 18.43 lakh farmers as the fourth and last instalment of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (for kharif and rabi crop year 2019-20).

Besides, he also transferred Rs 7.55 crore to the accounts of cattle-rearers under the Godhan Nyay Yojana.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, farmers have been paid a total of Rs 5,627.89 crore in four instalments as input support to paddy cultivators and certified seeds growers, a government official said.

Under Godhan Nyay Yojna, the state government has been procuring cow dung at Rs 2 per kg from cattle-rearers for production of vermi-compost, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
She was seen just that morning getting breakfast with pals in Los Angeles, California.

But on Saturday night, Kendall Jenner was spotted on the East Coast, heading to dinner at fancy Japanese eatery Nobu in downtown Manhattan, New York City.

Before entering the establishment, the 25-year-old model was subjected to a temperature check in order to adhere to COVID-19 dining guidelines.

On Saturday night: Kendall Jenner was spotted on the East Coast, heading to dinner at fancy Japanese eatery Nobu in downtown Manhattan, New York City

For her evening out in the city, Kendall looked chic in a dark blue-gray suit that accentuated her teeny waist.

She masked up with a standard black face covering, and wore chunky black boots on her feet.

Under her shoulder, the older sister of Kylie Jenner carried a lovely semicircular olive green purse.

Always known to travel in a pack, Jenner was joined for dinner by a number of her fashion industry pals.

Checkpoint: Before entering the establishment, the 25-year-old model was subjected to a temperature check in order to adhere to COVID-19 dining guidelines

Fashion forward: For her evening out in the city, Kendall looked chic in a dark blue-gray suit that accentuated her teeny waist

Kendall wore her dark hair straight and down, parted at the middle.

Her sighting in New York comes ahead of the imminent release of her three fragrances as part of a partnership with older sister Kim Kardashians brand KKW Fragrance.

As seen on a recent Instagram post, the perfumes are inspired by Kendall's love of 'the outdoors and horseback riding'.

Chic: Kendall wore her dark hair straight and down, parted at the middle

Equestrian beauty: Her sighting in New York comes ahead of the imminent release of her three fragrances as part of a partnership with older sister Kim Kardashians brand KKW Fragrance

The gallery of images saw the beauty communing with a gorgeous black steed in front of a mountainous backdrop.

The packaging, evocative of horseshoes, has made appearances on other social media accounts including that of Kendall's older sister Khloe Kardashian.

The 'Kendall' fragrances, out on March 25th, come in three scents: Amber, Olive and Blue Roan.
Seoul, March 21 : Samsung Group's independent compliance committee has recommended the company to follow applicable laws regarding employment restrictions on Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the imprisoned de-facto leader of South Korea's top conglomerate.

After hours of discussion, the compliance committee concluded that Samsung Electronics should obey relevant laws and prevent any illicit activities when the company proceeds with Lee's case.

However, it said that the conditions and extent of employment regulations are vague, adding that the committee's latest decision does not necessarily mean that it advises Samsung Electronics to remove Lee from his post.

"Lee's employment issue is something that the committee cannot ultimately decide," an official with the compliance committee said in a report by Yonhap news agency.

"The committee just recommended Lee and Samsung Electronics to not break laws when they deal with procedures regarding his employment issue." Last month, South Korea's justice ministry confirmed that Lee is subject to employment restrictions under the law after he was put behind bars again in January.

Lee is currently serving a two-and-a-half year prison term for giving more than 8.6 billion won ($7.6 million) in bribes to then-President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil to win government support for a smooth father-to-son transfer of managerial power at Samsung.

Under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, those convicted of embezzlement or breach of trust involving amounts over 500 million won are banned from working for companies related with their crime, or any institution that receive government subsidies.

The ban lasts five years from the day an offender completes his or her jail term. Given the prison time he already has served, Lee is scheduled to be freed in July 2022.

The employment restrictions can be lifted if Lee gets a pardon and reinstatement, or receives the ministry's approval after submitting an application.
He was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital where he died, police said. Officer Anthony Spicuzza said the homicide had not been categorized as being domestic-related. Citing the ongoing investigation, he said it was not known how investigators learned that the man knew the person who killed him.
More than 34,400 people arrived in Ireland in the three week period after the Government signed-off on its hotel quarantine plan.

Over 1,200 passengers arrived from 'high risk' countries, such as South Africa and Brazil.

Between February 22 and March 14, some 34,417 people arrived in the country, including 20,759 Irish residents.

Almost 14,000 were non-residents.

The most popular reason residents and non-residents gave for flying into Ireland was a holiday or visit.

The new quarantine system, announced in January, will see arrivals from 33 countries forced to stay at a hotel at their own expense for 14 days. It will cost up to 2,000 per adult for the two-week stay.

Any arrival who fails to adhere to the rules when arriving from certain countries will be fined 4,000 and face a possible month in prison.

Despite the legislation being signed into law on March 7, the system still hasn't been implemented.

Speaking in Cork on Friday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he expects to see mandatory hotel quarantine introduced very soon but gave no specific details on when that might be.

At Thursday's Nphet briefing, Dr Cillian De Gascun of the National Virus Reference Laboratory confirmed 24 cases of B1351 (South African) and seven of the P1 (Brazilian) variants of the disease, the "majority" of which are associated with travel.

Speaking on Newstalk this morning, Labour Party leader Alan Kelly said it was "ridiculous" that the quarantine system still isn't in place.

"We all know this is necessary. For the government not to have organised this and made sure they were able to deliver this is just not good enough."
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Central African Republic former president Francois Bozize has taken charge of a rebel alliance aiming to overthrow the central government, the group's spokesman said Sunday.

Bozize seized power in the former French colony in 2003 and was ousted a decade later, an act that sparked a civil war along sectarian lines.

The government has accused him of being behind a failed offensive against President Faustin Archange Touadera in December.

Bozize's spokesman Serge Bozanga confirmed to AFP on Sunday that he had agreed in February to become "general coordinator" of the so-called Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), which attempted to block Touadera's reelection, only to see their offensive repulsed.

Bozanga confirmed the authenticity of a document dated February 18 stating that Bozize had accepted the CPC's leadership "call".

The CPC brought together six of the armed groups that control much of the country in mid-December to launch the offensive against Touadera, just over a week before presidential and legislative elections.

Up against a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping force as well as hundreds of Russian and Rwandan soldiers and paramilitaries deployed in late December, they have been in retreat since a January 13 attack on the capital Bangui was thwarted.

The government alleged that the rebels had acted in concert with Bozize.

The constitutional court blocked his bid to stand in the presidential election, on the grounds that he was under UN sanctions over his alleged support for militias held responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 2013-14 conflict.

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We're taking a look at the best Kardashian-Jenner products in honour of the 20th and final season of 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians.'(Image via E!)

Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

The 20th and final season of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" premiered on March 18  and we can't believe we are saying goodbye to the long-running reality series. We've watched Kendall and Kylie Jenner grow up on-screen since 2007 and turn into their own business moguls, following in their sister's footsteps.

Each Kardashian-Jenner sister has started their own companies and built their own brands with the help of the spotlight they've had from the reality series and their huge social media followings definitely helps bring more attention to their companies. At this point, these ladies are known for more than just the show.

Between Good American, Kylie Cosmetics, Poosh, SKIMS, KKW Beauty, Kylie Skin and even Kendall's new controversial 818 Tequila , there are just so many products to choose from.

But instead of going through the Kar-Jenner products yourself, we've selected 7 of the best products that are actually worth it.

SKIMS COZY KNIT JOGGER, $143.

Of course, we've all seen Kim Kardashian and all her sisters decked out in the SKIMS cozy line. Everything is made from super soft knit plush boucle yarn. The SKIMS cozy line sold out so fast when Kim first launched the collection, but she has plenty in stock right now. The cozy knit jogger comes in the colours bone, dusk, camel, smoke and onyx. The sizing for this SKIMS collection is super inclusive, with sizes ranging from XXS to 5X. Customers have warned that these pants fit big and encourage others to order down a size.

"The softest and most luxurious feel ever! Thinking about spending the money to order a whole other set in a different colour," one happy SKIMs customer wrote.

Story continues

"Obsessed! Absolutely love the joggers! The style is great! Mind you the cozy collection is a MUST HAVE. So cozy and nice," another customer wrote in their five-star review.

SHOP IT: SKIMS, $143

Good American Good Legs High Waist Skinny Jeans - Nordstrom, $74 (originally $99)

Khloe Kardashian's Good American fashion line is working to redefine fashion for the modern woman and there are so many options to choose from. Good American comes in sizes 00 to 24 and the brand is committed to challenging industry norms to bring us a collection that is 100 per cent inclusive. We love to see it! She makes sure that every piece in her collection is shown on three size ranges of models to help everyone find the perfect fit. These Good Legs High Waist Skinny Jeans are designed with a contoured waistband and advanced stretch recovery for an amazing fit.

"Best jeans of your life! I had been looking for a high waisted skinny dark wash for a while and these are AMAZING! Obsessed with the fit, they are stretchy and give you a great figure!!! I wish they had them in other washes I would buy them all! Highly recommend," raved a customer in their five-star review.

"These jeans are well made and I love the stretch (molds to your body). They are perfect to dress up or down. I will be purchasing more jeans from this brand," another customer wrote in their review.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $74 (originally $99)

Kylie Skin Foaming Face Wash, $24.

Kylie Skin's foaming face wash has a 4.6-star rating with more than 5,000 reviews on her website. The face wash is infused with kiwi seed oil and packed with Vitamin C and E to maintain moisture while improving elasticity. The formula cleanses skin by helping to remove dirt, makeup and oil.

"It leaves your skin really clean and fresh without drying it out. I have sensitive skin and it works great for me," a customer wrote in their five-star review.

"Helps my skin look so fresh and clean! I get a lot of compliments and my acne has been gone," another customer wrote.

Another Kylie Skin customer called the product "hydration station," adding, "Absolutely love this face wash! One pump covers the whole face which is amazing, and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated the entire day unlike other washes that only leave you feeling good in the moment. Must have!"

SHOP IT: Ulta, $24

Kylie Cosmetics Mary Jo K Matte Lip Kit, $29.

Kylie Jenner is the queen of lip kits and this lip kit is one of the most gorgeous reds we've ever seen. This lip kit comes with a matte liquid lipstick and matching lip liner. The ultra-long wearing lip liner has a creamy texture that glides across the lips and the matte liquid lipstick has high intensity pigment for a bold-looking lip. The lipstick contains moisturizing ingredients so you don't need to worry about it drying out your lips after application.

"Perfect red! I have been trying to find the right shade of red and this is the perfect combination for my skin tone," one customer wrote in their review.

"Best classic red. Stays on forever! Got so many compliments wearing this shade of red," another customer raved.

SHOP IT: Kylie Cosmetics, $29

LED LIGHT SHIELD MASK - POOSH, $190.

Kourtney Kardashian's multimedia lifestyle platform Poosh is filled with tips and tricks on everything from how to have a fabulous relationship to her matcha latte recipe and this light shield that she's been tempting us to buy. DMH Aesthetic's LED Light Shield Mask is at-home wearable hands-free technology that allows you to enjoy the benefits of LED light therapy at home (or where ever you want to wear this futuristic-looking mask). It works by emitting infrared light in wavelengths, which have multiple different skincare benefits. It can speed healing, boost anti-ageing properties and kill bacteria. It can also help you optimize your favourite serums, moisturizers and toners.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

SHOP IT: Poosh, $190

KKW Beauty Matte Mauve Pressed Powder Palette, $45.

This gorgeous eye shadow palette has 10 matte pressed powders that can be used wet or dry. The colours are very pigmented and practically blend themselves. The colours in this palette are blushed jasmine, hyacinth, hazy lavender, dusty violet, creamy mauve, dew drop, rain drop, muted mauve, radiant orchid and boysenberry.

"This palette is PERFECT for mature skin! I feel beautiful," one customer wrote in their review.

"The KKW Beauty matte formula is so amazing. I love these palettes. The shades in this one are gorgeous for spring. I cant wait to continue using this palette," another happy customer wrote.

SHOP IT: KKW Beauty, $45

KKW Beauty SKIN PERFECTING BODY FOUNDATION, $45.

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Argonia, Kansas, wasn't exactly a hotbed of progressivism in the late 19th century. In fact, it was so new that Susanna Salter's second child was the first person born in the tiny Quaker village of less than 500. Salter was also not really the kind of person anyone expected to make history, let alone twice: She was born in Ohio to a family of farmers, and nothing exciting happened to her until she met the son of a prominent Kansas politician in college and married him.

Her father and husband went into business together, and after the town was incorporated in 1885, they were elected mayor and city clerk, respectively.

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That left Susanna in a powerful position, writing ordinances for the town and serving as second-in-command to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Not everyone liked that, specifically a group of men who crashed the Union's caucus to select their nominations for the upcoming local election after Kansas granted women the right to vote in 1887.

It's not clear if there was some kind of confrontation with Salter, who presided over the caucus, or if these dudes just picked on her because she was the only Union officer eligible to run, but they hatched a scheme to sneak her name onto the ballot. (It was way easier to pull that shit back then.) They assumed no one would notice it, and if they did, they definitely wouldn't vote for a woman, and her loss would be a humiliation for the Union and uppity broads in general.
It's not necessarily that airlines like Delta, United, American and Southwest get things right or wrong. Instead, it's that they're in a commodity industry, trying to differentiate themselves from one another, and doing it all under the highest levels of public scrutiny.

They have to explain almost every decision, to a degree that leaders in many other industries simply don't. As a result, it's like getting a new business school case study almost every week.

The latest installment in this ongoing education? It comes from an interview that Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian did with Lester Holt of NBC News last week.

I don't know if Bastian rehearsed his lines ahead of time, but there's a five-word phrase he used -- and frankly, a single word within it -- that I found myself thinking about afterward, and maybe you should, too.

It came in the context of Bastian's acknowledging that business travel remains way down because of the pandemic, but adding that vacation travelers on Delta are starting to fly again.

Here's the exact quote:

As the case counts are coming down ... and the vaccinations are starting to grow, people are ready to reclaim their lives. And, we're seeing bookings pick up. ... They're ready to reclaim that lost period.

It's that phrase in the middle: "People are ready to reclaim their lives."

Earlier this year, I was struck by how optimistic Bastian sounded in the first Delta earnings call of 2021, despite the fact that Delta had lost $9 billion in 2020 -- "the toughest year in Delta's history," as he put it.

I thought of the roughly 90,000 Delta employees he was speaking to, along with investors, other stakeholders -- to say nothing of Delta's customers -- and about how the CEO of a company like Delta has to walk a fine line, maintaining trust and candor, while also being cheerleader-in-chief.

But I think this seven-word quote goes beyond optimism. It's actually kind of brilliant, especially that word, "reclaim," which he used twice.

I hear a lot of people talking about how they expect their businesses will "recover," or making predictions about when things will "return" to the way they were before the pandemic.

"Reclaim" is a more powerful word than either of those two. We often use it coupled with notions of loss and entitlement: "reclaim what's rightfully yours."

Most of us have, in fact, lost something during the last 12 months of tragedy. Some of us have lost an awful lot. And while it's certainly healthy to try to express gratitude for silver linings, the truth is that we're hurting.

Now, it's payback time. That's the message I hear in that word, "reclaim."

We shouldn't just lick our wounds and try to return to some semblance of the lives before.

Instead, we should live with a vengeance. Do the things we would have done, and then some. Make up for lost time, because we've all had a reminder of just how little time we get.

Look, in practical, financial terms, the return of high numbers of vacation travelers is only a minor blessing for an airline like Delta. Delta makes a lot more money on business travelers, and it will likely take a longer time for them to return.

But as a leading indicator, this notion that people are getting out again, traveling, and aggressively living life is extremely heartening. In fact, it just might be the perfect message for 2021, and one I'd encourage you to think about.

We're not just coming back. We're reclaiming what we lost -- stronger, better, and more robustly than before.

Share that message with your teams -- authentically, vehemently, and often -- and I'll bet you'll see the kind of reactions that make it a lot more likely to come true.
CALIFORNIA - A recent report released by California's Employment Development Department (EDD) shows California's unemployment sits at 9% for the month of January.

However, 4th District Senator Jim Nielsen says those who are still on unemployment are having a hard time getting their money.

"Where the volume rises, that has been a historic problem of that agency," said Nielsen.

"They do not anticipate spikes and therefore they cannot deal with them when they happen," the senator explained.

"They do not have contingencies in the organization when they have such a problem," he said, explaining that they do not know how to organize the staff as to how to respond rapidly.

The chart shown in the video breaks down Northern California unemployment based on counties.

Butte County's unemployment rate is at 8.3%; Glenn County is 7.9%; Modoc County is 9.5%; Shasta County is 7.9%; Tehama County is 8%; and Trinity County is at 7.7%.

Nielsen said he is working to try and get people more help, but said that the help will probably not arrive before summer.

"Even if something gets into the budget we can't expect anything until summer when the budget goes into effect," Senator Nielsen explained.

Action News Now reporter Amy Lanski asked the senator what people should do if they are not receiving their unemployment payments.

"They should continue to contact their legislators," he said. "Demand to talk to a human person in that legislator's office," he continued.

Senator Nielsen said people need to record their issues with their legislators, and then "those legislators who pay heed to the voices of the people will reach out to the EDD and the Governor's office and say we need help."

The data for February 2021 is set to be released on March 26, 2021.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Richard Panneflek hereby informs the public that as of March 23rd, 2021 the countries Bonaire and Curacao, as is the case for Aruba will be graded High Risk. Effective immediately, The United Kingdom which was previously on the ban list was moved to High Risk. All travelers coming from the above-mentioned destinations will be required to be in position and upload a negative RT-PCR test not older than 72 hours. For further information and updates visit (EHAS) at www.stmaartenentry.com.
Nothing could have prepared a nine-year-old girl for the tragedy brought to her family, when her mother was murdered by a man who had just killed his own mother, a source close to the family has said.

Mother-of-one Stacey Knell (30) was the second of two women murdered by 26-year-old Ken Flanagan on Friday night.

Earlier, mother-of-two Karen McClean was stabbed to death in her home on the Rathcoole estate by Flanagan  her own son  shortly before 11pm.

He then travelled to nearby Glenville Road, where he murdered Ms Knell, before taking his own life.

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Police on Monday said the attack was "really shocking and horrific". They confirmed they were not looking for anyone else in connection with their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said Stacey and Karen should have felt safe in their own homes.

"My thoughts are very much with their families as they come to terms with their tragic loss. Both women were mothers and this appalling murder has left children facing a lifetime without their mums," he added.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, a family friend said they were grateful that Ms Knells nine-year-old daughter had been staying with her grandmother at the time.

She was staying with her grandmother on Friday night, they said.

Im really thankful he chose to wait until she was in her grandmothers house. Flanagan had it planned out that day in my mind.

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According to the source, it is believed Mr Flanagan had previously made comments threatening to carry out the act.

The man was unstable, the source added.

I knew it just looking at the guy.

He had a bad reputation.

Unfortunately the police couldnt do anything as he hadnt done anything at that point.

Thank God Staceys daughter wasnt involved and wasnt there.

Im glad, as that would have just put her through more hell.

It hasnt sunk in yet.

Once her mum comes home in a coffin, and is put into the ground, I think it will sink in.

You cant prepare a nine-year-old for that kind of tragedy.

Its understood the child is being comforted by Ms Knells mother at the moment.

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The tragic scenes have left the community in the area stunned according to local politicians, with people struggling to come to terms with how it has happened.

Friends of the victims have taken to social media to pay tribute.

One of Ms Knells friends wrote that their hearts were hurting for the loss of the young mum who is originally from east Belfast.

Writing online, Belfast woman Melissa Morrison said: Yesterday I was in shock and today I just feel numb and emotional.

You had your whole life ahead of you with your daughter.

Cant get your wee daughter, your mum, the boys and your wee sister out of my head and what theyre going through.

Everyone who knew you, loved you.

Expand Close Derrycoole Way where another woman was found Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook

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Another friend, Zoe Allen, wrote: I honestly cannot get my head around this at all.

Life can be very, very cruel and horrible.

A beautiful life taken away, and what for?

Her poor baby girl now without her wee mummy  just awful.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Holywood pal Hollie Herron said she had known the mum-of-one for around eight years and described her as a delightful person.

She was an angel. She was so lively and excitable and there was never a dull moment, said Hollie.

She was the light of the party and really was a credit to her family and above all else, an amazing, caring friend.

I couldnt ask for better to be honest. Me, my mum, and my sister loved her to bits and she will be really missed. She was like a daughter to my mum and a sister to us.

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Whatsapp Police at the scene of a property on Glenville Road in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, where one woman and a man were discovered

The tragic events have also led to calls for more action to tackle violence on women and to help those suffering from mental health and addiction struggles in north Belfast.

Rev Michael Rutledge, of Abbots Cross Presbyterian church, said the victims had been in the churchs prayers on Sunday.

I think we are all just in shock and trying to find what we can do to make sure this doesnt happen again, whatever the circumstances that led to it, he said.

There is obviously something that has led to this and we want to make sure we can solve the issues that have led to it.

I know north Belfast has suffered greatly with a lot of mental health issues, especially among young men and I dont know if that has contributed to it.

It is endemic to the situation in north Belfast that there is a lot of need for help and people then end up lashing out in awful ways. It is an area that needs help.

Everyone is just kind of shocked that something like this of this kind of magnitude has happened in the area.

Alliance Party councillor Billy Webb said the deaths of two women required Stormont to take action.

The community is devastated by what has happened and our sympathies go out to all the family and friends of the deceased, he said. It is a definite indication that there is a potential problem here in the community, of either domestic violence, or as has been indicated perhaps a drugs issue.

I think the Executive have to be looking at some intervention at community level to help address people who are in difficulty.
Jaipur: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Rajasthan government has announced on Sunday (March 21) that it has decided to impose night curfew in eight cities from Monday (March 21) onwards. They also made it mandatory for people visiting the state to carry a COVID-19 negative test report.

Officials said the night curfew will be imposed in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwada (Dungarpur) and Kushalgarh (Banswara) from 11 pm to 5 am, they said.

The decisions were taken during a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

It was decided that travellers coming to Rajasthan from other states will have to carry RT-PCR negative reports (not older than 72 hours) from March 25, news agency ANI reported.

If the RT-PCR test report of travellers are not negative, they would have to remain in quarantine for 15 days, officials said.

It was also decided that markets in urban local bodies will close by 10 pm.

Rajasthan on Saturday reported 445 fresh coronavirus cases, which pushed the state's infection count to 3,24,948, according to an official report by the state government.

Meanwhile, India recorded 43,846 new coronavirus cases in a day, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,15,99,130.

Besides, 197 deaths were reported in a span 24 hours, the ministry said adding six states account for 86.8 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (92). Punjab follows with 38 daily deaths. Kerala reported 15 deaths.

Delhi reported over 800 coronavirus cases for the first time this year on Saturday, while two more people succumbed to the virus.
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(Natural News) An American non-profit organization closely tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is being sued for its alleged failure to disclose that taxpayer funds supported its work. In its lawsuit, filed March 15, the White Coat Waste Project (WCWP) alleges that the EcoHealth Alliance (EHA)s omission of taxpayer funding in its declarations violated a federal law known as the Stevens Amendment.

The suit indicated that EHA diverted taxpayer money amounting to $600,000 to the WIV between 2014 and 2019. The organization did so through National Institutes of Health (NIH) sub-grants, as part of a research project studying coronaviruses from Chinese bats.

But press releases by the EHA in regards to the project did not indicate that it was backed by federal funding  a violation of the Stevens Amendment. Named after the late former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), it requires any group that receives funding to disclose the percentage of costs financed with federal money and the total amount. This percentage and amount of federal funding must be included in all statements, press releases, bid solicitations and other documents describing a project.

Furthermore, groups funded by the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education are required to disclose this federal funding percentage and amount in all their documents.

Bat-based coronavirus research received federal funding

The WCWP flagged three EHA press releases about the groups work on bat-based coronaviruses in China that did not disclose the percentage or dollar amount of federal money financing it. According to The Wall Street Journal, this project received an NIH grant worth $3.4 million. The watchdog groups complaint called on the agency to permanently disqualify EHA from receiving taxpayer funding in light of the non-profits infractions.

Virtually all of EHAs press releases reporting its taxpayer-funded experiments over the last three years violate the Stevens Amendment, WCWP wrote in the filing.

Taxpayers have a right to know  and federal law requires that were told  exactly how much of our money [EHA] has shipped to [Wuhan]  for reckless coronavirus experiments that may have caused the pandemic, stated WCWP spokesman Justin Goodman.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says that she will demand an investigation into the federal governments failure to enforce the Stevens Amendment in light of the WCWPs complaint.

The American people deserve answers, she remarked. Im demanding an investigation to compel HHS to comply with the law.

Complaint revealed conflict of interest

Goodman also pointed out that the EHAs has obscured its ties to the WIV before.

EcoHealths rampant violations of federal transparency law are yet another example of the group and its President Peter Daszak obscuring their close ties to  and financial support for  the [Wuhan laboratory], he remarked

EHA President Peter Daszak was the only American member of the World Health Organization (WHO) team that investigated the origins of COVID-19 in early 2021. But his involvement in the probe has been dubbed as a major conflict of interest due to his financial and professional ties with the WIV. (Related: WHOs investigation into the Wuhan lab was conducted in part by a CCP advisor, Marion Koopmans.)

Furthermore, critics have also noted that Daszak was dismissive of the theory that the Wuhan coronavirus may have escaped from the facility. Back in February 2020, the EHA president penned a statement in The Lancet slamming such ideas as conspiracy theories. A spokesperson for Daszak later told WSJ that the letter was intended to protect Chinese scientists from online criticism.

The WHO fact-finding team led by Dr. Peter Ben Embarek said in a joint press conference last month that the lab leak theory is highly unlikely. Animal-to-human transmission and the virus entering via frozen food were the other theories put forward by Embareks team. But WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus backpedaled on the investigations findings a few days later, saying that all theories remain open and require further study. (Related: WHO team lead: Coronavirus already circulating and had mutated 13 times within China before being reported.)

Meanwhile, Daszak said on March 17 that the WHO investigative team did not ask to review a database of virus samples from the WIV as he personally vouched for the laboratory. He added that this aforementioned database did not contain relevant information on the pandemics origins. The virus laboratory deleted the database containing at least 16,000 virus samples in September 2019.

Visit Pandemic.news to read more reports about the origins of the Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Blog.WhiteCoatWaste.org [PDF]

DailyCaller.com

BBC.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 00:56:37|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Three employees of the Ghana Health Service have been arrested for allegedly stealing COVID-19 vaccines, police said Saturday.

The Greater Accra regional police arrested Stephen Dzisenu, a disease control officer, Cosmos Allotey, an occupational health and safety officer, and Joseph Knight Gaissie, a laboratory assistant, for allegedly stealing 36 vials of Covishield vaccines.

"Dzisenu allegedly stole the vaccines and delivered them to Allotey, who administered to clients at the cost of 200 Ghana cedis (34.9 U.S. dollars) per jab. Gaisie is being held for abetment of crime in the stealing case," the police said.

"Additionally, Lord Pabitey, another employee, a disease control officer, now at large also allegedly stole 26 vials of the same vaccines from storage," said the police. Enditem
Soft opening of iconic Altair heralds its near completion View(s):

ALTAIR, the internationally acclaimed architectural icon, is nearing completion. This breathtaking edifice which has transformed the perception of Colombo from being a dreamy South Asian back water to a pulsating cosmopolitan metropolis is the brainchild of the living legend Moshe Safdie, creator of Marina Bay Sands and the Jewel in Singapore, Tel Avivs Holocast Museum, Montreals Habitat 67, Kauffman Centre Kansas, amongst others.

The soft opening of the common areas of ALTAIR was held last week under the auspicious of Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness, Colombo Mayor Ms. Rosy Senanayake and Dr. Rakesh Panday, Head of Economic and Commercial Affairs Indian High Commission.

There was a symbolic handover of five apartments to owners selected from those who had completed their full payments at the earliest date, and also to two owners who had been first to book the property. The final completion of ALTAIR albeit delayed is eagerly anticipated and handover of apartments would commence in the next few months, the owning company said in a media release.

The project is on two acres of land leased from the UDA for 99 years which converts to freehold status upon completion of apartments and the execution of Deeds of Transfer.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 20:35:19|Editor: huaxia

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LISBON -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Saturday announced a seven-billion-euro (8.33 billion of U.S. dollars) investment in forest preservation until the year 2030.

"It is an investment in fire-fighting and prevention equipment, but it is above all an investment in the structural transformation of our forest, which means avoiding monoculture (and) creating a landscape mosaic," he said in the city of Lousa, in central Portugal.

- - - -

BOGOTA -- Colombian President Ivan Duque thanked China for the new batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines that arrived here on Saturday and its contribution to the advancement of the country's national vaccination program.

"From Colombia, we say thank you (to the Chinese people), because at this juncture, this diplomatic relationship ... is becoming stronger after four decades of bilateral relations," the president said at a press conference in the northern city of Barranquilla.

- - - -

BRAZZAVILLE -- The opposition presidential candidate in the Republic of Congo, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, was hospitalized in Brazzaville after being diagnosed with COVID-19 on the eve of the elections scheduled for Sunday, his campaign manager said.

"My dear compatriots, I am in trouble. I am fighting death. However, I ask you to stand up and vote for change. I would not have fought for nothing," the candidate said in the video.

- - - -

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech to the Colombian people at the invitation of his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, as the third batch of COVID-19 vaccines provided by China arrived in Bogota, capital of Colombia, on Saturday local time.

In his speech, Xi said that in the face of the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak, the two countries have worked in unity to help each other overcome difficulties and actively carried out anti-pandemic cooperation. Enditem
Ken Cedeno-Pool/Getty ImagesBY: MEG CUNNINGHAM, ABC NEWS

(WASHINGTON)  The surge of migrants at the southern border will get more dire in the coming months, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week," adding that he predicts 1 million people could try to cross the border by the summer.

"I was chairman of Homeland Security, and as a federal prosecutor down here -- it's going to get worse. It's going to get a lot worse. Springtime, summer, more and more come over," McCaul told "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "I predict a million people trying to get into this country by the summertime.

McCaul told Raddatz that the Biden administration created the crisis at the border.

"I think they've created the crisis," McCaul said to Raddatz. "He says he has a plan. I haven't seen a plan.

"This is a humanitarian crisis. We see the children and the babies. We're going back to separation of families, and the traffickers are separating the children from the families, and we're going back to catch-and-release, and we're going back to kids in cages all over again," he added.

McCaul said the rhetoric coming from the Biden administration, namely Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, is irresponsible, pointing to Raddatz's interview with Mayorkas earlier in the program.

"And the reason why they are coming, is because he says words do matter," McCaul said of Biden. "And they do. The messaging is that, 'if you want to come, you can stay.' When Mayorkas says, 'We're not saying don't come at all. It's don't come now,' very irresponsible rhetoric for Secretary of Homeland Security to say."

Mayorkas told Raddatz that the Biden administration is working to reverse damage done by former President Donald Trump.

"Why is it especially challenging and difficult now? Because the entire system under United States law that has been place throughout administrations of both parties was dismantled in its entirety by the Trump administration," Mayorkas told Raddatz. "So, we are rebuilding the system as we address the needs of vulnerable children who arrived at our borders. And that is what it is all about. Its about vulnerable children."

Raddatz asked McCaul about what the Biden administration needs to change regarding messaging in order to try and slow the surge at the border.

"I think it's too little too late," McCaul said. "So until this policy changes, I would urge the administration revisit the migrant protection protocols, this worked and was very effective."

Raddatz pressed McCaul on the ramifications of those protocols. A Human Rights Watch report on the policy, which sent asylum seekers to Mexico while the United States processed asylum requests, had "serious human rights consequences."

"Human Rights Watch says because of that policy, they have consistently found that migrants in Mexico are exposed to rape, kidnapping, extortion, assault, and psychological trauma. Nearly half of those interviewed said Mexican police immigration agents or criminal groups targeted them for extortion. How is that a good policy?" Raddatz asked.

"Well it's a good policy because it deterred. Deterrence is a key here," McCaul said.

"We want to work on private investments in Central America to get to the root cause," he added.

Raddatz challenged McCaul on his "no" votes in the House on pieces of legislation that would provide pathways to citizenship for undocumented children. The House took up the legislation last week, and passed it nearly along party lines, with nine Republicans crossing the aisle to vote in favor of the legislation. McCaul, who voted against its passage, said when pressed on his votes the bills didn't address some of his chief concerns.

"Why shouldn't undocumented children, who were brought to this country as children, no fault of their own, be given some rights toward citizenship?" she asked.

McCaul said those pieces of legislation don't address some parts of the problem and would continue to send the wrong message, if passed.

"We had -- the majority had -- a legalization for the DACA kids, a legal path. We had a guest worker program as well. And unfortunately, immigration is obviously a very difficult topic, but the point is Martha, neither one of those bills addressed this problem," McCaul said. "They have nothing to do with this, and they won't solve this problem. In fact, again going back to deterrence and messaging, it sends the exact wrong message," McCaul said.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 07:27:26|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A joint virtual conference calling for stopping anti-Asian hate crimes was held in Chicago on Saturday.

A thousand people from the greater Chicago area and other parts of the country participated in the conference. Representatives from local government agencies and organizations, including Attorney General of Illinois Kwame Raoul, Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and alderman in Chicago Patrick Thompson also participated in the event.

All the speakers strongly condemned the killings of eight people, including six Asian women, at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area on Tuesday evening.

"This is a country where people of color have always faced discrimination," said Preckwinkle. "There is a long pattern of anti-Asian discrimination that needs to be dealt with."

"It's a brutal act," Preckwinkle said. "We can't tolerate marginalizing anybody."

Dart acknowledged that there had been "an increase in dramatic levels" of hate crimes against Asians in the country and in Chicago as well.

"There are good reasons for people to be terrified," Dart said. "But we can sketch out any plan we can to help."

Dart encouraged social media engagement, tolerance education, and 24-hour hot lines to report crimes.

"What happened in Atlanta last week is a terrible tragedy," said Thompson. "But it's also an opportunity for us to stand together against hate crimes."

Commander Don Jerome of the Chicago Police Department said there were three high profile murders in the Chinatown area last year. He acknowledged that hate crime is pervasive in the country now.

Jerome encouraged Asian Americans to speak out and report crimes.

"It's up to us to stand in solidarity against hate crimes," said Raoul, attorney general of Illinois.

"We've invited law-makers from federal, state and city levels to participate in our conference," Jan Zheng, president of Chinese American Association at Greater Chicago (CAAGC), told Xinhua. "We want to have law-makers to hear our voices and regulations established to protect the interests of Asian (Americans)."

Organized by CAAGC, Cook County Sheriff's Office, City of Chicago and the Commission on Human Relations, the virtual conference was moderated by ABC 7 television hostess Judy Hsu and broadcast live on ABC 7.

According to Stop Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Hate, a California-based reporting center for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, there are 3,800 hate crimes against Asian Americans reported since March 2020, among them, 42 percent of the victims are Chinese Americans. Enditem
Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's 19-year-old daughter Amelia Gray showed off her winning curves in a black bodysuit on her Instagram on Saturday.

'first day of spring...so naturally I wore all black? luckily this bodysuit just dropped in neon in case you want to be more in season. @aloyoga,' she captioned the images.

Amelia, who has gone into the modeling business, posted the slideshow to advertise fitness apparel brand Alo Yoga.

Winning curves: Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's 19-year-old daughter Amelia showed off her winning curves in a black bodysuit on her Instagram on Saturday

The girlfriend of 37-year-old Scott Disick modeled her stunning shape on her kitchen counter, holding a green apple in one shot and taking a bite out of it in another.

Amelia pushed all her dishes aside to fit her full frame on the shining grey marble, accessorizing with a black teddy bear jacket and white slides.

She kept her wavy auburn locks down to accentuate her perfectly made-up face.

Despite promoting the one piece garment, all focus remained on her toned and tanned legs.

Welcoming spring: 'first day of spring...so naturally I wore all black? luckily this bodysuit just dropped in neon in case you want to be more in season. @aloyoga,' she captioned the images

Her man: Several hours later, The starlet shared of scenic snap of beau Scott Disick standing in front of a pool dressed in shorts and a hoodie

She was tapped as an ambassador for the celeb-favorite athleisure line, along with Stella Maxwell, Alessandra Ambrosio and even Kendall Jenner.

The model parlayed her mom Lisa Rinna's Real Housewives fame into a lucrative career, notably her influencer status attracting the likes of Disick.

They stepped out together for the first time in October at Kendall Jenner's Halloween birthday party and have continued to be an item, amid his once revolving interest in many models including Bella Banos and Megan Blake Irwin.

Dream man: Amelia and Scott Disick, 37, stepped out together for the first time in October at a Halloween birthday party and have continued to be an item, with the influencer recently calling the reality TV personality her 'dream man' on Instagram

Growing profile: The model parlayed her mom Lisa Rinna's Real Housewives fame into a lucrative career, notably her influencer status attracting the likes of Disick

Things have grown serious for the pair, with Scott even introducing the brunette beauty to his three kids, Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six. He shares all three children with ex Kourtney Kardashian.

Scott and Amelia spent New Year's in Tulum and Valentine's Day in Miami, and have been spotted looking at luxury real estate together on numerous occasions.

'He's been telling friends how much she means to him and how into her he is,' a source recently told People.

It's official: He posted a snap of the pair ahead of Valentine's Day where she flashed what looked to be a gift from Scott on her wrist, an insider saying that the pair looked 'very much in love'

'They've been inseparable and have been going back and forth between Miami and L.A.,' according to the source who says the 18-year age gap is something two don't feel.

'She grew up in the industry and knows how all this works... It's a different type of maturity, and they really don't feel the age difference,' they added.

Though her parents Rinna and Harry Hamlin were reportedly concerned about their age gap at first and were 'skeptical' it was anything more than just a phase, it has been said that they trust Amelia's judgement.

Serious: Things have grown serious for the pair, with Scott even introducing her to kids Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six. The lovebirds spent New Year's in Tulum and Valentine's Day in Miami, and have been spotted looking at luxury real estate together

Into each other: 'He's been telling friends how much she means to him and how into her he is,' a source recently told People, explaining the pair don't 'feel' the 18-year age difference.

Additionally she has gotten the seal of approval from his famous family, a source telling Us Weekly that the Kardashians, 'really like the two of them together and think Amelia is a great influence on Scott.'

They have not been shy about PDA, one insider saying that the pair looked 'very much in love,' while they were in Miami.

A grand gesture for Disick, he even posted a snap of the two on his Instagram.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks prior to a concert marking the seventh anniversary of the referendum on the state status of Crimea and Sevastopol and its reunification with Russia, in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russia's ambassador to the United States arrived in Moscow on Sunday for discussions on how to address sliding U.S.-Russia relations after US President Joe Biden said he thought Vladimir Putin was a killer, the TASS news agency reported.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday it was recalling its ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, for urgent talks after Biden said in an ABC interview he thought President Putin was a killer who would "pay a price" for alleged US election meddling - an accusation that Moscow denies.

Putin responded to Biden by citing a Russian children's playground chant that "he who said it, did it", and offered to hold live online talks with the US president, a proposal Biden has not so far taken up.

The Russian embassy in Washington's social media accounts posted a picture of Antonov in the early hours of Sunday morning at a U.S. airport, with an Aeroflot plane idling on the runway.

"Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on rectifying Russia-US relations," the embassy said.

Both countries have said they will only cooperate when it is in their national interest to do so.

State TV's First Channel said Antonov told reporters before boarding his plane that there a was a lot of work for the Russian foreign ministry and others to do, but that he had no doubt that keeping lines of communication open was in the interests of the American people.

The channel then read out what it said were excerpts of letters sent to Antonov by Americans before his departure, apologising for Biden's comments about Putin.

TASS said a plane carrying Antonov had touched down at Moscow's Sheremtyevo airport on Sunday morning.
News

Las Vegas, Nevada - Two foreign nationals, one Russian, the other North Macedonian national were sentenced Friday for their role in the Infraud Organization, a transnational cybercrime enterprise engaged in the mass acquisition and sale of fraud-related goods and services, including stolen identities, compromised credit card data, computer malware, and other contraband.

Sergey Medvedev, aka Stells, segmed, and serjbear, 33, of Russia, pleaded guilty in the District of Nevada to one count of racketeering conspiracy in June 2020 and was sentenced today to 10 years in prison. According to court documents, Medvedev was a co-founder of Infraud along with Syvatoslav Bondarenko of Ukraine. From November 2010 until Infraud was taken down by law enforcement in February 2018, Medvedev was an active participant in the Infraud online forum, operating an escrow service to facilitate illegal transactions among Infraud members. For several years, Medvedev served as Infrauds administrator, handling day-to-day management, deciding membership, and meting out discipline to those who violated the enterprises rules.

Marko Leopard, aka Leopardmk, 31, of North Macedonia, pleaded guilty in the District of Nevada to one count of racketeering conspiracy in November 2019 and was sentenced today to five years in prison. According to court documents, Leopard joined Infraud in June 2011, offering his services as an abuse immunity web hoster to Infraud members who wished to create websites to sell contraband. Unlike a legitimate host, Leopard would knowingly cater to websites offering illegal goods and services, ignoring any abuse reports from internet users. He hosted a number of sites for Infraud members in this fashion, providing the infrastructure that allowed his co-conspirators to profit off of their criminal activities.

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 L. 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.

While criminal operators lurk in the deepest corners of the internet, they ultimately do not escape the reach of law enforcement, said Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas. We will continue to aggressively investigate, disrupt, and dismantle hidden illegal networks that pose a threat in cyberspace. HSI and our partners are at the forefront of combating cyber financial crimes and illicit activities spread by online criminals looking for financial gain.

Infraud was a criminal enterprise that existed to enrich its members and associates through a myriad of criminal acts of identity theft and financial fraud. Infraud facilitated the sale of contraband by its members, including counterfeit documents, stolen bank account and credit account information, and stolen personal identifying information. Members and associates of Infraud operated throughout the world and the United States, to include Las Vegas. The enterprise, which boasted over 10,000 members at its peak and operated for more than seven years under the slogan In Fraud We Trust, is among the largest ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

Infraud was responsible for the sale and/or purchase of over 4 million compromised credit and debit card numbers. The actual loss associated with Infraud was in excess of $568 million USD.

HSI Las Vegas and the Police Department of Henderson, Nevada, investigated the case. The Justice Departments Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants extradition from Croatia.

Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson and Trial Attorneys Chad McHenry and Alexander Gottfried of the Justice Departments Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
Westpacs head of retail and business banking, Chris de Bruin, hasnt ruled out a more direct foray by the bank into the booming buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector, conceding that the big banks should no longer leave it to the likes of Afterpay to address the needs of younger customers.

The bank teamed up with Afterpay last year in a deal that will see the company use Westpacs bank-as-a-service (BaaS) offering. However, de Bruin says there is room to play in the segment being targeted by Afterpay and a growing crop of BNPL operators.

Westpacs chief executive of consumer and business banking, Chris de Bruin. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Asked if Westpac would consider offering a BNPL product of its own, he replies: Lending is our business, so we are very keen always to be relevant and to meet customer needs.

However the one caveat, according to de Bruin, is that the bank must tread carefully when lending to younger people on lower incomes.
In a time of national crisis, Boris Johnson may have been hoping for a low-key wedding, but that's sounding increasingly remote.

I hear his bride-to-be Carrie Symonds has enlisted the help of a corporate events organiser  suggesting an elaborate affair could instead be on the cards.

I gather Carrie, 33, has been casually introducing her friend Dixie Maloney, 35, as her 'wedding planner' to friends.

It is not clear how official Dixie's role is, but she works as an event producer for Publicis Media, a multi-national advertising and PR company that owns Saatchi and Saatchi and rakes in 11 billion per year.

I hear bride-to-be Carrie Symonds has enlisted the help of a corporate events organiser for her wedding  suggesting an elaborate affair could be on the cards, writes Charlotte Griffiths

She describes herself as an 'event producer, sun worshipper, dog lover, cat mama, food enthusiast, high intensity exercise avoider and good time girl'. Though she has no other famous followers,

Dixie is followed on social media by both Carrie and Nimco Ali, a government adviser who is Carrie's best friend and hotly tipped to play a role in the wedding.

Friends of Carrie will no doubt be wondering whether she is paying Dixie for her help and advice.

As we all now know, the Prime Minister's finances have become strained since Carrie's reported 200,000 Lulu Lytle-styled refurbishment of No 10  not to mention their annual Daylesford food bills, estimated at 12,000.

Pictured: Carrie Symonds and Boris Johnson at the Conservative Party Conference in 2019

Dixie, whose real name is believed to be Leigh, set up a company named Energise And Engage four months after Boris and Carrie's engagement was announced last year.

It is described as being involved in 'financial intermediation, public relations and communications activities'.

Three family members are listed as directors. A source said: 'At first Carrie wanted to get married before Wilfred was born.

Then Covid hit and she was happy to have a wedding with just 15 people, but Boris told her she deserved a bigger wedding with all their friends and family.

Pictured: Carrie's friend Dixie Maloney

'Carrie perhaps took that as a licence to plan an extravaganza when all the restrictions are removed. It could be a tremendous show of how well Boris has done with the vaccination programme.'

Boris, 56, will be the first Prime Minister in 198 years to get married while in office  and a grand wedding, planned to perfection, would be befitting of the woman Tatler described last month as 'the most powerful woman in Britain'.

When I asked Dixie if she was working with Carrie, she read my messages but did not respond.

Tin hats on!

I hear Boris's former top aide Dominic Cummings is planning a Harry-and-Meghan-on-Oprah-style moan-fest about Carrie when he appears in front of the parliamentary select committee on May 26.

So much so that I hear he has been joking with friends that he will be 'pulling a Meghan' and 'speaking his truth'.

His truth or THE truth? Time will tell...
Europe is on the cusp of a fresh onslaught of Covid-19. France is about to go into a month-long lockdown after a spike in new infections. Germany has recorded "exponential growth" and tomorrow will consider extending its lockdown and reversing plans to reopen the economy. New case numbers globally rose by 10pc in the past week, according to the World Health Organisation.

In Ireland, case numbers are hovering stubbornly on the wrong side of the 500 mark.

Newly released minutes from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) add to the gloomy outlook by dampening the prospect of the vaccine leading to an easing of lockdown by the summer.

Minutes of a meeting held last Thursday show that, even as vaccine euphoria lingered and GPs began administering the jab to over-85s, health experts discussed how to manage the public's expectations.

The minutes note that "a further surge" in Covid-19 cases will have a "detrimental effect" on vaccine roll-out.

The vaccine itself will offer "limited protection" between now and mid-summer unless case numbers fall significantly.

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"Unless we assume very low levels of transmission in the community and very high levels of vaccine effectiveness on transmission, the vaccine is going to offer a very limited level of population-wide protection from the virus between now and the mid-summer," the minutes state.

Nphet looked ahead to question the impact of the vaccine beyond the summer. The outlook was gloomy.

While emerging data shows that vaccines will play a critical role in the management of Covid-19, "it is simply too early to predict what the full impact of vaccines will be. Uncertainties and unknowns in relation to variants and vaccine effectiveness and uptake levels were noted".

The vaccine should not be considered "a control measure that will allow population-level social restrictions to be released", the minutes note. Vaccinating those most vulnerable will not mean that restrictions can be eased "without consequence".

"While the current narrative is that younger people infected with Covid-19 are only mildly affected, the reality is that a large number of those hospitalised come from younger cohorts," the minutes state.

Almost half of those hospitalised with Covid-19 are under 70.

"There is also a growing body of evidence showing that even asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases of Covid-19 can suffer detrimental health effects linked to long-Covid," the minutes state.

The Department of Health reported back the findings from its focus groups on the subject of vaccines. Young adults are outside of the regular Covid-19 discourse, rarely visit traditional news sources and have "largely been ignored" in the public discourse on vaccines.

"There are specific and reasonable concerns regarding the vaccines' long-term effects for the young adult cohort (notably in fertility)," the minutes say.

Much of the expert group's discussion around vaccines was based on a model shared by the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG), which shows how vaccination might impact virus transmission in the population.

However, while the model suggested that public health measures will need to continue for some months, "this should not undermine the important role the vaccination programme plays in protecting people from the virus".

Three weeks since that Nphet meeting, Ireland's Covid-19 numbers remain stubbornly high.

On February 19, the case numbers had dropped almost 200 to 763. Last week, the number of new cases exceeded 500 on most days, falling from 582 to 507 last Thursday.

Also on Thursday, the midlands counties of Offaly and Longford had among the highest Covid-19 rates. Tullamore emerged as the town with the highest incidence of the virus, with 484 cases per 100,000 people - 141 new cases in the past two weeks.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn cited a number of workplace outbreaks in the midlands and outbreaks among Travellers in the region. The HSE has separately begun targeting communities where outbreaks are occurring, to offer testing, such as in direct provision centres and some Traveller communities.

Dr Una B Fallon, the director of public health in the midlands, identified a trend in which people with minor symptoms, such as a runny nose, are turning up for work.

The HSE Midlands covers Westmeath, Offaly, Longford and Laois, where the focus has alternated from nursing homes to meat plants and to other workplaces as the virus works its way through communities.

Dr Fallon said she is now seeing outbreaks in all settings "except nursing homes", but she singled out larger workplaces.

"I think there is a tolerance of minor symptoms now. There are lots of cases of people going to work or going about their business and there is a huge ripple effect on other settings, including creches," she said.

"Factory workers may have a partner, they may have children and there is a ripple effect there.

"Don't go to work sick, go home and get tested."

Case numbers remaining at their current level nationally has been attributed to more transmissible new variants, while signs of public "slippage" and "drift" have been noted at some of Nphet's weekly press briefings.

The so-called UK variant - the B117 - is now the dominant one here.

The question is whether Ireland will follow Europe on the crest of a fresh wave of coronavirus.

"That's what we want to know, too," said Dr Fallon. "We want to know is this a plateau from a downward trajectory or the start of an upward trajectory."

As the Nphet minutes of February 18 suggest, another wave of Covid-19 would be "detrimental", "extending the length of time it takes to successfully vaccinate the eligible population".

At that same meeting, the Department of Health advised that while public messaging had to be "optimistic" and strike a "note of hope", it also had to be realistic.

"It is important to communicate to the public that this is a very different situation than that faced during spring 2020, and they should not expect progress to be made at a similar rate," the minutes note.

"Making and maintaining progress is more difficult now than at the start of the pandemic, and it is possible that new variants will emerge that are even harder to suppress."
Randy Blazak, Tom Hastings and Saskia Hostetler Lippy

Blazak, Ph.D. in sociology, is a sociologist researching violent extremism. Hastings, Ed.D., coordinates the undergraduate Conflict Resolution degree programs at Portland State University and co-leads the Portland Peace Team. Hostetler Lippy, M.D., is a psychiatrist. All three live in Portland.

The national narrative about Portland for many months has been that ours is a city on fire. While it is true we are in the midst of a historic escalation in violence over the past year, it is also true that we have been through clashes before and worked together to bring down the temperature. Violence is a contagion, a pandemic of its own. What is equally true is that it can be interrupted. As citizens we all hold the key to this.

Amid political polarization, the citizens of Portland can work together toward holding the middle, creating a space where hate does not drive us to the extremes. It is not possible to overcome hate with more hate. This is not to disrespect extremismDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously wrote from a Birmingham jail that he was an extremist for love.

Dr. King, Dolores Huerta, Serb youth, Anishinaabe treaty rights front-liners, and many more have been extremists for love, for freedom and for justice. But they all did so in a manner that gained support from regular folks because, even though they were assertive, they remained nonviolent and not destructive. We believe Portland is just that sort of city with just that sort of a long and illustrious history of a peace, justice and sustainability culture.

Together we represent three very different disciplines working to do just that. Between sociology, conflict transformation and mental health, we are confident that Portland can overcome this moment of in-fighting and show the nation what the city is really about.

While if it bleeds, it leads, is an understandable journalistic norm, we hope we can also point to a citywide culture that is not represented by a small crowd who seem to be spoiling for violence and destruction. Whats more--that narrative actually provides the fuel for more radicalization on both sides of domestic destructive extremism. The public can do its part by going on with their lives and not feeding this narrative further.

One fact that readers may not know. Portland is the birthplace of an unarmed de-escalation method called CLARA (Calm, Listen, Affirm, Respond, Add). Developed by Portlands own Rev. Cecil Prescod of the Ainsworth United Church of Christ for use on the streets with neo-Nazi skinheads and to calm conversations around issues such as gay marriage, it is now used all over the world by unarmed civilian protection organizations such as the Nonviolent PeaceForce. Our own Portland Peace Team is planning online trainings in this and complementary skills starting this summer.

This polarization that has divided our country has an exit ramp and that is the history of nonviolent civil disobedience. We saw that last summer as thousands of people came to the streets of Portland to demonstrate for Black lives and police reform.

A recent study from Northwestern University found that cities that had sustained Black Lives Matter protests helped to decrease killings by police by as much as 20 percent. The danger we face is that the violent protests drive those effective nonviolent protesters from the movement and serve to increase the threat to Black and brown bodies by police.

This is the moment where we need to bring more people into a sustained call for police reform and deepen the mainstream calls to address institutional racism, not push those voices away.

We have a problem with systemic racism. It is our dream that Portland activists will unite around the principles of nonviolence and let it be known through our actions and our voices that we reject the violence of left, right, and police. This is how we stop the spread of hate, by joining together in community.

There are amazing things happening in the Rose City. Social justice start-ups are exploding, we are thinking of new ways to do business, our urban forest is unparalleled, and we look out to majestic snowy mountains in several directions. We are a city of dreamers, of big hearts, and a shared love of human and natural rights.

Lets reform our police departments, our hospitals, our public health infrastructure, our culture. This is how we stop the spread of hate, by joining together in community.

Join us, with the same intensity with which others hate. Dont give in to hopelessness. Theres just too much work to be done. Find a hurting neighbor, or a new community organization and lets all pitch in to keep Portland a safe, diverse and thriving city.

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Antananarivo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2021 ) :Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has said he does not plan to vaccinate himself against Covid-19, preferring a herbal "remedy", and is in no hurry to launch mass inoculations for his citizens.

"Personally I have not yet been vaccinated and I do not have any intention of getting vaccinated," he said in a televised address late Saturday.

Rajoelina has widely boasted the virtues of a locally-brewed artemisia plant infusion to fight coronavirus.

Branded under the name Covid-Organics and known as CVO, the drink is also available in a gel form. It has not been scientifically tested.

Rajoelina said he was turning to CVO "to protect myself and my family".

"The Malagasy state and I are not against the vaccine," he said.

But he said the Indian Ocean island nation was in "a phase of observing the vaccine", saying there were "too many side-effects" to start mass vaccinations.

Rajoelina did not specify which side-effects he was talking about.

Common side-effects of the available vaccines include short-lived tiredness and headaches.

There have been reports of rare cases of blood clots in vaccinated people out of more than 400 million doses injected worldwide, but investigations have yet to confirm a link with the jabs.

The World Health Organization insists the available vaccines are safe and has encouraged governments to roll them out as widely as possible.

Amnesty International criticised Rajoelina's stance, saying it represented an attack on citizens' right to the best possible healthcare.

There is no evidence that CVO "is effective in preventing Covid-19 infections", said the rights group's Madagascar researcher Tamara Leger.

Madagascar has recorded more than 22,000 Covid cases and 340 deaths over the past year.

Rajoelina said the country was entering a second wave of infections, notably due to the presence of the highly transmissible South African strain of the virus.

Last month Madagascar counted 2,483 new infections and 45 deaths, the president said, insisting it was "nothing to worry about".

Last April his government began distributing free CVO across Madagascar, although the handouts were paused when a lockdown was lifted in October.

Rajoelina said CVO would again be handed out in neighbourhoods hit hard by the pandemic from Monday.
50 icons of Nebraska people, history and heritage

Vise-Grip These locking pliers, developed by Danish immigrant William Petersen and patented in 1924, took a strong hold on the small town of DeWitt. Petersen began production at his blacksmith shop, but by 1928 the company he founded had more than 600 employees. The metal tools were popular additions to toolboxes because they enabled a craftsman to grab a nut or a bolt and hold onto it, leaving his hands free. In 2002 the company was sold by remaining family members, and it closed its doors in 2008. Vise-Grips, although not made in DeWitt anymore, are still sold in almost every hardware store.

Sandhill cranes Although they dont call Nebraska home, these fly-by residents have been regular visitors to the central Platte Valley for centuries. The yearly spring migration of 500,000, 4-foot tall, gray-feathered birds with jaunty red caps, who arrive in March and are usually gone by mid-April, has made an impact in both the birds' numbers and in our response to them. Visitors from around the country come to watch them fly from their roost on the river in the morning and stalk the corn stalks during the day from buses and blinds, and all of that is good for the state. The most recent economic study estimates that crane-related tourism in 2009 generated $8.08 million in direct economic impact by visitors in central Nebraska. And a survey done in 2010 showed that more than 70,000 crane watchers spent an average of 1.3 days in the region (75 percent of those who came to see the cranes were planning on spending at least one night). And in the past 30 years, groups have worked to protect and maintain this river-side environment, with more than 10,000 acres of habitat set aside.

State capitol New York architect Bertram Goodhue described his distinctive building as the tower on the Plains, made from Indiana limestone and begun in April 1922. It took 10 years to complete the project at a cost of $9.8 million. The Sower, which stands 19 feet tall on a 12-foot-tall base of corn and wheat shocks, represents the states agricultural background and can be seen for miles. Thousands of Nebraskans came to watch the hulky bronze statue placed on top with a crane when the tower was completed in the third phase of construction. Its interior is as distinctive as the exterior, with floor mosaics depicting a variety of Nebraska motifs, as well as wall murals and the ornate legislative and Supreme Court chambers.

Sebesta family trunk Ignac and Marie Sebesta came to the United States around 1910, arriving after a long journey across the ocean with whatever they could pack into their wooden trunk. Like other immigrants, the Sebestas began their American life working for farmers, at first in Milligan, then Tobias. Three Nebraska cities were on the list of the top 10 cities in the country where Czech immigrants settled. For those starting life in a new country with only one piece of luggage, these trunks held only the most essential or the most precious things. And many immigrants could not afford even a wooden trunk for their travels, packing their belongings into a cloth bag. Beyond the obvious items -- clothing or shoes -- the immigrants may have brought seeds, tools or cloth. If there was room, they might have tucked in a silver thimble and needle and thread, and possibly portraits of family and a Bible.

Kool-Aid In 1927 Edwin Perkins of Hastings put his chemistry skills to work and came up with the powdered, fruit-flavored drink we call Kool-Aid. It came in six flavors -- strawberry, cherry, lemon-lime, grape, orange and raspberry, and by 1929 the 10-cent packets were being distributed nationwide to grocery stores. During the Great Depression, Perkins slashed the price to 5 cents a package and made it affordable, even for children, who often set up their own stands. Even though he moved the operation to Chicago in 1931 and in 1953 sold it to General Foods, which came up with the familiar smiley-faced pitcher, the Perkins family still calls Hastings home, and a Kool-Aid museum is based there.

Dorothy Lynch salad dressing Once you taste this not-quite-French salad dressing made with celery seeds and a hint of both sweet and sour, there is no substitute. From its St. Paul Legion Club origins in the late 1940s, where its namesake (yes, there really was a Dorothy Lynch) served it to veterans on weekends, this dressing became a regional hit. In 1964, Tasty-Toppings Inc. bought the recipe and began producing it in Columbus and later Duncan. Yes, they have tinkered with it a bit, introducing a fat-free version and changing the familiar glass bottle shape. In fact, it is even gluten-free. Luckily, former Nebraskans can buy it in 35 states, and the company even will ship it directly to your house.

Grover Cleveland Alexanders cleats Baseball players and writers from Grover Cleveland Alexanders era referred to him as the best pitcher to ever put on a pair of shoes. Its hard to argue. Nicknamed Old Pete, the righty from Elba won 373 games (third all-time) between 1911 and 1930 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched the Cards to a World Series championship over Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the rest of the New York Yankees in 1926, winning two games and coming in the seventh inning of the decisive seventh game with the bases loaded, two outs and the Cards clinging to a 3-2 lead. He struck out Tony Lazzeri and then held the Yanks scoreless for two more innings to earn the save. In 1938, he became the first Nebraskan inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Swanson's TV dinner These were made in Omaha by C.A. Swanson and Sons -- who may or may not have had the idea first -- but the company was the first to get the dinners into thousands of Americas freezers in 1953. The original effort, officially called a TV Brand Frozen Dinner, came in a compartmentalized aluminum tray and included turkey, cornbread stuffing, frozen peas and sweet potatoes, and it was just the right size to fit on a TV tray. If you set your oven at 425 degrees and cooked it for 25 minutes, your 98-cent dinner would be ready. By 1955, the company was selling 25 million units, and a new chapter in cooking had begun.

American bison Nebraska is where the buffalo roamed. For centuries the bison was central to the life of Plains Indian tribes. The 2-ton wooly beasts provided food, clothing, shelter and tools during that time. Settlement of that land, beginning in the 1830s, created problems for the bison herds, which were said to number in the millions at one time. Between 1830 and 1880, hunters and fur traders organized bison hunts killing hundreds of bison at a time. As a result, by the 1900s, the American bison was near extinction. Theodore Roosevelt came to its rescue, enacting federal legislation protecting the bison. Wild bison herds are now mostly in national parks, but a small herd can be found on 2,000 acres of the tallgrass prairie on Shoemaker Island in the Platte River.

Cowboy boots Albert B. Persinger came to the Nebraska Panhandle in 1876 from Alabama, where he started the Hardscrabble Ranch and raised purebred Hereford cattle near Lodgepole. His leather boots were made by O.H. Hyer of Olathe, Kan. Cowboys like Persinger were in their heyday in Nebraska from the 1870s to 1890s during open-range days. But even in the 1870s, the Nebraska Legislature ruled that counties could invoke a herd law, which would would ban cattle roaming at large. We dont know much about the thousands of cowboys who were working the Nebraska range during that time. Historians describe them as footloose laborers on horseback. But we do know that it wasnt all happy trails -- cowboys worked seven days a week, sunup to sundown for little pay and in all kinds of weather. Lack of pastureland, wire fence and the meatpacking industry adjusting cattle prices all contributed to fewer cowboys riding the range.

Bison scapula hoe Found in the Medicine Creek Valley near Stockville, this bison shoulder blade hoe was discovered in 1934 at the remains of a Native earth lodge. Tools like this were used by the people of the Central Plains tradition, which is what archaeologists called the village farmers who lived in hamlets along the rivers and streams in Nebraska from 1000 A.D. to 1400 A.D. By the end of this period, groups had started to grow gourds and corn in small-scale gardens. Intensified cultivation of domesticated crops coincided with an increase in prehistoric Indian populations. Although hunting and fishing continued to be very important, a less-nomadic economy developed. Food surpluses, such as corn, were stored in underground storage pits dug into the floors of earth lodges. Tools like these were the forerunners of plows pulled by oxen and later the giant John Deere equipment that todays farmers use in their fields.

Unicameral Legislature gavel Nebraska operated under a bicameral legislature until the early 1930s, when U.S. Sen. George Norris campaigned for reform, saying the two-house system was archaic. In 1934, voters agreed, passing an amendment to make Nebraska the only one-house legislature in the country. The pounding of this gavel began the first unicameral session in 1937, which not only proved to be efficient but inexpensive. The last bicameral session in 1935 with 133 legislators ran 110 days, passed 192 bills and cost $202,593. The first unicameral session two years later with just 43 legislators lasted 92 days, passed 214 bills and cost $103,445.

Johnny Carson coffee mug The late, great Johnny Carson chatted up celebrities and sipped from this mug from behind his desk on the set of The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson. Although born in Iowa, Carson called Nebraska home, having grown up in Norfolk and graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before embarking on his entertainment career. He kept audiences in stitches for 30 years (1962-92) on NBC via his monologues, comedy sketches, interviews and those patented deadpan looks of his. A PBS documentary tabbed Johnny Carson the King of Late Night for his 30-year run as host of NBCs The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Jeff Kinneys jersey The Game of the Century that pitted undefeated No. 1-ranked Nebraska against undefeated No. 2-ranked Oklahoma at Owen Field in Norman, Okla., produced a plethora of memorable plays -- particularly Johnny Rodgers 72-yard first-quarter punt return. But the most memorable object was the No. 35 jersey worn by Husker tailback Jeff Kinney. Kinney carried the ball 31 times during the game, rushing for 171 yards and four touchdowns. The tear-away jersey began to rip apart in the first half and was in tatters during his final four rushes. Those carries capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive that saw Kinney follow a block from fullback Maury Damkroger (46) and plunge into the end zone to give Nebraska the clinching touchdown in the greatest game in college football history. Final score: Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31.

In the Year 2525 45 rpm record The biggest hit to come out of Nebraska, Zager and Evans In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard charts in 1969. It was the most popular song in the country when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon and during the Woodstock Music Festival. Zager and Evans was a four-piece Lincoln group that was fronted by singer/guitarists Denny Zager and Rick Evans and included drummer Dave Trupp and bassist Mark Dalton. Written by Evans and recorded for $500 in an Odessa, Texas, studio, the folk-rock tune that portends the end of the human race because of technological innovations was initially released on Truth Records, a local label. After becoming a regional hit, it was picked up by RCA. Dismissed by critics, In the Year 2525 sold more than 4 million copies by 1970 and now has topped the 10 million mark.

Corn Standing tall and at attention, row after row, acre after acre, corn stalks guard the Great Plains. Native tribes in Nebraska planted corn long before the settlers arrived and had great success with it. Nebraska pioneers found the crop well suited to the states variable climate with its whipping winds, drought and harsh winters. These bountiful battalions are Nebraskas agricultural front line and keepers of the kernels  Nebraskas gold. An ear of corn averages 800 kernels in 16 rows, and those kernels add up. In 2013, the USDA estimate was 1.61 billion bushels, based on 169 bushels per acre. Livestock feeding consumes nearly one-third of the states corn harvest. It takes 55 bushels of corn to feed a steer to market weight and 15 bushels to raise a pig. Spread throughout much of the state, more than 20 ethanol plants have a capacity of nearly 20 billion gallons -- making Nebraska the second-largest ethanol-producing state in the country. Combined, these plants use more than 700 million bushels of corn per year. And since 1901, Cornhuskers has been a nickname for the University of Nebraska football team, when Lincoln Journal sportswriter Cy Sherman coined the phrase in his sports copy. Although it was shortened to Huskers, fans with cornheads are regulars at Nebraska sports events.

Sod house With a lack of trees or stone on the prairie, homesteaders looked to the land for building materials. Sod, made from thickly rooted prairie grass cut in 2- by 1-foot chunks, was piled like bricks to make walls for the soddy. A simple sod house could be built in about a week for a cost of less than $5. The thick walls provided insulation against the summer temperatures, strong winds and winter cold, but leaky roofs were a problem, and the dirt floors needed to be watered down regularly, making it quite damp. One Fillmore County pioneer in 1873 described the process in letters to his wife: All we have to do is plow up some sod (which will hang together for a half mile without breaking), cut in lengths to suit and lay up a wall & cover it and you have a house. To one who never seen one of our houses built of Nebraska brick, it would seem as though they were a dirty house, but they are warmer & cleaner than our hosier log cabins ever were.

Keith Jacobshagen painting Keith Jacobshagen moved to Lincoln to teach at the University of Nebraska in 1968. Now one of the most acclaimed artists in the state, Jacobshagen is the preeminent painter of the Great Plains. Jacobshagen developed his connections with the flatland and big sky flying with his test pilot father while growing up in Wichita, Kan. Those flights led Jacobshagen to develop his unique perspective: painting as if he is standing yards above the ground, a view that lowers and lengthens the horizon. Jacobshagens landscapes found an audience in the 1970s and can now be found in museums and prominent private and corporate collections. He is represented by several galleries around the country, including Kiechel Fine Art in Lincoln.

William Jennings Bryan campaign memorabilia William Jennings Bryan was a Nebraska politician who ran for president of the United States as the Democratic Party candidate three times -- in 1896, 1900 and 1908 -- never winning, but bringing the national political debate closer to home. Born in 1860 in Illinois, he came to Lincoln in 1887, where he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1890. Known for his oratory skills, Bryan traveled across the country campaigning on Populist issues and issues of the common man. Woodrow Wilson appointed Bryan secretary of state in 1913, during which time he worked to negotiate treaties before World War I broke out. Bryan left Nebraska during that time, moving to Florida, where he lived until his death in 1925.

Charles Starkweathers rifles In January 1958, Lincoln garbageman Charles Starkweather killed 10 people on a murder spree that terrified Nebraskans and grabbed national attention. The first spree killer of the television era, Starkweather and his teenage girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, became the subjects of intense media scrutiny and public interest after they were captured in Wyoming, where they had fled after the killings, nine of which took place in and around Lincoln. Starkweather was executed for the murders in 1959. Fugate served 17 years in prison and was released in 1976. The story of Starkweather and Fugate continues to reverberate through popular culture. Bruce Springsteen wrote a song from Starkweathers viewpoint, titled an album Nebraska" and continues to perform those songs in his concerts. An ABC-TV miniseries, Murder in the Heartland," was based on the killing spree, and at least six feature films, including Terrence Malicks classic Badlands and Oliver Stones controversial Natural Born Killers, were inspired by the story.

Whiteclay empty bottle Alcohol sales in Whiteclay have dropped during the past four years (2010 to 2013), but 336,217 gallons of alcohol were consumed in the Pine Ridge Reservation border town. It remains a jarring statistic in a state that ranks high in many alcohol-related surveys. Nebraska ranks eighth nationally in beer consumption per capita, averaging 35.2 gallons per person over 21, according to 2012 figures from the Beer Institute, which represents the beer industry. And the state ranked 15th in craft breweries per capita in 2012, according to the Brewers Association. Not all the stats shine a good light on Nebraska. Four cities made the Centers for Disease Controls 2010 report of the top 20 binge drinking U.S. cities -- Grand Island (19.4 percent of residents surveyed), Omaha (19.5 percent) Norfolk (20.2 percent) and Lincoln (22.7 percent). And that list of metropolitan and micropolitan cities doesnt include Whiteclay, where beverages like this one are sold by the millions.

Sugarbeet workers The raising of sugar beets in Nebraska began as an experiment in Hall County in the 1880s. The land took to it, and then, for decades, migrants took to the land. Germans from Russia, Mexican immigrant families and others worked the land for five long months a year, with sugar companies hiring people based on the knowledge that their children would join them in the fields, as a 2005 Great Plains Quarterly article by Mary Lyons-Barret detailed. Eastern Nebraskas beets were considered too low in sugar, and plants closed in Norfolk in 1905 and Ames in 1906. They thrived in Scottsbluff and Bayard, though, and Great Western Sugar Company and American Sugar Company covered train fare for migrant workers to come there, only to offer many of them old rail cars, empty chicken coops or tents to live in, Lyons-Barret wrote. Investigations into child labor conditions in the sugarbeet industry would directly influence federal child labor laws in the 1930s.

Kawasaki KZ400 motorcycle The first shiny KZ400 that rolled off the production line in January of 1975 was presented to then-Gov. Jim Exon by Yoji Hamawaki, president of the United States division of Kawasaki Motors. It was the beginning of an almost 40-year manufacturing alliance between the plant and the Capital City. Over the years the plant has evolved as it followed market trends. First motorcycles, then Jet Skis and later all-terrain vehicles and industrial robots, were made there. In 2000, the company invested $50 million in the plant as it accepted a contract to build light rail cars destined for the East Coast. The plant employs about 1,700 people with the consumer products side that produces personal watercraft and all-terrain vehicles and rail car production. There havent been any motorcycles off the line since 2007 when production of the motorbikes moved back to Japan. But the Japanese/Nebraska industrial alliance is going strong.

Carhenge Dedicated on the summer solstice of 1987 by Jim Reinders and about 35 friends and family who didnt question his sanity and helped him build it, the collection of 38 gray painted cars has at least one thing going for it that its inspiration, Stonehenge, doesnt -- we know why it exists. Reinders built it as a tribute to his late father, according to Kevin Howard, director of the Alliance Visitors Bureau. "It took 1,600 years for them to complete Stonehenge, and we did it in six days," Reinders said on a documentary about the site, which still draws thousands of visitors a year. The humongous roadside attraction thats not near a major roadside (its about 80 miles north of Interstate 80) got a new owner last year -- the city of Alliance.

Archie, the imperial mammoth Archie is short for Archidiskidon imperator maibeni, and he is one of the star attractions in Elephant Hall at the University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History. The fossil, which roamed the Plains about 30,000 years ago, is one of the biggest and most complete in the country. It measures 25 feet, 7 inches from its long tusks to its tail and weighed about 15 tons. A bronze statue of Archie stands in front of the museum. Archie and his prehistoric pals were all over Nebraska, and mammoth fossils have been found in every county in the state. They werent the only prehistoric relics that Nebraska has produced. At Ashfall Fossil Beds near Royal are fossils from more than 12 million years ago of elephants, camels and rhinos that grazed on the Great Plains.

Brides quilt Martha Allis was born in Bellevue in 1840, daughter of missionaries Samuel and Emeline Allis. When she was set to marry her beloved, William George Hollin, on July 4, 1861, she made a Wreath of Roses pattern quilt to commemorate the event. Believed to be the oldest quilt made by a native Nebraskan, the quilt of red-and-green nine-rose wreaths surrounded by vines made of cotton was typical of other quilts that would be made over the decades by Nebraska women. Originally pieced by hand, and later by machine, the quilts told women's stories in fabric and became beautifully crafted blankets that would keep families warm on cold nights on the prairie.

Lincoln Highway marker The 2,436 road markers, 220-pound hulks of rebar and concrete, were placed alongside the country-spanning Lincoln Highway about 15 years after Henry B. Joy first asked for driving directions west of Omaha in 1913. Joy, president of the Packard Motor Car Company and the first president of the Lincoln Highway Association, didnt have much to go on. Joy was on a cross-country tour from Detroit to the Pacific to promote better roadways, which, in turn, would promote the growing auto industry. The local Packard dealer told him to drive until he came to a fence, and then another fence, and another. When Joy ran out of fences, he followed two ruts across the prairie, according to a 1985 Smithsonian article. The winding path taking drivers through Omaha, Elkhorn, Fremont and along the Platte River System to Wyoming became part of the privately funded New York-to-San Francisco Lincoln Highway. When it was decreed that the majority of the pivotal road would be renamed U.S. 30, the Lincoln Highway Association in 1928 arranged for Boy Scouts to place road markers like this one bearing the letter L and a bronze medallion depicting Abraham Lincoln across the countryside.

Explosives from ordnance plants Smack in the middle of the country, Nebraska was deemed the perfect noncoastal site for bomb making in 1942 when World War II loomed, because it was easily reachable by trains in either direction. At one time there were four plants across the state in Mead, Hastings, Sidney and Grand Island. Mostly women were on the production line and were known as WOWs or Women Ordnance Workers. In Grand Island there were three shifts and more than 4,200 workers at the war's peak manufacturing bombs up to 2,000 pounds. Although work stopped after the war ended, it began again during the Korean War and in Grand Island during the Vietnam War.

Buffalo coat from Buffalo Soldiers Given the nickname by Native Americans likely because of their curly hair and buffalo coats worn in the winters, 10 units of the all-black U.S. Army cavalry served at Fort Robinson between 1885 and 1898. "Lt. John Alexander, the second African-American graduate of West Point, and Henry Plummer, the first black chaplain in the regular Army, served here," reads the historical marker at Fort Robinson State Park in Dawes County. "So did 10 Buffalo Soldier Medal of Honor men."

Standing Bears headdress He stood before a federal judge in Omaha in 1879 and testified that, after being forced from Ponca land, watching a third of his tribe die and being arrested following his return to the Niobrara to bury his teenage sons bones, that he no longer felt like a chief, but rather a poor person. The U.S. attorneys position was that Standing Bear, because he was an Indian, was not a person of any sort under federal law. Judge Elmer Dundy sided with Standing Bear, a landmark decision in the continuing struggle for Indian rights.

Ted Koosers notebook Ted Kooser, two-term U.S. poet laureate, helped secure Nebraskas spot on the literary map when his book Delights and Shadows (Copper Canyon Press) won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2005. From his home in rural Garland, Kooser takes pen in hand each morning before dawn and chronicles the nuances of everyday life, from screeching owls to small-town diners. Born in 1939 in Iowa, Kooser spent most of his 9-to-5 life as a life insurance executive, but he was writing poetry during that time, too. He is a Presidential Professor at the University of Nebraska teaching the writing of poetry and essays. His poetry even has been set to music. Winter Morning Walks won three Grammy awards for composer Maria Schneider and soprano Dawn Upshaw, who adapted the poems from his collection of the same name for an album.

J. Sterling Mortons walking stick Although many think of J. Sterling Morton as Nebraskas Johnny Appleseed because of his advocacy for tree planting, including heirloom apple trees, his legacy is much more than that. Born in New York and raised in Detroit, he came to Nebraska in 1854 and staked a claim in Nebraska City. Editor of the Nebraska City News, Morton became politically active and also well respected for his agricultural achievements -- he was the secretary of agriculture for President Grover Cleveland. Like many men of the time, Morton carried a brass-topped walking stick, and his was inscribed with a Latin verse, which translates to If you seek a monument, look around. Mortons monument -- in addition to Arbor Day, the state holiday encouraging tree planting -- can be seen in the many trees growing across the state.

SAC red phone "Well, we all felt that this was in the cards, that unless we were good -- if we slipped, if we were not capable of doing our job, that the Russians would eventually move in and take over, Lt. Gen. James Edmundson, a former director of operations at the facility now known as Stratcom, told a PBS film crew when asked about the reality of a nuclear attack. From bomber pilots flying 24-hour-long training missions to the installation of this red telephone that fortunately never rang, the command center at Offutt Air Force Base prepared as if the unthinkable could happen at any moment at the height of the Cold War. It was a tough life, said Edmundson, who died in the summer of 2001, months before Stratcoms focus would dramatically shift.

Transcontinental Railroad Building west from Omaha after President Abraham Lincoln approved legislation to build a railroad across the frontier, the Union Pacific railroad laid the first tracks of the Transcontinental Railroad on July 10, 1865. Thousands of workers swung hammers and laid rail ties for four years, and on May 10, 1869, the track was complete in Promontory, Utah. Cities sprang up across the Plains like those following the ABC Burlington railroad. From Crete westward, towns about eight miles apart were named in alphabetical order -- Crete, Dorchester, Exeter, Fairmont, Grafton, Hastings, Inland, Juniata, Kenesaw and Lowell. The Platte River railroad corridor is still chugging along, with Union Pacific, headquartered in Omaha, and BNSF Railway, the Berkshire Hathaway-owned company. Only two states, Texas and Illinois, have more railroad employees than Nebraska.

Willa Cathers William Dean Howells Medal Although Willa Cather was not a native Nebraskan -- born in 1873 in Virginia -- we claim the famous author as ours, because many of her novels revolve around her hometown of Red Cloud and the Great Plains. Winning the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours in 1923 and gaining recognition for O Pioneers! and My Antonia, Cather gained national literary attention with her descriptive prose that captured the spirit of the states early inhabitants. Then, in 1930, Cather received the William Dean Howells Medal for her book Death Comes for the Archbishop. Before she wrote novels, she wrote reviews for the Lincoln Journal newspaper as a student at the University of Nebraska. Cather moved to Pittsburgh, then New York, shortly after graduating from the University of Nebraska, but she returned to Red Cloud several times before her death in 1947.

Kregel windmill One thing Nebraska has plenty of is wind, and George F. Kregel found a way to use it. In 1879 Kregel developed a water-pumping windmill that would harness that wind and help pioneer farmers survive on the prairie. At first, the Nebraska City manufacturing company installed the windmills and water supply equipment and helped farmers maintain and repair them. During the 20th century, the company focused mostly on water well maintenance and the pump repair business. Even though they have not been mass produced since the early 1940s, Kregel Windmill Company Eli-brand windmills are still found in service pumping life-giving water for both humans and livestock. The factory remains intact -- exactly as it was after it closed in 1989 -- and has been reopened as the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum.

Homestead certificate Four miles west of Beatrice, the Homestead National Monument is the site of Daniel Freemans claim under the Homestead Act of 1862. He is said to have filed it 10 minutes after midnight at the Land Office in Brownville on Jan. 1, 1863, making him one of the first to take advantage of Abraham Lincolns legislation. All homesteaders had to be at least 21 years old, got 160 acres of land and had five years to prove up by living on the land, building a home and farming for five years. Total filing fee: $18. Freeman and his wife, Agnes, did just that and raised eight children there. About 270 million acres were claimed across the nation under this act.

Runza sandwich Germans from Russia brought the runza sandwich to Nebraska. A bread pocket filled with meat, cabbage, onions and seasonings goes by different names and comes in different shapes. But only in Nebraska did it give rise to a chain of fast-food restaurants. Ingredients now may vary, but the taste  whether homemade or restaurant-bought  is uniquely Nebraskan.

Chimney Rock Standing almost 300 feet above the surround North Platte River Valley, Chimney Rock in western Nebraska bade farewell from the state as Pioneers headed west on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. Its image has adorned licenses plates and Nebraskas state quarter. Its made of layers of clay, volcanic ash and sandstone.

Warren Buffett One of the richest men in world, the Oracle of Omaha is known for his down-to-earth style, common-sense financial philosophy and his philanthropy. As chairman, CEO and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett is considered by many to be the most successful investor of the 20th century, but hes known equally for his personal frugality.

CliffsNotes Before the Internet and Wikipedia, the distinctive yellow-and-black covers of CliffsNotes adorned the bookshelves of many a college and high school student. The series of study guides (which are not to be used as a substitute for reading the actual text, OK?) was launched in Lincoln by Cliff Hillegass and his wife Catherine. From the original 16 Shakespeare titles, CliffsNotes has grown to include hundreds of works and has saved many a student.

Giant porch swing Hebron is home to what was and may still be the worlds largest porch swing. Built from a giant crop irrigator pole, the swing seats between 18 and 24 depending on bun width. It sits in Roosevelt Park downtown, not on an actual front porch. Reportedly a larger porch swing may have been built in 2012 in Canada, but Hebrons still seems pretty big.

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Earlier this year, Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium was named by TripAdvisor the worlds best zoo. Marking its 120th year this year, the zoo is home to the Desert Dome, built in 2002, which is both the worlds largest indoor desert and the largest glazed geodesic dome. And the indoor Leid Jungle has been fogging up eyeglasses on cold winter days for 22 years.

Oregon Trail The 2,200-mile Oregon Trail connected the Missouri River to fertile valleys in, you guessed it, Oregon. Following along the Oregon Trail through Nebraska were the California, Mormon and Bozeman trails, which separated from each other after leaving the western edge of Nebraska. Between the 1830s and the 1870s, around 400,000 pioneers used the trail across Nebraska.

College World Series Since 1950 Omaha has hosted the College World Series, where eight teams square off in a double elimination tournament to decide the NCAA Division I baseball champion. Through 2010, games were held at Rosenblatt Stadium. Beginning in 2011, the series moved to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The NCAA has signed a contract that will keep the tournament in Omaha through at least 2035.

Arbor Day J. Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska from Detroit, Mich., in 1854. Along with his family and furniture, he brought a love to trees, which he felt were sorely needed in his new home territory (Nebraska became a state in 1867), so using the newspaper he owned as a pulpit, he campaigned for the establishment of Arbor Day, a holiday set aside for the planting of trees. On April 10, 1872, more than one million trees were planted in connection with the first Arbor Day. The holiday later expanded nationwide and globally.

Yellow school buses Its hard to believe something as ubiquitous as the yellow school bus has its origins in Nebraska, but Franklin-born educator Frank W. Cyr in the 1930s led a group that standardized many features of the nations school buses, most prominently their yellow-orange color, which was found to be the most visible at sunrise and late afternoon. Cyr, who eventually left Nebraska, is known as the father of the yellow school bus.

Beef Nebraska has the top three beef cattle counties in the United States, according to the UNL Beef Team, in Cherry, Custer and Holt counties. Cattle flourish on Nebraskas grasslands, and the state flourishes, to the tune of $12.1 billion, which is the estimated impact of the beef industry on the state. And this year Nebraska overtook Texas as the top beef-producing state in the U.S.

Ogallala Aquifer Nebraska is home to Americas largest underground lake, or aquifer, which stretches north to South Dakota and south to northern Texas. But in Nebraska the aquifer involves the largest geographic area and is in places more than 1,000 feet deep. It supplies the vast majority of drinking water in Nebraska and provides agriculture with the water needed for irrigation.
By Muyu Xu and Florence Tan

BEIJING (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco will ensure China's energy security remains its highest priority for the next 50 years and beyond as new and existing energy sources run in parallel for some time, CEO Amin Nasser told the China Development Forum on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, retained its position as China's top supplier in the first two months this year, with volumes up 2.1% to 1.86 million barrels per day (bpd), China customs data showed on Saturday.

The kingdom beat Russia to keep its ranking as China's top crude supplier in 2020 despite unprecedented production cuts in a pact between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to balance global markets after demand plunged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Ensuring the continuing security of China's energy needs remains our highest priority  not just for the next five years but for the next 50 and beyond," Nasser said in a video speech.

"We appreciate that sustainable energy solutions are crucial to a faster and smoother global energy transition ... But, realistically, this will take some time since there are few alternatives to oil in many areas."

Nasser told an earnings call earlier on Sunday that Chinese demand was very close to pre-pandemic levels while Asia, East Asia in particular, had seen a strong pickup.

Besides being a top supplier of China's energy needs, Nasser said Aramco is also well-placed to help China achieve its second centennial goal in energy transition.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in September that China will bring its carbon emissions to a peak before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060, a pledge that is expected to create a tectonic shift in its energy and manufacturing sectors.

The state oil giant also expects opportunities for further investment in downstream projects to help to meet China's needs for heavy transport and chemicals, as well as lubricants and non-metallic materials, Nasser said.

Story continues

He added that Aramco is working with Chinese universities and companies in cleaner engine fuel systems and technologies to convert crude to chemicals and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing energy sources.

"In fact, we have even bolder ambitions to expand and intensify our research collaboration with China," Nasser said, adding that additional collaboration is likely on so-called blue hydrogen, ammonia and carbon-capture technologies among others.

Experts from China National Petroleum Corp's (CNPC) research institute have forecast that China's oil demand will be capped at 730 million tonnes by around 2025 under Xi's climate pledge.

(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Florence Tan; Editing by David Goodman and David Evans)
Art Cross was getting ready to sue his neighbor across the street. A constant stream of tourists seemed to spill out of the neighbors house every weekend, disrupting the peace and quiet on his block in Incline Village, a small, upscale Nevada mountain town in the isolated northeast corner of Lake Tahoe.

I looked at retaining a lawyer to take legal action against him by the end, said Cross, a 28-year resident of Incline. In December, the neighbor sold to a new owner who Cross said is more diligent about managing the property. But it still functions as one of a growing number of short-term rentals creeping into the neighborhood.

Its changed the place we live, Cross said. Its unknown and its ever-changing.

This is life for many in Incline, whose 8,700 residents are divided by the question of how to manage the proliferation of short-term rentals in their remote community  and the endless stream of visitors they support.

Tahoe has always been a hot vacation destination. But natural distinctions between residential neighborhoods and tourist areas have been blurred as thousands of homes are offered up as short-term rentals  known as STRs  on booking websites like Airbnb and Vrbo. The ongoing flow of visitors creates a party atmosphere in otherwise laid-back communities. And many locals resent it.

Tahoes other towns have recently set about restricting or at least tracking STRs, leaving Washoe County, where unincorporated Incline Village is located, as the lakes last holdout.

Thats about to change.

Washoe is on the verge of approving its first STR regulations after two years of study and discussion. An ordinance expected to win approval from the county commission Tuesday sets occupancy limits and quiet hours for rentals and attempts to curb the loud parties, parking violations and litter that often accompany them. It would also create a permit system and require fire safety inspections.

This should have been done a very long time ago, said Washoe County commissioner Alexis Hill, who represents the Incline Village-Crystal Bay area.

But many locals are enraged by the countys slow response and say the ordinance attempts to treat the symptoms of a souped-up tourist market while ignoring the root causes and their long-term consequences. They want a hard cap on the number of STRs, fewer rentals in residential neighborhoods, a requirement that rentals are owner-occupied for at least six months a year and stricter punishment of violations.

Though Incline accounts for only about 5% of Washoe Countys population, it is home to more than 90% of STRs in county jurisdictions. Of the towns approximately 4,000 homes, 1,065 are rented out via Airbnb, Vrbo and local property managers. Many residents say theres an imbalance that is the changing character of their community and, one says, threatens to transform the mountain town into a transient tourism mecca.

Were seeing the hotel-ification of our community in real time, said Incline resident Pamela Tsigdinos.

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The pandemic has strained long-standing tensions between Tahoe locals and tourists as people from urban areas seek refuge from contagion in the mountains.

With everyone not being able to travel internationally, Tahoe is carrying an increased burden of tourism, Cross said. It has gone through the roof with COVID.

Overwhelmed by complaints, Tahoes other destinations have set new rules on STRs in recent months or are in the process of curtailing their spread.

Truckee and Placer County launched permitting programs and beefed up enforcement efforts last year. In South Lake Tahoe, the number of STRs will be reduced from 1,400 in January to 400 by years end. El Dorado County recently imposed a limit on the number of allowable STRs in the southwest corner of the Tahoe basin.

In February, Washoe Countys neighbor, Douglas County, which encompasses the cluster of casinos across the border from South Lake Tahoe, moved to temporarily suspend new STR permits and issue $20,000 fines to hosts who rent without a permit.

The big fear we have is, as every single community around Lake Tahoe puts in stricter oversight and tighter restrictions, its going to push more tourists into Incline, Tsigdinos said. Already, visitors can cause Inclines population to more than double on popular weekends.

Some in Incline say the problem has been allowed to fester because their town is relatively small and isolated from the bulk of Washoe residents outside the Tahoe basin. Plus, none of the county commissioners live there.

Also, they say, the county is reluctant to limit the number of STRs because it could jeopardize the flow of lodging taxes from Incline. Airbnb, for example, has helped Washoe County collect $4.9 million in taxes in the past five years, according to a statement from the company.

We are essentially being used as a pawn to derive income for the county and for Airbnb, Tsigdinos said. Yet we are the ones who have to endure the thousands of people who flood into our community.

Incline residents frustration was on display at a public reading of the ordinance in February. Dozens of locals queued up on a Zoom call to urge commissioners to set a quota on STRs. About 600 people submitted written comments online.

This might be the most robust public engagement process that Washoe County has ever undertaken, one commissioner said during the reading.

Several residents claimed that homes are being purchased by out-of-town investors and converted into full-time STRs at an alarming rate. Some say they feel surrounded by houses that operate more like motels.

Id like to ask you, does hosting 15 to 20 transient people on your same block ... does that sound like a balance of competing interests? Incline resident Steven Berg asked commissioners during the call. Thats not the reason we bought a house in a single-family neighborhood.

A small number of rental advocates weighed in, including a representative from Airbnb, who asked the county to reconsider a provision requiring in-person property inspections and permit registration forms and fees. In a statement to The Chronicle, Expedia Group, which owns Vrbo, said the Washoe compromise strikes the right balance for the vacation rental community and local neighbors.

A man who identified himself as a recently divorced airline pilot named Art spoke up in defense of rentals. He said income from renting out his house helps him pay for his childrens college education.

Not everybody is living in San Francisco and owning an Airbnb in Incline, he said.

Though many U.S. cities have severely restricted or banned STRs in recent years, Washoe County leaders say stricter measures could expose the county to litigation from homeowners. The outcomes of property rights battles over STRs elsewhere could serve to inform Washoe Countys regulations, Hill said.

Itll be interesting to see what happens with other communities that have put through stricter rules, she said.

Assuming the ordinance passes on Tuesday, rental hosts will have until May to register their properties with the county, and the program will take effect in August. Washoe commissioners say they intend to revisit the ordinance in November to deal with unanticipated issues.

Were asking the residents to just try this, said Mojra Hauenstein, director of planning and building for Washoes Community Services Department. Then well come back with empirical data to show what has worked and what hasnt worked.

Were trying to balance both sides, she added. The way I know weve hit the middle with this ordinance is that nobodys happy right now. We dont have Airbnb happy, the Realtors happy or the community happy. So we must be on the right track.

Gregory Thomas is The San Francisco Chronicles editor of lifestyle and outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @GregRThomas
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Currency cooperation deals between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh View(s):

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh yesterday resolved to request their respective Central Banks and other financial institutions to cooperate closely on currency swap arrangements. Agreement on the issue was reached when visiting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa met his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina at her office in Dhaka. The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to an early conclusion of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) while six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were also signed during the visit.
In a strong counter to the narrative building around reasons for the exit of Professor PB Mehta, Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee has said the institution remains committed to academic freedom and intellectual independence while its Board of Trustees Chairman Ashish Dhawan promised an open line of communication. Days after Mehta, who had resigned as Vice-Chancellor of the university two years back, chose to step down as a Professor also, saying that the founders made it "abundantly clear" that his association with the institution was a "political liability", Mukherjee wrote to faculty and students stating the institution's founders have never interfered with academic freedom. Dhawan in a separate letter said the Board of Trustee stands for free enquiry, academic freedom and intellectual independence and the university is committed to providing an environment of excellence. "I deeply regret any lapses that led to this situation - this was not something we had anticipated or planned." Dhawan, in the separate two-page letter, said faculty and students are encouraged to continue questioning the world around them, including the university. "The last few days have taught us it is really important for us to build an open line of communication and also listen to you. We will make ourselves available for meetings with the Student Government and Alumni Council on a regular basis," he wrote. "The Ashoka administration is entrepreneurial in spirit, and we know that you are too. We want to encourage you to express yourselves and know that we will be there to hear you and take your feedback." The university belongs to students as much as it does to the faculty and the founders, he said, inviting students to use their voice to help management understand their need. "We hope to become a more inclusive university that continues to develop on the basis of student, faculty, and administration partnerships." "I admit that the departures of Professors Mehta and Subramanian make us all feel a tremendous loss but there is nothing for you to fear. As an institution, we are committed to freedom in every aspect. Even as we evolve, this commitment will never fade," he said.

Here's the full text of Dhawan's letter.

Dear Ashoka students and alumni,

I know you have been waiting to hear from me and I would like to apologise to you personally for the delay in reaching out. The past few days have been anxious and uncertain, and all of us have been swamped with discussions on how to move ahead. We are now better positioned to interact with you and will be meeting with the Student Government and Alumni Council today.

Universities take centuries to build. While we have been at it now for just over a decade, we are still in our infancy. Through this journey, which has had its share of challenges, our founders and trustees have always had the best interests of Ashoka at heart. None of them have even an iota of commercial or business interest in the university. Even as we grow, I assure you that we are all committed to giving you the highest quality of education possible. We will work tirelessly to continue to bring the best minds and the finest scholars to Ashoka and build a university that you are all proud to belong to.

We stand for free enquiry, academic freedom and intellectual independence and always will. We would not have come this far if that was not the case. Questions are meant to be asked, and I understand why all of you are asking them right now. I want to encourage you to continue questioning the world around you, including us. But you should also know that we, as a University, will never intentionally let you down. You always have had and will have the freedom to express yourself. We are all committed to providing you an environment of excellence and helping Ashoka grow but the university needs your help and support now more than ever.

I have known Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta closely for over a decade. I worked intensely with our faculty and then Vice-Chancellor to bring him to Ashoka.

For me, Pratap is not just rightfully Indias foremost public intellectual but also a friend from whom I have learned a lot. We have jointly co-created Ashoka from Day One. I, of course, worked closely with him when he was the Vice-Chancellor and most recently on the Centre for China Studies. I worked for months with Pratap to bring Professor Arvind Subramanian to Ashoka and I am privileged and honoured to have worked with him as well on several projects, including the Centre for Economic Policy. It has been an absolute delight to work with both of them in building Ashoka and I am as saddened as you are at their departure. I deeply regret any lapses that led to this situationthis was not something we had anticipated or planned.

I have personally met Pratap several times over the past few days and have been on calls with him frequently. Our interactions continue to be as friendly and full of mutual respect as they have always been. You have seen our joint statement so you know the outcome of these meetings and discussions which have occupied us for the past few days.

As we move forward, there are certain things that need to change. For one, the last few days have taught us it is really important for us to build an open line of communication and also listen to you. We will make ourselves available for meetings with the Student Government and Alumni Council on a regular basis. The Ashoka administration is entrepreneurial in spirit, and we know that you are too. We want to encourage you to express yourselves and know that we will be there to hear you and take your feedback.

This university belongs to you as much as it does to the faculty and the founders. So, I invite you to use your voice to help us understand what you need and I promise you that we will do our best. We hope to become a more inclusive university that continues to develop on the basis of student, faculty, and administration partnerships.

I assure you that Ashoka is a space that aims to empower its entire community and build on its core values. I know that this week has been full of anguish but it is in these moments that it becomes critical for us to come together and move forward. I admit that the departures of Professors Mehta and Subramanian make us all feel a tremendous loss but there is nothing for you to fear. As an institution, we are committed to freedom in every aspect. Even as we evolve, this commitment will never fade. I urge all of you to continue to believe in and to work with us so that we can grow stronger and evolve together.
Be it playing expletive hurling lady with verve in No One Killed Jessica, a con woman in Bunty Aur Babli, a blind girl in Black or a no-nonsense cop in Mardaani, Rani Mukerji has always been a force to reckon on the big screen! Off the camera, the doe-eyed actress never shies away from speaking her mind.

"When I was a little girl I had this dreamy notion that I should be known by millions of people and that I should make lots of money. Otherwise, I was quite a carefree girl in Maneckjee Cooper School," Rani had said in an interview with Filmfare magazine in 1997.

When was the last time you heard a top Bollywood star admitting that he/she gets pre-release jitters even after many years of experience? But, Rani's different from the crowd! "The day you stop feeling jittery about Fridays means you are finished as an actor. If it doesn't move you, that means you don't value the audience's feedback," the actress had admitted in an exclusive interview with Filmibeat. In a nutshell, the diva never fails to make us fall in love with her!

On Rani Mukerji's 43th birthday today (March 21, 2021), we bring you some rare pictures of this dazzling star which will brighten your day.

School Chale Hum! Can you spot Rani Mukerji in this picture from her school days? Lights, Camera, Rewind Be it posing as a toddler or sharing a frame with her brother or her friends, Rani was always ready for the camera and these pictures are the proof! Sibling Diaries Don't miss Rani Mukerji's sweet moments with her brother Raja in these clicks. Happy Faces Rani Mukerji is all smiles for the camera while posing with Shah Rukh Khan, Manish Malhotra and Mickey Contractor on the sets of Chalte Chalte. Vanity Tales Rani Mukerji and her co-star Kareena Kapoor Khan are busy getting some final touch-ups down before shooting a scene for Mujhse Dosti Karoge. A Floodgate Of Memories Rani Mukerji share a goofy moment with late Yash Chopra on the sets of Veer Zara. The film also starred Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in pivotal roles.

ALSO READ: Rani Mukerji Is Looking Forward To Ring In Her Birthday With Fans; Says 'Their Love Has Motivated Me'

ALSO READ: Rani Mukerji On 17 Years Of Chalte Chalte: Working With SRK Has Been One Of My Favourite Things
Aizawl, March 21 : Amid the government tightening the security along the India-Myanmar border to prevent influx from across the border, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Sunday held a virtual meeting with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung.

Zoramthanga after holding the discussion with Aung, tweeted: "Had a fruitful meeting this morning with Zin Mar Aung, Foreign Minister, Myanmar. Our thoughts and prayers are with Myanmar in these trying times." Mizoram government officials when contacted by the IANS said that they are not in a position to disclose the discussion between the Chief Minister and Myanmar Minister.

Mizoram government delegations comprising state's Member of Parliament and senior leader of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) had already met separately with Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and others in Delhi and persuade them to impress upon the government not to forcefully push back the Myanmar nationals sheltered in Mizoram.

According to Mizoram's Rajya Sabha member K.Vanlalvena over 300 Myanmar nationals including 150 police personnel besides women and children have crossed the border are currently taking shelter in Mizoram.

Local people and officials said that the number of refugees from Myanmar took shelter in Mizoram since March 3 had already crossed over 4,000.

Officials in Aizawl said that the Mizoram government team at the instruction of Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Friday urged the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai to provide relief to the people sheltered in the bordering state after fleeing from the neighbouring military coup-hit Myanmar.

"While ruling out the possibility of deporting these refugees until situation in Myanmar gets back to normal, members of the team requested the central government's intervention for providing necessary relief measures to refugees staying in Mizoram and expressed hope that India will take a more proactive role and raise a stronger voice in support of people fighting for restoration of democracy in Myanmar," said a Mizoram official statement.

The four-member team comprising Mizoram's Lok Sabha C.Lalrosanga, Rajya Sabha member K.Vanlalvena, the State Planning Board Vice-Chairman H.Rammawi and Mizo National Front Adviser Rosangzuala, also made similar appeal to the Union Home Secretary. AVanlalvena while discussing the matter in the Rajya Sabha last week urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider the plight of the people protesting against the military rule in Myanmar and relax its policy towards Myanmar refugees crossing over to India.

Mizoram statement's further said that the state government and NGOs in Mizoram have been providing immediate help and shelter to these refugees.

Meanwhile, the MHA had recently given directions to the chief secretaries of four northeastern states -- Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur -- sharing borders with Myanmar to not entertain Myanmar refugees. It also instructed Assam Rifles to seal the border and prevent entry from the neighbouring country, the statement said.

Mizoram government official said that the Deputy Secretary (NE), MHA, Krishna Mohan Uppu, in his letter said that the Ministry's Foreigners' Division had also issued instructions to the chief secretaries on February 28 for asking law enforcement and intelligence agencies to take prompt steps for identifying illegal migrants, their restrictions to specific locations as per provisions of law, capturing their biographic and biometrics particulars, cancellation of fake Indian documents and legal proceedings, including initiation of deportation.

The letter, available with IANS, reiterated that the state governments and UT 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 four northeastern states share a 1,643 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar where power has been transferred to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain this morning with thunderstorms by evening. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
60%

Website legalshieldcalendar.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: Boostrap. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 444746 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of 170804 bytes (166.80 kb uncompressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-03-21, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
New York, US (PANA) - Although the past year has seen the world battling the deadly impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scourge of racism has also devastated many lives with tragic consequences, the UN refugee agency said on Sunday
A customer exits a Starbucks Korea branch holding beverages in this undated photo. Yonhap



By Kim Yoo-chul



Shinsegae Group, the country's top-tier retail group, is seeking to acquire a 100 percent stake in Starbucks Korea via its affiliate E-mart. Shinsegae has been impressed with Starbucks Korea's continued profit growth despite the protracted COVID-19 pandemic, sources involved with matter said, Sunday.



E-mart, Korea's top discount store chain, currently owns 50 percent of Starbucks Korea. Starbucks headquarters in the United States owns the other half.



"Shinsegae Group had considered unloading its 50 percent stake in Starbucks Korea as it has to renew its licensing and royalty contract with Starbucks headquarters. But impressed by the steady growth of Starbucks Korea both in terms of sales and profits even with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the local food and beverage industry, the group shifted its stance towards acquiring the remaining stake," an industry source said.



The value of the remaining 50 percent stake is estimated at more than 1 trillion won.



An official at Shinsegae Group said the retail giant has been reviewing the best possible scenarios on "multiple fronts." But the official added that a final decision has yet to be made.



If the deal is completed, E-mart will be positioned to receive double the amount of dividends from Starbucks Korea, another source said. Last year, Starbucks Korea and E-mart each paid 30 billion won in dividends to Starbucks' U.S. headquarters.



"If E-mart gains a 100 percent stake in Starbucks Korea, that doesn't mean the discount store will be exempt from paying 5 percent in return for using trademarks and other licensing out of its annual revenue," the official said.



Since its establishment in 1999, Starbucks Korea has proven to be a stable source of profit. As of last year, it operates 1,503 stores here including its top Starbucks Reserve outlets. Its annual revenue surpassed 1 trillion won for the first time in 2016. Last year, annual revenue totaled 1.92 trillion won. Net earnings figures weren't available.



But the central point is that Starbucks' U.S. headquarters seems to be aware of the increased growth potential of Starbucks Korea. Shinsegae has been focusing on finding various strategies for external and internal growth as Korea's retail industry undergoes rapid changes following a surge in online purchases. Shinsegae has also been asked by investors to address concerns over financing to acquire the remaining stake in Starbucks Korea.



Shinsegae Group submitted its intent to acquire a 100 percent stake in eBay Korea, filing a preliminary bid to Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, the two lead financial advisers for the sale. The estimated sales value of eBay Korea is believed to be around 5 trillion won.



"Because Starbucks' U.S. headquarters is looking good, financially, it won't be attracted by Shinsegae's alleged approach to hand over its 50 percent stake in a one-off cash-deal. Koreans' preference for Starbucks Korea is huge and its brand position is very strong," a local banking industry source said.


Lawyers for the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi say they have served Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a legal complaint - allowing proceedings against the Saudi royal to proceed.

Last year, Hatice Cengiz, who was poised to marry the writer and activist, and members of a non-profit group the Saudi journalist established in Washington DC filed a lawsuit against the 35-year-old prince, commonly known as MBS, accusing him and others of the kidnap, drugging, torture, and assassination of the US resident.

"The ruthless torture and murder of Mr Khashoggi shocked the conscience of people throughout the world. The objective of the murder was clear - to halt Mr Khashoggi's advocacy in the United States, principally as the executive director of Plaintiff Dawn [Democracy for the Arab World Now], for democratic reform in the Arab world," the lawsuit said.

The crown prince has always denied the allegations and insisted he had nothing to do with the killing of Khashoggi, who was last seen alive when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

Earlier this year, a report published by the US intelligence services claimed MBS knew about, and approved of the plan to kill the 59-year-old journalist, whose body has never been recovered. He had been a regular contributor to The Washington Post.

The report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence cited the crown prince's control of decision-making in Saudi Arabia as well as the involvement of a key adviser and members of the prince's protective detail in the operation that killed Khashoggi, a critic of the royal family.

Now, lawyers say that they have been able to serve the complaint via WhatsApp messaging, express mail to the Saudi authorities, publication in The New York Times international edition and Al-Quds Al-Arabi, and by giving notice to MBS's lawyers of record in the US.

"This an important moment. The lawyers for the crown prince have appeared in court and that means the case can now proceed," Faisal Gill, managing partner of the Gill Law Firm, and one of the lawyers representing Ms Cengiz and Dawn, told The Independent.

Lawyers named in court documents as representing MBS included Michael Kellogg, who has previously represented the government of Saudi Arabia, and Andrew Shen. Both work for Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick. The third is Gregory Gerber Rapawy.

Mr Kellogg did not immediately respond to enquires. Mr Shen told The Independent the company had a policy of not committing to the press on cases. Asked if the suit had been served, he said: "I'm sorry, I cannot offer any comment."

During his campaign for the White House, Joe Biden claimed he would pursue MBS and Saudi Arabia over the killing of Khashoggi, who had entered the Turkish consulate to get a visa to travel to Saudi Arabia to get married. At one point Mr Biden said he would make the Saudis "pay the price, and make them in fact the pariah that they are".

Yet after the report was published, he stepped back from punishing MBS specifically, even as his administration sanctioned other senior Saudis. "The relationship with Saudi Arabia is bigger than any one individual," secretary of state Antony Blinken said at a news conference.

Mr Biden also defended his actions, telling ABC News he was the "guy that released the report", unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump, who refused to do so. He added: "We held accountable all the people in that organisation -- but not the crown prince, because we have never that I'm aware of, when we have an alliance with a country, gone to the acting head of state and punished that person and ostracised him."

Associated Press
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A PROPOSAL to award a grant of 13,322 for the Edenderry Carbon Challenge was voted down by a majority of members of Edenderry Municipal District at last week's meeting.

Edenderry Carbon Challenge was established by Edenderry Tidy Towns and supported by Edenderry Chamber of Commerce, Green Offaly and Craoi Laighean Credit Union.

In 2020 a call to fund projects under the Just Transition Process was announced. Edenderry Carbon Initiative and decided to make an application.

The intention behind the initiative was twofold. Firstly it sought to carry out an Energy Master plan and examine the needs in the town. Secondly it sought to carry out surveys on homes and businesses in the town in order to assess the works necessary to improve their energy rating. Support for this project had also been secured from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland who has grant aided 15,000 towards the initiative.

Under the Just Transition scheme, Edenderry Carbon Challenge was awarded 70,000 for their feasibility studies. This funding was subject to a match funding requirement of 15%. It had been envisaged that the funding secured from the S.E.A.I. could be used as the match funding element however this was not permitted. Following this Edenderry Tidy Towns applied to Offaly County Councils, Edenderry Municipal Committee for the match funding necessary.

At the meeting a proposal to award funding of 13,322 to the initiative was proposed by Cllr Noel Cribbin. and seconded by his colleague Cllr Liam Quinn. A counter proposal that sought to have households in Edenderry taking part in scheme make a contribution in lieu of a grant from Offaly County Council was proposed by Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick and seconded by Cllr John Foley.

Cllr Cribbin stated that in order to draw down the Just Transition funding the match funding was required now and could not be paid in retrospect as the surveys were being rolled out. He agreed that households participating in the scheme could make a contribution but this did not solve the immediate problem of the match funding being required sooner rather than later. Cllr Quinn stated that he felt this project was a positive one for Edenderry Town and if awarding 13,000 to the project resulted in a fund of over 80,000 being made available it represented value for money.

Following a discussion on the issue a vote took place. Cllrs Cribbin, Quinn and Hackett voted in favour of Cllr. Cribbin's proposal while Cllrs Fitzpatrick, Foley and McDermott voted in favour of Cllr Fitzpatrick's proposal. As the vote was tied the casting vote of the Chairman, Cllr Foley was required. The Chair voted as before for Cllr Fitzpatric'ks proposal thus defeating the proposal from Cllr Cribbin.

After the vote Cllr Cribbin expressed his disappointment that this proposal had been rejected, he stated that he would continue to seek funding to help keep this project alive as it represented a significant opportunity for the town of Edenderry.

This project has the capacity to deliver hundreds of thousands of euro in funding under a future Just Transition application if we have the right information to back up our proposal. A well funded scheme could see grants of between 30-50% for homeowners wishing to undertake these works. Retrofitting houses and business in our town will bring investment and employment along with the obvious advantages of better air quality for everyone who lives here. The funding awarded to this initiative was the first step in that process that unfortunately has been set back by todays events Cllr. Cribbin concluded.
Last August, The Root reported that the New York Civil Liberties Union released data that revealed more than 323,000 misconduct complaints filed against more than 80,000 New York police officers just after police unions failed to block the records from being exposed in a federal appeals court. Well, it turns out that the Big Apple is not done exposing police records for the good of the civilian communities that police are tasked with protecting and serving. In fact, earlier this month, the disciplinary records of another 83,000-plus police officers in the state have been made available to the public.

New York Civil Liberties Union Releases More Than 323,000 Allegations of Misconduct Filed Against the NYPD

Insider reports that the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board published a new searchable database this month that allows people to view the records of tens of thousands of police officers. The NYPD also provided a database of its own shortly after.

Read more

A professor of criminal justice law at the University of California, Berkeley, Jonathan Simon, sat down for an interview with Insider to talk about the benefits of data dumps like these saying they could help people feel more empowered and get more accountability out of the system.

From Insider:

Simon said one of the biggest reasons people dont make legal claims when they feel their rights have been violated by police is because they doubt their experience. They question whether what happened may have been their fault or if they are overreacting. But if a person who believes theyve experienced misconduct can look online and see that an officer has done the same thing before, it would reaffirm their own initial sense of being wronged in a way that would empower them, hopefully, to take some action, Simon said. The public records could also help prevent a police department from hiring someone with a history of misconduct. When a police officer gets fired, including for serious misconduct, they are often able to get a job with another law enforcement agency in an occurrence known as the wandering-officer phenomenon, according to a Yale Law Journal study published last year. Simon said in some of those cases, the new agency may not know of the officers history of misconduct since it is often not publicly available. With public disciplinary records, Simon said, itll be easier for police forces to avoid hiring officers with a track record that hasnt been disclosed to them.

Story continues

One can only wonder why police officers who tend to live by an if youve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about creed never seem to want to apply that same logic to themselves. Allowing the public to see the records of officers in their communities shouldnt be a thing cops would want to fight, especially if theyre serious about weeding out the bunch-spoiling bad apples we keep hearing so much about.

If the criminal records of civilians are made accessible to the public, why shouldnt the disciplinary records of police officers?

Anyway, the database published by the CCRB excludes open allegations, successfully mediated allegations, or allegations referred to NYPD or other investigative units, Insider reports.

Exposing misconduct records is only a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done in the way of bringing true police reform to Americabut it is a step in the right direction. Currently, there are around a dozen U.S. states that have made police disciplinary records public. Its a policy that needs to be adopted across the nation.
An elderly woman has been rescued by police from deep floodwaters on the NSW Central Coast shortly before her car was swept into a river.

The 80-year-old woman became stuck in her car in floodwaters along River Road at Wyong on Sunday afternoon.

Police spotted the half-submerged Hyundai Getz while attending to another incident nearby and realised the driver was still inside.

An elderly woman has been rescued from her car moments before it swept into Wyong River

One officer waded out into the waters on foot and was able to free the woman from the car and walk her out to safety.

The car was then pushed by the fast-flowing waters into the nearby Wyong River.

Neither the driver or the officer were injured.

The incident sparked a warning from police urging people not to drive on roads that are submerged by floodwaters.

NSW is battling floods across the state in what authorities say is the most serious rain event in decades.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 11:07:05|Editor: huaxia

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Demonstrators march during a protest against Asian hate on Times Square in New York, the United States, March 20, 2021. Eight people, six of whom were Asian and two were white, were killed in three shooting incidents in the Atlanta area by a suspect this week. The attacks came amid a troubling spike in violence against the Asian American community during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)
Two missing schoolgirls were forced to spend the night on a train after being locked inside, prompting an all-night search by their families.

Amy Greenan, 12, and her friend fell asleep on the train headed for Balloch, Scotland while travelling back from a day out in Glasgow.

The pair were found on Saturday morning after they flagged down a passer by, who alerted staff.

Amy's mother, Bonnie Louise Greenan, 36, told the Scottish Daily Record that the two girls were about to break a window to escape before they were discovered.

Amy Greenan, pictured, was locked on the train overnight with a friend from school

'I was hysterical and have not had a wink of sleep all night,' she said.

'The girls were at school during the day and then they had planned a sleepover later that night. At about 7pm I tried to call her but her phone was dead. The same was true with her pal's phone.

'Her mum and I both eventually contacted the police when they didn't show up. It was such a worrying time. One of their other pals told us they had been in Glasgow and were on a Balloch train.

'So I was driving about checking the trains, checking their usual haunts but there was no sign of them at all.

'First thing in the morning after being up all night, we got a call from the police in Helensburgh saying they had the girls. They had fallen asleep on the train and when the came to, the train was locked.

Amy's, (pictured right) mother spent the night searching for her daughter and her friend

'They tried to sleep through the night and hopefully alert someone in the morning. On Saturday morning they were about to break the glass when they saw a girl walking past on the platform and they caught her attention.

'She then went and got staff who let them out. They were hysterical. Amy was cold and tired and someone went to Greggs and got her food and a drink. They were scared.

'Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.'

The incident is now being investigated with the assistance of Police Scotland.
United States' Education Department will forgive the federal loans of students who were victims of fraud by for-profit universities. The Biden administration has announced that the federal loans of the said students will be fully erased, a movement that is included in reversing the former administration's policy.

ABC News mentioned the Education Department saying that some students were only given partial relief of financial help. The change the current administration will provide will benefit 72,000 borrowers, where all the students have attended for-profit schools or universities. The Education Department furthered that about $1 billion loans will be canceled.

ALSO READ: Millennials Delay Marriage Until Student Loans are Paid Off, Study Finds

Federal Loans and Education Department

The cancellation will have to meet certain conditions before fully forgiving the loans. To be eligible for the federal loan forgiveness by the Education Department, a student must have submitted claims that their for-profit colleges or universities have defrauded them. After that, the federal student loans will be canceled through borrower defense, according to a Forbes report.

"Borrowers deserve a simplified and fair path to relief," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement. Cordona furthered that this is especially needed by borrowers who have been harmed by the misconduct of the institutions.

Students who have already been paying their loans will also be reimbursed. Negative ratings because of the loan repayments will also be removed by the credit bureaus, according to an Axios report.

Cordona noted that "a close review of these claims and associated evidence" that is submitted by the students or borrowers have been harmed. Cordona added that their department will grant the borrowers a new beginning from their debts.

However, the new policy pushed by the Education Department does not extend to all claims of fraud. The department emphasized that the ones eligible for the cancellation of federal loans are borrowers who have previously approved claims that we're able to receive "less than a full loan discharge." Moreover, the borrowers who were concerned will be notified by the department in the next few weeks.

Federal Loans in the Previous Administration

During the previous administration, former education secretary Betsy DeVos received backlash on how she handled the issue when she appeared before the House Education and Labor Committee.

The Education Department received a class-action lawsuit from the borrowers who challenged the former administration's delays in processing their claims and denials in forgiving their loans. The Education Department remains in the lawsuit up until the present.

DeVos revised the program that tightened the debt forgives during the former administration as Congress tried to turn the tables. However, former President Trump has already vetoed the measure.

"The previous administration turned borrower defense into a total sham that was rigged to deny claims without any true considerations," said the director of Project on Predatory Student Learning, Toby Merill. Merill added that it is now time for the current administration to address these failings.

The Education Department noted that a total of 343,331 applications for relief under borrower defense were filed for the cancellation of federal loans as of February 28. Among these, 61,511 have already been approved and borrowers notified.

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Central Market, an American gourmet grocery store chain, owned by H-E-B Grocery Company based in San Antonio, Texas recently added a new player in their boxed wine segment. Downward Dog Wine (http://www.dd.wine) is now available throughout the Central Market stores. Central Market (http://www.centralmarket.com) is known for their commitment to community, small businesses, modern methodologies, and quality products. Central Market recognized a mutual opportunity by connecting valued customers with an excellent boxed wine from Oklahomas Downward Dog.

New to Texas, and only two years into the billion-dollar box wine segment, Downward Dog Wine hit nothing short of a home run. Founded by small business entrepreneur, Betsy Hendershot of Tulsa, OK, Downward Dog Wine is making its way onto retail shelves one family-owned distributor at a time. Using singly sourced grapes from vineyards found within the Columbia Valley of Washington state, Downward Dog Wine speaks to a large audience.

It just makes sense to me that the consumer might want more options on the boxed wine aisle, said Hendershot. When you walk around a liquor store or grocery market, you often see hundreds of options in the 750ml (bottle) format. If you want to choose an interesting label from a small producer, you can. But what if you love the versatility and environmental benefits of a boxed wine? Your options, generally, are very limited. Downward Dog offers seven choices of fine wines: Signature Red Wine Blend, Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlo, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Downward Dog Wine is also committed to reversing the negative stigma that is often associated with boxed wine. Betsy added, Im astounded by the number of people that ask me if the wine inside the bag is the same wine that is found in a bottle. This is when I jump on the opportunity to educate and offer an even better opportunity for a blindfolded taste test. Luckily for Downward Dog Wine, boxed wine sales are on the rise nationwide. Whether its the economic benefits, sustainability factors, convenience, or downright ease of drinking wine from a box, its catching on.

Downward Dog Wines might not enjoy visibility in some large retail chains, but its unconventional approach towards sales and their willingness to work with other small businesses provides relief to savvy retailers seeking to offer better choices and wider selections to their consumers. Central Market in the great state of Texas will introduce shoppers to a choice of delicious, quality wines at an affordable rate.

About Downward Dog Wines http://www.downwarddogwine.com/

Female entrepreneur, Betsy Hendershot, of Tulsa, OK took notice as her 4-year-old Cock-a-Poo performed an ever-familiar stretch as she was preparing to leave for her morning yoga class. It just so happened that she was actively searching for a name for a current project: a proprietary wine label that would set an example for quality wine at a value price in the boxed wine segment.

Downward Dog Wine is custom blended in the Downward Dog Cellars of Zillah, Washington. The five varietals and 2 blends all come from a single vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA, Roza Hills Vineyard. The ripe and balanced flavors of Downward Dog wine are a result of the moderate temperatures found 1100-1300 feet above sea level in a southern sloping bowl that sits on the southern slope of Rattlesnake Hills.
WP schools attendance satisfactory, as students return for lessons View(s):

More than 150,000 students in the Western province attended school this week, after schools in the province re-opened for grade five, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level classes.

Western Province Education Director Srilal Nonis said the attendance of both students and teachers was at a satisfactory rate.

Out of about 200,000 students expected to attend school in the province, about 153,000 students attended school. The highest attendances was from grade five scholarship students (97 percent) while absentees were high in A/L classes. Teacher attendance was about 80 percent too, he said. He said though nine COVID infected students sat for the GCE O/L examination from the province, no COVID infected students were reported from schools in the Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara districts.

All principals and teachers have been trained in detecting students showing COVID symptoms and they know how to take immediate action; from contacting an ambulance, informing the area Public Health Inspector, disinfecting and identifying students/teachers exposed etc. All schools in the province have been told to allocate a sick room too, Mr Nonis said.

The Western province has a total of 1,356 schools located in the Colombo, Homagama, Piliyandala, Sri Jayawardenapura, Gampaha, Kelaniya, Minuwangoda, Negombo, Horana, Kalutara, Matugama education zones. (NF)
The head of the Royal College of Nursing is calling for every school to have its own full-time nurse.

Dame Donna Kinnair said the move would help manage the growing toll of mental illness on children as well as aid schools in supporting pupils' recovery from the impact of Covid-19.

'Every school should have a school nurse because they are a vital part of the education of children and young people,' said Kinnair, who said investing in school nurses can also help to combat health issues such as obesity.

'With one in six children and young people experiencing mental health issues, the role of the school nurses has never been more important in assisting them.

'We also know issues such as obesity and diabetes are increasing. Investing in school nurses can go a long way to reducing the impact of these issues, which can have lifelong consequences.'

The head of the Royal College of Nursing is calling for every school to have its own full-time nurse. Dame Donna Kinnair (pictured) said the move would help manage the growing toll of mental illness on children as well as aid schools in supporting pupils' recovery from the impact of Covid-19 [File photo]

Kinnair's call comes as part of a manifesto to improve the health of the UK. The document, produced by the College of Medicine, gathered a group of health professionals with the aim of 'redefining medicine beyond pills and procedures'.

It advocates for using both conventional treatments and non-conventional treatments - for example, prescribing walking or social activities to treat depression.

The group includes Michael Dixon, former chair of the NHS Alliance and health advisor to Prince Charles, and Sir Sam Everington, a highly-respected GP who gained plaudits for improving the health of communities in the East End of London.

Regarding nurses in schools, the group wrote that it 'believes physical, mental and social health needs to be the focus of all schools.'

'This can only be done with a full-time nurse in every school and on every governing board,' it said.

At present, there is around one nurse for every 10 state schools in England, The Guardian reported. NHS figures reported in the paper showed the number of school nurses fell 30 per cent in England from 2,962 in 2009 to 2,060 last year.

Teaching unions have backed the call, with Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders saying it would be 'a step change in how we support children's health.'

'Currently school nurses generally look after several schools, conducting visits and drop-in sessions. It would be fantastic if every school had its own nurse because it would mean that each school was able to always draw on the expertise of a trained health professional,' The Guardian quoted Barton as saying.

At present, there is around one nurse for every 10 state schools in England, The Guardian reported. NHS figures reported in the paper showed the number of school nurses fell 30 per cent in England from 2,962 in 2009 to 2,060 last year [Stock image]

Barton acknowledged that while the pandemic had highlighted the need for dedicated school nurses, government funding and recruitment remained hurdles to carrying out the move.

'NAHT research has shown that 84% of school leaders agreed that schools should have a single member of staff with relevant knowledge and expertise to act as the school lead for mental health.

'We urgently need the government to provide vital additional resources to make this possible in all schools,' Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said in The Guardian.


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San Francisco firefighters rescued a man from a vehicle on fire in the Presidio Sunday morning following a solo crash, authorities said.

Emergency crews responded to a report of a solo-vehicle collision and blaze near Moraga Avenue and Infantry Terrace in the Presidio shortly after 8 a.m., Fire Department spokesman Lt. Jonathan Baxter said.
Robert Billiot Sr. is heading back to the Westwego mayor's office.

Billiot thwarted current Mayor Joe Peoples' re-election effort Saturday, garnering 71% of the vote, voting returns show. Billiot held the mayor's post for 18 years before moving on to several terms in the state Legislature. Peoples won the mayor's post in 2017.

+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

In other Westwego elections, voters returned longtime Police Chief Dwayne "Poncho" Munch to office and elected three candidates to City Council seats. A fourth City Council race is headed to an April 24 runoff.

The city's elections returns are complete, but unofficial.

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Munch won 85% of the vote to defeat challenger Garrison "Gary" Toups. Munch has been the city's top cop for two decades.

In council races:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 11:34:44|Editor: huaxia

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Protesters gather to protest hate crimes against Asian Americans in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, March 20, 2021. Hundreds of protesters of all ages and ethnicities gathered Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia, to protest hate crimes against Asian Americans, days after multiple shootings in and around the city killed eight people, among whom six were Asian women. (Photo by XiaoHeng Wang/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of protesters of all ages and ethnicities gathered Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia, to protest hate crimes against Asian Americans, days after multiple shootings in and around the city killed eight people, among whom six were Asian women.

The protest, which saw demonstrators march from Woodruff Park to the State Capitol, was billed as a #StopAsianHate event calling on people to "come together to grieve, heal and support."

The crowd was heard chanting slogans including "Stop Asian hate!" and "We are what America looks like," as they proceeded and ultimately gathered at Liberty Plaza beneath Georgia's Gold Dome. The demonstrators were also waving American flags and carrying posters that read "We are not the virus," among others.

In front of the State Capitol, Georgia's two newly-elected senators, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, led the crowd in a moment of silence.

"I just wanted to drop by to say to my Asian sisters and brothers, 'We see you, and, more importantly, we are going to stand with you," said Warnock, calling for a "reasonable gun reform."

Warnock, Georgia's first African-American senator, was joined by Ossoff, who said, "Let us build a state and a nation where no one lives in fear because of who they are or where they or their family come from."

Robert Aaron Long, 21, a white man, admitted to police that he had killed four people inside two spas in Atlanta and four others at a massage parlor in suburban Cherokee County on Tuesday. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent.

Police are still working to establish a motive, including looking into whether racism played a role in the slayings and if the attacks can be classified as hate crimes.

"No matter how you want to spin it, the facts remain the same: This was an attack on the Asian community," said Georgia state Representative Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House.

Noting that the shooter targeted businesses run by Asian Americans, Nguyen said, "Let's join hands with our ally community and demand justice for not only these victims, but for all victims of white supremacy."

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Atlanta Friday, meeting with Asian-American community leaders there and imploring the American people to stand up to and speak out against hate directed at Asian Americans.
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(CNN)  President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris moved to reassert control over America's bully pulpit Friday, decrying acts of violence against Asian Americans after a year in which former President Donald Trump inflamed racist attitudes by referring countless times to the coronavirus as "Kung Flu" and the "China virus."

Condemning the permissive culture of scapegoating and vitriol that Trump helped create -- without mentioning him by name -- Biden and Harris called attention to the alarming rise in racist incidents during their visit to Atlanta, promising to focus their energy on halting those kinds of verbal and physical attacks days after the shocking murders of eight people at Atlanta area spas -- six of whom were Asian women.

in their solemn speeches at Emory University, Biden and Harris were reclaiming one of the central roles of recent American presidents, which is not only to convey empathy after a tragic incident like the shootings Tuesday, but also to provide moral clarity on matters of race, said CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali. That responsibility was one that Trump repeatedly shirked -- from his moral equivalency about the protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, to the way he turned a blind eye to rise the in anti-Asian attacks last year.

"A president is uniquely positioned to help cut through the prejudice and dispel some of the fears," while reminding Americans of the "better angels" of their natures, Naftali said. "Calling out racism isn't a partisan act. And I believe those who see it as a partisan act, don't understand the nature of racism in America."

After what Biden described as a "heart-wrenching" listening session with lawmakers and leaders of the Asian American Pacific Islander community, Harris -- the first woman of South Asian descent to be vice president -- pointedly alluded to Trump when she noted that violence has increased at the same time that "we've had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans" and "spreading this kind of hate."

She also used her speech to acknowledge the dark history of racism in America toward people of Asian descent -- from the discrimination against Chinese workers who built the transcontinental railroad to the internment of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Both Biden and Harris also sought to illuminate the intimidation, harassment and fear that many Asian Americans have experienced during the pandemic.

Referring to Tuesday's murders in Atlanta, Biden said that "whatever the motivation" of the killer, the fact remains that "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 and harassed," Biden said. "They've been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed. Documented incidents of hate against Asian Americans have seen a skyrocketing spike over the last year," he added, noting that many incidents never get reported.

"We're learning again what we've always known: words have consequences," Biden said, alluding to the slurs by Trump and others over the past year. "It's the coronavirus. Full stop. ... Hate and violence often hide in plain sight. It's often met with silence. ... But that has to change, because our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out, we have to act."

Many members of the AAPI community wanted Biden and Harris to more forcefully steer law enforcement officials toward investigating the spa shootings as a hate crime, even though Biden made it a practice during his campaign to say that he would avoid directing law enforcement or Department of Justice officials on how to conduct their investigations.

Harris, a former prosecutor and California attorney general, seemed to edge closest to making her own opinion clear by stating there were incontrovertible facts about the incidents.

"Six out of the eight people killed on Tuesday night were of Asian descent. Seven were women," Harris said. "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."

She noted that there have been some 3,800 such incidents reported over the past year -- two of every three by women, "everything from physical assaults to verbal accusations."

"It's all harmful, and sadly it's not new. Racism is real in America and it has always been," said Harris. "Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism too."

Urging passage of anti-hate crime legislation

The way in which Biden and Harris are shining a light on racism and violence toward Asian Americans marks a course correction from Trump, but also a return to the more traditional role that presidents have played as a moral authority for the country ever since former President John F. Kennedy set a marker by declaring that civil rights was a moral issue for the presidency, Naftali said.

"President Trump was an aberration among modern presidents," said Naftali, who teaches at New York University. "From Kennedy on, the moral defense of civil rights has been part of the responsibilities of heads of state of this country. It doesn't mean that they've all taken it up with purpose and passion. But many of them have."

Naftali cited the example of former President George W. Bush visiting a mosque six days after the terrorist attacks of September 11 -- at a time when many Muslims were being villainized. During that visit, Bush called on Americans to respect Islam as a religion of peace and to respect Muslims as valuable contributors to society who should be treated with respect.

Former President Barack Obama delivered a powerful eulogy for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston in 2015 -- suggesting that the racially-motivated killings of Pinckney and eight other people by a White gunman during bible study at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church could lead Americans to reexamine their biases and prejudices and embrace their common humanity with their neighbors.

The growing political power of Asian Americans

Standing with members of the Asian American community -- whose voters have been increasingly influential in recent presidential and congressional elections -- will be not just a moral imperative, but a political one.

A Pew Research Center report last year showed that Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial or ethnic group within the electorate, comprising nearly 5% of the nation's eligible voters last year. Party affiliation varies by origin group, but both Democrats and Republicans have stepped up their outreach to different Asian American Pacific Islander communities in recent years in recognition of their growing influence.

Still, in this deeply polarized nation where Trump's politics of demonization cast a long shadow, it is not yet clear how Congress will react to Biden's call for passing the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act as an immediate step after the Atlanta spa shootings.

Some Republicans were hesitant to comment on the Atlanta spa shootings and whether they were racially motivated. And the bill could run into political headwinds in Congress where some Republicans have defended Trump's use of the term "China virus."

Most House Republicans voted against a resolution introduced by Democratic Rep. Grace Meng of New York denouncing anti-Asian sentiment in the midst of the pandemic during the last session of Congress. The resolution said that "the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric related to COVID-19, such as the 'Chinese Virus', 'Wuhan Virus', and 'Kung-flu' have perpetuated anti-Asian stigma." Fourteen Republicans joined Democrats to pass the resolution 243-164.

This week, during a congressional hearing that was supposed to be about discrimination against Asian Americans, Texas Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, infuriated Democratic lawmakers by rambling about lynchings, his dislike of the Chinese Communist Party and what he viewed as the policing of free speech.

"Your president and your party and your colleagues can talk about issues with any other country that you want, but you don't have to do it by putting a bullseye on the back of Asian Americans across this country, on our grandparents, on our kids," Meng said in an impassioned response to Roy. "This hearing was to address the hurt and pain of our community and to find solutions, and we will not let you take our voice from us."

When House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was asked Thursday whether he regretted using the term "China virus," he replied, "I don't know," and said people should wait to see "why the shooter did what he did." At the same time, the California Republican said he unequivocally condemned violence and discrimination against Asian Americans.

The Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would provide more funds to the Justice Department to fight the kinds of hate crimes that have become all too common during the pandemic, would help state and local governments approve hate crimes reporting and enhance education within Asian American communities about how to report hate crimes.

Biden called for urgency from members of Congress on Friday to pass both the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which he initially authored more than 25 years ago and which the House voted to reauthorize this week but will likely face a tougher path in the Senate.

But he acknowledged there's a limit to what legislation can do.

"For all the good laws can do, we have to change our hearts," Biden said in Atlanta. "Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop. It's on all of us, all of us together to make it stop."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Speaking out against hate crimes, Biden tries to restore moral clarity to the presidency".
This village in Maharashtra is COVID-19 free, thanks to its youngest sarpanch

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This NGO steps up as Maharashtra battles COVID-19

Mansukh Hiren murder solved, claims Maharashtra ATS officer

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Mar 21: With the arrest of two persons, Maharashtra ATS on Sunday claimed that thesensational murder of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiren.

DIG Shivdeep Lande, in a Facebook post said, "The riddle of the very sensitive Mansukh Hiren murder has been solved. I heartily salute to all my ATS police force colleagues who worked day and night to solve this case legally."

"This case has been one of the most complex cases of my police career," said Lande, who is the DIG of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

ATS has arrested two persons, including a policeman, in connection with the alleged murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran. The arrested accused were identified as Vinayak Shinde, a police personnel, and Naresh Dhare, a bookie.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tears into Maha govt over Sachin Waze episode

Shinde is a convict in Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case and he come out from jail on furlough last year, he said.

Their arrest came the day the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the probe into the Hiran death case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The state ATS was investigating the case till then.

Hiran's body was found on March 5, days after an explosives-laden vehicle was found parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's multi-storey residence 'Antilia' in south Mumbai on February 25.

"The state ATS has so far interrogated several people, including police officials and the family members of the deceased.

The arrest of these two persons is a major breakthrough in the case," the official said.

The NIA is also probing the explosives-laden SUV case and arrested assistant police inspector Sachin Waze.

The ATS had earlier registered a case under IPC sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) against unidentified persons in connection with Hiran's death.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 22:06 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 11:16:12|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) on Saturday voiced concern over Turkey's withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, otherwise known as the Istanbul Convention.

"This action comes at a point when concerted international action and commitment to end violence against women and girls is more important than ever and as UN Women is seeking to mobilize even greater multi-stakeholder and cross-generational action on this issue, with the women' movement being key in these efforts," said UN Women in a statement, adding that "We urge Turkey to reconsider its withdrawal."

UN Women has highlighted an increase in reported violence against women and girls during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services, which comes on top of the already existing extreme levels of violence.

"The pandemic revealed the gaps in our systems to respond to such violence and the acute need to respond firmly and with unity. The solidarity of nations that comes with being part of international conventions is critical for a world that is free of the 'shadow pandemic' of violence against women," said the statement.

UN Women joins those urging the government of Turkey to continue protecting and promoting the safety and rights of all women and girls, including by remaining committed to the full implementation of the Istanbul Convention, it added.

"We need bolder and game-changing actions that continue to move us forward, in order to ensure that women and girls live free from violence, in line with the principle of gender equality and the commitment to 'leave no one behind' of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development," it said. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) -- Private and public hospitals are urged to increase their dedicated beds for COVID-19 patients in response to the surge of infections in the country, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Citing the latest resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Roque said that 30% and 50% of beds in private and public hospitals, respectively, must be allocated for COVID-19 patients.

He stressed that only those with serious symptoms must be admitted to hospitals, adding that those with mild to moderate symptoms should be referred instead to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

Roque said hospitals should increase their dedicated beds for COVID-19 patients as soon as possible. As of March 20, the nationwide bed occupancy rate is 39.7%.

At least 29 hospitals in Metro Manila have reached critical level in terms of bed occupancy. This means that more than 85% of their bed capacity were already occupied.

The OCTA Research group projected Saturday that intensive care units of hospitals in Metro Manila may reach 100% capacity in the first week of April.

The country logged more than 7,000 new COVID-19 cases for the third straight day. The total number of cases is now at 663,794.
NEW DELHI : Czech automaker Skoda is looking to launch multiple products, expand its sales network and enhance local content in its cars as it aims to carve out viable business for itself in the highly competitive Indian passenger vehicle segment, according to a top company official.

The company, which is responsible for pressing ahead with the India 2.0 project on behalf of Volkswagen Group since June 2018, plans to enhance brand awareness, reduce cost of ownership of its cars for customers and bring in financially strong dealer partners who also care for customer satisfaction as part of its efforts to become a viable player in the country.

The automaker, which currently sells just two products in the domestic market, plans to launch four products, including the recently unveiled compact SUV Kushaq, over the next one year.

The company also plans to enhance its dealership count to 150 by this year-end.

In an interview with PTI, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Managing Director Gurpratap Boparai said the group's current efforts were in tune with its medium-term plan to garner around 5% market share in the Indian passenger vehicle segment.

He said the Volkswagen Group is investing 1 billion euros to strengthen its presence in the Indian subcontinent. Skoda Auto India Brand Director Zac Hollis said the company is gearing up to enhance its position in the domestic market where it continues to be a niche player with negligible market share with just two products -- Rapid and Superb -- in its portfolio.

He noted that in order to gain market share, the company aims to drive in four products in the country over the next 12 months.

Outlining the company's long term ambitions for the Indian market, he also noted that the automaker is preparing its sales network to sell one lakh cars per year in the coming years.

"Our market share at the moment is very small but of course our plan is to expand hugely. This year we aim to sell 30,000 cars in the country and next year we will more than double of that. Also, we aim to have 150 dealerships in the country by the end of this year," Hollis said.

On new product launches, he said: "The first is Kushaq which goes on sale from July. Second one is the new Octavia which will be launched by April-end. In the third quarter we will launch the updated BS VI version of Kodiaq SUV, and then under the India 2.0 investment plan a sedan at the end of this year."

When asked if the company is also looking at a sub four meter compact SUV, Hollis said: "We are bringing two SUVs and two sedans. On something beyond this we are evaluating which other body style could be brought. We haven't decided yet. We will have to see where the opportunities exist."

Elaborating on sales network expansion, he noted that the company aims to expand presence in both rural and urban areas.

"We are now looking to expand our dealer network...When you are just selling 10,000-15,000 cars per year you have a business case for dealers only in large and metro cities. We are now building the network to prepare our dealers to ultimately sell 1 lakh cars per year in the long term," he said.

The company started with 65 dealerships in the beginning of last year and ended it with 100 outlets, Hollis said.

"By the time we launch Kushaq in June-July we are going to have 130 dealerships and by the end of the year the figure is going to touch 150. We are also focusing on having the right type of long term partners going ahead who are financially strong and are attuned towards customer satisfaction," he added.

The automaker is also making efforts to enhance customer ownership experience and reduce the cost of owning its cars.

"We have been criticised a lot in the past that our vehicles are costly to own. We have made efforts to reduce cost of parts over the last few years...with planned localisation of 95% in our cars the cost of spare parts is going to further come down in the future," Hollis said.

When asked if the company planned to make further investments in the country, Boparai said: "When you make a big investment then obviously you would have follow up investments as well. So we will announce them as soon as they get firmed up. For now we have this huge investment of one billion euro which would be completed next year."

On driving in Kushaq, which would compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, he noted that the company has come up with a product that not only looks great but is also great to drive.

It is also very safe and we have also addressed past issues around the cost of ownership. So with all that we think we have the right mix, formula to take on the competition. So we think we will get a fair share of the pie," Boparai said.

He said the compact SUV would be a very competitive product both in terms of price and features.

The company unveiled the model last week and plans to reveal the prices in June and deliveries are expected to commence from July.

Boparai further noted that the company would only introduce products in the country with petrol powertrains. "We don't see diesel making sense anymore," he noted.

The Kushaq is the first production car as part of the company's India 2.0 project.

Under the India 2.0 Project, German automotive group Volkswagen had announced in 2018 that it would invest 1 billion euro between 2019 and 2021 as part of its strategy to enhance its presence in India.

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Bulgarian officials recently broke a ring of serving and retired military officials who allegedly spied for Russia, according to AP. On March 19, the prosecutors said that six people have been arrested and charged and now they could face sentences from 10 years to life in prison if convicted. The Prosecutor Generals spokeswoman, Siika Mileva, said that the six members of the Bulgarian armed forces have been detained on suspicion of passing classified information to a foreign state.

Mileva said, Its the first time that an espionage group has been broken in Bulgaria. Their criminal activity endangers our national security.

First such case since 1944

She added that the alleged ringleader was a former senior official in the Military Intelligence Service, who had graduated from the intelligence school in Moscow run by Russias GRU foreign military intelligence. Mileva informed that upon his return to Bulgaria, the ex-official was allegedly leaked with recruiting a network of agents with access to classified documents linked to NATO and the European Union. Further, the suspects wife, who holds dual Bulgarian-Russian citizenship, allegedly acted as a contact person with the Russian Embassy where she handed over the documents.

According to AP, other alleged ring members include a senior Defense Ministry official involved in Ministry planning and budgeting, a military intelligence officer who compiled information on hybrid threats and risks, including from Russia, a military intelligence officer who had been sent to overseas missions, and a former military intelligence officer, who has served as military attache abroad and is currently in charge of the classified information registry of Parliament.

Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev said, The investigation is crucial for the security of Bulgaria, but also for the security of our partners from the EU, NATO and the United States. This is the first such case since 1944.

(With inputs from AP)
For African Americans, the word plantation carried ugly connotations of slavery and suffering. It is a forbidding word that describes a place to be avoided.

Now, residents in several suburban neighborhoods are advocating for a name change in order to remove a word that, for many, romanticizes an ugly past. They are part of a modest trend that gained some urgency after the police killing of George Floyd in May.

Residents of Plantation, Fla., have petitioned authorities to change the towns name. Residents of Plantation Estates, a senior retirement community southeast of Charlotte, succeeded late last year in changing the name to Matthews Glen. And homeowners in Hilton Head Plantation have been trying to get that troublesome word replaced for months.

In Mount Pleasant, homeowners in Belle Hall Plantation and Hamlin Plantation also have sought to abandon use of the term plantation. Hamlin residents started a petition on change.org last year.

Keeping the word plantation as part of our neighborhood glorifies the enslavement of Black people in the South, specifically in Charleston and is insensitive to the Black community, the petition states. As was recently highlighted in our community social media group, the word plantation appears to serve as a reason why a Black family may not want to purchase a home in our neighborhood.

White residents of Belle Hall Plantation, realizing the name of their subdivision could present a barrier to an ethos of inclusiveness, recently launched an effort to strip the word plantation from the neighborhoods name as it appears on two signs.

The initiative, led by Brigid Sullivan and six others, has found support, and some measure of resistance. But Sullivan and her allies hope an upcoming vote sponsored by the homeowners association will result in a simple change.

Artist and Charleston resident Colin Quashie, who is Black, said plantations were places of terror and violence, and the only thing appropriate for them is an honest reckoning with the past.

"This recontextualization is ridiculous," he said.

When in the 1990s he and his wife were shopping for a house, their real estate agent kept driving them into neighborhoods that included the word "plantation" in their names. Finally, Quashie was compelled to object.

"If you show me another house in a place called a plantation, I will fire you," he told the agent.

Needs to be addressed

Most subdivisions that include the word plantation in their names were built in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Marketing teams sought to evoke a moonlight-and-magnolias notion of the antebellum South they thought would appeal to homebuyers. Sometimes these neighborhoods were constructed on land where an actual plantation once operated or on farmland once worked by enslaved people.

About 20 neighborhoods in the Charleston metropolitan area include the word plantation in their names. In 2018, developers of two new subdivisions  Long Savannah, west of Bees Ferry Road in West Ashley, and Kiawah River on Johns Island  decided against including the term after consulting with African American neighbors.

For advocates of the change, the reasoning is simple and the goals relatively modest. But gaining a majority of voters has been difficult. Some resist, arguing that history is being erased, or that the effort is the latest example of cancel culture. Some say its cost- prohibitive.

Sullivan is ready with answers.

Its the use of the term, appropriated for marketing purposes, that erases history, not the other way around, she said. Being considerate of others is not cancel culture, its doing the right thing, she said. And the cost is modest  and would be covered by her group, Belle Hall for All.

The board of Belle Halls homeowners association told The Post and Courier in a statement it maintains a neutral position on the matter of signage, but that the covenants and bylaws provide members of the community a means for expressing concerns and ideas.

"Although the advocacy group that supports this change did not meet the Bylaw requirements to call a special meeting or vote by the membership of the community, the Board has decided it is in the communitys best interest to call for a vote by the membership on this issue anyway," the statement read. "Written ballots are being printed and will be mailed out in the next few days, giving every owner in our community a chance to vote on the issue of removing the word 'plantation' from our community signs."

When she moved into the neighborhood in 2004, Sullivan didnt think twice about the name, she said. Belle Hall Plantation consisted of about 1,000 homes and was predominantly White.

The killing of Floyd in Minneapolis motivated her to think about how she could make positive change, however modest.

It kind of hit me, she said. Each time she returned home from work, there was the sign. Then, last summer, she saw an article about the issue, and that motivated her to query fellow residents on the neighborhoods Facebook page.

The debate on Facebook became acrimonious, so those interested in changing the name of the community started their own group and established rules of engagement. Sullivan reached out to members of the adjacent Snowden community, an area settled by African Americans after the Civil War. Some there expressed their support for the name change.

And she examined the history of the tract on which her home now sits. It was never a formal plantation, with a big house, avenue of oaks and year-round enslaved laborers, though some farming certainly had been done there.

Letters were sent to the homeowners association board, which eventually agreed to send mail-in ballots to residents.

More and more people have come out of the woodwork, Sullivan said. Though it remains unclear whether the Belle Hall for All group has enough support.

Michael Allen, a Black resident of the subdivision who retired in 2017 from the National Park Service and who long has been a promoter of Gullah-Geechee history and culture, said he welcomed the effort to deal with the residuals of racism in his neighborhood.

For 24 years, he has encountered the sign at the entrance to the subdivision and wished it didnt include the word plantation, he said.

Developers used it in order to evoke a memory of the past, Allen said. But thats not where we are now in 2021. ... Now it needs to be addressed.

Civility vs. power

Meanwhile, in Hilton Head, Judy Dunning, Sheryl Washington and others are trying get their community to abandon the word plantation, too. Theirs is the last remaining neighborhood on the island to cling to the term; many other subdivisions deleted it years ago.

Dunning and her allies in Hilton Head Plantation also were inspired to act by the Floyd killing, she said. The neighborhood has 4,000 homes. One-eighth of them signed the first petition. A survey circulated by the property owners association indicated that 53 percent of residents did not approve of the change, but then the POA shut down the whole process, citing costs and other complications (though no formal estimate was ever provided), even as residents offered to pay for signage changes, Dunning said.

An issue that should be about civility became about power, she said.

Every time you want to change something, its cancel culture, Dunning mused. One guy threatened to sue the POA if they changed the name. He said he moved here because it was a plantation. He wanted to live on a plantation.

Emails sent to Hilton Head Plantation General Manager Peter Kristian seeking comment went unanswered.

Washington, who is Black, said she calls her subdivision "HHP" for short. "I try not to verbalize the word."

She and her husband purchased their home in 2017, and already some were hoping to delete "the P-word," she said. She figured it was only a matter of time.

Now that the debate has been stifled, Washington, Dunning and their allies are looking for a change of leadership. They hope one or two people more attuned to public perceptions and the misuse of language can gain seats on the board.

We figured that is the only way, she said.
A dilapidated 1920s cottage with no electricity or a back door has been sold for more than $2million, as real estate agents say now is the time to buy.

The auction attracted 58 hopeful homeowners to the grimy cottage on Friday, which is located on Browne Street in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm.

The 570sqm property sold to Damien Zullo of Z Corp Developments who will bulldoze the cottage and build two homes on the lot, the Courier Mail reported.

A dilapidated 1920s cottage (pictured) with no electricity or a back door has been sold for over $2million in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm

The property listing describes the two-bedroom home as an 'extremely rare offering' with original features including stone fireplaces, high ceilings and pine floorboards.

The dilapidated shack is located in the heart of New Farm, ten minutes from the CBD and is surrounded by bars, shops and the New Farm Park.

The home has two bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and lounge as well as a two way bathroom, separate toilet and a verandah.

A large area underneath the house is recommended for use as a rumpus room, with a detached double garage at the rear of the property.

The abandoned two bedroom property (pictured) received interest from 58 hopeful homeowners at the auction on Friday

'There's no mistaking that there is a lot of work to restore this home however the rewards will be reaped at the end', the listing reads.

Crowds began to form an hour before the auction for the abandoned home began, with Brisbane agents being consistently surprised by large turnouts.

The derelict cottage received interest from three rows of bidder registrations, looking to buy on the same street a house was sold for a record $3.2 million.

As investing in Brisbane home becomes more attractive to international buyers, properties are being sold in record time, regardless of their liveability.

The dilapidated shack (pictured) is located in the heart of New Farm, ten minutes from the CBD and is surrounded by bars, shops and the New Farm Park

Bruce Wilson, the agent who sold the 1920s cottage told Daily Mail Australia he had expected the property to attract significant interest.

'The market is very strong at the moment, we have buyers from all over the place that have made the Queensland market very competitive', Mr Wilson said.

He said buyers that were cashed up with disposable income flocked to Queensland to invest in homes that are relatively cheaper when compared to other states.

Haesley Crush, an auctioneer from Ray White told the Courier Mail he had warned Queenslanders a year previous to expect stiff competition at Brisbane auctions.

'I remember last year saying to Queenslanders, we are such good value, just expect that you're going to have more competition next year. Well here it is', Mr Crush said.

'In this market, yes it's more than yesterday but it's cheaper than tomorrow. And you have to consider affordability rather than price.

'And there's going to come a time, as Brisbane starts to attract international attention, if we've got the casino, if we get the Olympics, our property prices are going to be very attractive to international buyers.'
ATLANTA  A diverse crowd gathered Saturday in a park across from the Georgia state Capitol to demand justice for the victims of shootings at massage businesses days earlier and to denounce racism, xenophobia and misogyny.

The hundreds of people of all ages and varied racial and ethnic backgrounds who gathered in Liberty Plaza in Atlanta waved signs and cheered for speakers, including U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff and Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House.

I just wanted to drop by to say to my Asian sisters and brothers, we see you, and, more importantly, we are going to stand with you, Warnock said to loud cheers and against the backdrop of drivers in passing cars honking their horns in support. Were all in this thing together.

Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old white man, is accused of killing four people inside two Atlanta spas and four others at a massage business about 30 miles (50 kilometers) away in suburban Cherokee County. Six of the eight people killed on Tuesday were women of Asian descent. Another person also was shot but survived.

Investigators have said Long confessed to the slayings but said they werent racially motivated. He claimed to have a sex addiction, which caused him to lash out at what he saw as sources of temptation, according to authorities. Police have said theyre still working to establish a motive, including looking into whether the attacks can be classified as hate crimes.

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.

No matter how you want to spin it, the facts remain the same. This was an attack on the Asian community, said Nguyen, who has been a frequent advocate for women and communities of color. She noted that the shooter targeted businesses operated by women of Asian descent.

Lets join hands with our ally community and demand justice for not only these victims but for all victims of white supremacy, she said.

A couple hundred people gathered in a separate park in the heart of downtown Atlanta and marched together through the streets to join the larger rally, yelling slogans like Stop Asian hate and We are what America looks like.

Frankie Laguna, 23, who grew up in Atlanta but now lives in Tennessee, was an organizer of that group and told the crowd she was the first person in her family born in the U.S. after her mother came here from Taiwan.

Im sick of being belittled and hypersexualized and hated for who I am, for something I cant change, she said as the group began marching toward the Capitol.

She also participated in protests last summer against racial injustice and police brutality. Im tired of having to be out here every year to fight the same fight, she said.

Bernard Dong, a 24-year-old student from China at Georgia Tech, said he came out to the protest across from the Capitol to demand rights not just for Asians but for all minorities. Many times Asian people are too silent, but times change, he said.

Dong said he was angry and disgusted about the shootings, and the violence that persists in 2021 against Asians, minorities and women.

Otis Wilson, a 38-year-old photographer whos Black, said people need to pay attention to the discrimination those of Asian descent face. We went through this last year with the Black community, and were not the only ones who go through this, he said.

Camden Hunt poses for a picture at a rally on Saturday, March 20, 2021, across from the Georgia state Capitol in Atlanta to demand justice for the victims of shootings at massage businesses days earlier. (AP Photo/Kate Brumback)AP

Camden Hunt, a 28-year-old Black woman, said she first got involved in activism in her native Baltimore. She previously attended protests over the death of Freddie Gray, a Black man who suffered a broken neck in police custody in Baltimore in 2015, triggering riots and protests that year. She moved to Atlanta four years ago and got involved in community organizing, last summer pulling together an event to support Black women victimized by police violence.

Hunt came out to the rally Saturday to show Black and Asian solidarity. She said she was heartened by the diverse crowd: I think its amazing. I look out and I see people of all shades and ages and backgrounds.

___

Associated Press writer Candice Choi in Atlanta contributed reporting.
Two experts in brain diseases say there are many unanswered questions about a possible degenerative neurological syndrome recently disclosed by New Brunswick health officials.

A nuclear medicine technologist makes a PET scan of a patient at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, May 19, 2015. An expert at the University of Alberta says there are far more unanswered questions than reasons to worry about news of a degenerative neurological syndrome of unknown origin in New Brunswick. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Evan Vucci

Two experts in brain diseases say there are many unanswered questions about a possible degenerative neurological syndrome recently disclosed by New Brunswick health officials.

University of Alberta scientists Dr. Valerie Sim and Debbie McKenzie both study prion diseases, which are caused by an abnormally folded protein in the brain. Those diseases cause the brain to waste away and the afflicted organs are often riddled with holes, Sim said.

Prion diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob, a rare and fatal disease in humans, as well as mad cow disease in cattle and chronic wasting disease, which affects deer, elk, moose and reindeer."Right now, I would say it's a good thing that they are looking in more detail," Sim said in an interview Friday. "It doesn't mean for certain that there is a progressive neurological syndrome on the loose. It just means that there is an interesting pattern, and that we need more information."

In a March 5 memo to organizations representing New Brunswicks doctors, nurses and pharmacists, deputy chief medical officer of health Dr. Cristin Muecke said her office is investigating a cluster of cases of "a progressive neurological syndrome of unknown etiology," or origin. The cases have "many similarities to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease," she said, but testing has so far ruled out known prion diseases.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell told reporters Thursday there are 43 cases under investigation stretching back to 2015, and all are concentrated in the Moncton region and the northeastern part of the province.

Both Sim and McKenzie said it's unlikely the condition is a previously unknown prion disease, though they have been known to pop up. In 1996, for example, a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was discovered in the United Kingdom, McKenzie said in an interview Friday. Such diseases are easily identifiable in an autopsy because of the damage to the brain.

Theories put forward that the cause could be environmental, possibly some kind of toxin, make sense, McKenzie said, especially with health officials saying the cases are concentrated in specific areas.

"It would be actually stranger, in a sense, if it was spread out across all of New Brunswick or all of Atlantic Canada," she said. "Then I think we're talking about something very, very different."

She notes that tracing the origins of something like this will be challenging. First, the patient's contact with whatever triggered it was likely some time ago, and second, memory loss is one of the symptoms.

"I would suggest that people not be too concerned yet," she said. "There's a lot more information that's needed, on what the source is, or what the underlying cause of these problems are." But at the same time, she said she hopes people take care and see a doctor if they experience any of the symptoms associated with the condition.

Sim said there are still many questions to be answered before concluding the cases all result from a single condition, especially an unknown condition. The symptoms disclosed so far  rapidly progressing dementia as well as possible muscle spasms, atrophy, hallucinations and a host of other complications  involve a large swath of the brain and could arise for many different reasons, she said.

"Progressive, unexplained neurological syndromes do happen in all parts of the country and the world, simply because we do not know everything," Sim said. "We haven't discovered every possible thing that can happen to the brain."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2021.
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP)  Ryan Blaney knew he had to let Kyle Larson go.

Patience was the key, especially on a day when Larson looked unbeatable.

In the end, Larson faded on an battered set of tires, and Blaney raced by him for an improbable victory Sunday.

I was not going to be able to stick with him, Blaney said. I've got to save my tires ... and see what happens.

Blaney became the sixth driver to win in six races to start NASCAR's Cup season, surging to the front with nine laps to go after Larson easily won the first two stages and led 269 of 325 laps on the 1.54-mile trioval.

Larson's tires didn't stand up to the punishing track after making his final pit stop with 56 laps to go.

Blaney stayed close enough to make his move, hugging the outside wall through the fourth turn and cutting to the inside to pass Larson as they crossed the line in front of the main grandstands.

Blaney pulled away to win by 2.083 seconds in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford, having gone just as long as Larson on the final set of tires but getting much more out of them.

It's cool to win at a place where you've got to finesse it a little bit and think about it," Blaney said after his fifth career victory.

He led just 25 laps, but was out front for the one that mattered.

When it was over, Blaney strolled over to the stands and grabbed the checkered flag, which he handed to a young fan wearing the driver's T-shirt.

It was a bitter loss for Larson, who missed a chance to become 2021's first two-time winner after a victory at Las Vegas two weeks ago.

Still, he is off to a strong start in his new job at Hendrick Motorsports, less than a year after blurting out a racial slur on the livestream of a late-night video racing game, which cost him his job at Chip Ganassi Racing.

I hate to lead a lot of laps and lose," Larson said. The car was stupid fast for a long time there.

The Cup series returned to the track where the racing world came to a halt a year ago.

Story continues

In March 2020, Atlanta was the first NASCAR Cup race to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This time, the race went off as scheduled before a socially distanced crowd of about 20,000  far below capacity because of the lingering COVID-19 outbreak, but a welcome change from last June when no fans were allowed for Atlanta's makeup race.

The Cup series will be back July 11, the first time since 2010 that Atlanta has hosted two races in a season.

WHOS HOT

Pole-sitter Denny Hamlin continues to lead the season standings after another strong run. He was fourth behind Blaney, Larson and Alex Bowman.

Hamlin has finished in the top five in every race but Homestead, where he was 11th.

Still, hes clearly perturbed about failing to take the top spot.

Were just not fast enough, Hamlin said. We need more speed.

WHOS NOT

Stewart-Haas Racing is off to a tough start in 2021.

Kevin Harvick, who had won two of the last three races in Atlanta, was never in a mix after having to make an extra pit stop early on to change a flat that resulted from a broken tire stem.

He did battle back for a 10th-place finish.

The other Stewart-Haas drivers were even farther back: Cole Custer 18th, Aric Almirola 20th and Chase Briscoe 23rd. None has cracked the top 10 this season.

KURTS CRASH

Kurt Busch had the look of a contender until the restart to begin the second stage.

As the cars stacked up behind Larson, Busch got bumped from behind by Hamlin and slammed into the outside wall going into turn one, sustaining heavy damage that ended the No. 1 Chevy's day.

Busch conceded that Hamlin didnt do anything vicious or malicious, but he was still ticked off.

These are the days that hurt the worst, said Busch, who finished last in the 39-car field. Its a restart. Where are we gonna go, man? Just chill.

CHASE FLOUNDERS

It was also a tough day for defending Cup champion and home-state favorite Chase Elliott.

Scheduled to start from the fifth position, he had to take the green from the back of the field after failing multiple inspections before the race.

Then, shortly after a restart to begin the final stage, Elliotts No. 9 Chevy blew the engine coming off turn four. The car was pushed to the paddock with a 38th-place finish.

UP NEXT

The series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway next Sunday for the highly anticipated dirt race on the half-mile oval.

It will be the first dirt race for NASCARs top racers since 1970  two years before a revamp of the series led to what is known as the modern Cup era.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry

___

More AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/NASCAR and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Mamata Banerjee expands Bengal Cabinet, 43 TMC leaders sworn in as ministers: Full List here

All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover

BJPs tally in West Bengal assembly down to 75

With a vision of 'Sonar Bangla', Amit Shah releases BJP manifesto for West Bengal polls

India

oi-Deepika S

Kolkata, Mar 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah released 'Sonar Bangla Sankalp Patra 2021', the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly election 2021 on Sunday.

"We have decided to call our manifesto a 'Sankalp Patra'. It is not just a manifesto but a resolution letter for West Bengal by the country's largest party," Shah said while releasing the manifesto.



BJP manifesto for Bengal polls: Highlights

BJP promises seventh pay commission implementation for state government employees

BJP assures appeasement-free Bengal and an infiltration-free state

BJP aasures to work on skill development of gold craftsmen

Implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Bengal

Women to be given 33% reservation in state government jobs

No infiltrators to be allowed in Bengal and border fencing will be strengthened

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in the first Cabinet

Refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship.

Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for 5 years

It proposes the inclusion of Mahishya, Tili and other OBC communities under reserved status

3 new AIIMS hospitals will be built in North Bengal, Jangalmahal and Sundarban

Rs 20,000 crore Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Fund for the infrastructure development of schools, and five universities at par with IITs and IIMs.

Free education to women from KG to PG

Continuing PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Rs 18,000 would be transferred to 75 lakh farmers' bank accounts without any cut

A Rs 5,000 crore intervention fund to assure farmers'' economic security, besides accidental insurance worth Rs 3 lakh for small farmers and fishermen.

Common Eligibility Test for all state government jobs to keep a check on corruption

Separate Task Forces to curb the problem of arms racketeering, unchecked narcotics trade, land grabbing, fake currency circulation and cattle smuggling

BJP promises to establish a Sonar Bangla fund worth Rs 11,000 crores which will promote art, literature and other such sectors

BJP to constitute an SIT to investigate cases of political killings and take strict action against those responsible.

Upto Rs 25 lakhs as a rehabilitation package to each of the victims of political violence in West Bengal

In manifesto, BJP promisess efforts are made at the international level to make Bengali one of the official languages in the United Nations

BJP promises to transform Kolkata into an international city, it will set up a Kolkata Development Fund worth Rs 22,000 crore and also ensure that the metropolis becomes a UNESCO Heritage City.

West Bengal is witnessing a high-octane battle between the BJP and the TMC for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Elections to the 294 assembly seats in West Bengal will be held between March 27 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 2.
WASHINGTON - North America's polarizing pipeline battles have seen many venues  from the Prime Minister's Office and the U.S. State Department to the windswept plains of Nebraska and Minnesota to judge's chambers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Pipe sections for the Trans Mountain pipeline are unloaded in Edson, Alta., Tuesday, June 18, 2019. North America's polarizing pipeline battles have seen many venues  from the Prime Minister's Office and the U.S. State Department to the windswept plains of Nebraska and Minnesota to judge's chambers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

WASHINGTON - North America's polarizing pipeline battles have seen many venues  from the Prime Minister's Office and the U.S. State Department to the windswept plains of Nebraska and Minnesota to judge's chambers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

The irreconcilable differences are rooted in the regional nature of the energy industry in both countries, experts say, with climate-change hardliners on one side and oil-and-gas traditionalists on the other.

The solution, when it does come, will likely be not from the courtroom, but the classrooms producing the energy sector's next corporate suite.

"We've got a very smart cohort of next-generation oil and gas leaders," said Peter Tertzakian, an energy economist, author and adjunct business professor at the University of Calgary.

"This very smart and energetic cohort is also very frustrated, if not confused, because of all of the negative stigma around the business."

As young people with a bred-in-the-bone generational concern about climate change, they're also very motivated to find ways to confront that challenge from inside an industry long seen as its anathema.

"They're trying to figure out everything from how to effectively pivot their organizations into that new transitional world, and how to also change some of the narratives."

Those narratives are often deeply frustrating to people in places like Alberta and Texas, where the fossil-fuel industry has been part of daily life for most of the last 150 years.

But because pipelines, by their very nature, deliver the spoils of the Alberta oilsands to and through parts of the continent that can see little to no clear benefit, conflict is inevitable.

"You had this vast set of interest groups that lay between the resource and the market, that were basically not getting anything out of the deal," said Andrew Leach, an energy economist who teaches at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

"There's no, like, shut-it-down-tomorrow view of the world in all but the fringes in Alberta, whereas outside of Alberta it's really easy to say, 'Yeah, just don't do that.'"

That seems to be what's happening in Michigan, where Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has suddenly revoked a 1953 agreement that allowed Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5 pipeline between Wisconsin and Sarnia, Ont., to move oil and gas underneath the Straits of Mackinac, an ecologically delicate section of the Great Lakes.

Whitmer, a close ally of Joe Biden who was on his list of potential running mates, announced the decision less than a week after he was declared the winner of last year's presidential election.

Two months later, Biden famously cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline expansion, which aimed to move more than 800,000 barrels a day of Alberta oilsands bitumen to refineries on the U.S. East Coast.

Shutting down Line 5 after more than 65 years would trigger a devastating energy and economic crisis in both countries, Enbridge vice-president Vern Yu told a House of Commons committee last week.

Existing domestic lines are already at or near their peak capacity, and given public attitudes towards pipelines in Canada, it would be impossible to develop an alternative line that avoids crossing the border, he added.

"Building a brand new pipeline across Canada would be as big a challenge as keeping this existing pipeline operating  in fact, it might actually even be a bigger challenge to get unanimity from Canadians to do that," he said.

"We've seen multiple occasions where we can't as a country get behind building a pipeline. So it's important to keep the existing ones up and running."

Line 5 isn't the only cross-border hotspot.

In Minnesota, more than 200 people have been arrested in recent months as Indigenous protests escalate against Enbridge's $10-billion upgrade of an existing stretch of the network, this one known as Line 3.

Protesters have been sitting in trees, shackling themselves to equipment and taking up residence inside sections of pipe, organizers say.

Then there's Dakota Access, a 1,900-kilometre line between North Dakota and Illinois that faces a reckoning April 9. That is the court-ordered deadline for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to decide whether to shut down the pipeline and await a thorough environmental review.

The DAPL case is widely seen as a likely bellwether for the pipeline industry in the U.S., where both Vice-President Kamala Harris and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, America's first Indigenous cabinet member, support shutting it down.

"The quarrel is not with the pipeline companies, the quarrel is with the producers, and the product they produce," Tertzakian said  a "ridiculous proposition" based on the premise that ending oil production in Canada will somehow solve the climate change problem.

Instead, the challenge going forward is to reframe the debate to focus on which companies should be the ones meeting the demand for fossil fuels, which experts say will persist for decades to come.

"Clearly, who should supply the oil are the companies that are walking the talk in the world and making a concerted effort to reduce  emissions," he said.

"Those are the companies that should be left standing  the best players on the team."

Even deep in the heart of Texas  an oil-and-gas state laced by 770,000 kilometres of pipeline, nearly as much in all of Canada  energy educators are beginning to see evidence of a shift.

Richard Denne, director of the TCU Energy Institute at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Tex., said what used to be a diehard Texas student body is increasingly from liberal-minded California.

"We're starting to pivot to include much more of the renewables," Denne said in an interview, noting that one of his geology classes, once focused primarily on petrochemicals, is evolving.

"I'm going to pivot that to be less oil and gas, and more of the other  uranium and the rare earths required for renewables and hydro and geothermal and all that kind of stuff, so that they get more of a broad brush and not just oil and gas."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2021.
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The deadly rampage in Atlanta, in which a young man apparently unable to escape torments of guilt slaughtered eight human beings, shows the need for an understanding of the enormity of Gods grace.

Critics say what happened is an outcome of Evangelical fixation on sin and guilt. However, the deed perhaps was sparked by a poor comprehension of the enormity and extravagance of Gods grace.

For our own good, we must understand sin and its consequences just as we must be a Bridge Out! warning as we hurtle toward a roaring river. But that concern must be balanced by a rich appreciation of grace, or we drown in guilt.

This raises the possibility of taking others with us, as the Atlanta tragedy shows.

The enormity and extravagance of Gods grace seems too good to be true. Some of us are like Jesuss disciples who disbelieved for joy when they first heard of Christs resurrection. (Luke 24:11) Self-haters have a hard time believing that their sins have really been removed as far as the east is from the west, (Psalm 103:12) and plunged in Gods great sea of forgetfulness because of His grace through Christ. (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12)

How enormous, even extravagant, is Gods grace?

It was sufficient for Nazi Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, second to Hitler himself in the Nazi military command.

In the wee hours of a dank October morning in 1946, Keitel faced execution by orders of the Nuremberg war tribunal. Keitel was trying to maintain stiff composure when Captain Henry Gerecke entered his cell. Gerecke was the chaplain selected to try to minister to the Nazi war criminals jailed in Nuremberg. He had visited often with Keitel, and the former German officer felt comfortable with him. Gerecke was carrying a Bible, and invited Keitel to join him in prayer.

The two men went to their knees. Gerecke, an American son of immigrants from Germany, prayed in German. Suddenly it seemed to hit Keitel that he was about to die. He trembled, and wept uncontrollably as he gasped for air. Just before he was hanged, Keitel received communion, served by Gerecke. Keitel turned to Gerecke, the chaplain remembered later, and with tears in his voice he said, You have helped me more than you know. May Christ, my Savior, stand by me all the way. I shall need Him so much.[1]

According to the Bible which reveals both sin and Gods grace, Keitel experienced the reality that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. (Romans 5:20)

The tragedy of Keitel is that he did not receive the gift of grace earlier in life before the sins that weighed on him in the end had harmed masses of other people.

Grace is not only a gift to be received in all its fullness, but a lifestyle to be walked out. People who receive grace and its implications become willing to extend grace to others.

The human being, made in the image of God, is triune... a trinity. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The human is spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Soul, in New Testament Greek, is psuche, from which English gets psyche. We are justified the moment we receive the Son of God in our spirit through the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is an event the new birth. But if this new quality of life is to be lived out, we must enter the process of sanctification through which our whole being is filled with the character of Christ and His stunning grace.

The human spirit filled with the Holy Spirit is the zone of grace. Soul and body are zones of torment  the torments of temptation and the guilt when we yield. If we dont embrace the reality of grace all we have is the agonizing accusations of sin and guilt.

Without the recognition of the enormity of Gods grace we believe ourselves irredeemable and come to hate ourselves and those we believe facilitated our fall.

Gods grace is so rich that it can cover those who succumb to temptation and those through whom temptation comes.

This is why its called gospel  good news.

If only a tormented young man in Atlanta had understood before he pulled the trigger the enormity of Gods grace, he would have forgiven himself as God forgave him, and he would have extended Gods forgiveness and grace to those he viewed as the enablers of his behaviors.

Chuck Colson, my White House colleague, and, later, friend, came to understand the enormity of Gods grace. Jeb Magruder, another White House staffer, once described Colson as an evil genius who too often encouraged (President) Nixons dark side.

I visited Colson several times after he was incarcerated for Watergate-related crimes and watched the sunburst of Gods enormous grace rise upon him. Later, he would tell audiences that the real legacy of his life was not successes as a senior White House aide, but my biggest failure in being sent to prison. That, said Chuck, was the beginning of Gods greatest use of my life... He chose the one thing in which I could not glory for His glory.

Colson, who had once perhaps disdained the notion of sin received Gods enormous grace and walked it out.

If we learn nothing else from the grievous attacks in Atlanta and the lives lost in and through it, may it be the importance of receiving Gods grace, maintaining the balance of sin and grace in our teaching and practical lives, and the importance of walking it out in our behaviors and lifestyle.

[1] Tim Townsend, Mission At Nuremberg. (William Morrow/Harper Collins), 11. Emphasis added. Cited in Jonathan Sandys and Wallace Henley, God and Churchill (Tyndale House, 2015)
Bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey were left out of recent breakthroughs to start rebuilding U.S. trade relations with the European Union and the United Kingdom in the wake of Donald Trumps presidency. Tariffs were suspended on some spirits, but the 25% tariffs slapped on American whiskey by the EU and UK remain in place. And the EUs tariff rate is set to double to 50% in June in the key export market for U.S. whiskey makers.
The countrys largest office landlord, Dexus is increasing its stake in the 1 Bligh Street, Sydney skyscraper for $375 million, reinforcing its belief that commercial real estate can bounce back from the pandemic.

Dexus will buy the 33.3 per cent stake in the skyscraper from Cbus Property in a new joint venture with the Singapore-based investment fund, Mercatus Co-operative. ASX-listed Dexus is pushing to beef up its funds under management and the latest deal reflects the rising demand for higher yielding bricks and mortar assets, at a time when landlords are urging tenants to return to the CBDs.

1 Blight Street is 99.5 per cent occupied with an average lease expiry of 5.4 years. Credit:@hamilton lund

The company last week struck a deal for its Dexus Wholesale Property Fund (DWPF) to merge with AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF), a $5 billion diversified fund controlled by an independent board but managed by AMP.

Under the latest plan, Dexus, which already owns the bulk of the tower, will take a 10 per cent interest in the newly-formed joint venture vehicle with Mercatus holding the remaining 90 per cent. Dexus will be the manager of the joint venture and will remain in charge of the property.
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LONDON: Scuffles broke out as anti-lockdown protesters marched through central London on Saturday (March 20), defying police warnings for them to stay away due to coronavirus restrictions.

Police said they had made 33 arrests, most for COVID-19 regulation breaches, after up to 10,000 people gathered holding banners with slogans such as "Stop Destroying Our Kids` Lives" and "Fake Pandemic".

Crowded close to one another, protesters also set off flares.

Under England's coronavirus rules it is unlawful for groups to gather for the purpose of the protest, but opposition to such measures has grown this week, not specifically related to anti-lockdown demonstrations.

Police were criticised for using heavy-handed tactics to break up an outdoor vigil for 33-year-old Sarah Everard on March 13. A police officer has been charged with her kidnap and murder.

More than 60 British lawmakers wrote to interior minister Priti Patel on Friday (March 19) calling for protests to be allowed during the lockdown and saying that attending a demonstration should not be a criminal offence.

"We call on you to expressly exempt protests from restrictions on gatherings," lawmakers, including Conservative Member of Parliament Steve Baker and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, said in the letter, which was organised by campaign groups Liberty and Big Brother Watch.

There were three consecutive nights of protest in London earlier this week, fuelled by the police reaction to the vigil for Everard, and anger over government plans to tighten the law on demonstrations.

The interior ministry, known as the Home Office, said when asked about the letter that the COVID-19 stay-at-home order remains in place until March 29, and once it ends protests can resume subject to agreeing to respect social distancing.

"While we are still in a pandemic we continue to urge people to avoid mass gatherings, in line with wider coronavirus restrictions," a spokeswoman said.

Police said people breaching COVID-19 regulations could face fines or arrest.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 13:32:38|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is under mounting pressure to establish a royal commission into veterans suicide.

The lower house of Parliament, the House of Representatives, is set to vote on the proposed inquiry within days after the Senate unanimously votes in favour of a motion calling for a royal commission.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pushed to establish a national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide prevention, legislation for which is stalled in the Senate.

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported recently that as many as six government Members of Parliament (MPs) have told the prime minister they will vote in favor of the royal commission, which would mean it has the support to be passed.

And the motion noted that members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are half as likely as the general population to take their own lives before serving but twice as likely once they leave.

Heston Russell, a former Special Air Service (SAS) major and proponent of the inquiry, said that the royal commission had become a "symbol of hope" for veterans.

However, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the government would continue to push for the commissioner.

"We'll continue to try to convince the parliament that model doesn't just give the one off impact of a royal commission but can achieve the lasting impact of saving veterans lives," he told Sky News on Sunday. Enditem
Diplomats barred from trial of detained Canadian

Canada said its consular officials were not given permission to attend the proceedings despite repeated requests. Photo: Reuters

China was expected to open the first trial Friday for one of two Canadians who have been held for more than two years in apparent retaliation for Canadas arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive.



Canada said its consular officials were not given permission to attend the proceedings despite several requests.



They have been notified that a court hearing for Michael Spavor would be held Friday, and one for Michael Kovrig would follow on Monday.



China has not publicly confirmed the court dates, and calls to the court in Dandong, the northeastern city where Spavor was charged, went unanswered.



Sidewalks were roped off with police tape and journalists were kept at a distance as police cars and vans with lights flashing entered the court complex, located beside the Yalu River that divides China from North Korea.



The Canadian Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Nickel knocked on a door to the court seeking entry but was refused.



He was told the trial would begin at 10 am but was given no word on how long it would last or when a verdict would be announced.



Another 10 diplomats from eight countries, including the US, the U.K. and Australia, stood on the street opposite the courthouse in a show of support.



International and bilateral treaties required that China provide Canadian diplomats access to the trial, but the court said Chinese law regarding trials on state security charges overrode such obligations, Nickel said.



The official notification received from Chinese authorities indicated that these trials are closed to both the public and the media," Canada Global Affairs spokesperson Christelle Chartrand said on Thursday.



Spavor and Kovrig were detained in December 2018, days after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested at the request of the US at the airport in Vancouver, British Columbia.



The US is seeking her extradition to face fraud charges related to her companys dealings with Iran.



The two Canadians have been held ever since, while Meng has been released on bail.



They were charged in June 2020 with spying under Chinas national security laws.



Spavor, an entrepreneur with North Korea-related business, was charged with spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state secrets.



Kovrig, an analyst and former diplomat, was charged with spying for state secrets and intelligence in collaboration with Spavor.



Outside the courthouse, Nickel said Canada still held hope that Spavor and Kovrig could be released through joint efforts with the US, whose Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan are currently holding their first face-to-face talks with China's top diplomats in Anchorage, Alaska.



So we're hopeful that, in some measure, this trial may too lead to their immediate release," he said. (AP)
A project is underway in Portlaoise on the back of an initiative led by local educators to build a community of belonging where the many different nationalities living in the town can integrate successfully.

The Community of Belonging aim is the result of an initiative launched by the Laois Education Support Centre in conjunction with the Teaching Council of Ireland.

It is spearheaded by the support centre's Director Catherine Doolan and its Vice-Chairperson, Liam O'Neill, who is also a former president of the GAA.

Inspired by the challenge and benefits of diversity in Laois and Portlaoise in particular, they adopted the Teaching Council's BEACONS framework to, as they put it, start a conversation around interculturalism.

This resulted in the organisation of an event last November attended by schools which the organisers hope is just the start of a process.

This resulted in a report launched last week by the former Mayor of Portlaoise Rotimi Adebari. The foreword sets out the ultimate goal of the project.

Our hope is that through seeking to explore our diversity, we will strengthen and enhance our existing community of education and build a 'Community of Belonging' where we might all embrace and celebrate interculturalism. Through recognising and respecting the cultural diversity we have been gifted, we know we will only enhance our own cultural experience, wrote Ms Doolan and Mr O'Neill.

The report says Portlaoise has experienced a rapid increase in immigration. It says it is necessary to acknowledge the linguistic and cultural enrichment of Portlaoise which represents a rich diversity of nationalities, religious faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

In light of this, focus is now directed on exploring the possibilities around creating a 'Community of Belonging' in the context of the education community in Portlaoise, it says.

The BEACONS event was held last November virtually. It included contributions from all of Portlaoise schools, LOETB, Laois Integration project, the GAA and other organisations. The format involved a series of conversations involving teachers, parents, pupils.

Several emerging themes were identified. These include:

- Need to support students in the transition through the levels of the education system.

- Home school communication and parent engagement - difficulties with language were identified.

- Language, identity and linguistic heritage: teachers identified a language barrier; a desire to maintain 'home languages' at school was identified; desire to see more diversity / ethnic representation among teachers; primary school pupils demand to learn languages

- Mental health and wellbeing, coping with the challenges of distancing in the context of Covid-19 featured in many conversations among students.

Report's recommendations:

Develop further the potential to establish Portlaoise as a Community of Belonging with Laois Education Centre as a conduit

Facilitate engagement with schools across the educational sectors

Explore, research and disseminate best practice in intercultural education

Facilitate engagement to examine the challenge of transitions between levels of education

Facilitate schools to produce guidance on home school communication and parental engagement.

Promoting the rich and evolving languages of Portlaoise and its surrounds.

Promote innovative and collaborative practice in intercultural education between different schools and community settings.

Create the opportunity for continued participation between different schools and community sectors and education providers.

Develop intercultural awareness training for Portlaoise school needs.

The idea for the 'Our Community of Belonging' project came about as a result of a conversation between Catherine Doolan, the Director of Laois Education Support Centre and Liam O'Neill, its vice-chairperson.

Launching the project report Mr O'Neill said the discussion focused on the wider remit of the Centre in the broader education community.

In our conversation, we noted that Laois, and Portlaoise in particular, has become a very multicultural community

We have people from over 90 different countries speaking over 50 different languages and practising at least 22 different religions. We also noted that more than 10,000 people speak a language other than English in their homes.

We concluded that this means we have been given a gift of diversity that we could never have imagined in our wildest dreams. We are excited by the possibilities that this provides. We are also acutely aware of the challenges that diversity may pose for us all in the community, he said.

Mr O'Neill said a decision was reached to engage with school communities with a view to exploring openly how Laois Education Support Centre could support schools in addressing diversity and interculturalism in their own contexts.

They adopted what is called the BEACONS model of engaging with School Communities which the Centre's director has experience of working with. An event took place last November and a report on this has now been published as a roadmap for what can be achieved.

As well as discussing education and school with students, teachers parents and management we decided to listen to their views on diversity and interculturalism and how it affects our educational community

We intended that this conversation would be open, honest, and safe and that it would also be the first tentative step in a longer engagement with school communities and indeed the wider community about supporting diversity and interculturalism.

We were genuinely heartened by the response of those who participated in discussions on the day. The enthusiasm, honesty, and willingness to share their perspectives and experience was wonderful. We want to build on the success of this event.

We know that we are just one part of a huge jigsaw here. Our remit is to deal with the educational context of diversity and interculturalism. We dont think we have all the answers but we hope that through seeking to explore our diversity we will strengthen and enhance our existing community of education and help build a Community of Belonging.

 We want Portlaoise to be a place where we might all embrace and celebrate our interculturalism.

Our hope is that through recognising and respecting the cultural diversity we have been gifted we will enhance our own cultural experience, he said.

The report describes the BEACONS event as 'groundbreaking' where teachers, pupils, parents and others in Portlaoise were welcomed and supported. The report says the Laois Education Support Centre has established a hub of learning. The Centre has committed to continue the process the BEACONS event started by developing a support network for intercultural learning that will give opportunities to connect, explore and solve educational challenges. It commits to raising awareness among educational leaders and decision-makers.
BMA Cymru Wales calls for urgent recruitment and retention strategy to prevent doctors leaving the NHS in droves

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 21st, 2021

The British Medical Association (BMA) Cymru Wales has for urgent recruitment and retention strategy to prevent doctors leaving the NHS in droves.

In a new report, BMA Cymru Wales has said that in order to resume services safely and tackle the waiting list backlog in Wales, urgent measures are needed to expand the medical workforce and retain existing staff.

A survey undertaken by the organisation found that over half of doctors who responded are planning to retire early, and over a quarter are planning to reduce their hours within the next 12 months.

In ongoing discussions with Welsh Government BMA Cymru Wales has suggested a number of actions which would begin to address the threat of doctors leaving the profession or reducing their hours which include:





Making it easier for staff to join the workforce or return to clinical practice including retired doctors, refugee doctors and international medical graduates.

Assuring doctors that they will not be penalised with large tax bills if they take on additional work to support the backlog or return to work after retirement.

The opportunity for doctors to rest and recuperate from the exhaustion of working through the pandemic.

As well as calling for measures to expand the workforce and retain existing staff, the report sets out further recommendations to all Governments across the UK to ensure that services resume safely for both staff and patients:

All governments and system leaders across the UK to have an honest conversation with the public about the need for a realistic approach to restoring non-COVID care, and support for systems to tackle the backlog.

Health, safety, and mental wellbeing of the workforce to remain a top priority.

Additional resourcing to help tackle the backlog.

Measures to expand system capacity.

Dr David Bailey, BMA Cymru Wales council chair, said: Its clear that the backlog has to be reduced, and our survey figures present a stark warning which cannot be ignored.

Urgent action must be taken to address the fact that half of doctors responding to our latest survey are planning to retire early and over a quarter are planning to reduce their hours.

Without an increase in capacity and a clearer focus on retention, the waiting list will continue to grow and the NHS wont be able to return to pre-Covid levels  we will see doctors leaving in droves.

The scale of this challenge must not be underestimated. Despite everything that the last year has thrown at them, doctors remain committed to caring for patients, but they must receive support in order to be able to provide safe care.
Well, that was deluxe.

After riding through Mexico under car seats, inside sweltering trucks, stuffed in packed trunks, shimmying through rat-infested tunnels, crossing rivers, and on the tops of trains, illegal migrant families (or "families") who make it illegally across to the states get free hotel rooms, courtesy of Joe Biden and the U.S. taxpayer.

That's what Biden has mandated in his self-created border crisis that didn't exist until he started offering immigration line-cutters benefits, and not surprisingly, the migrants are pouring over. Now some new goodies await at the finish line.

According to Axios, cited by Daily Caller, illegal migrant families can now look forward not to migrant jails but to free hotel rooms once they make it across without papers.

The Biden administration has awarded an $86 million contract for hotel rooms near the border to hold around 1,200 migrant family members who cross the U.S.-Mexico border, DHS officials confirmed to Axios. Why it matters: It's a sign of growing numbers of migrant families trying to come to the U.S.  in addition to already overwhelming numbers of kids crossing the border without their parents or legal guardians. Both trends appear to be straining government resources. The contract through Endeavors, a Texas-based nonprofit, is for six months but could be extended and expanded. The hotels will be near border areas, including in Arizona and Texas.

That's a lot more than legal immigrants get. That's a lot more than an American abroad who's been robbed and goes to a U.S. embassy for help gets. That's a lot more than even irresponsible people who's gone into the wilderness against advice and trigger costly rescues get -- they usually have to pay for their rescues. And don't even think about an American who can't pay his taxes, he's not getting free rides, either. Not even most of the homeless, judging by the blue-city streets, get free hotel rooms. (San Francisco has been an exception.)

Anybody paying for these free hotel rooms? Like maybe someone with a spare $6,000 to pay a cartel human smuggler? Doesn't sound like it. This one's on the taxpayer.

Yet here's what Biden said ahead of it:

I can say quite clearly, Dont come over,' Biden said regarding the rise in border crossings. Dont leave your town or city or community."

With five thousand people and counting getting across each day and some now know there are free hotel rooms, sounds like nobody is listening.

What is amounts to is Joe Biden trying to hide the crisis by throwing money at NGOs and hoping no one notices the unvetted illegals, some with COVID, filling up border town hotel rooms. No kids in cages pictures seems to be the aim, given Biden's effort to cover up such news from the media. Now with the migrants scattered about in private hotel rooms in border towns, the Biden logic is that perhaps the media will go away.

That's a service-added for the cartels, which do entice migrants to leave their homes based on such goodies and not surprisingly they make lots of money off these crossings. The free hotels will add more. Thanks, Joe.

At a minimum, busting a cartel and using its "earnings" from migrants ought to be mandated to pay for these hotels. And not just them, but the governments of the countries that permits these exoduses to benefit from billions in remittances as well as reduced public pressure to reform themselves to make their countries liveable. Anybody there paying? Nope, they get free money from Uncle Sam, too. And as for Mexico, well, they've managed to persuade bumbling Biden that they just don't have space to accommodate. Kind of saves them some trouble, doesn't it?

Strange how the federal government, in paying for free hotel rooms with taxpayer dollars is incentivizing more illegal immigration.

Let's take a look at Endeavors, the non-profit based in San Antonio, which appears to be fairly respectable with ties to various city governments and the United Way, with a reported 10% spent in overhead (which is low), though it doesn't disclose its total money-size in its last-posted 2019 Annual Report.

The group, founded by five Presbyterian churches around 1975 took various names until settling on its current one, and specializes in helping the drug-addicted homeless, including homeless vets and ex-cons, get back into society, which is obviously a costly process involving a lot of hand-holding. It's helped a grand total of 250 families (or, 800 individuals) over 15 years through its shelter project for them. Which is rather tiny, but remember, these projects are intensive. Here is a success story it reports in this video. Its 2019 Annual Report doesn't mention migrants.

But somehow, in the last one or two months, with the migrant surge, it's gotten itself this $86 million hotel contract, which sounds a little sudden, and a bit big as contracts go, for all the known indicators of its size, too. And it doesn't indicate in its report any specialty with migrants, though it has a minor migrant section on its website navbar under 'What We Do.' Migrants are going to want free lawyers, free phone calls, free meals, and free bus or plane tickets to their destinations of choice. Are they going to help with that, do they have enough bilingual staff that can be taken from their current hand-holding duties, or is someone else? They will probably have to hire people at pricey NGO salaries, raising their overhead.

Was there competitive bidding? Why did this take so little time, and why so much to a non-migrant group so small? There may be legitimate answers, or maybe it was cronyism, but unless the site tells us -- they actually say nothing about this on their website, it looks a little funny.

Now let's look at the size of this contract:

How many free hotel rooms for illegal aliens will $86 million buy? Well, here's a back of the envelope calculation:

Six months is 180 days of hotel rooming. The average hotel room cost in Arizona and Texas border cities -- I looked it up, is about $70 for Nogales, Arizona, and $108 for McAllen, Texas. Other border cities checked -- El Paso, Laredo, Tucson, and Douglas, are all between those ranges, with the Texas cities a bit above $100, and the Arizona towns around $90.

If $90 is the median, then the hotel room cost, divided evenly is about $478,000 a day, and extended over 180 days, brings us to $86 million. That would house about 5,000 families, which squares well with the Axios estimates for family sizes of two to three people. Maybe they get bulk rates or cheaper hotels and can house more, but this is unknown. Federal contracts are prized, after all, because they often pay full fare. Lots of $6,000 toilet seats, after all. But most families are supposedly staying only about 3 days, so the $17,200 figure for 5,000 people at a time would be for the entire six month duration. You can bet there will be a lot more than 5,000 people served if every illegal alien family only stays three days.

Bottom line, all of these new services for illegal border crossers are bonanzas, not just for the NGOs who benefit, they are benefits for human smuggling rackets, who can now advertise these wares as part of their illegal alien benefit packages and use the news of them to draw more business. Biden is helping that bunch ultimately with these free-hotel contracts even Americans in distress don't get. Cartels will use this incentive to drum up more business.

Image: Screen shot from a camera aimed at a live television broadcast, enhanced with FotoSketcher.
And then along came Ron. Yogi was being trained to become a trauma dog and he was destined to go to Ron Fenton, a former Victorian police officer from Melbourne who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Ron and Yogi at home in Melbourne. Credit:Chris Hopkins Yogi had been trained to recognise Mr Fentons symptoms. He had learnt to gently wake Mr Fenton before night terrors took hold and nuzzle Mr Fentons hand with a slobbery mouth to calm him. Mr Fenton said Yogi saved his life, reducing his reliance on medication and preventing him from taking his own life on more than one occasion.

Mr Fenton is now backing a campaign by state Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley for a similar program, where dogs would go to veterans and emergency service workers, to be run in Victorian prisons. It will mean there will be veterans whose lives are going to be saved, because all these dogs are life-savers, Mr Fenton said. Victorian Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley with Ron Fenton and Yogi last week. Credit:Eddie Jim Mr Grimley has called for the government to fund a program that could mirror what is being done in Bathurst. The NSW program, run by Defence Community Dogs, has about 12 rescue dogs living in the prison at a time, supported by a trainer who works in the facility full-time. The inmates are selected in an application process that takes into account their behaviour inside.

Loading These programs are successful, they do work. Why cant we have them here in Victoria? Mr Grimley said. Defence Bank, founded for Australian Defence Force members and veterans, funds the dogs program. Defence Bank chief executive David Marshall said it was the financial institutions only charitable endeavour, and one that has a huge impact on prisoners and veterans. Since Defence Community Dogs began running the program in 2014, more than 80 dogs have been trained and almost 70 per cent have graduated as accredited assistance dogs.

Corrections Minister Natalie Hutchins said there were ongoing discussions with Defence Community Dogs about potentially adding to the initiatives already running in the justice system. Greyhound adoption and dog rescue programs already run at Dhurringile, Tarrengower and Beechworth correctional centres and the Office of Public Prosecutions uses two Labradors, who came from a prison in Queensland, to support vulnerable witnesses in Victorian courts. We recognise the important role canine programs can play in our justice system to assist victims and help prisoners turn their lives around, Ms Hutchins said. Last Wednesday marked four years ago to the day since Yogi left the Bathurst jail, coincidentally on the same day Benni was released.

Having survived being shot on duty and the mental demons that followed, Mr Fenton said his life is now coming to an end, with cancer overcoming his liver. He is at peace with this and is living his last months to their fullest. In the past week, he had both sky-diving and white-water rafting booked in. Yogi and Ron in 2018. Credit:Joe Armao It was only what would happen to Yogi after he shuffles off this mortal coil that worried him. The biggest concern I had is what would happen to my boy, Mr Fenton said.

Pretty soon, Yogi will be going back to Benni. Going back to his original handler, his original trainer  I like the balance of it, Mr Fenton said. Benni, 36, said training Yogi was hands down the most satisfying achievement of his life, because of what it has done for Mr Fenton. He said he was upset when Mr Fenton told him about his diagnosis, but was honoured to take Yogi back to live with him and a Labrador he adopted after his release. Its almost like its meant to be.
Some Ohio General Assembly members demonstrate why, since 1912, Ohios constitution has guaranteed cities and villages local self-government  that is, home rule. Latest Statehouse caper: a bid to let the oil and gas lobby push cities and villages around some more.

Some background:

Scenario One: Its before home rule took effect in Ohio in 1912. Youre an electric utility that owns a streetcar line (a common linkage then). In that pre-family-car era, streetcars were the way Ohioans got to work, to church, to stores. If you owned a streetcar line, you all but printed money.

The trouble is, a city regulates fares, a headache your monopoly doesnt like. You, the streetcar (or electric) company, must find somebody who (a) might usurp the power to let you charge what you want and (b) doesnt have to face local voters.

Solution: You wine and dine the General Assembly and get it to, in effect, impose higher streetcar fares on the city youre fighting. After all, relatively few General Assembly members are from the targeted city, so its voters cant unseat pro-fare-hike lawmakers.

Besides, Charlie the Lobbyist is a good guy.

So the legislature strips a city of power over streetcar fares. And, in effect, thats something the Ohio General Assembly once tried to do.

Scenario Two: Youre an Ohio citys political boss. You promise certain ... businesses ... that if they support your party, youll leash the citys cops.

The trouble is, the citys mayor is from the other party, and he picks the police chief. So, the boss treks to the Statehouse and has the General Assembly pass a law ending or weakening that mayors control of his citys police.

That happened. They were called ripper bills. And they peppered the General Assemblys journals in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

But in 1912, voters approved the Ohio Constitutions home rule amendment, proposed by that years constitutional convention.

Object: to prevent the General Assembly, in tandem with lobbyists, from overriding the elected officials of cities and villages.

True, the Ohio Supreme Courts decisions on home rule, and how the legislature can breach it, are all over the map, literally and figuratively. So in the last 20 years or so, Ohios House and Senate have been getting away with handcuffing local officials.

For instance, ask your mayor or city or village manager why she or he cant keep frackers from sinking wells in the middle of your neighborhood. The answer: House Bill 278 of 2004, which gave the state exclusive authority to regulate the permitting, location and spacing of oil and gas wells.

That is, your city or village council is powerless to regulate, let alone control, fracking. The bill was sponsored by future Senate President Thomas Niehaus, a suburban Cincinnati Republican whos now a prominent Statehouse lobbyist.

Likewise, the handgun lobbys Statehouse fanboys have successfully blocked cities from trying to at least restrain Ohios gun plague.

The anti-local-voter push never stops. So, for example, in the last week or so, members of Ohios House and Senate have introduced more home rule rippers. One of this sessions brainstorms would forbid cities and villages (and Ohios counties and townships) from banning the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity  or from banning or regulating pipelines.

Another ripper would forbid cities and villages (and, again, counties and townships) from limiting or banning natural gas service. Thats hardly likely in a state so environmentally indifferent that some of Ohios highways look like serial litter bins. Instead, that bill, and the fossil fuel bill, are Republican valentines sent to the Statehouses oil and gas lobbyists  the Capitol Square version of a square-dance move: Honor your partner.

But forbidding Ohio cities and villages from concerning themselves with pipeline safety is downright sinister: According to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, From 2009 to 2018, the number of (pipeline) incidents, injuries sustained, and the yearly costs associated with pipeline incidents all rose compared to annual averages from 1999 to 2008.

Meanwhile, Someone is killed with a gun every six hours in Ohio, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. If that doesnt faze our legislature, why would the occasional pipeline fireball?

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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Do you ever feel like your partner may be embarrassed by you but arent really sure? Are you trying to figure out if your suspicion is cor...

Do you ever feel like your partner may be embarrassed by you but arent really sure? Are you trying to figure out if your suspicion is correct?





Well, here are six signs that can help you.

They ignore you in public

Have you ever been in a situation where you happen to bump into your significant other on the street, try to say hello, and get totally ignored? Well, this is something people who are embarrassed by you tend to do.

If your partner avoids you in public or even asks you not to acknowledge them in public, this may mean they are ashamed to be seen with you.

They dont introduce you to their friends

Have you noticed that since you started dating your significant other, they havent introduced you to their friends? This may mean they are embarrassed to be seen around you. Although its great for couples to have separate friends and activities, it could be a red flag if they cant at least introduce you to any of their friends.





While its normal for some people to hesitate about introducing their partners to their friends at the beginning of a relationship, if the relationship has lasted for a while, knowing their friends shouldnt be an issue.

They criticise you

Playfully teasing your partner is one thing, but when it becomes constant and more negative, theres something wrong somewhere. When most people are embarrassed by a friend or partner, it comes out through unkind words and actions.





If your partner is constantly criticising things you say, your opinion, or your way of doing things, it could simply mean they are not proud to be with you. That may be your cue to walk away as you deserve someone whos proud to have you in their life.

They try to control how you look

This is a major pointer that your partner might just not be proud of you. Wanting to dictate what you wear, how you style your hair, what type of makeup you use, and even how much you weigh is out of place from someone who claims to love you.





One thing to note is that before this person even starts trying to control how you look, they would have made a few hurtful comments to make you feel like you should look different. Well, if this is the case, you may need to seriously rethink the relationship and whether you should still be in it.

Now, this is not to say they cant give you fashion advice or tips. But when the advice becomes compulsory, then something is wrong.





They prefer having dates at home

Perhaps you think your partner simply prefers hanging out at home than going out on dates. But think about this: how long has this been going on?

If you have noticed that your partner would go out with their friends but would give excuses not to go out with you, its likely they are embarrassed to be seen in public with you.

If this is true, you may have also noticed that the few times you have gone out together, your partner avoids places they would likely bump into their friends.





Youre constantly wondering if theyre embarrassed by you

If youre always wondering if your partner finds you embarrassing, chances are, they do. Except of course youre an overthinker. When we wonder about certain things or behaviours in our relationship, more often than not, were right.

Always remember that you deserve to be with someone who absolutely adores you and wants to show you to the world. She/he is out there, you just need to let go of the bad, so you can grab the good.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced changes to the team of parliamentary secretaries, appointing Indo-Canadian Maninder Sidhu as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development. Sidhu, who was elected Member of Parliament from Brampton East constituency for the first time in 2019, has been chosen by the Prime Minister to assist Karina Gould, Minister of International Development.

Maninder Sidhu took to his official Twitter handle to thank Prime Minister Trudeau for appointing him as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development. Sidhu further added that he is looking forward to working with Gould and continuing the great work Canada is doing to make the world a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable place for all. Minister Gould also welcomed Sidhu in her team.

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, Prime Ministers office said in a statement.

What is the role of parliamentary secretaries?

Parliamentary Secretaries are chosen by the Prime Minister of Canada. They work with their respective ministers to advance legislation and deliver results. Parliamentary Secretaries work as an important link between the government and the parliament and they also engage directly with the people to raise awareness about key initiatives. However, parliamentary secretaries are not members of the cabinet and hence they do not participate in decision-making processes. But parliamentary secretaries can answer questions and table reports in the parliament on behalf of the minister.
GRENADA, Miss. (WTVA) -- Curtis Flowers got married this weekend, adding another chapter to his new life as a free man six months after the state ended its attempt to sentence him to die for murders he said he did not commit.

Flowers married Marlena Wright Saturday afternoon in Grenada at an invitation-only wedding and reception.



Marlena Wright and Curtis Flowers on their wedding day March 20, 2021 (Robert L. Jackson) Marlena Wright and Curtis Flowers on their wedding day March 20, 2021 (Robert L. Jackson)

"In cheerleading for Curtis, as we all have, God allowed us to meet after freedom came Curtis' way," according to the website that announced their marriage plans. "Curtis said to me, 'I've been waiting for you. You will be my future.' The rest is history."

Flowers gained national attention in 2019 when the U.S. Supreme Court tossed his conviction for the killings of four people at the Tardy Furniture store in Winona because District Attorney Doug Evans kept black people off the jury.

The case generated attention because the state put Flowers on trial six times. Two ended in mistrials. The others led to convictions that were all overturned.

A judge allowed him to go free in December 2019 after more than two decades behind bars. Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced in September 2020 her office would not seek a seventh trial.
As Obamas national profile began to rise in 2007, the media characterized anyone who opposed him as racist. When Trumps national profile began to rise in 2015, the media characterized him as a White supremacist and indicated that his followers must be, too. As of January 7, 2021, though, that suggestion was deemed too mild. This year, every White person, unless he or she makes complete obeisance to the racist anti-racism movement, is presumptively a White supremacist. Because White supremacists are, by definition evil, this media mania is potentially painting a target on the back of every White person in America.

Lest you think Im exaggerating about the escalating use of the claims about White supremacy, I used Bings date search feature to track the terms increasing prevalence during the same time period (January 1 through March 21) in

2016, which was the last year of Obamas presidency;

2019, which was the last year before the world went crazy;

2020, which was the beginning of the election year; and

2021, which marks the lefts efforts to silence all opposition.

Just watch the numbers climb:

Put another way,

In 2019, there was a 178% increase in references to White supremacy over references in 2016 over the same two-and-a-half-month period.

From 2019 to 2020, there was another 236% increase.

The real escalation happened when comparing the first two-and-a-half months of 2020 to that same time period in 2021. This time, there was a 588% increase in the use of the phrase White supremacy.

Overall, the phrases use escalated a staggering 6,360% in just five years. To make sense of that, you must imagine that Nazis are marching down every American street.

But of course, we know thats not true. Whats really accelerated is the amount of racial invective directed against Whites, with the preferred phrase for the so-called anti-racists to beyou guessed it: White supremacist.

Whats driving the trend is a race-obsessed mainstream media. Heres another short video with just a sample of the top news stories from Google on March 21 when using the phrase White supremacy:

And this is where Im going to bow out of writing and hand you over to a Paul Joseph Watson video on the subject. As always, he throws in a few swear words but he drills down into the important facts  and the really important fact is that the media is pushing a very dangerous narrative.

The medias racial obsession is a way to maintain the Democrats political power, by silencing the opposition, and to drive ratings. Eventually, though, the real-world consequences are going to be disastrous.

If our children are consistently told that Whites are not just racist, but akin to the KKK or even Nazis, the means that waging war against them is within the pale of moral behavior. I am deeply concerned that the media will incite someone  or a group of someones  to take up arms in the imaginary war against White supremacists and start targeting people based upon their skin color.
North Korean Man Extradited to US in Sanctions Case

WASHINGTONA North Korean citizen was taken into U.S. custody on Saturday after being extradited from Malaysia to face money laundering charges, making him the first North Korean extradited to the U.S. to face trial.

Mun Chol Myong was in the custody of the FBI in Washington on Saturday, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. His extradition came after a Malaysian court rejected his assertion that the charges were politically motivated.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Sunday.

A federal judge in Washington had issued a warrant for Muns arrest on May 2, 2019, on money laundering and conspiracy charges. Mun, who is in his 50s, has lived in Malaysia for a decade and was arrested in May 2019 after the United States requested his extradition. Malaysias government approved the extradition, but Mun challenged the bid.

His lawyer has said Mun worries he wont get a fair trial in the United States. They have argued that the extradition is politically motivated and aimed to increase pressure on North Korea over the nations missile program.

Mun has denied allegations that he was involved in supplying prohibited luxury goods from Singapore to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions before moving to Malaysia in 2008. He has also denied allegations he laundered funds through front companies and produced fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments.

North Korea said it had also terminated diplomatic ties with Malaysia over the decision to extradite Mun to the United States in the latest development in growing animosity between Washington and Pyongyang as the North ramps up pressure on the Biden administration over a nuclear standoff.

by Michael Balsamo
NCP president on Sunday said the allegations levelled by former chief Param Bir Singh against Home Minister Anil Deshmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe.

Singh has claimed Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels. Pawar suggested that Chief Minister will take a decision in this matter and also action against Deshmukh.



Pawar said neither Thackeray nor Deshmukh were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.

The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singhs letter. I would suggest to Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiros help for looking into the claims made by Singh, he added.





ALSO READ: Bir's letter, Waze case tainted MVA image, allies need to introspect: Raut

Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.

BJP workers on Sunday staged protests in Nagpur and Pune demanding resignation of Deshmukh. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called for a fair and impartial probe by an outside agency into the controversy. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in view of allegations of corruption levelled by Singh.

The NCP supremo said there was no impact on the government because of Singhs allegations. Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government but they will prove futile, he said. NCP state chief Jayant Patil said the question of Deshmukh resigning does not arise. leader Sanjay Raut admitted the charged have tainted the governments image, and said all allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground. The Congress, said Singh might be under pressure of central agencies.
CNN, which is owned by WarnerMedia, has been packaged as an exclusive Foxtel channel which means it will be unavailable on any other platform in Australia from April 22.

The deal, estimated to be worth as much as $100 million a year , includes exclusive rights to HBO Max originals such as The Flight Attendant and Raised by Wolves, as well as Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

Rupert Murdoch-controlled pay tv company Foxtel secured the exclusive rights to broadcast CNN for subscribers as part of a multimillion-dollar deal struck with US entertainment giant WarnerMedia last year.

Subscription television service Fetch TV has fired off a letter to the competition regulator over the impending loss of international news channel CNN from its platform to commercial rival Foxtel.

That exclusivity has concerned Fetch TV because it claims it limits the variety of news available to the Australian public. Fetch TV, which works with Optus, iiNet Group and Vocus to provide its service, has more than 700,000 subscribers. It informed users of the impending change late last week after unsuccessful talks with Foxtel to allow the channel to be public.

The changes are the result of a recent exclusive carriage agreement entered into between Foxtel and the channels owner, Warner Media, a Facebook post said.

We are particularly disappointed at the loss of CNN. International News provides an important public benefit, and Fetch is proud to provide access to such a diverse suite of news channels as part of the Knowledge Pack (for only $6 per month). The exclusivity arrangement for CNN in Australia is inconsistent with global norms and will result in reduced access and affordability.

The Facebook post asks subscribers to write to the competition regulator about their concerns. However, industry sources familiar with Fetch TVs concerns said it had also fired off a letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) outlining its concerns over the exclusivity agreement. The company is arguing that Foxtel, which is majority owned by News Corp, is hindering media diversity by keeping CNN restricted to Foxtel customers. Fetch declined to comment further on the matter. The ACCC declined to comment.

Foxtel is entitled to enter into agreements with channels on an exclusive basis, and of course, for internet users, CNN content continues to be widely available at CNN.com, a Foxtel spokesperson said. We appreciate that Fetch is concerned about losing content from their service. However, there continue to be many alternative options open to them to source international news channels for their customers.
Amazon says it removed a conservative Christian scholar's book on transgenderism because it framed "LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness."

Ryan T. Anderson shared last month that his bestselling book, When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment, had been removed without notice or explanation by Amazon.

The book challenges prevailing transgender ideology, particularly the idea that people can be 'trapped' in the wrong body.

Last month, Republican senators, among them Marco Rubio of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah, wrote to the online retailer asking it to explain its actions.

Criticizing the removal of Anderson's 2018 book, the senators said the internet works best "when it is an open marketplace of ideas that brings people together to share, learn from one another, and engage in a range of commercial activities."

"Many Americans have come to rely on online retail more than ever before to meet their basic needs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," they said.

"In its decision to remove Mr. Anderson's book from its platforms, Amazon has openly signaled to conservative Americans that their views are not welcome on its platforms."

In a written reply to Congress, Amazon Vice President for Public Policy Brian Huseman said: "We have chosen not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness."

The response has angered Anderson, who in a series of Twitter posts denied framing LGBTQ+ people as having a mental illness. He also accused Amazon of silencing debate around treatment for gender dysphoria.

"Amazon appears to have never read my book, but relied on hit pieces. As I pointed out before: 'Please quote the passage where I 'call them mentally ill.' You can't quote that passage because it doesn't exist,'" he said.

"Gender dysphoria is listed in the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which Amazon sells. So the real deciding factor seems to be whether you endorse hormones and surgery as the proper treatment or counseling.

"Everyone agrees that gender dysphoria is a serious condition that causes great suffering. There is a debate, however, which amazon is seeking to shut down, about how best to treat patients who experience gender dysphoria."

Anderson expressed further frustrations over the withdrawal of his book in a joint statement with his publisher, Encounter Books.

"No good comes from shutting down a debate about important matters on which reasonable people of good will disagree," Anderson said.



"Amazon is using its massive power to distort the marketplace of ideas and is deceiving its own customers in the process."
In another heartless act of animal cruelty, a man in Gujarat was nabbed after he brutally thrashed a stray dog for no apparent reason then tied it to his scooter and dragged the helpless being for almost half a kilometre.

According to TOI, the incident came to light when an animal rights activist filed a complaint.

Also read: Malaysia: Homeless Man Gets Protected By Stray Dogs Who Stared Dog-Catchers In The Face

Reuters/representational image

Also read: 'Take Good Care Of Him': Heartbreaking Note Asks That Dog Abandoned On Bench Be Adopted, It Was Being Abused



The accused has been identified as 20-year-old Ejaz Sheikh who the police claim has a learning disability.



Dayanand Trivedi, an advocate for animal rights in Vadodara told TOI, On Thursday night, I got a call from some locals that an injured stray dog was lying near the Ward 8 office. I reached there and saw that the dog had grievous injuries on its head and other body parts. I rushed it to the hospital."



Reuters

Also Read: In Karnataka, You Can Now Feed Stray Dogs In Exchange For Plastic



The dog is presently in a critical condition and the report adds that the dog was left with broken teeth.

Later some locals told me that Sheikh had thrashed the dog. They said that the accused first tied the dog with a belt and kept hitting it with a rod. He then tied the dog to his two-wheeler and dragged it for half a kilometre from his home to ward 8 office and threw it there, Trivedi explained.



TOI

Sheikh has meanwhile been booked under the Animal Welfare Act. What is unclear is why he did this to the dog.

"The dog has been seen in the Machhipeeth area for years. Many locals feed the canine daily. No one knows why he assaulted the dog so badly but it was very cruel of Sheikh," Trivedi added.



Also read: This Man In Assam Is Making Comfortable Homes For Stray Dogs Using Discarded TV Sets
FAIRFIELD  Officials are considering an affordable housing project near the Merritt Parkway and Hotel Hi-Ho that has residents concerned about factors like parking and the Merritt Parkway Conservancy raising issue with the potential loss of that section of the roadways scenic nature.

The project, at 4185 Black Rock Turnpike, would include 94 units, with 65 at market rate and 29 considered affordable units. It would be a mix of 26 one-bedroom units and 68 two-bedroom units.

Its designed to address a dire need in town for market and workforce housing, said Paul Richter, the developer for the Merritt 44 project.

The project application is submitted under the state 8-30g statute, which is in place to increase affordable housing but is controversial because it allows developers to circumvent local zoning regulations unless there is a health or safety risk.

Residents raised concerns about the project at previous hours-long town plan and zoning commission public hearings on the project. The hearings are expected to wrap up at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Concerns center on potentially increased traffic, especially in the morning and evenings as people go to and from work. People also worried there wasnt enough parking for the building, especially for overflow parking for guests and deliveries.

Other concerns were raised about drainage and the risk of exacerbating the threat of flooding already there.

Our challenge with this particular development is not the inclusion of affordable housing, it is the development itself  the size, scale and the numerous issues that that brings, Steve Ronan, who lives across the street from the proposed apartment building, said at one of the hearings.

The Merritt Parkway Conservancy also raised a number of concerns with the project, echoing many raised by the residents. They also said it would impact the historical scenic nature of the Merritt, since one of the best preserved sections of the parkway is in Fairfield.

The project includes one building with four floors of residential housing and a parking deck. About 54 percent of the 2.35 acres will be developed, leaving the remaining acreage as landscape, according to the submitted plans.

Richter said this doesnt include the four acres or so adjacent to the site protected by a conservation easement they got several years ago.

There is currently nothing on the site, but that wasnt always the case. It was once home to a nursery there for decades. Richter said they removed the dilapidated buildings several years ago and cleaned up some of the wetlands when they took it over.

Richter has been involved with the site for about a decade. He originally proposed a medical building, which was approved in 2015, but then went to the courts. Residents challenged the inland wetlands decision that said a prior application was still in force for the site and a new permit wasnt needed.

By the time the case was resolved in favor of the project, Richter said the tenant was no longer interested because of then Gov. Dannel Malloys hospital tax.

He said they tried to find another medical tenant but were unsuccessful and instead decided to submit a housing proposal instead to meet a need in town.

Theres lots of young professionals and seniors who have very few options in town right now, he said.

Richter also addressed the concerns raised at the hearings.

We have plenty of parking for the apartment complex thats there, he said, adding there are 136 spaces proposed.

He said the traffic consultant shows there will be less of a traffic impact for the apartment complex than the medical building. There would also be less runoff under the proposal than the current situation because of the detention system it would add, he said.

Weve taken great care to minimize the impact to the viewshed from the Merritt, Richter said.

The project would take about nine to 12 months to build.

Assuming its approved and theres no further appeals, we would want to start right away, Richter said.

kkoerting@newstimes.com


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Not long before the deadly Atlanta-area shootings spread fear and anger through Asian American communities nationwide, police say the attacker made a legal purchase: a 9 mm handgun.

Within hours, they say, he had killed eight people, seven of them women and six of Asian descent, in a rampage targeting massage businesses.

If Georgia had required him to wait before getting a gun, lawmakers and advocates say, he might not have acted on his impulse.

Its really quick. You walk in, fill out the paperwork, get your background check and walk out with a gun, said Robyn Thomas, executive director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. If youre in a state of crisis, personal crisis, you can do a lot of harm fairly quickly.

The purchase was a normal transaction at Big Woods Goods, a shop north of Atlanta that complies with federal background check laws and is cooperating with police, said Matt Kilgo, a lawyer for the store.

Theres no indication theres anything improper, he said.

The vast majority of states, including Oregon, are like Georgia, allowing buyers to walk out of a store with a firearm after a background check that sometimes can take minutes. Waiting periods are required in just 10 states and the District of Columbia, although several states are considering legislation this year to impose them.

Gun control advocates say mandating a window of even a couple of days between the purchase of a gun and taking possession can give more time for background checks and create a cooling off period for people considering harming themselves or someone else. Studies suggest that waiting periods may help bring down firearm suicide rates by up to 11% and gun homicides by about 17%, according to the Giffords Center.

Georgia Democrats plan to introduce legislation that would require people to wait five days between buying a gun and getting it, said Rep. David Wilkerson, who is minority whip in the state House.

I think a waiting period just makes sense, he said.

A 2020 analysis by the Rand Corp., a nonprofit think tank, also found that research links waiting periods to decreased suicide and homicide rates but determined that the effect on mass shootings was inconclusive because the sample size was too small.

California has one of the countrys longest waiting periods  10 days. That did not stop more than 1.1 million people from buying guns last year, which was just shy of the record number sold in 2016. Gun sales nationwide, meanwhile, surged to record levels last year amid pandemic-related uncertainty.

Against that backdrop, lawmakers in at least four states  Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont  have proposed creating or expanding waiting periods.

New gun laws will not fix deep-seated problems such as racism, misogyny and violence, said Seo Yoon Yoonie Yang, a leader with Students Demand Action, a gun violence prevention group. But they can help keep guns out of the hands of people who would do harm in the meantime, she said.

Legislation is practical. Research shows that it works, she said. It is change that can happen efficiently and quickly.

In Colorado, Democratic state Rep. Tom Sullivan ran for office after his son, Alex, died along with 11 others when a gunman opened fire in an Aurora movie theater eight years ago. Sullivan said he hopes a waiting period in legislation hes planning to sponsor could help curb domestic violence and suicide.

In Atlanta, imagine if this guys parents or somebody else were notified that he was trying to get a firearm. Maybe they could have helped, he said. It wouldnt have hurt anybody to wait ... let it breathe a while. If theres a problem, let it surface, well sort it out.

Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, oppose waiting periods. The group points to 2018 federal firearm-tracing data that shows the average time between first retail sale of a gun and involvement in a crime was nearly nine years. They also argue that waiting periods create a delay for people buying legally, while leaving illegal weapons transfers unaffected.

A right delayed is a right denied, Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb said.

Gun control legislation also is making its way through Congress. The Senate is expected to consider a bill to expand background checks, but it faces a difficult road  Democrats would need at least 10 Republican votes to pass it. While the House approved two bills to strengthen the checks this month, Congress has not passed any major gun control laws since the mid-1990s.

In Georgia, the Republican-controlled Legislature may resist new firearms laws before it concludes business at the end of the month. But Wilkerson pointed to recent long-sought victories that once seemed improbable, including passage of a hate crimes law and the likely repeal of a citizens arrest law a year after the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man pursued by armed white men while jogging.

Youre going to run into resistance. It doesnt mean you dont try, Wilkerson said. In tragedy, sometimes we can move forward. This may be the opportunity to look at another tragedy and do something about it.

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She and her boxer husband Tyson Fury recently confirmed their sixth child will be a girl in a sweet gender reveal clip.

And Paris Fury kept the good times rolling as three televisions were delivered to the couple's Lancashire home on Thursday.

The WAG, 31, mixed style with comfort as she shielded her baby bump in baby blue peplum co-ords while stepping out to accept the massive packages.

Lots to celebrate about! Three televisions were delivered to pregnant Paris Fury and her boxer husband Tyson's Lancashire home on Thursday

Blogger Paris' caught the eye in her two-piece, which featured a balloon-sleeve top and cosy joggers.

Nailing casual glamour, the author teamed her brown slippers with designer bug-eye shades.

Her lengthy tresses were scraped into a bun, and her naturally clear complexion was on full display as she went make-up free.

Milestone: The WAG, 31, stepped out to accept the massive packages after she and the sportsman, 32, confirmed their sixth child will be a girl in a sweet gender reveal clip

Working hard: Delivery men sported protective face masks as they unloaded the items from their van

It's a girl! Earlier this month, the blogger revealed the gender of her baby after having a celebration with her family at their abode

Earlier this month, the blonde revealed the gender of her baby after having a celebration with her family at their abode.

The mother-of-five, 31, took to Instagram to share the news as she uploaded an image of the sportsman, 32, and their children covered in pink confetti.

Captioning the heart-warming image, Paris wrote: 'Its a girl... We are due another little princess, god willing come summer we will have 3 girls and 3 boys. So blessed.'

They are already parents to Venezuela, 11, Prince John James, eight, Prince Tyson II, four, Valencia, three, and Prince Adonis Amaziah, 12 months.

Big family: They are already parents to Venezuela, 11, Prince John James, eight, Prince Tyson II, four, Valencia, three, and Prince Adonis Amaziah, 12 months

Meanwhile, Tyson's hotly-anticipated bout with Anthony Joshua is on, according to the Gypsy King's co-promoter.

The two British fighters have been in negotiations for months over the fight that is set to unify the world's heavyweight division.

Those negotiations had been detailed, with issues such as whose name appeared first on the billing and who would walk to the ring first holding up an agreement.

Let's go! Meanwhile, Tyson's hotly-anticipated bout with Anthony Joshua (pictured in 2019) is on, according to the Gypsy King's co-promoter Bob Arum

A final, formal announcement of the showdown is still awaited, but Bob Arum has confirmed it is a case of when, and no longer if.

The 89-year-old told IFL TV: ''As far as I'm concerned, all the points have been agreed to.

'That's what each side has said. Now, we're just scrambling around to get things signed. I can say clearly, based on my view of everything, there are no more issues.'
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Gurugram, March 21 : Under a joint initiative launched by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Gurugram Traffic Police, fines would be imposed on those caught violating traffic rules through CCTV cameras at 20 intersections in the district.

Those found violating traffic rules at these junctions would no longer go scot-free as per the law.

The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has installed CCTV cameras at these junctions in order to nab the traffic rule violators at these spots.

Under this initiative, the challans for traffic violations such as jumping traffic signals, zebra line crossing, driving without seat belts, pillion riders without helmet among others would be issued with the help of CCTV cameras if anybody is found breaking traffic rules.

The GMDA has designed zebra crossings and stop lines at all intersections of the district. After they are made, the challan for jumping the red light would be issued.

According to traffic officials, fines would be issued from April. Now the motorists must strictly follow the traffic rules while driving. If the rules are violated, they would be caught through the CCTV cameras.

The traffic officials informed that if any vehicle is found at or beyond the stop line, the CCTV cameras installed at the junctions would click their pictures. Shortly thereafter, the challan would arrive on the phone of the vehicle owner.

"Under the Smart City project in the district, CCTV cameras are being installed on the streets and squares of the entire city. It will help the district police to take action not only against traffic violators but also criminals and anti-social elements," K.K. Rao, Gurugram Police Commissioner told IANS.

"These cameras have been attached to the Integrated Command and Control Centre at the GMDA office at Sector-44 where the authorities and police personnel will monitor them," said a senior GMDA official.

These cameras are equipped with modern facilities which include -- scanning the number plate of the vehicles, measuring the speed of the vehicle, parking the vehicle at zebra crossing, detecting wrong parking and recognizing the face.
On paper, former Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri have a few things in common.

Both came to elective politics as young, impeccably credentialed insiders with degrees from prestigious universities and big jobs on their resumes, Jindal as state health secretary, University of Louisiana system president and assistant cabinet secretary under President George W. Bush, and Hawley as a U.S. Supreme Court clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts.

Both recast themselves as anti-establishment culture warriors.

Both, it is obvious to pretty much everyone, have at some point looked into a mirror and seen a future president staring back.

Theres one more similarity: As they reached for the brass ring, a guy named Timmy Teepell was whispering in their ears.

One of Hawleys hometown papers recently published a deep dive on Teepell, the Louisiana-bred consultant and onetime Jindal chief of staff who was regarded as the former governors political guru, right up until the time his 2016 presidential campaign crashed and burned.

In the headline, Teepell was cast as the man behind the curtain for Hawley, who gained notoriety in January as the first U.S. senator to challenge what should have been a routine certification of Joe Bidens repeatedly verified presidential win. In an instantly iconic photo, Hawley was captured raising a fist in solidarity with the crowds who descended on the Capitol, at former President Donald Trumps urging, to stop the certification.

After some of those protesters violently invaded the building where Congress was trying to do its constitutional business, he kept right on planting doubts about the elections validity, despite the absence of evidence of widespread irregularities.

If the goal was mainstream respectability, it hasnt gone well for Hawley, who lost a book contract (only to have it picked by a conservative publishing house) and who faced recriminations from folks such as former mentor John Danforth, the retired Missouri senator. After the Jan. 6 insurrection, Danforth said that "lending credence to Trump's false claim that the election was stolen is a highly destructive attack on our constitutional government," and called his support for Hawley one of the biggest mistakes of his life.

But Hawleys radicalism positioned him as a great defender of the not-insignificant GOP faction that still buys into the Big Lie.

From the start of the ugly episode, veterans of the Jindal era in Baton Rouge have sensed Teepells fingerprints. And while the new story in The Kansas City Star doesnt delve into how Hawleys strategy came to be, it does point to Teepell as a key architect:

"As Hawley eyes a 2024 presidential candidacy, Teepell remains a behind-the-scenes figure unknown to most Missourians. He rarely speaks publicly and declined an interview request for this story. But his advice has placed Hawley, like Jindal, on a path to potentially run for president.

'Josh does not talk to a big circle,' said a source involved in Missouri GOP politics. 'Id put his wife in there and Timmy.' "

The writers describe Teepells efforts to use Hawleys former job as Missouri attorney general to position him for bigger things. There was controversy at the time over the mixing of politics with state business, and the consultants direction of public employees and activities. During Hawleys 2018 Senate campaign, managed by former Jindal aide and current Hawley chief of staff Kyle Plotkin, even party elders such as Danforth had to pitch their ideas through Teepell, the story says.

Observers interviewed back in Baton Rouge said they recognized Teepells M.O. They painted him as the go-to guy for those hoping to get to Jindal, as well as the person most responsible for the drive to use the governors office as a springboard.

Noted Jindal critic Bob Mann, who was a spokesperson for Jindals Democratic predecessor Kathleen Blanco and is now a communications professor at LSU, described what he viewed as a "campaign operation disguised as a governors office." An unnamed Jindal staffer made a similar observation about how the administration responded to the 2010 BP spill.

"Timmy ran it more like a political campaign. BP was not moving as fast as it should have on the response side, the former aide said. Timmy did a good job getting us national attention."

Thats one thing that apparently hasnt changed.
UK High Court acquits Lankas defence attache; upholds diplomatic immunity View(s):

The UK High Court of Justice that overturned the verdict of a Chief Magistrate and acquitted Sri Lankas then Defence Attache at the High Commission in London has held that it goes on the premise that the Government of Sri Lanka would not have commissioned or condoned the behaviour of the Brigadier concerned but that he had performed his role in his official capacity despite the criminality of the act.

Brigadier Priyanka Fernando who was serving at the SLHC was convicted of committing a criminal act of a threatening throat-cutting gesture towards pro-LTTE demonstrators outside the mission building in 2018 on Sri Lankas Independence Day.

The Queens Bench Division presided over by Sir Julian Flaux, Chancellor, and Mrs. Justice McGowen rejected the Chief Magistrates crucial question  whether the act not being in the Job Description of the diplomat, he was, therefore, entitled to diplomatic immunity.

The Bench held that it was unlikely such acts would end up in Job Descriptions of any diplomat as much where diplomats engage in espionage certainly not being in the Job Description of a diplomat.

The Court held that the Brigadier was in uniform on the steps of the High Commission and the act of a threatening gesture does not take away his diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR).

The order referred to concerns the invidious effect on British diplomatic agents abroad who could be at risk if they commit unlawful acts without instructions.

It pointed out to the residual immunity of a diplomat and drew the distinction between a diplomat acting in his personal capacity and his official capacity (quadiplomat) and held that the Brigadier was acting clearly in the latter.

The Chief Magistrate was not right to determine the actions Brigadier Fernando performed while he was a diplomat were outside the functions of the mission and therefore not covered by residual immunity.

The Bench held that the question they went into was not whether the officer concerned committed an offence under the (UK) Public Order Act, but by virtue of residual immunity, he was protected from prosecution for the offence.

It stated that the Government of Sri Lanka did not waive that protection in this case.

The Brigadier having returned to Sri Lanka was convicted in absentia by the Chief Magistrate on January 21, 2019 upon a complaint made by Majuran Sathanathan, but on March 15, 2019 the Magistrate set aside the conviction as it had not been aware of the Brigadiers diplomatic immunity status. The Magistrate then re-convicted the Brigadier at a subsequent hearing stating that throat-cutting gesture was not in the Job Description of the diplomat.

The appeal to the High Court was limited on one single question formulated by the Chief Magistrate; Was I right to determine that the action he performed, whilst he was a diplomat, was outside the functions of the mission and therefore not covered by residual immunity when the defendant stood trial?

The bench went into the question of whether the Chief Magistrate was wrong in law. The order referred to the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 under the VCDR, the cornerstone of modern international order as stated by Professor Denza in the leading textbook Diplomatic Law. It also went into judgments in the UK courts, including that of Lord Bingham, Chief Justice, on diplomatic immunity in the former Chilean President Pinochets case.

Submissions were conducted by remote hearing on December 20, 2020. Brigadier Fernando now can make submissions on costs. He said he did not want to make any comment on the order.

Mr. Hugh Southey QC and Mr Nick Wayne instructed by Ronald Fletcher Baker appeared for Brigadier Fernando. Mr. Peter Carter QC with Ms. Shanthi Sivakumaran instructed by the Public Interest Law Centre appeared for Mr. Sathananthan.

(Click visit full text of the judgment).
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Gunmen have yet again attacked another police station in Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The police, according to a report by the Punch newspaper, have confirmed the attack which took place on Saturday against Isiala Mbano Divisional Police Headquarters in Umuelemai.

The police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, according to the Punch report, said the gunmen injured a police officer and set ablaze files.

On arrival, they headed to the divisions armoury and unable to find any rifle, they set all the files there ablaze.

The station was not completely burnt down. Only one policeman sustained gunshot injuries and he was rushed to a hospital, Mr Ikeokwu, a superintendent of police, said.

The spokesperson said the police were investigating the incident.

Punch reported that the gunmen had cordoned off the road before the attack.

This is the second attack in less than a month against police facilities in Imo State. Some unknown gunmen, in February, razed the Aboh Mbaise Divisional Police Station in the state.

Some police officers have been killed and police facilities destroyed by gunmen who cart away rifles in similar attacks around the South-east and South-south regions, giving the impression that the attacks may have been coordinated.
Two Pittsburgh-area business owners have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Debra Maimone and Philip Vogel II, both of New Castle, are the latest Pennsylvanians to face charges, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The name of their business was redacted in court records, but TribLive.com reports they own and operate Vera General Contracting in McKees Rocks. Reports indicate they are engaged to each other.

According to court documents, like many of those who have been charged, their postings on social media helped the FBI identify them.

Court records state the day of the riot, Maimone is seen in a video posted on her Parler account. She is wearing a distinctive American flag mask and, as the videographer pans around the inside of the U.S. Capitol and comes back to her, she removes the mask, saying Its amazing, records state.

The videographer, later identified as Vogel, tells her to put on her mask, saying I dont want them to see you, records state.

Debra Maimone is shown in the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot in this screenshot from a Parler video, authorities say. (FBI).

Several videos show them at various locations in the Capitol. In one, theyre seen with a group pushing through law enforcement to force open a door, records state.

In another, Vogel is seen kicking an office door, and they are also seen helping each other and others in the Capitol put on gas masks, court records indicate.

Another video shows them rummaging through a bag marked police and removing silver packages, which court records indicate were hoods for protection against chemical, biological and radiological agents.

As the FBI investigation unfolded, they found Vogel had been interviewed by KDKA in October after he was rescued from a boat crash, and from that interview, they matched his voice to the voice in the Parler video, records state.

Vogel is also seen in several photos posted online the day after the riot in which he is wearing the same hat and scarf investigators say he wore in images from the Capitol. The photos showed him with large fish with the caption, Got this monster in the Potomac, court records indicate.

Authorities say Philip Vogel II is seen in these photos, posted on social media, the day after the riot at the U.S. Capitol. According to investigators, he is wearing the same hat and scarf in these photos as he is in images from the riot. (FBI).

In the days after the riot, both posted on social media, defending those who took part, court records state.

In one posting, court records indicate Vogel wrote, The people being arrested are law abiding, tax paying citizens and added These people took a stand against tyrants no matter where or who they are.

Court records state when a poster on Parler wrote to the account linked to Maimone, So you were illegally occupying a government building, Maimone responded, Im not saying that you stupid couch potato. Im saying I was at the government building full of tyrants and I watched a ton of patriots that were fed up with being shot at flash banged and gassed for trying to peacefully protest. And they took the Capital that is the home of the people and payed (sic) for by the people.

When the other Parler user wrote the FBI is investigating and all who illegally entered will face prison sentences, Maimone replied Good thing I wasnt in there and reiterated her support for those who participated, records state.

Both are charged with theft of property, knowingly entering a restricted building and violent entry and disorderly conduct, court records state.

More than 300 people have been charged in connection with the riot.
Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) declaring the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines safe and effective, more deaths and illness are still being reported from its use.

Denmark, which has since halted its use, said on Saturday that one person died and another fell seriously ill with blood clots and cerebral haemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination.

Germany and France are amongst countries that earlier suspended the use of the vaccines but reversed their decision following an investigation into the reports of blood clots by European regulators.

Nigeria had in early March received 3.94 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines and has since commenced vaccination beginning with health care workers.

The Nigerian government, however, said it will not suspend the use of the vaccines because they were tested and authorised for use.

Here is a round-up of some of the health stories which made headlines last week.

Nigeria on Saturday recorded its lowest COVID-19 daily infection figure this year, in continuation of a steady run of low figures that began last month.

The 112 new cases on Saturday is lower than the 120 infections recorded last Sunday, which was the lowest in 2021.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Thursday declared the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective for use against the virus.

This followed an investigation into reports of blood clots and possible deaths from the usage of the vaccines, prompting more than a dozen nations to suspend its use, the BBC reported.

The agencys safety committee said the vaccine is safe but it would continue to study possible links between very rare blood clots and the vaccine.

Few days after PREMIUM TIMES reported how a Nigerian company was indicted for an alleged $3 million fraud by Global Fund, President Muhammadu Buhari has demanded a periodic performance report on Nigerias latest grant of $890 million.

Last June, the health minister, Osagie Ehanire, announced that Nigeria received $890 million grant from Global Fund to reduce the burden of HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria over an implementation period of three years, beginning from 2021 to 2023.

Nearly seven million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Africa, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, while speaking during a virtual press conference, said countries in the region have accessed vaccines through various deals including the COVAX Facility and are targeting high-risk groups in the vaccination exercise.

COVID-19: Nigeria says AstraZeneca vaccines are safe

As the controversy over the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine continued on Monday, the Nigerian government assured of its safety as the country distributes almost four million doses of the vaccine.

At least three European countries  Germany, France and Italy  on Monday joined a few others who had suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N3.070 billion for Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to acquire laboratory equipment.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said a total of N3,070,892,988 was approved for six contracts on procurement of laboratory equipment for NCDC.

He said the decision is to provide needed tools for future disease outbreaks.

To further drive acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, has called on political leaders to take the COVID-19 vaccines in public glare.

Mr Abubakar while speaking at a sensitisation programme on COVID-19 vaccine for Muslim scholars and imams in Nigeria, on Friday, said this will encourage other people to take the vaccines.

NHIS subscribers exceed 10.2 million  NHIS

Over ten million Nigerians have now subscribed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

In his progress report presented at an informal engagement with health correspondents in Kaduna at the weekend, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Mohammed Sambo, said the organisation has been able to make huge recoveries from its cost-saving reforms.

Global treatment and diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) cases witnessed a drastic decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the world.

According to new data released by Stop TB Partnership, the pandemic has eliminated 12 years of progress in the global fight against Tuberculosis.

The data, released ahead of the 2021 World TB day, shows that nine countries representing 60 per cent of the global TB burden saw a drastic decline in diagnosis and treatment of infections in 2020, ranging from 16 per cent to 41 per cent.

Nigeria must improve on its health sector financing if the country is to meet the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) target by 2030. This was the consensus when some stakeholders gathered in Abuja on Wednesday to deliberate on ways to strengthen community systems towards achieving UHC.

Tagged Universal Health Coverage by 2030: Driving the Agenda with community at the centre, the event was organised by the Nigeria Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+), a non-governmental organisation.

About 8,000 Nigerians have received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, has said.

Mr Shuaib while speaking at the weekly briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, on Monday, said no serious adverse effects have been reported from those who have been vaccinated.
KABUL - U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, on his first visit to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, said Sunday that the Biden administration wants to see a responsible end to America's longest war, but the level of violence must decrease for fruitful" diplomacy to have a chance.

FILE - In this Saturday, March 20, 2021 file photo, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reviews an honor guard with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi, India. Austin arrived Sunday, in Kabul on his first trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, amid swirling questions about how long American troops will remain in the country. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

KABUL - U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, on his first visit to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, said Sunday that the Biden administration wants to see a responsible end to America's longest war, but the level of violence must decrease for fruitful" diplomacy to have a chance.

With questions swirling about how long U.S. troops will remain in the country, Austin said that in terms of an end date or setting a specific date for withdrawal, thats the domain of my boss. He said his stop in Kabul, the capital, where he met with military commanders and senior Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, was intended to let him listen and learn and inform my participation in reviewing the future of the American force.

President Joe Biden said last week in an ABC News interview that it will be tough for the U.S. to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. But Biden said that if the deadline, which is laid out in an agreement between the Trump administration and the Taliban, is extended, it wouldnt be by a lot longer.

Austin, who arrived after a visit to India, said: Theres always going to be concerns about things one way or the other, but I think theres a lot of energy focused on, you know, doing whats necessary to bring about a responsible end, a negotiated settlement to the war.

The Taliban on Friday warned of consequences if the United States doesnt meet the deadline. Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiation team, told reporters that if American troops were to stay beyond May 1, it will be a kind of violation of the agreement. That violation would not be from our side. ... Their violation will have a reaction.

A statement released by the presidential palace on the Ghani-Austin meeting said both sides condemned the increase in violence in Afghanistan. There was no mention of the May 1 deadline. Washington is reviewing the agreement the Trump administration signed with the Taliban last year and has been stepping up pressure on both sides in the protracted conflict to find a swift route to a peace agreement.

Afgan President Ashraf Ghani, center, meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, center left, and their delegations, at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, March 21, 2021. Austin arrived in Kabul on his first trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, amid swirling questions about how long American troops will remain in the country. (Presidential Palace via AP)

Its obvious that the level of violence remains pretty high in the country," Austin said. "Wed really like to see that violence come down and I think if it does come down, it can begin to set the conditions for, you know, some really fruitful diplomatic work.

In a sharply worded letter to Ghani earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was urgent to make peace in Afghanistan and that all options remained on the table. He also warned that it was likely the Taliban would make swift territorial gains if U.S. and NATO troops withdrew. The United States spends $4 billion a year to sustain Afghanistans National Security Forces

The Taliban warned America against defying the May 1 deadline, at a news 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 Afghanistans decades of war.

Washington has given both the Taliban and the Afghan government an eight-page peace proposal, which both sides are reviewing. It calls for an interim peace government that would shepherd Afghanistan toward constitutional reform and elections.

Ghani has resisted an interim administration causing his critics to accuse him of clinging to power. He says elections alone would be acceptable to bring a change of government.

Both the U.S. and Kabul have called for a reduction in violence leading to a cease-fire. The Taliban say a cease-fire would be part of the peace negotiations. The insurgent movement has not attacked U.S. or NATO troops since signing the agreement.

But U.S. military commanders and NATO leaders have argued that the Taliban have not lived up to their part of the peace agreement, which includes a reduction in violence and a separation from al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.

Austin said he was confident in the ability of Gen. Austin Miller, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, to accomplish his mission with the resources he has and to protect American troops.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month that the alliance will only leave when the time is right and when conditions have been met.

The main issue is that Taliban has to reduce violence, Taliban has to negotiate in good faith and Taliban has to stop supporting international terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, he said.

Austin has said little on the record about the stalemate. After a virtual meeting of NATO defence ministers, Austin told reporters that our presence in Afghanistan is conditions based, and Taliban has to meet their commitments.

Austins stop in Afghanistan was his first return to a U.S. war zone in the Middle East since taking the Pentagon post. But he spent a great deal of time in the region during his service as an Army commander.

Austin, a retired four-star general, served in Afghanistan as commander of the 10th Mountain Division. From 2013-2016 he was the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan visit comes at the end of Austins his first overseas trip as secretary. After a stop in Hawaii, he went to Japan and South Korea, where he and met with their defence and foreign counterparts.

Baldor reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Kathy Gannon in Islamabad contributed to this report.
After months without steady work, Saudi computer specialist Abdullateef Al Jarfan donned the red graduation gown from his U.S. master's degree and began selling homemade tea by the roadside.

The 32-year-old hoped his gimmick would attract customers but, within hours, a video of him on social media had gone viral, making Jarfan the face of unemployment in Saudi Arabia.

"I was applying to jobs and waiting for a breakthrough, but I couldn't just sit at home," he said. "I needed to do something."

Job creation is the biggest domestic challenge facing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he reshapes an economy long dependent on exported oil and imported labor. Unemployment hit a record 15% last year, when covid-19 set back the de facto ruler's ambitious Vision 2030 plan to transform the conservative Islamic kingdom into a regional business and tourism hub.

High unemployment risks impoverishing a middle class previously cushioned by state spending. Without fundamental change, the problem is set to worsen as a demographic bulge of youth pours onto the labor market, raising the prospect of social instability as frustrations grow.

Yet while the pandemic's magnified the challenge, it's also galvanized officials and accelerated a shift in mindset among younger Saudis, who are increasingly taking blue-collar jobs they once shunned.

Saudi workers are now visible everywhere, delivering packages, serving espresso and moving oil rigs. Multiple firms with foreign employees trapped abroad by covid-related border closures said they'd accelerated plans to hire locals. In the third quarter, when the economy shrank 4.6%, the number of Saudis employed in the private sector rose by more than 80,000.

"Whoever had their doubts that Saudis don't want to work, they had to put them to the test, they had to expedite their training programs," said Noaf Alturki, vice president of corporate affairs at Rawabi Holding, a Saudi oilfield services and construction conglomerate that's increasingly hiring local technicians. "To be honest, they rose to the challenge."

Indeed, Jarfan's stint as a street vendor paid off. He landed a job in his field. Six months on, he's preparing to launch an app called Country Food that he hopes will pay it forward - connecting hungry customers to informal home kitchens around the kingdom.

"We're trying to support those who don't have jobs or want to earn extra income," he said.

While many countries are struggling with joblessness due to covid-19, Saudi Arabia's problem dates back decades, to when the first influx of expatriates arrived to develop a nascent oil industry.

Foreigners now comprise a third of the 34 million-strong population. The government is the main employer of Saudis -- a model it can't afford to sustain -- while the rest of the economy relies on cheap labor from Asian and other Arab countries. Three-quarters of private sector workers are foreigners, often toiling longer for less, making it difficult for Saudis to compete.

Authorities have long enforced quotas and incentives to channel more citizens into the private sector, a process dubbed "Saudization," but the results haven't matched population growth. Joblessness was already increasing when Prince Mohammed became heir to the throne in 2017. It started falling in 2019 as economic growth rose. Then came the pandemic.

As the worst effects of the crisis fade, Saudi Arabia is at an inflection point. It must find a way to get Saudis hired without slowing growth or deterring foreign investors who are crucial to Prince Mohammed's overhaul, but often view Saudization as a tax.

"It's a dilemma," said Eman Alhussein, a Saudi non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "I don't think there's going to be a solution anytime soon."

To keep unemployment steady, the kingdom must create 150,000 jobs per year over the next decade, according to Bloomberg Economics. Halving citizen unemployment to 7% by 2030 - the crown prince's goal - requires significantly more.

The jobs estimate also doesn't account for a rapid rise in women seeking work as social restrictions loosen. That's a success for Prince Mohammed, who scrapped a ban on women driving and eased gender-mixing rules, but also a challenge, because he'll have to create more jobs.

So far, the overall labor market is shrinking as various policies push foreigners out faster than Saudis are hired.

Tariq Alturkestani, co-founder of Saudi courier company Saee, is struggling to adapt to a new requirement to Saudize gig economy jobs within six months. About 70% of his freelance delivery "captains" are foreigners. Replacing them with Saudis means raising commissions -- and prices.

"We're put in a corner," he said. Big companies can manage, but "for a startup, it's very difficult to compete."

Many Saudis argue Saudization won't work without radically changing immigration policy. The drip-drip of new regulations spawns new workarounds, as companies hire just enough locals on minimum wage to meet regulations. In a Muslim society where marriage is an imperative, that makes it hard to settle down.

"If your life passes you by, you can't get it back," said Fawaz Eayid, 30, a dentist who spent three years jobless. He was finally hired in October, but his clinic pays him under $1,200 a month, not enough for a family.

As of this week, non-Saudis will be able to change jobs without their work sponsor's approval. Economists say that should raise foreigners' wages and make it easier for them to leave bad jobs, cutting at employers' grumbles that Saudis are harder to retain. It doesn't resolve the mismatch between educated Saudi jobseekers and the largely low-skill jobs available.

"We continue to study reforms and initiatives to reduce the gap between Saudis and foreigners," the human resources ministry said in a statement to Bloomberg. It's also looking into reducing statutory working hours and how to guide the labor market toward "higher skill and productivity."

Anecdotal evidence suggests the job market has improved since the third quarter, the latest data available.

After graduating in August, 23-year-old Hamad Alrasheed applied for all sorts of jobs - including barista, which he wouldn't have considered a few years ago. Like Jarfan, he even sold tea on the street. In February, he finally landed a bank teller position for 8,500 riyals ($2,270) per month.

"I feel like the path in front of me is good," Alrasheed said in an interview inside a Riyadh co-working space filled with Saudis. "A few weeks ago, there wasn't even a path."

- - -

Bloomberg's Julius Domoney contributed to this report.
Lana Del Rey has teased an upcoming mystery project called Rock Candy Sweet slated for release June 1.

The 35-year-old fired up her Instagram on Saturday to post the evocative cover art that showed her wearing two rock candy necklaces.

Her latest tease comes just one day after she released her seventh studio album Chemtrails Over The Country Club to critical acclaim.

Looking fab: Lana Del Rey has teased an upcoming mystery project called Rock Candy Sweet slated for release June 1

Lana's big news sent her fans into a frenzy in the comments section including one who wrote: 'LANA GIVE US TIME TO BREATHE.'

Her cover art shows her lightly made up as she shoots her best smoldering supermodel stare at the camera.

She gathered her hair partly into a luxurious updo for the cover shoot and was modeling a sleeveless baby blue outfit.

In addition to releasing albums Lana has also gotten into the poetry book business with Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass which was published last September.

Unstoppable: Her latest tease comes just one day after she released her seventh studio album Chemtrails Over The Country Club to critical acclaim

Lana has a history of announcing one project right on the heels of the previous one - she did the same with Chemtrails Over The Country Club.

The singing sensation announced Chemtrails Over The Country Club the same day she released her prior album Norman F***ing Rockwell! in 2019.

At that time the album was meant to be called White Hot Forever and she told The Times Of London: 'I've already written parts of it.'

She gushed to the Times that she was 'really excited right now' and shared that 'I dont want to take a break' after Norman F***ing Rockwell!

Endless content: Lana has a history of announcing one project right on the heels of the previous one - she did the same with Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Collaborative: Lana co-wrote many of the songs on Chemtrails Over The Country Club with Jack Antonoff who famously used to date Lena Dunham

Lana co-wrote many of the songs on Chemtrails Over The Country Club with Jack Antonoff who famously used to date Lena Dunham.

However the album also closes with the old Joni Mitchell song For Free which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

As far as Lana's own love life is concerned she is reportedly engaged to her sizzling boyfriend Clayton Johnson who is also a musician.

Their engagement was reported in December less than a full year after it emerged she had split from her policeman Sean 'Sticks' Larkin of Live PD fame.
Amid farmers' protest at Delhi borders against the central farm laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait suggested farmers in Karnataka should organise a protest in the state similar to that of Delhi and gherao Bengaluru from all sides.

Addressing a farmers' meeting in Shivamogga on Saturday, Tikait said a strategy has been made to snatch farmers' land in the state.

"There are lakhs of people gheraoing Delhi. This fight will go on for a long. We need to start such protest in every city until these 3 black laws are taken back and the law on MSP is not brought. You need to run a protest in Karnataka. A strategy has been made to snatch your land. Big companies will do farming... Labour laws have been amended to employ cheap labour," the BKU leader said.

"You need to make a 'Delhi' in Bengaluru. You need to gherao Bengaluru (like Delhi) from all sides and people will come and join your protest... The Prime Minister said farmers can sell crops anywhere so you take your crops to offices of District Collector, SDM and if the police stop you, ask them to buy crops on MSP," Tikait said.

The BKU leader said farmers need to protest against the Central government's decision of privatising PSUs.

"If this (farmers') agitation is not held, then the country will be sold and you will lose your land in the next 20 years. You need to protest against these companies. Around 26 major PSUs are in process of privatisation. We need to take a pledge to stop this sale. We need to protest against this," he said.

Farmers have been protesting at the different border of Delhi since November last year against the three newly enacted farm laws -- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

(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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By Kang Seung-woo



Despite the highly hyped visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to South Korea last week, there were no major new initiatives for how to deal with North Korea, probably because the Joe Biden administration hasn't finished the review of its policy toward the country.



Ahead of their arrival in Seoul, the United States attempted several ways to get in touch with North Korea, but the officials were more focused during their stay on the North Korean regime's nuclear program and human rights abuses, a move questioning the diplomatic undertone in its "two-track" approach to engaging Pyongyang.



North Korea sought to insert itself in the secretaries' trip to South Korea by announcing that it will ignore the U.S.' overtures unless it drops its hostile policy toward the country, but it did not opt for any expected provocative actions, a decision hinting that the North may take a wait-and-see approach to the new American administration until the policy review process is finished in a few weeks.



"Although the Biden administration policy toward North Korea has not yet been released, aspects of it emerged during the secretaries' trip. The administration affirmed its commitment to dialogue with North Korea, insistence on denuclearization as an objective rather than more limited arms control goals, and advocacy for human rights in North Korea," said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst and senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation.



According to the joint statement of the two-plus-two meeting between foreign and defense ministers of South Korea and the United States, Thursday, the two sides reaffirmed a shared commitment to address and resolve North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile issues, while Blinken criticized the North for committing "systemic and widespread abuses against its own people" during his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, Wednesday.



As for the Biden team's focus on human rights violations in North Korea, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, an associate professor of international relations at King's College London, said, "I think this is partly the result of the Biden administration's belief in the need to uphold human rights, and partly a reaction to Trump's disregard for this issue when dealing with North Korea."



However, Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said its rebuke of North Korea's human rights violations in Seoul is in line with its campaign to counter China.






Sundiata Cha-Jua is a professor of African American studies and history at the University of Illinois and a member of the North End Breakfast Club. His email is schajua@gmail.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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Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

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Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
(From left) Men's national water polo team captain Lee Kai Yang, Tan Eng Liang, Edwin Tong, Ng Ser Miang and women's national team captain Koh Ting Ting at the launch of the Singapore Olympic Foundation-Tan Family Water Polo Fund. (PHOTO: Singapore National Olympic Council)

SINGAPORE  They were brothers who helped to put Singapore as the top Southeast Asia water polo nation in the 1950s and 1960s.

On Sunday (21 March), Olympian Tan Eng Liang represented his family in kickstarting the Singapore Olympic Foundation-Tan Family Water Polo Fund, with a $500,000 donation to develop young athletes and groom elite players for the sport.

It comes as a timely boost for Singapore water polo, with the men's national team gearing up to regain the SEA Games gold medal they lost for the first time in 54 years at the 2019 edition.

For 83-year-old Tan - who represented Singapore in the sport at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics - the fund was prompted by the deaths of his brothers Eng Bock and Eng Chai last year, as well as the passing of his uncle Tan Hwee Hock in January.

Like Tan, all three were also national water polo players who had represented Singapore at major events such as the South-east Asian Peninsular Games and Asian Games.

With members of the water polo fraternity mooting the idea of starting an initiative for the sport after Eng Bock's death in November, Tan decided to start the fund to build on his family's legacy.

"In order to recognise the work done by the pioneer group of water polo players and swimmers, I felt that the timing was right not just for that, but to try and make a small contribution to the progress of water polo," he said.

"If we can do something to grow and inspire young athletes to take up water polo so that they can continue to fly the flag of Singapore, that would be good for water polo."

The water polo fund - which was launched at the ongoing Singapore National Water Polo League at Our Tampines Hub, with Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong as the guest-of-honour - will be administered by the Singapore Olympic Foundation through bursaries, scholarships and various programmes.

Tan's donation will put a total of $1 million into the fund's coffers, as the Tan family's $500,000 donation is eligible for the one-for-one matching grant by the Singapore government under the One Team Singapore Fund.

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National water polo players welcomed the setting up of the fund. Men's national team captain Lee Kai Yang said, "We need to do good by the donation that the Tan family has so graciously given and make sure there is a long sustaining impact on the water polo community.

"What I would like to see is simply having more people enjoy the sport, be it in the form of participation or spectatorship."

Women's national team captain Koh Ting Ting believes the fund will help in funding overseas competitions to help raise the level of the budding women's team.

"In order to bring the whole team to another level, we have to really get exposed to the different styles of play. It will be a good opportunity for our players to test themselves overseas."

Interested donors can donate to the fund via the Singapore Olympic Foundation. All cash donations are entitled to tax deduction 2.5 times the amount of the donation.

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Vogue Williams put on a very leggy display as she stepped out at Heart Radio on Sunday.

The presenter, 35, displayed her endless, bronzed legs in a cream skirt with a soaring thigh-high split as she strolled.

The star drew further attention to her legs in a pair of leather tan boots.

Wow: Vogue Williams put on a very leggy display as she stepped out at Heart Radio on Sunday

She paired the skirt with a cream sweater and a matching bag, accessorising with gold hoop earrings.

Her caramel tresses were pulled into a sleek ponytail and she sported a pair of chic shades.

The beauty looked glowing with a radiant palette of make-up.

Glow; The presenter, 35, displayed her endless, bronzed legs in a cream skirt with a soaring thigh-high split as she strolled

Chic: Her caramel tresses were pulled into a sleek ponytail and she sported a pair of chic shades

Smile: The beauty looked glowing with a radiant palette of make-up

Vogue recently celebrated St Patrick's Day in style on Wednesday as she headed to the Steph's Packed Lunch studios in Leeds.

The Irish model looked radiant as she marked the celebration with a green patterned ensemble and novelty glasses.

The model took to her Instagram Story to celebrate St Patrick's Day as she shared a fun selfie wearing novelty glasses.

Vogue revealed that she would be appearing on Steph's Packed Lunch to make her 'famous Irish stew'.

Fun: The Irish model recently marked St Patrick's Day with a green patterned ensemble and novelty glasses

She penned: 'Happy St Patrick's Day! I'm gonna be on @packedlunchc4 making my famous Irish stew! (it's not famous at all. My mom's recipe and pretty delicious!)'

Vogue also dressed up her eldest child, son Theodore, two, in adorable St Patrick's Day outfit.

Sharing a picture of the youngster pulling a hilarious face, she quipped: 'Got T an outfit for nursery. As you can see he loves the hat' followed by crying laughing emojis.

Vogue appearance comes after her husband Spencer Matthew paid a gushing tribute to his wife as they celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday.

So cute! Vogue also dressed up her eldest child, son Theodore, two, in adorable St Patrick's Day outfit

The couple - who wed in 2018 - are parents to son Theodore, two, and daughter Gigi, eight months.

Alongside a snap of Vogue half asleep, Spencer penned: 'I wanted to be among the first to wish you the greatest of Mothers Days. So, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to the best mother of all time.

'Before meeting you I would have thought it unlikely that I would find someone equally as amazing as my own mother but low and behold, here you are.

'Our family couldnt be luckier to have you and we are so grateful for everything you do for us.

'You are so admirable - Hard working yet fun and beautiful always, inside and out. Today is your day... Lets make it memorable. We love you @voguewilliams .'

Lovely: Vogue appearance comes after her husband Spencer Matthew paid a gushing tribute to his wife as they celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday
Famed Egyptian author Nawal el-Saadawi, a champion of women's rights who revolutionised discussions on gender in the Arab world, died Sunday at the age of 89, Al-Ahram newspaper said.

Saadawi died in a Cairo hospital after suffering a long illness, her family said.

A prolific author who shot to fame with widely translated novel "Women at Point Zero" (1975), Saadawi was a fierce advocate for women's empowerment in Egypt's deeply conservative and patriarchal society.

With more than 55 books to her name including the taboo-breaking work "Women and Sex", she was briefly jailed by late president Anwar Sadat and also condemned by Al-Azhar, the highest Sunni Muslim authority in Egypt.

Saadawi's outspoken brand of feminism -- including campaigning against women wearing the veil, inequality in Muslim inheritance rights between men and women, polygamy and female circumcision -- gained her as many critics as admirers in the Middle East.

In 1993, after constant deaths threats from firebrand Islamist preachers, Saadawi moved to Duke University in the US state of North Carolina, where she was a writer-in-residence at the Asian and African languages department for three years.

She returned to Egypt and in 2005 ran for president but abandoned her bid after accusing security forces of not allowing her to hold rallies.

She fell out of favour with many secular progressives later in life for her wholehearted embrace of general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's military overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Her path-breaking, critical books published in dozens of languages also took aim at Western feminists including her friend Gloria Steinem and policies espoused by heads of state such as former US president George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Saadawi's death coincides with Mother's Day celebrations in Egypt and across the Arab world. She divorced three times and had two children.

bam-ff/hc
Mumbai: BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday (March 21) demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

This comes amid serious charges levelled of corruption against the minister by shunted top cop Param Bir Singh.

"This matter cannot be investigated till Maharashtra Home Minister stays on his post. Hence, Anil Deshmukh must resign," Fadnavis was quoted as saying by ANI.

Fadnavis also hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar who came out in defence of Deshmukh, saying at the veteran leader is "fleeting away from the truth."

"Sharad Pawar created this government hence he is defending them. Sachin Waze was brought back in service on orders of the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister. Pawar Sahab is fleeting away from the truth," said Fadnavis.

Pawar on Sunday said that the letter didnt provide any proof or concrete evidence on the allegations.

The allegations against the Maharashtra Home Minister are serious. The Maharashtra CM has the full authority to take a decision regarding an inquiry on these allegations against the Home Minister, said Pawar.

"He (Singh) letter addressed to the Chief Minister didnt showcase any proof or concrete evidence. The timing of these allegations against Anil Deshmukh has to be looked into. Why now?" added Pawar.

Fadnavis further cited the resignation of former state DG Subodh Jaiswal who flagged "corruption over police transfers".

"Before Param Bir Singh, Maharashtra DG Subodh Jaiswal had submitted a report to Maharashtra Chief Minister regarding corruption over police transfers. But CM didn't act on it. Hence, DG Jaiswal had to resign from his post," Fadnavis asserted.

Earlier, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh in an explosive letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made serious allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

In his letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray, Parambir Singh stated, "Anil Deshmukh had asked Sachin Vaze to make a collection. Vaze himself told me about it."

Parambir Singh stated that Anil Deshmukh used to ask for Rs 100 crore every month from arrested Maharashtra Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Waze to be collected from bars restaurants and other establishments. In the letter, Singh has also written that Sachin Vaze was working at the behest of Anil Deshmukh.

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Home Secretary Priti Patel last night accused Sir Keir Starmer of being soft on crime after it emerged that the Labour leader had suggested that rapists, murderers and terrorists who committed offences when they were below the age of 25 should be treated more leniently.

Ms Patel made her remarks after a recording emerged in which Sir Keir suggested that the age at which the criminal justice system regarded defendants as young people should be raised from 18 to 25.

Sir Keir told the youth charity My Life My Say: We made quite a lot of adjustments for young people, either who were victims or young people who were defendants, because, you know, things are very different...

'We tend to think in the criminal justice system of people under 18 as young people, actually I think it should be under 25. There are a range of things for people under 25 that need to be accommodated in the criminal justice system.

Ms Patel (pictured) made her remarks after a recording emerged in which Sir Keir suggested that the age at which the criminal justice system regarded defendants as young people should be raised from 18 to 25

The Crown Prosecution Service, which Sir Keir used to run as Director of Public Prosecutions before entering politics, recommends that the age of offenders should be given significant weight when issuing a sentence.

Dozens of offenders in notorious cases have been aged under 25. Labour opposed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill when it had its second reading in the Commons last week  legislation that paves the way for increased jail terms for sex offenders and people who assault emergency workers.

Ms Patel said: We all know Keir Starmer tries to talk a tough game on law and order. But the evidence presented suggests otherwise. This week he voted against measures to increase jail sentences for child murderers, sex offenders and killer drivers.

We now know he wants to go further by giving criminals and terrorists an easy ride. Sir Keirs soft touch on criminality confirms the Labour Partys desire to do more for the criminal minority than the law-abiding majority.

But last night, a Labour spokesperson denied that Sir Keir believed that the age of young offenders should change.

A spokesperson said: This discussion was about the general approach to young people  both victims and defendants.

A Labour spokesperson denied that Sir Keir (pictured) believed that the age of young offenders should change

Keir was not suggesting a change to the definition of young offenders  it is simply not something he believes in. Any suggestion to the contrary is wrong.

Under current rules, the minimum length of a life sentence is shorter for young criminals under the age of 18.

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 states that the starting point for determining the minimum sentence where the offender is under 18 years of age, is 12 years as opposed to 15 years for those over the age of 18.

Young criminals under the age of 18 receive custodial sentences only in the most serious cases, and in young offender institutions rather than in prison.

Criminals aged between 18 and 25 at the time of their offences include Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi, who was 23 in 2017; and Michael Adebowale, who was 22 when he was one of the two men who killed Fusilier Lee Rigby in 2013.

In the recording, Sir Keir also called for the voting age to be lowered to 16, saying: Im a massive fan of votes at 16.
Drug Controller tells HC action will be taken without delay against Gambhir's foundation, dealers and other cases brought to its notice.
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New Delhi, March 21 : The two robbers, who shot dead a Nepali woman in Timarpur and targeted two women who were out for jogging in Rohini last week, were arrested on Sunday, police said.

Sameer and Faizan were arrested in a joint operation by personnel from the North, South and Rohini districts.

On March 17, the robbers on a bike robbed two women on gunpoint at around 6.30 a.m. while they were out jogging. The whole incident was recorded on CCTV camera where the duo are seen holding up the two women on gunpoint and snatching their jewellery.

"On the same day, at around 6.45am, a woman of Nepali origin in Aruna Nagar in Timarpur was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants and in this regard, a case under Sections 302 of the IPC and 27 of the Arms Act was registered at Timarpur police station and investigation taken up," DCP, North Delhi, Anto Alphonse, said.

The police team was able to trace the two accused from Vikas Chowk, Kashmere Gate ISBT, Shantivan Chowk, Outer Ring Road, Sarai Kale Khan road, up to Akshardham. In the process, the teams checked around 100 cameras along the 25km stretch.

"A team from South district finally tracked them to their rented flat at West Laxmi Market, Geeta Colony and apprehended them," the DCP said.

Faizan is involved 25 cases of robbery, snatching and use of firearms and Samer in two cases of robbery and snatching. The bike used in the crime has also been recovered.
Apple was fined by the consumer protection agency of Brazil in Sao Paulo yesterday after following intense scrutiny over the decision not to include a charger with the latest iPhone 12 series, Apple removed the power adapter from the box to reduce carbon emissions and use of rare-earth metals however that doesnt seem to convince the authorities at Procon-SP, Sao Paulo's consumer protection agency.

 Unsplash/salman-majeed

Apple was informed by the Brazilian agency in December that selling an iPhone in the country without a charger is a violation of the Consumer Defense Code. However, Apple responded to the agency saying most consumers already have a spare power adapter and that providing one with the iPhone 12 is not required.



Apple was then given a stern warning by Fernando Capez, Procon-SP's executive director, saying that the company needs to respect and understand the Brazilian consumer law and institutions. The company was then fined by the Brazilian consumer protection agency for not providing a charger and for misleading customers about the phones water resistance.

 Unsplash/omid-armin

Apple has been making smartphones that are resistant to water damage when submerged up to 6 meters for as long as 30 minutes. The new feature was added on the iPhone 7 and is now a staple feature for all models. However, Procon-SP claims that Apple refused to repair the devices of customers who suffered water damage even though Apple claims it is water-resistant and were under warranty. Other accusations include deliberately slowing down iPhones with iOS updates to force the customer to buy newer models.



Apple will be able to appeal the $2 million (~Rs14,48,84,100) fine however Apple has not responded to the decision by the Brazilian authorities as of now. Do you think Indian authorities should also scrutinise Apple for selling smartphones without a charger? Especially since many customers in India could be first-time buyers who do not have a spare charger from previous smartphones? Let us in the comments if you think the Brazilian authorities took the right step.
A long-dormant volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in south-western Iceland flared to life on Friday night, spilling lava down two sides in the area's first volcanic eruption in nearly 800 years.

Initial aerial footage, posted on the Facebook page of the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) showed a relatively small eruption, with two streams of lava running in opposite directions. The glow from the lava could be seen from the outskirts of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, which is about 32km away.

The Department of Emergency Management said it was not anticipating evacuations because the volcano is in a remote valley, about 2.5km from the nearest road.

The Fagradals Mountain volcano had been dormant for 6,000 years, and the Reykjanes Peninsula hadn't seen an eruption of any volcano in 781 years. There had been signs of a possible eruption recently, with earthquakes occurring daily for the past three weeks. But volcanologists were still taken by surprise because the seismic activity had calmed down before the eruption.

Unlike the eruption in 2010 of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which halted approximately 900,000 flights and forced hundreds of Icelanders from their homes, this eruption is not expected to spew much ash or smoke into the atmosphere, the IMO said. Located between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, among the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hotspot as the two plates move in opposite directions.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York residents with comordibities and underlying conditions can now schedule a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment at their local pharmacy, according to new guidance from the state health department.

The New York State Department of Health released updated guidance for the states COVID-19 vaccination program, effective March 17, that pharmacies must continue to vaccinate individuals 60 and older and prioritize pre-K through 12th-grade faculty and staff and childcare workers per federal guidance.

However, pharmacies are now authorized to vaccinate individuals with comorbidities or underlying conditions, the guidance stated. The expansion gives more opportunities for eligible New Yorkers to receive a vaccine.

City Councilman Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) shared the news on Twitter on Sunday that New York City pharmacies had expanded eligibility to people with underlying conditions, and that thousands of appointments are available citywide.

Major expansion in vaccine access in NYC:



==> Pharmacies are now vaccinating people w/ underlying conditions. 1000s of appts available citywide.



Book here:

* Walgreens: https://t.co/VsecHB52f1

* CVS: https://t.co/D45KMamdZ1

* Rite Aid: https://t.co/6dJxjEXvTr  Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) March 21, 2021

The city launched a website, NYC Vaccine Finder, to help residents find the closest vaccination site to them. You can also book directly on the websites of chain pharmacies.

You can book here for Walgreens or call 1-800-WALGREENS. For a vaccine at CVS, you can go here or call 1-800-SHOP-CVS. And Rite Aid is offering vaccines on its website here, or you can call 1-800-RITE-AID.

According to NYC Vaccine Finder, several pharmacies on Staten Island -- all Walgreens/Duane Reade -- had first-doses available for the coronavirus vaccine as of Sunday afternoon.

Independent, non-chain pharmacies in New York City are also administering vaccines, but may not be listed on the citys vaccine finder tool. You should call or stop by your local independent pharmacy to ask if they are administering the vaccine.

Or visit the CDCs vaccinefinder.org for vaccines available at chain and non-chain pharmacies. The website only displays information about whether a pharmacy has vaccines in stock, so youll need to visit that pharmacy or providers website to check appointment availability.

ELIGIBLE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS

To prove eligibility, New Yorkers must provide either a doctors letter, medical information evidencing comorbidity, or a signed certification.

Eligible comorbidities include:

Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)

Chronic kidney disease

Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome

Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)

Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes

Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)

Pregnancy

Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia

Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus

Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)

Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimers Disease or dementia

Liver disease

FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE GROUPS

Currently, New Yorkers that fall in the categories of Phase 1a and 1b are able to register for an appointment at vaccination hubs across New York City  including at mass vaccination sites, health clinics, hospitals, and urgent cares.

Phase 1a consists of healthcare workers, as well as residents and staff in certain group living facilities.

Phase 1b includes a variety of different groups: people ages 60 and older, restaurant workers, grocery workers, food industry workers, first responders and support staff, corrections personnel, educational staff, public transit workers, TLC licensees, homeless shelter clients and staff, people with specific underlying health conditions, hotel workers, and other classified people in group living facilities.

Recently added groups include: public-facing government and public employees, not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing services, and essential in-person public-facing building service workers.

To be included in a texting service that will provide information about when new appointments are available on Staten Island, text SIVAX to 51555.

Once you have confirmed an appointment, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine form. This can be completed online or at your vaccination site.

Limited time, pop-up vaccine sites may also be available. Appointments at these sites can be made using the Am I Eligible app or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
(Adds quotes, details, context)

MEXICO CITY, March 19 (Reuters) - Mexico's president thanked his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Friday for agreeing to provide 2.7 million COVID-19 vaccines to help offset a shortfall in its inoculation drive.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told a news briefing that the United States will send doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine, which are slightly more than the 2.5 million U.S. officials had previously indicated.

"We thank President Biden for sending us these vaccines," Lopez Obrador said in the eastern state of Veracruz, noting the deal was reached on good terms for Mexico and that he hoped the vaccines would be arriving from next week.

Due to delays in promised deliveries, Mexico has scrambled to obtain enough vaccines for its inoculation plans, leaning increasingly on Russia and China to secure doses.

Officials announced the deal just as Mexico said it would restrict travel on its southern border with Guatemala to curb the spread of COVID-19, dovetailing with efforts to contain a surge in U.S.-bound illegal immigration from Central America.

Mexican and U.S. officials said the two steps were not a quid pro quo, but foreign policy experts noted that the agreements suited both governments.

Lopez Obrador said that in return for the vaccines, Mexico would give the United States what it had "always" given, namely "friendship and cooperation across all spheres."

He said that the vaccines would help Mexico reach its goal of inoculating its population of 126 million, beginning with a first shot for all people over 60 by the end of April.

Lopez Obrador on Friday also praised U.S. drugmaker Pfizer for its vaccine deliveries, which had previously been subject to delays due to supply bottlenecks. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon Editing by Dave Graham and Alexander Smith)
Some supporters of San Franciscos merit-based Lowell High School are demanding that the Board of Education reverse plans to admit students by lottery, and say they will sue if necessary.

In a 14-page letter to the board and its president, Gabriela Lopez, an attorney hired by members of the Lowell community and other supporters of Lowell, called the boards plan racist against Asian American students, who are more than half of the schools student body.

For many years, Board members have falsely attacked Lowells merit-based admissions as racist... despite the fact that more than half of Lowells students are members of communities of color, attorney Harmeet Dhillon wrote on March 18, adding that her clients are prepared to sue to enjoin the board from going ahead with its plan.

Dhillon said the board plan would be an unconstitutional and illegal program designed to disenfranchise hardworking students and would decrease the number of Asian students admitted to Lowell.

Lopez told The Chronicle Saturday night that she had not seen the letter and would not comment until she had a chance to review it.

The San Francisco Board of Education voted 5-2 in February to replace the merit-based admissions system  used at the school for more than a century  with a lottery. Instead of selecting students based on academic performance, all students would have a chance to attend the school.

Board members said the change to the admissions system was urgently needed, although it wont go into effect until fall 2022. The board had already suspended Lowells merit-based admission for this year because of a lack of grades and test scores amid the pandemic.

The letter, made public Saturday, comes as several elected officials in the city, including Mayor London Breed, are calling on school board Vice President Alison Collins to resign over what they are calling racist tweets she posted in 2016 directed at Asian Americans came to light. Parents opposed to changing Lowells admissions system, and other recent board decisions, have begun an effort to recall three board members, including Collins. Backers of the recall located the tweets.

Collins declined to identify her tweets as racist, and on Saturday, she posted that they were taken out of context. She went on to say, For the pain my words may have caused I am sorry, and I apologize unreservedly.

The demand letter, written before the tweets surfaced, does not mention them.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
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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Bengaluru, March 21 : Marking the International Day of Forests on Sunday, Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar called upon the people to conserve forests and water bodies to co-exist for future generations.

"As co-existence is the fundamental principle of ecology, we must conserve forests and water bodes for future generations," said Sudhakar at an event held here to celebrate the first planting season of the Cauvery Calling movement, led by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation.

Noting the relationship between humankind and nature as cited in the philosophy of Sanatana Hindu dharma, Sudhakar said the mythological vehicle of Hindu God Shiva is a bull, which is a prey to lion, whose vehicle is of Hindu Goddess Durga.

Vehicle of elephant God Ganesh is rat, which is a pray to snake that is an ornament of Shiva.

"The snake is a prey to peacock, which is the vehicle of Subramanya, the second son of Shiva and his consort Parvathi. Yet they all co-exist as one family, which is a symbol of co-existence and tolerance," recalled Sudhakar.

Though Cauvery river originates at Talakaveri in southwest Karnataka and flows to Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, it has been a lifeline for the people of the three southern states.

"It is our duty to protect and conserve the river for sustenance and livelihood. The flora and fauna in the region depend on the river that meanders from west to east and joins the Bay of Bengal," asserted the minister.

Lauding the people for planting over 1 crore saplings to extend afforestation in response to Sadguru's call, Sudhakar said about 1,000km of land was being afforested.

As a mega eco-restoration project, Cauvery Calling has the potential to turn the environment tide for the tropical area in the Indian peninsula.

Launched by Sadguru, the project will be a game-changer for water crisis and farmers' distress as it will impact 84 million people in the country, restore and revitilise 83,000km along the river basin spanning Karnataka and Tamil Nadu by using an agro-forestry model.

The 12-year mission is set to rejuvenate the rain-fed river, recharge ground water tables, restore soil health and make farming economically viable.

"The project also inspired lakhs of farmers to plant 242-crore high-value timber saplings on their farmlands for a healthy economic reward.

The Foundation has proven the economic and ecological benefits of the model over the last 2 decades, with rise in farmers' income 3-8 times.

With "forest to farm is the way forward' as the theme of the event, Jaggi said all needs must be met by growing wood for economic gain on private farmlands.

"The way forward is for wood-based industries to contract with farmers for their requirement so that the Rs 70,000-crore import of timber can be stopped and its revenue be given to farmers," asserted Sadguru.

Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar participated in the event.

"The green cover across the state has increased by 1,000 km, which is the highest coverage across the country," reiterated the Chief Minister.

Javadekar said as per the Indian hoary culture, people worship water and all forms of life, including trees and animals.

"As rivers have nurtured our civilisation for thousands of years, it is our duty to ensure that we preserve every drop of rain water. We have no right to misuse or abuse water," said Javadekar.
Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Tuesday, March 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

In a video played at the federal Conservative policy convention Saturday, leader Erin O'Toole's son Jack did a mock news segment called "Jack has your back." But the question for the party's grassroots after nearly three days of discussion on the path forward for their movement was to what extent their leader has theirs.

O'Toole faced a grilling from delegates the day after he'd unveiled the overarching themes of what the party could offer Canadians during an election campaign, stressing that the country has changed and the party must do so as well.

One delegate, identified as Ruth, asked O'Toole Saturday what specific aspects of the party he wants to change.

"I think it's addressing policies in a new way, but it's also making sure we communicate our conservative principles in new ways to new people," O'Toole said.

"If we do that, we will win."

Delegates also questioned how committed O'Toole is to what's become a central focus for the Tories in recent years: scrapping the federal carbon tax.

In his Friday evening speech to party faithful, O'Toole had said he would end the tax on "working Canadians" and work with the provinces instead of imposing an overarching program.

But how the Tories meet commitments to reducing emissions without carbon pricing remains an open question.

O'Toole's comments weren't clear enough for at least one delegate who asked for a simple yes or no answer to the question of whether the carbon tax would go.

"Yes, we will scrap Mr. Trudeau's carbon tax and have a serious plan to get our economy moving and emissions down," O'Toole said.

Since winning leadership of the party last year, O'Toole has been clear the party must present a detailed agenda on combating climate change in order to win Canadians' trust.

His efforts in that regard were derailed somewhat during the convention, when 54 per cent of delegates voted against an effort to place a line in the party's existing policy document declaring "climate change is real."

When asked for his response to that vote, O'Toole called it an important question and went on to reiterate parts of his speech from the day before.

"The debate is over. Climate change is real," he said in response to a delegate from British Columbia.

A faction of Conservatives don't believe that claim, among them some linked to the anti-abortion group Campaign Life Coalition.

They had told their supporters ahead of the convention to oppose the environment motion on the grounds "climate change alarmism" was being used to justify abortion. But despite the best efforts of the CLC and other like-minded groups, the topic of abortion was one largely absent from the convention floor.

The fact they failed to get it there was characterized by them as a deliberate party move to keep the issue off the agenda.

Conservative officials said the advocates' efforts didn't pass muster with the rules the convention had set up to govern debate.

What message, then, should social conservatives take away from the convention, one delegate asked O'Toole Saturday.

"We're a big blue tent," O'Toole responded.

"I'm very proud of all parts of our party."

Moderating the question-and-answer session was former party leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis, who is seeking election in an Ontario riding in the next federal campaign.

She had a strong showing in last year's contest in part because of her own socially conservative convictions.

"That's music to my ears," she said in response to his answer.

O'Toole's direction for his party has been under scrutiny since he took the helm as leader last August.

His campaign centred around a promise to stay close to the "True Blue" roots of the party  a jab at the "red" or more progressive side.

But since then he has markedly softened his tone, and detractors have alleged he can't be trusted.

Walied Soliman, who had been O'Toole's leadership campaign co-chair, suggested in a panel earlier Saturday that the leader wasn't changing colours.

Growing the reach of the party will take courage, he said.

"That doesn't mean that we dilute who we are, we shall never do that," he said.

"I know Erin well enough to know that's not the leader or the man that he is."
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A year ago today, Britain got its first taste of lockdown life as bars, shops, gyms and restaurants were ordered to shut for at least 14 days, leaving the high streets deserted.

While the official nation-wide lockdown began on March 23, there was a sign of things to come two days prior after Boris Johnson forced certain businesses to close their doors.

The UK's death toll jumped by 56, its deadliest day of the pandemic so far, bringing the total virus fatalities to 233.

One outbreak was linked to a church in the West Midlands where one congregant had been attending without realising they were carrying the virus.

Elsewhere, prescient scientists warned that social distancing could be in place for at least a year despite the prime minister claiming the tide could be turned within 12 weeks.

Today also marks the first anniversary of vaccine trials on humans and animals at Porton Down, starting the process which led to the creation of the successful Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

TV tough guy Ant Middleton was forced to apologise for comments urging people to 'get out there, don't change' during the pandemic, months before he was axed by Channel 4 for similar remarks about the virus and Black Lives Matter.

In Westminster, Tory backbenchers threatened to fight Boris Johnson's emergency Covid laws by staging a rebellion.

But Britons were more concerned about a dwindling supply of food and loo roll as queues snaked around supermarket car parks amid the panicked stockpiling.

Abroad, a bombshell report claimed that Donald Trump had been ignoring CIA warnings about the pandemic for months.

Meanwhile Spain announced 324 new daily coronavirus deaths as the virus continued to sweep across EuropeHere, MailOnline continues its countdown of the days leading to the anniversary of the March 23 shutdown...

As of Saturday morning, the total number of confirmed cases in the UK hit 5,018 with 233 deaths

March 21, 2020: UK coronavirus death toll soars by 56 in a day to 233

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

On this day last year, the UK's coronavirus death toll skyrocketed by 56 bringing the total fatalities to 233, breaking the record for the worst 24 hours the country had seen yet.

The total deaths in England rose by 53. These included a 41-year-old who was then thought to be the youngest victim in Britain since the outbreak began.

The total number of confirmed cases in the UK hit 5,018.

March 21, 2020: Britain shuts down as pubs, cafes and gyms are ordered to close, leaving high streets deserted

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

While the UK's official country-wide lockdown did not begin until March 23, March 21, 2020, marked the first day of deserted high streets up and down the country.

Boris Johnson ordered a 14-day closure of public social centres like pubs and gyms and urged Britons to self-isolate to protect themselves and their loved ones.

High street stores closed their doors on the weekend - even though they were legally allowed to remain open - as people were spooked into voluntary self-isolation, remote work, and social distancing amid Covid-19 paranoia.

London seemed otherworldly as residents stayed clear of the city centre, including usually-bustling hotspots such as Waterloo Station, Oxford Street, and Leicester Square.

London seemed otherworldly as residents stayed clear of the city centre, including usually-bustling hotspots such as Waterloo Station, Oxford Street, and Leicester Square. Clockwise from top left: Oxford Street; Waterloo Station; New Bond Street; and Lakeside shopping centre

Stark pictures emerged of empty city centres and roads in Nottingham, Leicester, London and Southampton as people stayed at home. Pictured is the Westquay shopping centre in Southampton on March 21, 2020

Boris Johnson ordered a 14-day closure of public social centres like pubs and gyms and urged Britons to self-isolate to protect themselves and their loved ones. Pictured: a closed TK Maxx in Cardiff

March 21, 2020: Social distancing may last for a year, warn scientists

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

With social distancing measures likely to remain in place for many more months, scientists giving the rules a 12-month timeline hardly seems surprising.

But on this day last year, when Covid paranoia was spreading rapidly and the life as we knew it came to a rapid end, an extended lockdown seemed like a worst-case scenario.

Britons woke up to the news that the Government's top scientists feared social distancing would need to be in place for most of the year to prevent the coronavirus pandemic overwhelming hospitals.

They also said the more-strict policies - such as school closures, working from home and avoiding family and friends - would have to be enforced for 'at least half the year'.

Britons woke up to the news that the Government's top scientists feared social distancing would need to be in place for most of the year to prevent the coronavirus pandemic overwhelming hospitals. Pictured: Boris Johnson

March 21, 2020: Trials set to begin on British coronavirus vaccine in Porton Down

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

On this day 12 months ago, it was announced that human and animal trials for a British vaccine against the coronavirus were set to begin at the Government's secret science base Porton Down.

Scientists will test the drug - that is now known to be the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine - on animals at the Wiltshire base before trialling on humans one month later.

At the time, it was known that the drug was being made at Oxford University, but no more details were disclosed.

On this day 12 months ago, it was announced that human and animal trials for a British vaccine against the coronavirus were set to begin at the Government's secret science base Porton Down (pictured)

March 21, 2020: Ant Middleton admits 'mistake' over pandemic comments

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton claimed his comments urging people to 'get out there, don't change' amid the coronavirus crisis were a 'mistake'.

The former solider took to Instagram earlier in the week to announce that he was continuing on with life as usual during the outbreak and ended his video recording with the terse statement: 'F*** Covid-19.'

Middleton - who was a member of the British special forces - yesterday posted a video saying he was in a 'bubble' while filming a 'secret project' in New Zealand.

Middleton added: 'And now I've come out of this bubble I've realised I've probably been a bit insensitive towards the magnitude, the scale, of the crisis that's happening in the UK.'

March 21, 2020: Covid outbreak linked to church attended by worshipper who did not realise they were a carrier

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

It was revealed that a Covid outbreak that killed 28 people in the West Midlands was linked to a church attended by a worshipper who did not realise they were a carrier.

The West Midlands alone had recorded 28 Covid-19 deaths since the pandemic began at that time.

Two of the fatalities have been connected to a church where a congregant had continued to attend services without realising they had been infected, it was reported.

A Covid outbreak that killed 28 people in the West Midlands was linked to a church attended by a worshipper who did not realise they were a carrier. Pictured: Empty New Street in Birmingham on March 21, 2020

The West Midlands alone had recorded 28 Covid-19 deaths since the pandemic began at that time. Pictured: Empty Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham on this day last year

Two of the fatalities have been connected to a church where a congregant had continued to attend services without realising they had been infected, it was reported. Pictured: Empty Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham on this day last year

March 21, 2020: MPs plan rebellion against Boris Johnson's Covid laws plan

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Tory backbenchers were set to stage a rebellion against the Prime Minister's plans to introduce emergency laws to help fight coronavirus, reports claimed.

It was revealed that David Davis - the former Brexit secretary - would table an amendment calling for the legislation, which could last for two years, to expire after one.

March 21, 2020: Hundreds of shoppers queue all around Tesco car park

Hordes of shoppers descended on supermarkets at the crack of dawn on March 21 last year in a desperate bid to stock up after weeks of coronavirus panic-buying cleared food aisles across the country.

Staggering scenes saw a queue of hundreds of people snake round a Tesco car park at 6am, and even spill out on to the streets of New Malden, London.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Since the pandemic tightened its choke-hold on the UK, fears of lockdown fanned mass stockpiling as people braced to hunker down at home.

Pleas from the Government and retailers to consider other people and steer clear of panic-buying were largely ignored.

And those who exercised restraint were forced to flock to the supermarket well ahead of weekend opening times to guarantee they would not leave empty handed.

Individual stores took action to curb the number of products people could buy while police and private security were drafted in to stamp out ransacking of high-demand items such as toilet roll.

But still heartbreaking scenes of elderly people and exhausted frontline NHS staff standing helplessly beside empty shelves continued to flood social media.

This prompted chains including Sainsbury's and M&S to set aside a golden hour where they can buy essentials before the masses stampede the store.

Hordes of shoppers descended on supermarkets at the crack of dawn on March 21 last year in a desperate bid to stock up after weeks of coronavirus panic-buying cleared food aisles across the country

Staggering scenes saw a queue of hundreds of people snake round a Tesco car park at 6am, and even spill out on to the streets of New Malden, London

People queuing up outside Tescos in Aldershot on March 21, 2020. Since the pandemic tightened its choke-hold on the UK, fears of lockdown fanned mass stockpiling as people braced to hunker down at home

March 21, 2020: And meanwhile, elsewhere in the world...

President Trump ignored CIA warnings about coronavirus pandemic for months, bombshell report claims

President Trump ignored warnings from US intelligence agencies about the threat of a coronavirus pandemic, according to a bombshell report in The Washington Post released on March 21, 2020.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

One intelligence official and several Trump Administration officials spoke to the publication on March 20 - on the condition of anonymity - claiming the President downplayed the Covid-19 threat in spite of growing anxiety from aides and members of his own cabinet throughout January and February.

'Donald Trump may not have been expecting this, but a lot of other people in the government were  they just couldn't get him to do anything about it,' one official stated, adding: 'The system was blinking red.'

Officials were first alerted to reports about cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China on January 3, after a director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke with Chinese colleagues.

'Ominous, classified warnings' purportedly put together by the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence began to increase over the course of the month.

'There was obviously a lot of chatter in January,' one of the officials said.

Spain announces 324 new coronavirus deaths as number of cases rises to 24,926 in country

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Spain announced 324 new coronavirus deaths on March 21, 2020, while the number of cases in the country surged nearly 5,000 up to 24,926.

Spain's Health Ministry said that Covid-19 deaths rose to 1,326 from 1,002 in the space of 24 hours.

The capital Madrid was the hardest hit in the country at that time, according to the tally reported by the ministry.
A year ago, Georgia was one of four states that had no hate crime legislation.

But the deadly rampage last week that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent, is now providing a test of a law passed last year  and a window into the way that the states increasingly diverse electorate has altered its political and cultural chemistry.

Georgia, after earlier false starts, passed its legislation following the shooting death of a young Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, who was stopped, detained and then shot to death by white residents in a South Georgia suburban neighborhood.

Now last weeks shootings, in which Robert Aaron Long, 21, has been charged with eight counts of murder, are providing a major stress test for when the legislation can be applied, what it can achieve and how it plays into the states increasingly polarized politics.

Political leaders, civil rights activists, and national and local elected officials condemned last weeks attack as an act of bigoted terror, drawing a connection between the majority-Asian victims and a recent surge in hate crimes against Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.
Acknowledging "lapses in institutional processes" about recent episodes of the exits of political commentator Pratam Bhani Mehta and economist Arvind Subramanian, Ashoka University has expressed "deep regret". Mehta has also written a letter to his students not to press for his return, saying the current circumstances that led to his resignation in the first place will not change soon.

The private university became a centre of controversy this week as Mehta, who resigned as its vice-chancellor two years back, stepped down as a university professor on Tuesday. His abrupt resignation followed noted economist Arvind Subramanian's exit two days later. "We acknowledge that there have been some lapses in institutional processes which we will work to rectify in consultation with all stakeholders. This will reaffirm our commitment to academic autonomy and freedom which have always been at the core of the Ashoka University ideals," the institution said in a statement.

Joint Statement - Issued by Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor Malabika Sarkar, Former Vice-Chancellor and Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Professor Arvind Subramanian and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ashish Dhawan.https://t.co/i8NHEnKVuR a Ashoka University (@AshokaUniv) March 21, 2021

"Ashoka has been privileged to have been led, guided and counselled by Pratap first as Vice-Chancellor and then as senior faculty. Subramanian brought eminence, stature, fresh ideas and energy to the university and his exit leaves a void that will be hard to fill," it added.

The statement has been jointly issued by the university chancellor, vice-chancellor and the chairman of the Board of Trustees, along with Mehta and Subramanian.

"Pratap and Arvind would like to emphasise that Ashoka University is one of the most important projects in Indian higher education. They are sad to be leaving Ashoka, especially its outstanding students and faculty. They continue to believe strongly that Ashoka University should embody a liberal vision and commitment to academic freedom and autonomy," it read.

Also read: Mehta, Subramanian's exits: Free speech suffered a grievous blow, says Raghuram Rajan

The students have called for a two-day boycott of classes from Monday in protest over the developments. In his letter to students, Mehta said he wants to close the chapter and urged students to not press for his return. "The underlying circumstances that led to the resignation will not change for the foreseeable future, in my case, at any rate. So I must close this chapter. I urge you not to press on this matter. I know you will be disappointed. But if I may exercise one last bit of professorial discretion: your mission is larger than the fate of two Professors," Mehta's letter said.

As per former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, 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.

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 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 "vivid prose" and thought-provoking arguments. "It is not that he has much sympathy for the opposition either. As a true academic, he is an equal opportunity critic. Apart from Rajan, personalities from global intelligence like Milan Vaishnav and Martha C Nussbaum have criticised Mehta and Subramanian's exits.

Also read: After Pratap Bhanu Mehta, ex-CEA Arvind Subramanian resigns from Ashoka University
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The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemens Houthi group struck military targets belonging to the Iran-aligned movement in the capital Sanaa in the early hours of Sunday, residents said.

The raids come after the Houthis claimed responsibility for drone attacks on an oil refinery in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Friday, which caused a fire that was brought under control.

On Saturday, the coalition said it intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone launched towards the southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

Residents in Sanaa told Reuters that coalition warplanes bombed areas housing Houthi military camps in southern Sanaa and a military manufacturing site in the north of the city.

Houthi-run Al Masirah television also reported coalition air strikes on the capital, including on Sanaa airport.

The coalition, which intervened in Yemen in March 2015, has often retaliated to cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia with air strikes in Yemen.

The Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government from power in Sanaa in late 2014 and now control most of northern Yemen.

SOURCE: REUTERS
When it comes to measures that draconian, you are going to disenfranchise people who are big China fans and are not allowed to return to the country they have made their home, said Alexander Style, the British owner of a Shanghai-based company that makes electric vehicle parts for export, who has been forced to relocate with his family to New Jersey.

Other countries have their own travel restrictions, though few are as tight. The United States, for example, bans foreigners traveling directly from China unless they are green card holders or certain immediate family members of American citizens. It also bans foreigners leaving from Europe, as well as Brazil and other countries.

Australia lets in just a few hundred of its citizens and permanent residents each day, while Japan has barred the entry of foreign workers and students since late December.

In China, officials regard travel limits as crucial to their success in containing the virus. Since the outbreak started, China has reported more than 101,000 Covid cases. Although questions have been raised about the accuracy of the numbers, they are far lower than in the United States, where 29.8 million people have tested positive for the virus. Chinas strategy reflects its strengths as well as its weaknesses.

China was the only major economy to grow last year. It knows businesses will find a way to keep their Chinese operations running, with or without expatriates, and it is betting that they will come back when the pandemic eases. At the same time, Chinas restrictions highlight the inadequacies of its vaccine rollout, which has been slow compared to those of the United States, Britain and other countries.
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The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says gunmen suspected to be herders attacked him on his farm near Tyo-mu, along Makurdi-Gboko Highway on Saturday afternoon.

He narrated his experience during a press briefing at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi, the state capital, shortly after the attack.

According to Mr Ortom, he was inspecting the farm when the herders, who were dressed in black outfits, ambushed him and his security personnel.

You know today is Saturday and is normal as a farmer, I usually go to my farm, so I went to my farm along Gboko road. And on our way back, we started hearing some gunshots and we discovered people who were dressed in black, and from experience, we now discovered that these are Fulani militias and I do not want to take things for granted because few days ago, the media were awash with statement from MACBAN who met in Yola, the same place they met in 2016 where they decided that they will take Nigeria and that every other person is a slave; that was when they started infiltrating the entire country.

He also said his lawyer will write a petition against the leadership of MACBAN.

They came out to target me and behind the scene they are planning to eliminate me on my own land. If I cant go to the farm as governor, with the entire security around me, then who else can go to farm? You can imagine the pains that we have here in Benue State.

I appreciate the security personnel attached to me; they were able to repel them and they could not have access to me, Mr Ortom stated.

The governor, who has been a vocal critic of open grazing of cattle, recently impounded over 200 cows for violating the anti-grazing law the state passed in 2018.
The sun was shining, the temperature was pleasant and the issues were out in force Saturday afternoon for a meet the candidates program in Harrisburgs Allison Hill section.

Although public attendance was rather sparse, ardor wasnt absent from the event sponsored by the Allison Hill Homeowners Residents Association and Wild Heart Ministries that focused on the citys mayoral and city council races.

Nine of the 13 candidates for four city council seats, all of them Democrats, showed up as did four of the five Democratic mayoral candidates  Mayor Eric Papenfuse, Otto Banks, Wanda Williams and Dave Schankweiler  and Timothy Rowbottom, the lone GOP candidate for the mayors office.

Rowbottom led off the program by vowing to address the oppression and legal slavery of such entities as the Dauphin County Work Release program and to improve services to those who are addicted to drugs and those who are transitioning back into the community from prison. He described himself as conservative first, before Republican.

Schankweiler called for a united effort to address the citys problems. We have a great city, but there are some things we must take care of, he said.

Williams, who seeks to swap her presidency of city council for the title of mayor, said a main issue that drove her into the race is the need for affordable housing in the city. Development is fine, she said, but it also must be within the economic reach of Harrisburgs residents. We need to bring people back to the city instead of pushing people out of the city, she said. Also, Williams said the current government is passing over some neighborhoods  Were not concentrating on all parts of the city, she said  and she called for better communication between city officials and those of the Harrisburg School District.

The problem in our city it we refuse to change, Bank said during his turn on the stage. He targeted crime  We can no longer afford for our children to be dying in these streets - and what he called the poor performance of the city schools. His aim as mayor, he said, would be to foster opportunities for betterment. We dont need to be tough on crime. We need to create opportunity, Banks said. That extends to economic development as well, he said, calling for efforts to create opportunities to rebuild our neighborhoods while employing our people to do it.

Papenfuse, the last of the mayoral candidates to speak, didnt directly address the barbs his competitors and some of the council candidates hurled his way. Instead, he said local efforts to vaccinate residents against the COVID-19 virus are proceeding apace and that the situation should be much improved by primary election day in May. Papenfuse said he is glad to see the plethora of hopefuls vying for city office. People seem to be paying more attention than ever about whats going on in this city, he said.

Council candidate Vishal Bajpai took aim at the citys $136 million budget for 2021. We want to make sure the budget works for this city, he said.

Council hopeful Ralph Rodriguez called for providing opportunity for and investing in our youthThe same resources they have 15 minutes down the road in Hershey we should have in Harrisburg. Affordable housing is a key issue for him as well, he said. The day-to-day people who really make the wheels work, Ill be there for you, Rodriguez said.

Lavet Henderson said focuses of her council candidacy include the plague of violence in the city, the opioid addiction crisis and child molestation. She billed herself as a candidate who knows what its like to live here.

Improving mental health resources, programs for youth and community beautification were issued cited by council hopeful Jocelyn Rawls. Harrisburg is beautiful now, but we can make it more beautiful, where everyone is included, she said. The city school district should develop its own vocational technical school and partner with businesses to create youth mentorship and employment programs to create hope and opportunity that city youth dont think exist now, Rawls said.

Council candidate Lori Ann Beamer-Saulisbury called for better communication between the government and the public. Opportunities have been missed because of the lack of same, she said. Also, she said, Its time out for our rundown neighborhoods that are not being addressedI believe it can be better.

Sarah Gethers vowed to use her authority for engaging, equipping and empowering the residents if she wins a seat on council.

Jennie Jenkins-Dallas called for having police walk beats to build trust with the people. Another of her goals if elected to council would be to address blighted and vacant properties, she said. Its time to fill those houses with homeowners or take them down, Jenkins-Dallas said.

Council hopeful Crystal Davis cited the need to create citywide clean-up crews because, Ive never seen (Harrisburg) this bad in terms of litter. Her mantra, she said, is Action. Not just talking about it. Being about it.

Carrie Fowler, a city school board member, said shes running for a council seat because I was really upset with the citys 2021 budget. She accused the citys current leaders of not listening to the public as they formulated that fiscal plan. Extra money that was allotted for law enforcement should have been given to our people who are struggling, especially those hamstrung financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, Fowler said.
He and the 35-year-old woman who was driving the Buick were the only occupants in their vehicles and both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police, which said the investigation is ongoing.
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A COUNTY Limerick man who was caught with drugs on two separate occasions will avoid a prison sentence if is he deemed suitable for community service.

Jonathan Kenneally, 32, of Lacka, Broadford was before Newcastle West Court in relation to seizures at the Market Yard, Newcastle West on October 21, 2017 and at Old Church Street, Abbeyfeale on November 6, 2017.

The defendant, who has a number of previous convictions, was also prosecuted for careless driving and drug-driving in relation to the Newcastle West incident.

Inspector Andrew Lacey said after the car he was driving was stopped at around 2.40am, the vehicle was searched and a quantity of drugs recovered.

A large folding knife and more than 2,800 in cash was also seized.

Judge Mary Larkin was more drugs were seized when the defendant was stopped again less than three weeks later.

In total, 718 worth of Cannabis Resin, 640 worth of cocaine and a small amount of cannabis was seized.

Solicitor Eimear Griffin said her client  a trainee welder  was using drugs around the time and that he build up a significant debt.

He was in the shallow end he ended up in the deep end very quickly and realised he couldnt swim, she said adding that her client was put under pressure and didnt know how to get out of it.

Seeking leniency, Ms Griffin said Mr Kenneally has not been in any trouble since and that he has fully engaged with the Probation Services.

In relation to the more serious drugs charges Judge Larkin directed that the defendant carry out 120 hours of community service in lieu of a three month prison sentence.

A suspended four-month prison sentence was imposed in relation to other charges while Mr Kenneally was also fined a total of 850.

A mandatory four-year disqualification was also imposed.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 18:46:01|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a video speech to the Colombian people at the invitation of his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, as the third batch of COVID-19 vaccines provided by China arrives in Bogota, capital of Colombia, on March 20, 2021 local time. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech to the Colombian people at the invitation of his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, as the third batch of COVID-19 vaccines provided by China arrived in Bogota, capital of Colombia, on Saturday local time.

"Even mountains and seas cannot distance people with common aspirations," Xi said in his speech, noting that the vast Pacific Ocean cannot stand in the way of the profound friendship between the Chinese and Colombian people.

Over the past 41 years since the establishment of their diplomatic ties, the China-Colombia relations have achieved historic development, Xi said, with China becoming Colombia's second largest trading partner and China-invested enterprises actively participating in Colombia's development in various fields.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides are flourishing, and the China-Colombia friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, Xi said.

In the face of the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak, Xi stressed that the two countries have worked in unity to help each other overcome difficulties and actively carried out anti-pandemic cooperation.

Two batches of Chinese vaccines purchased by Colombia have been delivered to the South American country not long ago, Xi said, adding that the latest batch of vaccines arrived today to help boost the national vaccination program of Colombia.

Xi said he hopes that the governments and peoples of the two countries will make joint efforts to strengthen friendly cooperation in various fields including the anti-pandemic fight, so as to elevate China-Colombia friendly cooperation to a new level from a new historical starting point and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Duque, who was on a tour of inspection during the day, held a special ceremony and broadcasted Xi's speech to the whole country. He expressed gratitude to Xi and the brotherly Chinese people for their deep friendship to the Colombian people and their important support to Colombia's fight against the pandemic.

Duque said that developing relations with China is a broad consensus among different political groups in Colombia, and the country is ready to work with China to continuously deepen bilateral relations. Enditem
Thieves broke in and took away 35 tolas of gold ornaments, including the golden crown of the Goddess, apart from four kg of silver ornaments. (Photo: DC/ Murali Krishna)

VISAKHAPATNAM: Thieves broke into Visakhapatnam citys famous Karaka Chettu Polamamba Temple and took away 35 tolas of gold ornaments, including the golden crown of the Goddess, apart from four kg of silver ornaments, in the wee hours of Sunday.

Police reached the spot soon after receiving information. They found that the back door of the temple had been broken to gain entry into the sanctum sanctorum. Keys of the almirah in which the gold and silver ornaments had been kept were left hanging on the wall, making it easy for the miscreants.

Significantly, the thieves cut connections of the 17 CC cameras and also took away the hard disc and VCR along with the ornaments, apart from the cash in hundi, which they broke.

The lone watchman told police that a few people had come to the temple around midnight and asked him in Hindi whether they could sleep inside the temple premises. They went away in their vehicles when he said no. Later, he said, he had slept off.

Sniffer dogs and fingerprint experts have been pressed into service. But they have found no clues. We are questioning the temple staff and people living near the temple, said a senior police officer. The temple is located just 100 meters away from Three Town Police Station and the district superintendent of polices office, where sentries are there round the clock.

Local MLA Velkagapudi Ramakrishnababu visited the temple and spoke to police and executive officer Neelima.
Around a thousand anti-vaccine protesters took to the streets of Bucharest on Saturday amid a surge of COVID-19 infections.

The protesters were initially split across two separate groups, some who gathered in University Square and some in Victory Square  but both groups later converged outside Romania's parliament building.

The largely mask-less crowds honked horns, waved national flags, and chanted messages such as "Block vaccination," and "Freedom."

One placard read: "Parents, protect your children! Stop the fear!"

The protests were part of a number of planned anti-vaccination demonstrations that have taken place in the East European country in recent weeks, a movement that is strongly backed by Romania's far-right AUR party and is heavily linked to nationalism.

Health authorities said that a record number of patients were being treated in intensive care units (ICU), forcing officials to convene in the capital to try to find solutions to a potential shortage of ICU spaces.

Over the past week Romania has been recording daily its highest numbers of COVID-19 infections in three months  around 6,000 new cases a day  signalling the arrival of a third wave of the virus.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
WHITEHALL, MI  Parking was scarce at the White River Light Station Museum this weekend as the reemergence of a beached shipwreck drew a stream of onlookers.

The remains of the Contest, a 124-foot schooner that grounded near White Lake in 1882, are visible again thanks to shifting beach sand and dropping Lake Michigan water levels.

The wreck was last visible in 2018 when dune erosion uncovered frames and keelson that had previously been buried under several feet of sand since 1974, according to the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA).

The wreck is beached next to the south channel pier. The visible portion is the bow, which faces south.

It was previously misidentified as the L.C. Woodruff, according the MSRA, which analyzed the wreck during its last emergence from the sand. The Contest is one of several schooners that grounded near White Lake in the mid-to-late 1800s.

The Contest was built in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1855 and hauled grain and lumber around lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie. According to MSRA researchers, news accounts from 1882 indicate the crew basically stepped off the ship when it grounded and stripped the wreck of valuables.

The dune is likely to reclaim the wreck in the near future as the lake level fluctuates.

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The Israeli domestic security service Shin Bet revoked Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki's VIP status when he returned to the West Bank from Jordan today, Axios has learned from Israeli officials.

Why it matters: According to the officials, the unusual act was retaliation for al-Maliki's push for an investigation against Israel in the International Criminal Court. The card allows easier movement and access inside the West Bank and at border crossings.

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This is the first time Israel sanctioned a Palestinian official since the decision by an ICC prosecutor to open an investigation regarding the situation in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Israeli government has worked for years to avoid any ICC judgment against its actions in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.

Driving the news: Al-Maliki and his aides were held up by Shin Bet when they entered the West Bank from Jordan on Sunday.

Israeli officials say Al-Malikis VIP status, which was issued by the Israeli government, was revoked this time and could stay revoked if Al-Maliki continues his actions.

Between the lines: Al-Maliki was returning after a visit to the Hague, during which he met with Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor.

According to a statement by his office, al-Maliki asked the prosecutor to accelerate the investigation against Israel, which she announced several weeks ago.

Al-Maliki told the prosecutor the Palestinians support the work of the ICC and will cooperate with the court and its staff regarding the investigation.

What they are saying: A senior Israeli official told Axios Al-Maliki is spearheading the Palestinian actions in the ICC that are meant to harm the freedom of movement of Israeli officials and threaten their security.

Such actions are in line with the current relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This is why we decided there is no reason Al-Maliki enjoys privileges when he passes through border crossings, the official said.

The Palestinian foreign ministry said in a statement it is going to notify several of its partners around the world about the Israeli sanctions.

Story continues

This proves Israel is a vengeful country that is unable to solve its problems in a lawful manner and has to use threats and sanctions, the statement said.

Behind the scenes: Israeli officials told Axios Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the move.

It was one of a series of retaliatory steps Israel will take against the Palestinians for their actions to push for an investigation.

A week ago, the director of Shin Bet met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and stressed the Palestinian moves in the ICC crossed the line and warned of retaliation.

The state of play: Two weeks ago the ICC prosecutor sent a formal letter to Israel and the Palestinians, announcing the investigation. Both parties have 30 days to respond and tell the prosecutor if they want to hold their own investigation before the ICC weighs in.

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I had to escape, Tesfay said. Luckily our house has another entrance. I ran out the back.

Tigrayan refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopias Tigray at Hamdeyat Transition Centre near the Sudan-Ethiopia border, eastern Sudan. Credit:AP

When I looked through the doors peephole, I saw them on the ground, their blood spilling out, he said in an interview. He also saw soldiers wearing mud-flecked green camouflage gear striding up to the door.

It was Friday, January 8, the day after Genna, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas. Around 2pm, Kidane Tesfay heard gunshots near his familys home and thought of his two brothers, ages 17 and 20, walking outside.

What followed was an hours-long killing spree, according to accounts from 10 survivors, including Tesfay, as well as from victims relatives and friends and activist groups. Ethiopian soldiers went from house to house in Bora, a town in Ethiopias northern Tigray region, and executed more than 160 people.

Done killing, the soldiers stopped families from taking their dead. Only on Sunday  two days after the slaughter  were gravediggers allowed to set about their grim task; one of them buried 26 corpses in the graveyard of the Abune Aregawi Church, survivors said.

Agere Getnet weeps in front of a tomb containing the remains of her husband, Tebekaw, 37, hisbrother, Alie Abere, and his nephew, Aynew Mulat, among the mass graves at Abune Aregawi Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Credit:Getty

The town was filled with corpses. The bodies of our friends and neighbours started to smell, said Girmay Hagos, a 30-year-old real estate agent and survivor. We kept our grief to ourselves  the soldiers didnt allow us to cry.

The massacre in Bora is another deep stain on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds months-long war in Ethiopias northern Tigray region, which began in early November after the ruling faction there, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or TPLF, attacked a government military base. Abiy retaliated with what he called a law enforcement operation that killed tens of thousands of people, estimates say, and displaced hundreds of thousands more. More than 60,000 Tigrayans have fled to neighbouring Sudan alone, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Parking restrictions are set to come into place in Mountrath this summer will be accompanied to upgrade work to existing parking in the town.

Laois County Council is also progressing a plan to extend restrictions to restrictions to Abbeyleix and Mountmellick. Depending on the sucess of the initiative, County Hall is also eyeing up similar measures in Durrow and other villages around the county.

Councillors have given the green light to Laois County Councils Roads Section to push ahead with plans which could see the changes coming into force in Mountrath by June.

Under the changes, there will be a two-hour parking limit in the Market Square area. No charges will apply to park within the two hour window but fines can be issued if someone stays outside of the limit.

Parking will be limited during business hours 8.30 am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday inclusive. The council says signs will be erected to give effect these measures.

The Local Authority says the restrictions have been introduced to increase the turnover in spaces and encourage economic activity.

The decision to proceed was made at the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting by county councillors after a presentation by Georgina Ireland, Administrative Officer in Laois County Council's Roads & Transportation Section. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

She told councillors that Mountrath is the first town to be subject to the change as part of an ongoing of parking in Laois towns. The other towns for pilot parking projects are Abbeyleix and Mountmellick.

We looked at Mountrath following representations arising from issues in the town centre and providing a proper turnover of parking to support economic activity in the town, she said.

Ms Ireland said further consultation with the public in 2021 resulted in nine submissions all of which backed the proposal. No objections were received.

Issues were raised in the submissions particularly by people who work in the town who sought and alternative all-day parking location.

The public raised concerns about the main alternative - the car park at the Bank of Ireland. Nearly all submissions said that the condition and security of the car park need to be improved.

Ms Ireland said the council proposes to resurface and reline the car park to maximise spaces and upgrade the entrance. Public lighting will also be installed that will illuminate the entire area.

The consultation also resulted in calls for a loading bay and parking permits for residents and the availability of traffic wardens. Ms Ireland said a loading bay and an age-friendly parking place will be located in the town centre.

She told county councillors that residents permits will be reviewed on application with the normal rules applying but she added that it is not envisaged that permits will result in no spaces being available on the street.

She added that traffic warden hours would be apportioned appropriately within the existing complement of two traffic wardens. She said the resources do not exist in the medium term to recruit more wardens but added that the number of wardens could increase as restrictions are extended to other towns and villages in Laois.

She said traffic wardens will make random lightning visits to Mountrath. The official added that the Gardai can also enforce the restrictions and the council would work in conjunction with the gardai on enforcement.

Ms Ireland said there was no proposal for parking charges in Mountrath in research carried out. She added the law does not require charges for signs.

In respect of the expansion of restrictions to other towns, Ms Ireland said Covid-19 lockdowns have delayed progress. However, she expects progress in Abbeyleix and Mountmellick in the coming months.

Ms Ireland said work to advance Abbeyleix should proceed quickly but a management team decision has to be made in relation to Mountmellick as there are issues that need to be resolved around resources.

She added that the restrictions would be rolled out to other towns such as Durrow once evaluation of the success of the measures in the pilot towns has been completed. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Cllr James Kelly tabled a motion at the Municipal District meeting where he praised the council for the work done and plan produced. He said the work on the car park is essential.

The car park is in a very bad state of repair which means it cannot be utilised to its full potential. We will get a lot more cars in, he said.

Along with lighting, resurfacing he hoped that CCTV could be installed for security purposes.

He expected no more than 10 parking permits were needed.

He added that he would commit the vast majority of his discretionary funds to the resurfacing work to ensure it will be done this year.

Cllr John King also welcomed the move which he said would ease traffic congestion and improve safety. He wanted issues surrounding security at the bank car park to be clarified if a vehicle is damaged.

He suggested that an alternative to a council traffic warden policing parking in the town could be introduced given the small number of wardens employed at present in Laois.

Cllr Oliver Clooney welcomed the commitments for other towns but said Durrow must be looked at.

We have no car park in Durrow. We have a huge amount of traffic going up the Kilkenny road and there is a lot of traffic of business being passed because there is nowhere to pull in. I welcome this for Mountrath and Abbeyleix but it has to come for Durrow, he said.

Cllr Conor Bergin also welcomed the news. He suggested that more traffic wardens are needed give that there are just two wardens employed at present.

Cllr Paddy Bracken also praised that measure for Mountrath and hoped that the initiative could be rolled out to other towns such as Mountmellick.
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urkeys involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict brought century-long tensions between Armenians and Turks to an all-time high. But just weeks after a ceasefire, some activists were working to bring both communities together.

Turks and Armenians have a lot in common. We should meet to discuss and analyse our history without pre-judgement or patriotic visions, Apo Torosyan, 78, a Turkish-born artist living in Lynn, a suburb of Boston, told The Independent.

In December last year, Torosyan took part in a discussion group which gathers Turks and Armenians in the diaspora in the US to share family stories about the Armenian genocide of 1915. It was the groups first meeting after the fall out in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Democratic lawmakers on Sunday called the deadly shootings in Georgia a hate crime and condemned attacks directed at Asian Americans amid a growing focus on violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

The shootings, which left eight dead, including six Asian women, follow recent national reckonings over race, gender and gun violence.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), a member of the Asian Pacific American Caucus and the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, said on ABCs This Week: First, my heart breaks for the eight victims and as I read more about them, I see they were hardworking. Many were mothers. One was as old as 74.

Now I know the legal bar is high because they have to find somebody who heard him say that there was an anti-Asian slur expressed at the time.  But in my mind and in the minds of many, this is an anti-Asian hate crime, she added.

Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock said on NBCs Meet the Press: Look, law enforcement will go through the work that they need to do, but we all know hate when we see it. And it is tragic that we've been visited with this kind of violence yet again.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said she disagreed with the early statement from FBI Director Christopher Wray that the shootings didnt appear to be racially motivated, adding that she asked Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland for a deeper investigation into crimes that involve Asian Americans to see how many have been underreported.

It looks racially motivated to me but Im not a police officer. Im not investigating the crimes, she said on CBS Face the Nation.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on ABCs This Week: We are very focused on the increase in hate crimes targeting the Asian American Pacific Islander community, and many other groups.  We are very focused on domestic violent extremism. It is the single greatest terrorism-related threat that we face in our homeland.

Story continues

Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old white man, is accused of killing four people inside two Atlanta spas and four others at a massage business in suburban Cherokee County. Investigators say theyre still working to establish a motive in the shootings. The suspect has claimed to have a sex addiction, according to authorities.

Thousands marched Saturday in cities coast-to-coast in protest at the rise of anti-Asian crimes and sentiment, including in Atlanta, New York, San Francisco and Pittsburgh. Georgia Sens. Warnock and Jon Ossoff marched in Atlanta alongside state Rep. Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House.

No matter how you want to spin it, the facts remain the same. This was an attack on the Asian community, Nguyen said Saturday.

President Joe Biden on Friday condemned anti-Asian violence but did not go so far as to label the Atlanta-area attacks a hate crime.

"Whatever the motivation, we know this," Biden said. "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."

Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday urged Americans to speak out against discrimination "wherever and whenever it occurs."

Biden also reiterated his call for Congress to swiftly pass the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act, introduced by members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a call backed by Chu on Sunday, who said she has been working for a year to try to get some action done, including on another bill addressing the reporting of hate crimes. Warnock, in turn, called for reasonable action on gun control.

On CNNs State of the Union, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson condemned some of his fellow Republicans' rhetoric over the shootings and anti-China sentiment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It doesnt help, he said. It doesnt give us a sense of understanding of people, any time you lump them together as an enemy of our country. Words do matter.
Naturally, one can imagine the company has plans to deliver a luxurious battery-powered sedan sooner or later. It would be logical since Tesla has been churning out countless examples of the Model S over the years, and just about every small or big startup (such as Lucid Motors with the Air) is thinking about joining the party.Now, we have no idea if General Motors has decided to allow us a glimpse into the future similar to Volkswagens Project Trinity or not, but heres a stylish sedan sketch to keep us company while waiting for more EVs to join the roster alongside the 2022 Bolts.Of course, this could be just an ideation sketch , even though GM Designs official Instagram account claims these renders are showing how easily a strong volume statement can translate closer to production. Intriguing words, right?Well, anyway, even if nothing pans out from this official post, were still very much interested in seeing what this social media account has to show us next. After all, since were dealing with an official venue, were basically getting a peek inside the imagination of the people tasked with literally sculpting the automakers designs.As far as these sketches are concerned, credited to car designer Kevin Nougarede, we think this electric sedan would best be suited to a Lucid Air comparison if it ever turns into a real car. That is also why our photo gallery also includes official images of the California-based companys Dream Edition.Here's hoping that GM has plans to bring out something thats also capable of delivering more than 1,000 horsepower and still travel for 465 miles (almost 750 km) on a single charge.
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The ABC will terminate its commercial agreements with several news websites, including industry superannuation fund-backed website, The New Daily, in a strategic shift that will focus on agreements with aggregation platforms like Facebook and Google.

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, a fierce critic of industry super, passed a Senate motion late last year requiring the national broadcaster to hand over details of its commercial agreement with The New Daily, after claiming it raised questions about the ABCs independence. He also wrote to the prudential regulator about his concerns. Ahead of Senate Estimates on Tuesday, the ABC has confirmed it will not renew its existing arrangement, putting an end to the seven-year deal.

ABC managing director David Anderson will appear at Senate estimates at Parliament on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The New Daily is published by Motion Publishing, a subsidiary company of Solstice Media. Money to fund journalism at The New Daily is received through advertising and funding from industry Super Holdings. Members of industry superannuation funds receive daily newsletters from the website.

Solstice Media, which is chaired by Eric Beecher, is the publisher of The New Daily and runs South Australian website InDaily and InQueensland. Industry sources familiar with the performance of ABCs content said it had performed better than expected when it ran on InQueensland, which receives a commercial benefit from the appearance of the articles.
About 200 people gathered Saturday evening along Portlands waterfront holding up candles and signs during a vigil honoring the victims of a series of shootings at three Atlanta-area spas earlier this week.

We are here just to show our unity and to tell the world that we are part of America, we are not a target to be discriminated against, said Liying Zheng, president of the Vancouver Chinese Association.

People carried signs with messages including Stop Asian Hate and Hate is a virus as well as the names of those who were killed Tuesday. Of the eight dead, six were Asian American women.

The authorities have identified those who died in the attacks as Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and Paul Andre Michels, 54.

The event along Tom McCall Waterfront Park was organized by various Asian American organizations in Oregon as part of a nationwide night of vigils planned by United Chinese Americans, a national advocacy group for Chinese Americans. Volunteers from the Chinese Friendship Association of Portland handed out candles to attendees.

Ai Fen, 46, said shes not the type of person who usually attends these kinds of events, but she wanted to show up and be counted among those who are publicly decrying violence against Asian Americans.

We need to learn how to stand up and speak out, Fen said in Chinese. We need to show that Asian people cant be treated badly like this.

Hyun-joo Oh, who is Korean American, said she came to help us be more visible.

I think its time for change for us to stand up and show up more for one another because sometimes were scared, so we hide away, Oh said.

A slate of Oregon leaders spoke at the event, including Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, state Rep. Khanh Pham, an Asian American legislator who represents Portlands Jade District, Multnomah County Commissioner Lori Stegmann and Christine Ryan Chin, president of the National Organization for Women Oregon.

Rosenblum urged those in attendance to use and spread awareness of the states bias crime hotline.

Asian Americans have been facing increased racism since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community leaders in Oregon have been on high alert for the past several months, as hate crimes and violence against those communities have increased nationally.

Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks and reports bias crimes against Asian Americans, tallied nearly 3,800 incidents from March 19, 2020, to the end of last month nationwide.

Bias crimes against Asian American women comprised 68% of the reports. Thirty-five percent of them happened in businesses.

The report noted 40 racist incidents in Oregon.

In January, vandals struck a stretch of Southeast 82nd Avenue thats home to several Asian-owned businesses. Jade District business owners reported more than a dozen such incidents.

We call on the members of our community  watch out for each other, support for each other, said Hardy Li, a founding member of United Chinese Americans.

This story has been updated to reflect the following correction: Liying Zheng is the president of the Vancouver Chinese Association. An earlier version misstated her title.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
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Photo: Contributed

Coquitlam pharmacist Dennis Garuc knows what it takes to vaccinate crowds.

Last year, with many family physicians unwilling to administer the flu shot, he saw a surge of patients looking to get jabbed, he said.

We sort of faced the brunt of it, said the owner and sole pharmacist at Town Centre Pharmacy. We werent really given any tools to deal with the higher volume. It was a stressful time.

Its that kind of experience that places pharmacists in a perfect position to help inoculate the roughly four million British Columbians eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the largest vaccination campaign in B.C.s history, say both health officials and pharmacists themselves.

But as pharmacies across British Columbia prepare to be integrated into the provinces wider COVID-19 vaccination campaign, many pharmacists like Garuc say they remain in the dark over what role theyll play.

Pharmacies in neighbouring Alberta, meanwhile, have already begun offering vaccination appointments to Indigenous people 50 and up, and anyone else aged 65 and older.

Here in British Columbia, said the Coquitlam pharmacist, They have given us very little information.

This week, the province announced its vaccination campaign was ahead of schedule, prompting public health officials to declare over 300,000 essential workers would soon start receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine through a program running parallel to the age-based scheme currently targeting seniors.

By April, vaccinations are expected to open up to the wider population, beginning with people aged 79 to 60 in Phase 3 and working down to British Columbians between 59 and 18 in May and June.

Every eligible British Columbian who wants a vaccine is expected to receive at least one dose before Canada Day, announced the province Thursday.

What that will look like on the ground is still not fully clear. The province has said it would role out a variety of vaccination clinics, from mass vaccination sites all the way down to mobile clinics. Indeed, thats already playing out as public health teams beat back clusters and outbreaks through targeted vaccination campaigns in local prisons, grocery stores and food processing facilities.

Many pharmacists are not willing to wait and have joined the ranks of midwives, doctors and nurses signing up to volunteer at mass vaccination clinics.

Everybody is looking to do it, said the manager of Port Moodys Newport Village Pharmacy.

To ramp up vaccination capacity across B.C.s wider populations, pharmacies will play a significant role.

Mary Ahn, who runs Marys Pharmacy off Guilford Way in Coquitlam, said shes already preparing for the first batch of vaccines as soon as the province makes them available.

We have all the supplies, she said. Once the college and the public health unit says we can participate Were pretty much ready.

B.C.-based London Drugs  which runs 54 stores in the province and another 28 stretching across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba  announced Friday it is preparing to function as an outlet to vaccinate thousands of British Columbians over the coming months.

A spokesperson for the pharmacy chain said it has bought several ultra-low temperature freezers and containers to safely transport the vaccines from distribution centres to its pharmacies like the one at Coquitlam Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and to a lesser extent the Moderna vaccine, require extremely cold temperatures to avoid spoilage.

London Drugs has also secured personal protective equipment and is preparing to launch an online booking system for Phase 3 and 4 of the provinces vaccination campaign.

Unlike big box pharmacies like London Drugs, Dennis Garuc of Town Centre Pharmacy said independent operators like himself dont have the money to buy the freezers and the cold storage boxes necessary for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

I dont have the budget for a regular freezer, he said. It would put these corporate pharmacies at an advantage.

Garuc also worries a move to create a variety of booking systems could lead to more confusion for patients looking to get vaccinated.

He points to reports out of several U.S. states where overburdened pharmacists face gruelling working hours as they try to answer the demand for vaccines all while fulfilling prescriptions to other patients in the community.

Those guys are being basically hung out to dry, he said.

But his biggest concern isnt for small operators like himself who can regulate how many doses of vaccine they receive.

Im not going to take more vaccine than I can handle. My concern would be more if Im working for a big chain, and were expecting big pharmacies to play a big role, he said. Theyre doing it on top of their regular work.

What its going to come down to is, what is the expectation and can you manage the influx of patients?

 with files from the Canadian Press
Thousands of western Sydney residents are evacuating their homes as bursting river banks flood houses to roofs with worse to come.

Residents in parts of Penrith, Mulgoa and Jamisontown were told to evacuate on Sunday, and urged to stay with friends and family outside the flood zone.

An emergency evacuation centre has also been set up in Sydney's northwest at the Castle Hill RSL on 77 Castle St.

A flooded park in Penrith on Sunday pictured as residents were warned to evacuate

Cyclists caught in a flooded park in Penrith, Sydney, on the banks of the Nepean River as waters rapidly rose on Sunday. Authorities are warning people not to enter floodwaters

Families whose homes and possessions are severely damaged will be given immediate cash payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.

The NSW State Emergency Service issued a notice at 3.30pm to people in west Penrith to evacuate towards Emu Plains as water was entering properties - giving them an hour to get out before 4.30pm Sunday.

'Once floodwater reaches 7.96m the Great Western Highway Evacuation Route will be cut,' the SES said on its website.

'If you remain in the area after 4.30pm you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to rescue you.'

Water spills from Warragamba Dam which holds Sydney's water supply on Sunday

Residents of west Jamisontown and the low lying parts of Regentville in Mulgoa have been told to leave before 9pm Sunday and to store their personal possessions in a safe place.

Those in west Jamisontown have been told to use the Great Western Highway to evacuate as the route will be cut once flood water reaches 10.6m.

Those between the Mulgoa Creek and the Nepean River in Regentville were told to use the Mulgoa Road evacuation route.

'Once floodwater crosses Martin Street residents between Mulgoa Creek and the Nepean River will become trapped and cut off from evacuation,' the SES said.

A one-off payment of $1000 per adult and $400 per child is to be made immediately available for victims who have suffered injuries or damage to their homes due to the heavy rains currently flooding parts of NSW.

A petrol station at Windsor in Sydney's northwest on Sunday

A sign peeps over a park in Penrith, Sydney as the Nepean River burst its banks on Sunday

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced the activation of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance for 18 NSW local government areas.

Under the AGDRP, eligible residents caught up in the storms and floods can apply for a one-off payment of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children.

Those who have lost their livelihoods can also now get a short-term income payment through the DRA for up to 13 weeks.

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the disaster package would help people who had suffered significant loss.

Floodwaters near Warragamba Dam, which holds Sydney's water supply on Sunday

'Our first concern is for the safety and needs of those directly affected, particularly those whose homes have been inundated by floodwaters,' he said in a statement.

'By making these payments available to the affected residents, the Australian government will ensure that those who have lost or sustained damage to their homes or lost their livelihoods as a result of the floods will have the additional assistance they need.'

In a social media video on Sunday, the prime minister advised flood-impacted residents to claim the relief payments by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66.

'It can be processed over the phone, you just need to provide your details and explain your circumstances to them, and we can arrange those payments to you as quickly as possible,' Mr Morrison said.

The package has initially been extended to Armidale, Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock City, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Hawkesbury, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland City, Mid-Coast, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle City, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Penrith, Port Stephens and Tenterfield.

A flooded street in Pitt Town, Hawkesbury region 65km north west of Sydney on Saturday

More LGAs will be added to the list in consultation with the NSW government, while mutual obligation requirements for job seeker's in the 18 regions have been lifted from March 19 until April 6.

The prime minister has been in contact with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday to offer the support of the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Morrison acknowledged the need for a 'big clean-up operation' on the other side of the floods, the worst to hit metropolitan Sydney in 50 years and the Mid-North Coast in a century.

But he indicated the recovery effort was a problem for another day, urging people to stay safe and listen to authorities.

'They trained for this, they prepare for this, and they're there to help you right now,' Mr Morrison said.

'I wish you every safety in these very trying times.'
Police in Higashi-Osaka have arrested an 18-year-old high school student on suspicion of violation of the Swords and Firearms Control Law and interfering with a police officer in the performance of his duty after he threatened an officer with a knife in a koban (police box).

According to police, the incident occurred at around 4:35 p.m. Saturday, Sankei Shimbun reported. Police said the youth came into the koban and told the 35-year-old officer on duty that he had found a wallet.

The officer was alone at the time and as he prepared to fill out a document for lost-and-found items, the youth suddenly pointed a knife with a 13-cm-long blade at him.

The police officer drew his gun and ordered the youth to put the knife on the desk, which he did. Neither the officer nor the boy was injured.
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Canada, on Dec. 3, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Parliamentary Committee Unanimously Votes to Probe Rogers-Shaw Deal

The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology voted unanimously on March 19 to probe the Rogers-Shaw deal after about an hour of debate.

On March 15, Rogers Communications Inc. announced an agreement to acquire Shaw Communications Inc. in a transaction valued at $26 billion, including debt. The deal will see two of Canadas largest cable companies, as well as their wireless networks, combined, leaving the industry with only two remaining competitors, Telus and Bell.

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has said the deal will be reviewed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the Competition Bureau of Canada, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said it is the duty of parliamentarians to probe the proposed acquisition of Shaw by Rogers because it will affect their constituents.

I believe we should have a report on it before the regulatory bodies rule, because when they rule, its over, said Poilievre, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Jobs and Industry, on March 19.

I never accepted the idea that all elected officials should just be quiet and let the so-called experts decide, Poilievre said. If the experts were doing a terrific job, we wouldnt have among the highest cell phone bills in the world, and some of the poorest coverage.

According to a 2019 report from ISED, Canada has the highest or second highest adjusted prices for mobile wireless compared to the United States, Australia, UK, France, Italy, Germany and Japan. It also said Canadas pricing for higher internet speeds was still on the higher end even as wireless and broadband prices have been declining.

Poilievre said the merger will result in a $50 billion enterprise which is equivalent to the GDP of Canada for almost a month. He added that 13 million customers will be affected by the deal.

He added no other committee has the responsibility to look into the deal other than the industry committee.

Theres a lot of very important public policy issues that come to the fore here that have been central to the issue of spectrum auction, of competition, of high speed internet, that all converge on this one merger, Poilievre said.

So for example, Shaw got its spectrum at a discount, because it was supposed to be the fourth entrant in the western market. Now, Rogers proposes to buy that spectrum by buying Shaw. Are we allowing that to happen? Are we just going to say, Okay, you know, you got in the back door, you paid a discount, and you took the spectrum on the cheap?

In 2016, Shaw acquired Wind Mobilenow known as Freedom Mobilein a $1.6 billion deal, and gained access to the wireless services providers approximately 940,000 subscribers across Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Shaw has since grown the subsidy to become Canadas fourth largest wireless carrier.

Wind was one of the companies that purchased wireless spectrum under the Harper government, which the former prime minister decided to set aside spectrum for sale in favor of new entrants to enhance competition, lower prices, better services in this area.

The Rogers Communications sign marks the companys headquarters in Toronto, Canada, on April 25, 2012. (Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press)

In its statement on March 15, Rogers said it will invest $6.5 billion in Western Canada to build critically needed 5G networks, connect underserved rural and Indigenous communities, and bring added choice to customers and businesses.

The merger, according to Rogers, will create up to 3,000 net new jobs across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Rogers also said it will not increase the wireless prices for Freedom Mobile for at least three years once the transaction is successfully closed.

Poilievre said he needed assurance that Rogers could commit to its promises.

I want to know how serious is that? Is that firm? Do we have a covenant that theyre signing as part of this proposal? Or is it just a press release that well find out three years from now its not true? he asked the committee.

The Competition Bureau Canada, meanwhile on Friday, said it has already received a higher than normal volume of online inquiries related to the Rogers-Shaw deal since the announcement was made on Monday.

The regulator said it will review each inquiry thoroughly and welcome new submissions, but will not be responding to each one due to the high volume.

Consumer advocacy group OpenMedia, on the other hand, has urged Canadians to speak out against the merger so that Ottawa will not approve it.

The Rogers-Shaw deal will reduce the competition between those four companies by at least a whopping 25 percentor much more, in local markets where there will now be only one major provider! OpenMedia said in an online petition.

That loss of competition will drive prices way up, and consumers will have significantly less choice about where they get their Internet and wireless servicesespecially in Western Canada.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 25, 2021. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the $26 billion merger will only benefit the two cable giants.

Big telecom companies are gouging Canadians and continuing to make massive profits in a time where most families are struggling to get by. A merger between two of Canadas biggest providers will just make it worse, Singh said in a statement on Monday.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, however, said the deal could actually benefit the provinces economy if Rogers keeps its promises, during a press conference on March 15.

Rogers has made a number of positive commitments to increase jobs, service, and investment in Alberta. If this proposal is approved, we would hold Rogers to those commitments, as they would be good news for Albertas economy, Kenney said.

But the premier said he expects the federal regulatory agencies to review the proposed merger carefully in order to ensure that the best interests of consumers, Canada and Alberta economies are met.
N

icole, 15, and Joshua, 13, grew up with a photo of their mum in the living room and a promise that one day they would see her again.

Their mother left El Salvador for Maryland when they were toddlers, unsure how long she would stay, certain only that she had to leave if she were ever to pry her family out of poverty. Twelve years later, she had saved enough money  the smuggler charged more than 10,000  for her kids to travel north.

On 14 December, a few yards south of the US border on an international bridge where the smuggler had left them, Mexican police stopped the pair.

I begged them, Please, please let us pass, Nicole said through tears. But instead they brought us here.

Read More:

Until then, Nicole and Joshua  who gave only their first names for fear they could be identified if returned to El Salvador  had thought of their own journey as a two-person exodus, not part of a flow, a surge or a crisis. They are now among more than 700 children who have wound up at the Centre for Attention to Border Minors in Reynosa, just south of McAllen, Texas, since December. Nearly all of those unaccompanied children were detained by Mexican soldiers or police before they could present themselves to US immigration agents.

While president Joe Biden has promised to respond humanely to the growing number of children arriving at the US border, both with and without adults, Mexican authorities have continued to act as an arm of US immigration enforcement, as they did under president Donald Trump. To what degree that partnership should continue is one of many questions Biden will have to answer as more children arrive here.

The Biden administration has told would-be migrants to wait in their countries of origin, saying it is not yet ready to receive them at the border. But it has not specified how long that wait will be or what will become of those whose journeys  like Nicole and Joshua's  began before Biden took office.

They get desperate waiting here so long, trapped inside. In many cases, we see the same kids over and over. They are caught and deported and then caught again

Some children have been at this tiny complex in the centre of a restive border city for more than a year. Others arrived just days ago. Several bear scars from beatings or torture at the hands of gangs and cartels. They sleep together in a dormitory with barred windows, the door staffed by an unarmed guard who tries to chase down would-be escapees.

They get desperate waiting here so long, trapped inside, says Gabriela Zunega Soberon, the director of the government-run shelter. In many cases, we see the same kids over and over. They are caught and deported and then caught again.

When they got here, Nicole and Joshua met children fleeing a range of crises in central America: gang violence, displacement in the wake of two major hurricanes, poverty deepened by the coronavirus pandemic. Theyve watched as more arrive every day or two.

Leslie, 13, was stopped by Mexican police at the border a few weeks after fleeing El Salvador, where she said gang members had threatened to sexually abuse her. Luis, 16, from Honduras, was caught at a checkpoint last week on the highway south of the city.

Mauricio, 17, and his brother Carlos, 15, were among the few who made it across the border. But they were promptly expelled by US Border Patrol agents, as US law permits because they are Mexican.

A barred window at the Center for Attention to Border Minors (The Washington Post)

Now, the children here debate whether its better to return home and begin the journey to the US anew, apply for asylum in Mexico or try to find a lawyer who can help get them escorted across the border to Texas. Their stories paint a broad picture of why thousands like them have arrived at the US border so far this year.

Luis, from the department of Copan in northwestern Honduras, had planned what he would tell a Border Patrol agent. They killed one of my uncles, then the other, then the other, and they were coming for me next. I know they're coming for me next.

But Mexican police boarded the commercial bus he was on as it entered Reynosa. They asked for documentation that Luis didn't have. He is now at the child welfare centre, waiting to be deported, so he can try again to migrate. When his family paid a smuggler to take him to the border, they bought three chances. He has two left.

Third time's a charm, he says.

If Luis had made it to the US border, he would probably have been released to his uncle in New York and been able to apply for asylum or another form of protection. Nicole and Joshua knew that path was open to them, too. They left El Salvador in December, unaware that a new president was about to take office in Washington but hopeful they would be allowed to reunite with their mother.

Children play volleyball during a break (The Washington Post)

Cases like theirs  children travelling to the US to join a parent  are the most common at the shelter, Soberon says. The children are allowed to call their parents in the US on Mondays and Fridays. They attend Spanish and math classes in a room with inspirational buzzwords printed on the wall: peace, responsibility, loyalty.

As for those who do make it across the US border, advocates have pressured the government to release them to relatives as quickly as possible. Because of the surge in arrivals, children now spend 108 hours on average in Border Patrol custody before being transferred to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services, where they usually spend a few more days before being released to family members.

Central American children at the centre in Reynosa spend a month on average waiting for paperwork and the intervention of their consulates. Those who decide to seek protection in Mexico often find themselves caught up in a seemingly endless bureaucratic procedure.

Nicole and Joshua have been waiting nearly four months, Leslie for 13. She has left the complex only once to fill out paperwork in a government office.

You just feel stuck, she says. Like, when is this going to end?

Mexico ramped up its apprehension of US-bound migrants in response to Trump's threats of tariffs in 2019, but that vigilance continues. The country has defended those operations, saying it is also enforcing its own immigration laws, even as it detains child asylum seekers inches from the US border.

Classes are put on for some detainees to attend (The Washington Post)

This month, the Biden administration said it would reinstate the Central American Minors programme, which aims to reunite children in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras with parents who legally reside in the US, eliminating the need for the dangerous journey north. But many of the children now en route to the US plan to reunite with parents and relatives who are undocumented immigrants.

A few miles from the child welfare centre, on the Mexican side of the international bridge that connects McAllen and Reynosa, dozens of children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador were sleeping on the ground.

US authorities had sent them back to Reynosa after they crossed the border, but because they were with their parents, Mexican officials didn't take them to the shelter. Instead, the families were deposited by the bridge, in an area patrolled by organised crime groups.

Read More:

We've been sleeping outside for three nights, says Edwin, from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, who sat with his eight-year-old son.

They had been expelled from the US under a Trump administration policy  extended under Biden  that closed the border to most asylum seekers during the pandemic. They had heard that some unaccompanied children and families with babies have been admitted into the US.

But for them, like the children detained at the centre, not much seems to have changed under a new US president.

 The Washington Post
KYODO NEWS - Mar 21, 2021 - 22:07 | World, All

North Korea closed its embassy in Kuala Lumpur and its diplomats left Malaysia on Sunday after Pyongyang announced it was cutting diplomatic ties with the Southeast Asian country over the extradition of one of its citizens to the United States.

The North Korean announcement on Friday over the extradition of Mun Chol Myong, who is wanted by U.S. authorities on money laundering charges, prompted the Malaysian government to give North Korean Embassy staff and their dependents 48 hours to leave the country.

The two countries had established diplomatic ties in 1973.

Before leaving the embassy on the fringes of the city center, Charge d'Affaires Kim Yu Song read out a statement in which he slammed Malaysia for being "subservient" to the United States and laid all responsibility at Malaysia's feet.

"Not content with the putting of our innocent citizen in the dock by blindly favoring the U.S., the principal enemy of our state, the Malaysian authority delivered our citizen to the U.S. in the end, thus destroying the foundation of the bilateral relations based on the respect of sovereignty," Kim said.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has said the North Korean man was only extradited after due legal process had been exhausted.

In 2019, a Malaysian court ordered Mun to be extradited to the United States following his arrest earlier in the year. But he fought to remain in Malaysia, saying he had done nothing wrong.

Earlier this month, he lost his final appeal to Malaysia's top court.

Mun is accused of purchasing luxury goods like liquor and cigarettes with illicit funds and having them shipped to Pyongyang via China.

On Sunday, a group of about 30 North Korean diplomats and family members were driven to Kuala Lumpur International Airport in two buses. A diplomatic source said they were bound for Shanghai, China.

Announcing that it had expelled all North Korean diplomats, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said Sunday its action was in response to North Korea's "utterly irresponsible decision" to sever diplomatic ties.

"The action by the Government of Malaysia has become a necessity in order to protect Malaysia's sovereignty and safeguard our national interest," it added.

Ties between North Korea and Malaysia have deteriorated since the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the airport in February 2017.

Malaysia later expelled the North Korean ambassador from the country and effectively closed its own embassy in Pyongyang. Malaysia has not dispatched any diplomats to the North Korean capital since.
Vote will take place tomorrow or Tuesday; Indias position still uncertain, despite Colombages claims

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Burqa-niqab ban: Minister Weerasekeras comments provoke international controversy

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Main opposition SJB holds anniversary rally; Sajith plays low-key role amid fire power from Fonseka

On the cusp of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolutions advent, Sri Lanka has been providing an unbelievable spectacle to the world  with continued boisterous glee to its detractors and incredible shock for its friends.

The country has no declared enemy nations with prolonged disputes. In the years since independence 73 years ago, keeping to time-honoured traditions and globally respected conventions, Colombo has steered a course of friendly relations with all. Give or take the occasional tensions with our closest neighbour in proximity. In what seems tragic, if not shameful, bureaucrats and politicians alike have dismissed these valuable virtues. They are inflicting more wounds on the country even if they faithfully believe they are doing their patriotic duty for the love of their motherland  a case of love going deaf, dumb, and blind. This is at the hands of novices, who seem to reject learning from history and giving a new take on the tenets of diplomatic practices possibly driven by egos.

Nowhere is it glaringly evident than in the conduct of Sri Lankas diplomacy and foreign policy. The run up to Mondays vote on the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva is laying bare the gaffes and the gung-ho day by day. If there is an overrun of business tomorrow, the vote may be delayed till Tuesday. The catalogue of the faux pas is too lengthy to list one by one. Some of the more important would highlight the tragicomedy that is at play causing discomfiture to both serving and retired Foreign Office professionals well versed in the intricacies of diplomacy and protocol. Many opine they have no place in this day and age.

Just last Wednesday, Foreign Secretary retired Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage broke tradition and drove to the well-fortified Russian Embassy at Bauddhaloka Mawatha. Accompanied by another senior Foreign Ministry official, he met, by appointment Russian Ambassador Yuri Materiy. The purpose was to urge the envoy to lobby a former USSR constituent to support Sri Lanka at the UNHRC vote, particularly since its candidature to the Council could not be accommodated by Colombo, at the last elections.

This is the first time that a Foreign Secretary has visited a Colombo-based diplomatic mission in the capital to seek such assistance. The usual accepted practice is for him or her to invite the envoy of the country concerned to the Foreign Office of the host country even in an hour of need, a time-honored tradition. In this instance, such an invitation should have been sent by the Foreign Affairs Minister who is responsible for the conduct of government foreign policy and external relations. That there is a chasm between Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and his own Ministry was revealed in these columns only last week. The Secretarys role has overshadowed the Minister.

No one doubts Foreign Secretary Colombages bona fides or commitment to the work he has undertaken. Yet, he is not a career diplomat, and therefore some of the deeper nuances of heading a machine that is running Sri Lankas diplomacy is sadly lacking in the delivery of his onerous responsibilities. However, he has still been more proactive than his Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, who has religiously resigned to a template of sovereignty violations and political vendetta in his usual media interviews on the UNHRC resolution. On one occasion, he blamed the United Kingdom, the mother of the Commonwealth, for moving the resolution least realising that India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Fiji, Bahamas, Cameroon and Namibia, are members of the UNHRC. They share the membership of the Commonwealth. In addition, Australia, Canada, Malawi and New Zealand are also from the Commonwealth and are co-sponsors of the Resolution. By such an utterance one is reminded of a Sinhala adage of providing a ladder to jumping monkeys. Sri Lanka could well land itself in the agenda of the Commonwealth too, at the behest, particularly of the co-sponsors. This is why Foreign Ministers the world over carefully choose their words.

Ripples in India

Perhaps unaware of the multiple repercussions, Foreign Secretary Colombage during a Digital Dialogue hosted by the Media Centre for National Development categorically stated that India had assured its support to protect the countrys sovereignty during the UNHRC sessions. The remarks were to suggest that India would vote against the UK-backed resolution on Sri Lanka. This dialogue was with Secretary Colombage participating with Mohan Samaranayake, Media Secretary to the President. The remarks caused ripples in Indias South Block where the External Affairs Ministry is located. The Sunday Times learnt from an official source that no such information has ever been communicated to the Foreign Ministry in Sri Lanka. Hence, there is no basis for such remarks. Indian High Commission spokesperson Eldos Mathew Punnoose said, We have no comment. In their news bulletins, Indian television stations said there had not been any change in the Indian position, one that has been articulated by their envoy in Geneva.

Foreign Secretary Colombages remarks defy logic. Firstly, the elections to the legislature of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu are to be held on April 6. The ruling Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) in New Delhi is contesting with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which is now in power in Chennai. Both have stepped up their campaign because the BJP is seeking a bigger footprint in the southern predominantly Tamil-speaking state.

It is also pertinent to note that the preambular paragraph 4 of the Resolution on Sri Lanka includes the words that the Human Rights Council re-affirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Hence, Indias ambiguously stated position is in line with this provision of the Resolution, and therefore it could be presumptive to interpret this as a supportive position towards Sri Lanka. Continued articulations in this manner by Foreign Secretary Colombage, seems to be following a strategy of bringing pressure upon Indias South Block through the media to support Sri Lanka. It was not so long ago, as revealed in these columns, that the Sri Lankan side claimed India would support Sri Lanka. India took up an opposite position. Have lessons been learnt?

Secondly, this week, Indian External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishanker flew to Chennai from New Delhi to take part in a dialogue arranged by the India Today magazine. In his speech he dwelt to some extent with Tamil issues in Sri Lanka. He asserted that addressing the Tamil needs should not be an issue to be highlighted only during election times and forgotten thereafter. There should be a genuine conviction, he asserted. That was an unambiguously clear message to the government in Colombo coming as it does before plans to conduct Provincial Council elections, which has resonance in the UNHRC Resolution.

Officially, the Indian position has not changed since their Geneva-based Permanent Representative Ashok Mani Pandey made a statement to the Human Rights Council. He said, We have taken note of the High Commissioners report on Sri Lanka and her oral remarks. The Council has adopted 7 Resolutions on the question of human rights in Sri Lanka since May 2009, when the three-decades-old conflict in that country ended. India has been an active participant in the discussions on these Resolutions and has remained engaged with Sri Lanka as its close friend and immediate neighbour. Indias consistent position rests on two pillars: i). Support for Sri Lankas unity and territorial integrity, and ii). Abiding commitment to aspirations of the Tamils of Sri Lanka for equality, justice, peace, and dignity.

This studiously drafted statement prompted the Sunday Times to project that India would abstain from voting. Now, however, in Colombos diplomatic community, there were sections who opine that India would vote in favour of the resolution though others claim it is unlikely. Either way, they were all agreed that India would not cast a vote against the resolution  meaning supporting Sri Lanka.

It is relevant to note that India did not actively engage or assist Sri Lanka in the open negotiations of the Resolution text. This includes the informal consultations. Bangladesh and Nepal also seemed to have been non-committal during those discussions. However, ahead of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksas current visit to Bangladesh, during diplomatic consultations, Dhaka has agreed to back Sri Lanka at the vote. That was one of the main reasons why Premier Rajapaksa took a special SriLankan Airlines flight to Dhaka.

Even the UK, which is the main sponsor of the resolution, has not been able to discern Indias position. Lord Ahmed, the UK Minister of State for the Commonwealth, United Nations and South Asia, was in New Delhi this week. On Thursday, he met External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. According to diplomatic sources in London, Lord Ahmed has also found it difficult to gauge the Indian position correctly. In other words, India has been maintaining a studied silence. That they have a highly professional foreign service is all too well known.

How then did Colombage suggest that India would vote against the resolution or in favour of Sri Lanka? If indeed he is correct and India votes in favour of Sri Lanka, a fact which is known only to himself, the Foreign Secretary deserves the countrys highest honour for achieving that great diplomatic feat. However, if his assertions are pure guesswork, it could be serious. He is speaking on behalf of another sovereign country and not about Sri Lanka. In doing so, if he is wrong, he has only brought about embarrassment yet again to Sri Lanka and further dented the governments credibility. It is to the point that the remarks of Sri Lankas Foreign Secretary cannot be taken seriously!

His conduct of diplomacy with New Delhi via the media comes at a time when there has been no Sri Lankan High Commissioner in the Indian capital for the past 15 months. The Sunday Times has learnt that Milinda Moragoda, who was nominated last year, will move to New Delhi as High Commissioner at the end of April. This naturally absolves him of any possible blame in the event of India taking up a position inimical to Sri Lanka. According to a government leader, Moragoda plans to spend two weeks in New Delhi and the rest of the month in Colombo during his assignment. This is in a capital which requires a full-time engagement. However, this could not be confirmed.

Foreign Secretary Colombage also told the Tamil daily newspaper Virakesari that as a government Sri Lanka had to engage with the UN Human Rights Council. That indeed is the correct position. Why then did the government reject both the UN Human Rights Commissioners Report and the resolution now before the Council? After all, that is also a decision made by the government. That made the Sri Lankan people believe that the rejection was only for their consumption but the government had indeed acknowledged the Resolution by engaging in public negotiations.

Be that as it may, there was a deafening silence on the part of Sri Lankas Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, C.A. Chandraprema, towards the rejection of Operative Paragraph 1 which welcomes inter alia the Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights presented to the 46th session. This is in addition to provisions which also call upon Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations by the Office. which would have been completely in line with the governments position. Instead, he chose to seek amendments to other operative paras (6,7 & that too out of sequence violating the accepted procedure in negotiations. Yet again this demonstrates the lack of strategy and clarity in Sri Lankas position in Geneva.

Government leaders have also been disappointed that Sri Lankas envoy in Geneva has not been successful in lobbying his counterparts based in Geneva. Chandraprema has explained that it was due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the envoys were not willing to have meetings. However, it has been pointed out to him that online meetings had been going on.

Burqa ban and repercussions

Another related incident is the move to ban Niqab and Burqa, both worn by Muslim women. Public Safety Minister Sarath Weerasekera announced publicly that he had signed a Cabinet Memorandum to ban these two forms of dress. He declared that the ban was necessary since the wear had a direct impact on national security. The Public Security Minister said those days Muslim women did not wear Niqab or Burqa and termed it a sign of religious extremism. In other remarks, Minister Weerasekera also said that madrasas (Muslim religious schools) that preach extremism would be banned. As the news spread in Sri Lanka and abroad, the situations created a different turn.

The Organisation of Islamic Countries put out two tweets. The fist said OIC condemns Sri Lankan ministers statement to ban burqas and madrasas being violative of Art. 18 and 27 of ICCPR which guarantees minorities the right to freely profess, practise and manifest their religion. The second tweet said OIC urges Sri Lankan govt to publicly denounce such discriminatory and Islamaphobic statements and desist from any measures against law abiding Muslims which negate spirit of pluralism and contravene IHRL (International Human Rights Law).

A stronger protest came from Pakistans High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Saad Khattak. He tweeted (in two parts) The likely ban on Niqab in Sri Lanka will only serve as injury to the feelings of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe. At todays economically difficult time due to pandemic and other image related challenges faced by the country at international fora, such divisive steps in the name of security besides accentuating economic difficulties, will only serve as fillip to further strengthen wild apprehensions about fundamental human rights of minorities in the country.

If the tweet was last Sunday night, the next day (Monday) High Commissioner Khattak had a meeting with Foreign Minister Gunawardena. He expressed his governments serious concern over the issue, particularly when Islamabad was exerting all its efforts to persuade member countries of the Human Rights Council to support Sri Lanka. There was an immediate mood change on the part of the Government.

Official Cabinet spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella declared that the Government would decide on banning Niqab and Burqa after carefully and wisely studying the issue, so as not to exert undue influence on any party. Another statement was issued by Foreign Secretary Colombage who declared, It is merely a proposal which is under discussion. He said, This proposal has been based on precautionary grounds, following investigations by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. Earlier, the Government rescinded its policy of mandatory cremation of Muslim victims of COVID-19 and allowed burials. It came after the visit to Sri Lanka of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. He was just been diagnoses with COVID -19.

The important question that comes to the fore is why the Government had to first choose to go ahead with the move and later backtrack because of the vote on the Sri Lanka resolution. This is proof again that different arms of the Government are functioning in different ways with no centralised control. It has been the same in other issues, too, like for example the distribution of anti-COVID-19 vaccines or the ongoing large-scale deforestation.

The halt to a niqab and burqa ban is not permanent. Public Safety Minister, retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera told the Sunday Times, I have made a cabinet proposal on the burqa ban. It will be taken up for discussion by the cabinet soon. Normally, when a Minister makes a cabinet proposal it will not be on the agenda as soon as the proposal is made. This is not a religious issue. The proposed ban is security related. Any crime can be done by using a Niqab or Burqa; therefore the cabinet would consider the proposal I made.

This is not a matter that is recommended by me or the President. The Presidential Commission that probed the Easter Sunday attacks made this recommendation. The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the international community should not interfere in the matters of Sri Lanka.

Here again, the move only illustrates the haphazard response only because the UNHRC is to decide on the resolution on Sri Lanka. Would not this aspect be reflected in the next sessions of the UNHRC in September whilst the resolution provides for, as OIC and some other countries have contended that it violates International Human Rights Law? These and many other aspects have not been taken into consideration in formulating a strategy, if at all there is one.

The Resolution will come up for vote before 47 members of the Human Rights Council. They are Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Cote d Ivorie, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Libya, Marshall Islands, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

With the vote at the UNHRC over, the Government will have plenty of soul searching to do. This is to identify how its efforts and not those caused by adversaries led to more setbacks and blunders. The billion-dollar question is whether such an exercise would ever lead to any positive action. This is to both rectify the damage caused to the country and to ensure there is professionalism.

PC polls preparations

There have also been other significant developments this week. The ruling alliances partner leaders endorsed the decision by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to conduct Provincial Council elections, possibly by June. The Legal Draftsmans Department is putting the finishing touches to new legislation covering the elections and is due to send it for Cabinet approval.

In this regard, a noteworthy trend emerged at a public rally held by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) to mark its first anniversary. Police estimates placed the turnout at Hyde Park at around 5,000. This is significant given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Even if SJB leader Sajith Premadasa remains a controversy within the party for his less aggressive leadership, it was Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka who stole the show at this meeting. If Premadasa focused mostly on foisting an SJB President and government at the upcoming elections, it was Fonseka who dealt with a number of current political issues. The ovation he received underscored the appreciation of the crowd.

The SJB event was a sneak peek on the upcoming Provincial Council elections and showed that the party could now muster crowds. However, another setback for leader Premadasa has been his inability to rein in members who were causing acute embarrassment to the party.

One such instance is when Kurunegala district MP, Ashoka Abeysinghe, a former State Minister, accused President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and brother Basil Rajapaksa of being the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019. A video of his aggressive speech went viral in the social media. Abeysinghe was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to make a statement.

Accompanying him were Premadasa and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

In a statement he made, Abeysinghe meekly apologised for making those accusations. The CID has now referred the matter to the Attorney Generals Department. There is no gainsaying that tough deterrent action is needed if such false remarks are made by parliamentarians. The question now is what action the SJB would take over falsehoods publicly uttered by one of its MPs.

Plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has been plunged into many issues both externally and internally in the new year. Externally, the bigger worry is over the Human Rights Council Resolution and its aftermath in the coming months. It is now set to echo in Palais de Naciones, the Council Secretariat in Geneva, for at least a few more years to come. At least for the future, the Government has to formulate a clear-cut strategy instead of ad hoc and unprofessional measures.

Internally, with only weeks to go for the national new year, essential commodity prices have reached sky high. The COVID-19 vaccination programme has gone awry with the able receiving their vaccines and those unable waiting with hope. These will sure become issues at the PC polls but the Government still has time to rectify the situation. Belatedly heeding its election pledge to deal with those corrupt alone will be of no help. The people are confused with different signals emanating from different sections of the Government. A high priority is the need to speak with one voice and take up one position.
The Union Jack will be flown on UK Government buildings every day of the year under plans to celebrate the United Kingdoms heritage and pride.

Ministers are set to issue new guidance this week to get the world-famous flag displayed all year round  not just on designated days.

Under current guidance, the flag is only required to be flown on all UK Government buildings in England, Wales and Scotland on special days, such as the Queens birthday.

Ministers are set to issue new guidance this week to get the world-famous flag displayed all year round  not just on designated days

The new move is being billed as part of wider plans to celebrate and protect the Union  especially against mounting pressure in Scotland for a second independence poll.

And post-Brexit, the Government is also set to require managers of public buildings in England to apply for planning permission if they want to fly the EU flag.

The moves come after BBC Breakfast presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty were accused last week of making fun of Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick for displaying the Union Jack in his office.

Under current guidance, the flag is only required to be flown on all UK Government buildings in England, Wales and Scotland on special days, such as the Queens birthday.

That sparked a backlash from the Corporation and a statement from director-general Tim Davie that the BBC is proud to be British.

But last night, Tory MPs suggested the new excellent flag guidance should also apply to the Corporations many buildings.

Morecambe MP David Morris told The Mail on Sunday that the BBC could do with a reminder of how the Union Flag is cherished by the British people.

Officials last night hailed the flag as one of the most recognisable symbols of the partnership between the four constituent nations of the UK.

However, sources privately confirmed the Government was not ordering public buildings in Scotland to fly the flag at Scottish government buildings instead of the Saltire.

Ministers also want to cut red tape to allow two flags to be flown on one pole  to allow organisations to highlight local identity alongside national identity  for example by flying the St Georges Cross below the Union Jack on buildings in England, or the Aberdeenshire county flag below the Union flag in Aberdeenshire.

Officials stressed that in Northern Ireland there was specific legislation on arrangements for flag flying from government buildings.
- ironSource, a leading business platform that enables mobile content creators to prosper within the app economy, will combine with Thoma Bravo Advantage at an implied pro forma equity value of approximately $11.1 billion

- ironSource recorded 2020 revenue and adjusted EBITDA of $332 million and $104 million, respectively, growing revenue at 83% year over year. With ironSource's core addressable market projected to grow to as much as $41 billion by 2025, the combination with Thoma Bravo Advantage creates a public company positioned for significant long-term growth and value creation

- Transaction is expected to provide up to $2.3 billion in cash proceeds (a portion of which will be used for purchases from ironSource equity holders), including an oversubscribed PIPE of $1.3 billion and $1 billion of cash held in the trust account of Thoma Bravo Advantage, assuming no redemptions by public shareholders

- After giving effect to the transaction (and assuming no redemptions by public shareholders), the company is expected to have approximately $740 million of unrestricted cash

- An affiliate of Thoma Bravo, L.P. has committed $300 million to the PIPE; Orlando Bravo will join ironSource's Board of Directors at transaction closing

- Top-tier investors anchoring the PIPE include funds and accounts managed by Tiger Global Management, LLC, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Nuveen, LLC, Hedosophia, Wellington Management, The Baupost Group, and certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC

TEL AVIV, Israel, and SAN FRANCISCO, March 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ironSource, a leading business platform for the app economy, has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Thoma Bravo Advantage (NYSE: TBA) ("TBA"), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, to bring to the public markets a highly-profitable and scalable business that provides a comprehensive business platform for app developers. The transaction values ironSource at a pro forma equity value of $11.1 billion, and is supported by a $1.3 billion oversubscribed Class A ordinary share PIPE led by an affiliate of Thoma Bravo, L.P. ("Thoma Bravo"), as well as investments from Tiger Global Management, LLC, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Nuveen, LLC, Hedosophia, Wellington Management, The Baupost Group, and certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC and other institutional investors. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will operate under the ironSource name.

ironSource provides the most comprehensive business platform for the app economy. The platform is designed to enable any app or game developer to turn their app into a scalable, successful business by helping them to monetize and analyze their app and grow and engage their users through multiple channels, including unique on-device distribution through partnerships with leading telecom operators and OEMs such as Orange and Samsung. In 2020, ironSource grew revenue 83% year-over-year to $332 million, with 94% from 291 customers with more than $100,000 of annual revenue, a dollar-based net expansion rate of 149%, and adjusted EBITDA margins of 31%. The company serves over 2.3 billion monthly active users across its global customer base.

As a public company, ironSource is expected to benefit from the financial and operational support of Thoma Bravo - one of the most experienced and successful software investors in the world. With a track record of over 300 software investments, Thoma Bravo can provide ironSource with unparalleled industry expertise and a global network.

"Joining forces with Thoma Bravo Advantage to bring ironSource to the public markets presents an opportunity to partner with the world's leading software investor to achieve the next level of growth," said Tomer Bar Zeev, CEO and co-founder of ironSource. "Despite our previous progress pursuing a traditional IPO, when we met with Thoma Bravo Advantage we found an alignment of vision and shared conviction about the long-term growth we can drive at ironSource that made them the perfect partner as we take this next step in growing our company, and the market as a whole."

"As one of the fastest-growing and most innovative platforms for building and scaling businesses in the app economy, ironSource is well-positioned for continued success as a public company," said Orlando Bravo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thoma Bravo Advantage, as well as a founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo. "With a full suite of solutions across the app growth life cycle - and a unique combination of scale, business growth, and profitability - we expect ironSource to further its market leadership position as a public company. We look forward to partnering closely with Tomer and the talented ironSource team in this exciting next chapter for the company."

"ironSource is a one-of-a-kind software company that combines an innovative, high-growth franchise with a deeply experienced management team that has a track record of success in a rapidly expanding market," said Robert (Tre) Sayle, CEO of Thoma Bravo Advantage, as well as a partner at Thoma Bravo. "We are thrilled to be partnering with ironSource as it enters the public markets and to be able to provide Thoma Bravo's deep software expertise and financial support to the company as it continues its growth journey."

Company Overview

The app economy is one of the fastest-growing markets today, with millions of apps available to billions of users who spend 83% of their time on mobile devices inside apps. Within the app economy, games are the leading category of apps, accounting for the majority of apps in the Apple App Store in 2020 according to Statista, and ironSource has established a strong leadership position within this category, focusing its product development and innovation on building core infrastructure serving mobile game developers.

ironSource powers the business growth of 87% of the top 100 games, and has been ranked multiple times as one of the top 3 platforms for driving both quality and scaled user growth by leading industry indexes. In addition, 14 of the 19 games published through the ironSource platform were ranked in the top 10 most downloaded games on either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store over the course of 2020, and one of them - Join Clash - was the most downloaded game in the world in February 2021.

"Our solutions cover the entire game growth cycle, from growing your user base, to generating revenue to reinvest in growth, and then analyzing and optimizing the entire cycle to drive profitability," said Omer Kaplan, CRO and co-founder of ironSource. "Using our platform, game developers are able to unlock a flywheel of continuous growth, and since our business model is aligned with our customer's success, as they grow, we do too. While this cycle is most often leveraged by mobile games, it's easily transferable to apps outside of gaming, and today 16% of our customers with more than $100,000 of annual revenue are already from industries beyond games."

The ironSource platform is made up of two solution suites, ironSource Sonic ("Sonic") and ironSource Aura ("Aura"). The Sonic solution suite supports developers as they launch, monetize, and scale their apps and games. The Aura solution suite allows telecom operators to enrich the device experience by creating new engagement touchpoints that deliver relevant content for their users across the entire lifecycle of the device. This creates a unique on-device distribution channel for developers to promote their apps as an integral part of the device experience.

"The Aura solution suite represents a unique value-add for developers, allowing them to get their apps discovered on millions of devices worldwide," said Arnon Harish, President and co-founder of ironSource. "Equally important, however, is our ability to help telecom operators with digital transformation, enabling them to engage their users throughout the lifecycle of the device. By leveraging ironSource's core capabilities around content monetization and user engagement, we were able to quickly build and deploy a solution suite for telecom operators that allows them to more fully participate in the app economy."

The combination of these two solution suites serves to differentiate the ironSource platform, making it the most comprehensive app business platform in the market and underpinning its market leadership. That market leadership makes ironSource the de facto choice for customers looking to grow their app, and the breadth of its solutions means developers of all sizes and at all stages of growth have a way to leverage the platform. Once a developer starts working with ironSource, they typically expand their use to multiple solutions within the platform, driving a high dollar-based net expansion rate and gross customer retention rate.

"This is a very proud moment for us at Viola and for me personally. A company where we were the first investors thrives and goes public as one of the largest public tech companies in Israeli history," said Shlomo Dovrat, co-founder of Viola Ventures and board member at ironSource. "We look forward to continuing to work with the amazing founding team of ironSource on their incredible journey."

"We invested in ironSource in 2019 because we saw a unique opportunity to partner with a founder-led company that not only operated in an exciting market, but had already achieved impressive, profitable growth and industry leadership," said Daniel Pindur, Partner at CVC Capital Partners. "It's been amazing to be part of ironSource's journey so far, and incredibly rewarding to see the company enter its next chapter of growth," added Sebastian Kuenne, Managing Director and Head of CVC Growth Partners in Europe.

Transaction Overview

Thoma Bravo Advantage has agreed to combine with ironSource based on a $11.1 billion pro forma equity valuation and the transaction is supported by a $1.3 billion oversubscribed Class A ordinary share PIPE led by a $300 million investment by an affiliate of Thoma Bravo, as well as investments from Tiger Global Management, LLC, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Nuveen, LLC, Hedosophia, Wellington Management, The Baupost Group, and certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC and other institutional investors.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Thoma Bravo Advantage's shareholders.

Shares issued to the sponsor of Thoma Bravo Advantage will be subject to a 12-month lock-up with limited releases based on the trading price of the shares following the 150th day after the closing of the transaction; nearly all of ironSource's shareholders will be subject to a 6-month lock-up after the closing of the transaction, subject to the same early release applicable to Thoma Bravo Advantage.

Following the closing of the transaction, ironSource will have a dual class equity structure whereby current shareholders of ironSource will own Class B ordinary shares with five votes per share and holders of Class A ordinary shares, including Thoma Bravo Advantage's shareholders, will have one vote per share.

After giving effect to the transaction and assuming no redemptions by the Thoma Bravo Advantage shareholders, the company is expected to have approximately $740 million of unrestricted cash.

Total consideration to ironSource shareholders will be $10 billion, which is expected to be comprised of $1.5 billion in cash consideration and a majority of the shares of the combined company.

Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will retain the ironSource Ltd. name.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are serving as financial advisors to ironSource, and Latham & Watkins LLP and Meitar | Law Offices are serving as legal advisors to ironSource.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Goldfarb Seligman & Co. and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP are acting as legal advisors to Thoma Bravo Advantage.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC acted as PIPE placement agents.

Investor Conference Call

For those investors that wish to listen to an investor presentation and webcast hosted by management of ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage discussing the business and the proposed transaction, please register here www.is.com/investors.

A link to a brief investor audio call hosted by management of ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage discussing the business and the proposed transaction can be found on ironSource's investor website at www.is.com/investors.

The investor presentation is being filed by ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be available on the company's investor relations website and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

About ironSource

ironSource is a leading business platform that enables mobile content creators to prosper within the app economy. App developers use ironSource's platform to turn their apps into successful, scalable businesses, leveraging a comprehensive set of software solutions which help them grow and engage users, monetize content, and analyze and optimize business performance to drive more overall growth. The ironSource platform also empowers telecom operators to create a richer device experience, incorporating relevant app and service recommendations to engage users throughout the lifecycle of the device. By providing a comprehensive business platform for the core constituents of the app economy, ironSource allows customers to focus on what they do best, creating great apps and user experiences, while we enable their business expansion in the app economy. For more information please visit www.is.com

About Thoma Bravo Advantage

Thoma Bravo Advantage is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purposes of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Its Class A ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "TBA." Thoma Bravo Advantage is sponsored by Thoma Bravo Advantage Sponsor LLC, which was formed by individuals affiliated with Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity firm focused on the software and technology-enabled software services sector. Thoma Bravo Advantage was formed for the purpose of executing a business combination in the software industry.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This press release relates to a proposed transaction between ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage.? This press release does not constitute (i) solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction or (ii) an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any security of Thoma Bravo Advantage, ironSource, or any of their respective affiliates, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

In connection with the proposed transaction, ironSource intends to file a registration statement on Form F-4 with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement of Thoma Bravo Advantage in connection with Thoma Bravo Advantage's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Thoma Bravo Advantage's shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction and a prospectus of ironSource. Thoma Bravo Advantage also will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.

This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed transaction.?Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders are urged to read the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by ironSource may be obtained free of charge from ironSource's website at http://www.is.com or by written request to ironSource at ironSource Ltd., Derech Menachem Begin 121, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, and the documents filed by Thoma Bravo Advantage may be obtained free of charge from Thoma Bravo Advantage's website at http://www.thomabravoadvantage.com or by written request to Thoma Bravo Advantage, 150 N. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Participants in Solicitation

ironSource and Thoma Bravo and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Thoma Bravo's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Thoma Bravo Advantage ("TBA") and ironSource Ltd. ("ironSource"). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this communication, including statements regarding ironSource's, TBA's or the combined company's future financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, ironSource's or TBA's expectations concerning the outlook for their or the combined company's business, productivity, plans and goals for future operational improvements and capital investments, operational performance, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets and expected future financial performance, as well as any information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the combined company. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding the expected benefits of the proposed transaction between ironSource and TBA.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of TBA's securities; (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the adoption of the merger agreement by the shareholders of TBA and ironSource, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by TBA's public shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iii) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether to pursue the proposed transaction; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (v) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on ironSource's business relationships, performance, and business generally; (vi) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans of ironSource and potential difficulties in ironSource employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against ironSource or against TBA related to the merger agreement or the proposed transaction; (vii) the ability of ironSource to list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (ix) volatility in the price of the combined company's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive industry in which ironSource operates, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting ironSource's business and changes in the combined capital structure; (x) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and to identify and realize additional opportunities; (xi) ironSource's markets are rapidly evolving and may decline or experience limited growth; (xii) ironSource's reliance on operating system providers and app stores to support its platform; (xiii) ironSource's ability to compete effectively in the markets in which it operates; (xiv) ironSource's quarterly results of operations may fluctuate for a variety of reasons; (xv) failure to maintain and enhance the ironSource brand; (xvi) ironSource's dependence on its ability to retain and expand its existing customer relationships and attract new customers; (xvii) ironSource's reliance on its customers that contribute more than $100,000 of annual revenue; (xviii) ironSource's ability to successfully and efficiently manage its current and potential future growth; (xix) ironSource's dependence upon the continued growth of the app economy and the increased usage of smartphones, tablets and other connected devices; (xx) ironSource's dependence upon the success of the gaming and mobile app ecosystem and the risks generally associated with the gaming industry; (xxi) ironSource's, and ironSource's competitors', ability to detect or prevent fraud on its platforms; (xxii) failure to prevent security breaches or unauthorized access to ironSource's or its third-party service providers data; (xxiii) the global scope of ironSource's operations, which are subject to laws and regulations worldwide, many of which are unsettled and still developing; (xxiv) the rapidly changing and increasingly stringent laws, contractual obligations and industry standards relating to privacy, data protection, data security and the protection of children; and (xxv) the effects of health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

ironSource and TBA caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this communication. Neither ironSource nor TBA undertakes any obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that ironSource or TBA will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear, up to the consummation of the proposed transaction, in TBA's public filings with the SEC or, upon and following the consummation of the proposed transaction, in ironSource's public filings with the SEC, which are or will be (as appropriate) accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to consult.

Market, ranking and industry data used throughout this communication, including statements regarding market size and technology adoption rates, is based on the good faith estimates of ironSource's management, which in turn are based upon ironSource's management's review of internal surveys, independent industry surveys and publications, including reports by Altman Solon, App Annie, AppsFlyer, Apptopia, eMarketer, Newzoo, Omdia and Sensor Tower and other third party research and publicly available information. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. While ironSource is not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented herein, its estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed above.

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The policing minister has been accused of breaching Covid-19 protocol at the Home Office after he tested positive at his place of work.

Kit Malthouse took a lateral flow test on his way into work last Monday but the minister reportedly went into the Home Office without waiting for the results.

According to the Sunday Times, Mr Malthouse was asymptomatic and was alerted to his positive test result 30 minutes after taking the test.

The 54-year-old immediately asked those working in his department to wear masks and drove himself home to self-isolate after receiving the diagnosis.

It comes after Malthouse told LBC in January it is 'preposterous' to think anyone would be 'ignorant' of the rules during the third national lockdown.

He said: 'It seems preposterous that after 10 months anyone could be ignorant to the rules.

'Also, it is frankly ignorant to the perilous state that we find ourselves in with the NHS rammed to capacity, with numbers of infections rising on a daily basic and sadly deaths following them.'

The policing minister entered the Home Office without waiting for his lateral flow test result

The Sunday Times reports that two teams had to self-isolate and his office has since been deep cleaned and the air vents have been changed after the apparent breach in protocol.

Government guidance states that workers must remain socially distanced at work until they receive their negative test result.

The newspaper also reports that the breach was not reported to the Covid directorate and says sources claim no Covid cases have been reported at the Home Office in the last 14 days which has sparked claims of a cover-up.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'the Policing Minister received a positive Covid test result on Monday. This was a precautionary test as the Minister had no symptoms.

'The Minister promptly left the building and is now self-isolating with his household.

'A deep clean was conducted of his office and areas he came into contact with.'

Kit Malthouse said in January that it is preposterous that anyone could be ignorant of the rules

Kit Malthouse is the latest politician to be accused of breaching Covid protocol during the pandemic.

Former SNP member Margaret Ferrier travelled from her Scottish constituency to London while awaiting test results and spoke in the Commons before travelling back on the train after being told she had tested positive.

In April last year, former senior aide Dominic Cummings sparked outrage when he travelled more than 200 miles to Co Durham when his wife was ill with the virus.

Also in April last year, Communities secretary Robert Jenrick was quizzed over a visit he made to his parents' house in Shropshire despite urging the country to stay home during the first national lockdown.
The BJP on Sunday unveiled its manifesto for the West Bengal elections, promising to build a "Sonar Bangla" by providing employment, strengthening social security schemes and vowing to clear the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in the first cabinet meeting of the new government.

Unveiling the "Sonar Bangla Sankalpa Patra" at EZCC in Salt Lake, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that BJP will ensure the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme and the PM-Kisan programme in the state, besides giving at least one job per family.

Assuring to provide arrears of Rs 18,000 to 75 lakh farmers of the state under PM-Kisan, the BJP promised Rs 10,000 per year for them, if voted to power, with Rs 6,000 being contributed by the Centre and the rest by the state.

The party also announced a Rs 5,000 crore intervention fund to assure farmers' economic security, besides accidental insurance worth Rs 3 lakh for small farmers and fishermen.

In the manifesto, the party promised a Sonar Bangla fund worth Rs 11,000 crore to promote art, literature and other such sectors, and a Tagore Prize on the lines of the Nobel Prize.

The BJP also promised seventh pay commission implementation for state government employees and 30 per cent reservation for women in state government jobs.

Promising to act tough on infiltration, the BJP promised "strictest border security".

The party also promised free KG to PG education for all women and free travel for them in public transport.

It promised to build new AIIMS in North Bengal, Jungle Mahal and Sunderban regions, besides toilets and clean drinking water for every family.

Shah said that when the BJP forms the government in West Bengal, people would not have to go to court for organising Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja.

"Bengal has turned into one of the most unsafe states for women. Inaction for years has broken the dreams of the youth and has stopped the flow of employment. In the last 10 years, TMC's ill-governance has started a dark chapter in Bengal's history," he alleged.

In the poll manifesto, the party also promised a Rs 20,000 crore Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Fund for the infrastructure development of schools, and five universities at par with IITs and IIMs.

The party said that to transform Kolkata into an international city, it will set up a Kolkata Development Fund worth Rs 22,000 crore and also ensure that the metropolis becomes a UNESCO Heritage City.

"We have decided that we will clear the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in the first cabinet meeting itself, besides approving the Ayushman Bharat scheme for the benefit of the poor," Shah said.

The party further promised that every refugee family will be given Rs 10,000 per year for five years through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

Shah said that his party would work towards building a safe Bengal, an "appeasement-free Bengal" and an infiltration-free state, if voted to power.

"We will bring back the Bengal that made the entire nation proud," he said.

"You have given time to Congress, over 30 years to Communists and ten years to TMC. Give us five years to build a Sonar Bangla," he said, urging the people to vote for the BJP.

(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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Like everything else in the 19th century, the Civil War was a male-dominated affair. But one woman proved invaluable to the Union armies, revered even by the likes of William T. Sherman.

Mary Ann Mother Bickerdyke became one of the wars larger-than-life figures, but in 1861, she was a 43-year-old widow from Galesburg whose occupation was listed as botanic physician. That spring, she was moved during a local church sermon by the Rev. Edward Beecher, brother of Uncle Toms Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe, on the misery of military hospital conditions in Cairo. A relief collection was raised, and Bickerdyke was sent to distribute the contribution.

Arriving in the calico dress and Shaker bonnet that became her signature, she was appalled at what she saw in Cairo and quickly went to work. Among her first actions was to find two hogshead barrels, saw each in half to create a makeshift bathtub  and wash dozens of soldiers  including a general.

Bickerdyke was never intimidated by rank. She quickly became an indispensable figure in the armys medical corps, winning over the men with her tireless concern for their needs. However, her forceful bravado grated on the officers, who usually bore the brunt of her tirades.

Bickerdyke made five trips aboard a hospital steamer to help transport wounded men from Fort Donelson back to Cairo and elsewhere. Three days after the bloodbath at Shiloh, Mother showed up in a gray Confederate overcoat and a slouch hat that had replaced a lost bonnet. In no time, she set up a portable laundry and was serving hot soup, tea and crackers to the men when a surgeon approached, demanding to know under whose authority Bickerdyke was serving.

Without hesitation, Bickerdyke shot back, I have received my authority from the Lord God Almighty. Have you anything that ranks higher than that?

Gen. Sherman hardly disagreed. Once, a colonel complained to Sherman about that meddlesome old woman from the North. He received little help from the admiring general, who simply said, I cant do anything for you. She outranks me.

In another instance, Bickerdyke ordered a passing brigade to halt and distribute coffee and soup to wounded comrades. Although she had no military authority to do so  and was not even an official member of the army  the brigade complied.

In addition to her field work, she was sent on major fundraising tours on behalf of the Sanitary Commission to secure support for medical needs. The dedication of this Mother to suffering men never wavered. By wars end, she reportedly had organized 300 hospitals and worked on 19 battlefields while offering welcome comfort to thousands of wounded, sick and dying men.

Her yeoman efforts brought deserving  if not surprising  honor. At the grand review of troops in Washington on May 24, 1865, Sherman requested her presence on the review stand, but Bickerdyke was little interested in such pageantry. She chose instead to organize a first-aid station for needy soldiers.

Following the war, she settled in Salina, Kansas, where she operated a boarding house and maintained her devotion to soldiers. Some credit her with influencing more than 300 veterans to settle in Kansas, thanks in part to her successful effort to gain free transport for two years on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad for ex-soldiers.

When Kansas was racked by a massive grasshopper invasion in 1874, Bickerdyke, who by then was living in Great Bend, again answered the call. She made 10 trips to the Midwest and East to solicit donations and supplies, an exhausting whirlwind that broke her health.

Bickerdyke spent an extended period of recuperation in California, where she continued her work for veterans as she regained her health. She also worked for a time at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco. Bickerdyke eventually settled in Bunker Hill, Kansas, and became active at an Ellsworth home for ex-nurses and military widows that later was named in her honor.

The state of Kansas honored her with Mother Bickerdyke Day on July 19, 1897, and throngs flocked to Bunker Hill to visit and pay respects. She died there after a debilitating stroke in 1901.

She was buried back in Galesburg, where a statue in her honor was erected in 1906 on the courthouse grounds. The statue, which depicts her offering water to a wounded soldier, is adorned with Shermans three legendary words, She outranks me.

Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
Wales is to launch a new international learning exchange programme following the UK governments decision to withdraw from Erasmus after Brexit.

The Welsh government plans to invest 65m in the new scheme, which will run from 2022 to 2026.

The programme will aim to send 15,000 participants from Wales overseas and have 10,000 participants from other countries come to study or work in Wales.

Boris Johnson decided not to partake in Erasmus last year when talks were concluded over a post-Brexit trade deal  ending financial support for students to study abroad in all EU countries and many others, including Norway, Iceland, Tunisia and Israel.

Instead, the government rushed out a new Turing Scheme, named after the legendary Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing.

It emerged this month that the replacement scheme will not fund tuition or travel costs  and the living allowance has been slashed.

Announcing the initiative from the Welsh government, Mark Drakeford, the first minister, said studying abroad broadens horizons, expands key skills and brings benefits to communities and organisations here in Wales.

Read more:

He said: This is a down payment on our young peoples futures, offering opportunities to all, from all backgrounds.

Securing these opportunities is particularly important in the context of the difficulties experienced by young people and learners across Wales as a result of the pandemic.

Cardiff University will lead the detailed development of the programme over the next 12 months.

Exchanges will be carried out in a similar way to the Erasmus scheme and will be extended to cover not just Europe but also further afield.

The programme will provide funding to enable students and staff across universities, colleges, adult education centres and schools to undertake a period of structured learning or work experience overseas.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 1 April 2021 A family walks in St Nicholas' Park in Warwick, the hot weather which baked much of the UK this week is set to give way to a chilly Easter weekend. PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2021 A woman adds a heart to the National Covid Memorial Wall in London EPA UK news in pictures 30 March 2021 Jamie Klingler from Reclaim These Streets speaks to the media in Clapham Common, south London, after a review by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor concluded that Metropolitan Police officers did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner at the vigil PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2021 An aerial photo shows people playing tennis at the Mersey Bowman Lawn Tennis Club in Liverpool northwest England on March 29, 2021, as England's third Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. - People in England rushed outside Monday to enjoy sports, picnics and other previously prohibited activities, as the nation entered the second phase of its coronavirus lockdown easing thanks in large part to a successful vaccination drive AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 28 March 2021 A walrus sleeps on the slipway of Tenby Lifeboat station at Tenby, Wales Reuters

Kirsty Williams, the Welsh education minister, added: We have been clear that international exchange programmes, which bring so many benefits to participants, as well as their education providers and wider community, should build on the excellent opportunities that the Erasmus+ programme offered.

Our students and staff are vital ambassadors for us overseas, promoting the message that Wales is an inviting destination for students and partners across the world, and their education and cultural awareness are improved in many ways as a result of spending time abroad  just as our education providers are enriched by students and staff visiting Wales to study and teach.

Last week talks were held between higher education institutions in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland aimed at allowing students to take part in the EU's student exchange scheme through Irish colleges.

The Irish government announced late last year that students from Northern Ireland would be given access to Erasmus by allowing them to temporarily register with Irish colleges and travel to an EU member state.

Northern Irish students are set to be able to avail of the scheme from September.

Scotland has also vowed to explore alternatives with Richard Lochhead, the Scottish minister for further and higher education, calling the UKs replacement Turing scheme a poor shadow of the EU programme.
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As spring break crowds wreaked havoc in one of the most popular US party destinations, many Miami Beach locals took to social media to blame out-of-towners for the chaos.

Thousands of revellers have descended on the south Florida city in recent days, eager to let off steam after a year of lockdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Responding to "multiple fights, brawls, melees, and other public displays and disturbances of the peace", the city declared a state of emergency on Saturday, imposed an 8 pm curfew on its main entertainment district, and restricted eastbound travel on the causeways linking it to the mainland.

"Don't blame Miami for those crowds on South Beach. Nobody who's from Miami goes to South Beach," one Twitter user named Silas P. Silas wrote, eliciting approval from fellow residents.

"Lived in Miami my whole life and minus going out for brunch or dinner on South Beach with friends which I haven't done in a year I tend to stay away especially when there are crowds," said another Twitter user, Pamela Amy.

Video and photos posted on social media showed thousands of mostly maskless spring breakers packed together and dancing in the streets as police struggled to enforce the curfew in a so-called High Impact Zone around the city's popular Ocean Drive.

Local media said it took officers two hours to clear the area, and that at points they fired pepperballs at the crowd. Video showed people stampeding to get away.

The Miami Beach Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

People enjoy themselves along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida. College students have arrived in the South Florida area for the annual spring break ritual.

Under the new order, officers blocked off the Art Deco historic district at 8 pm and all businesses inside the zone were forced to close, Interim City Manager Raul Aguila told reporters on Saturday.

The three main causeways connecting the city with downtown Miami were closed to eastbound traffic from 9 pm, except to residents, hotel guests and people traveling to work.

"I think the volume (of visitors) is clearly more than it's been in previous years and that, I think, is in part due to the fact that there are very few places open elsewhere in the country," Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said.

The curfew measures are in effect for at least 72 hours. City officials will meet on Sunday to decide whether to extend them.

Concerns over public safety prompted some businesses to voluntarily close their doors during what would normally be among their most profitable days of the year and after months of hardship caused by the pandemic.

The storied Clevelander South Beach hotel said it was halting its food and beverage operations until at least Wednesday. The Miami Herald said it was Ocean Drive's longest continuously open establishment.

"Recently, we have grown increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the City to maintain a safe environment in the surrounding area," the hotel said in a statement.

In a Twitter video, Miami podcaster Derek Lane gave a couple of reasons why he shared the belief that locals were not responsible for the raucous scenes - including the weather.

"One: We don't like South Beach. We ain't impressed by that," Lane said in the video posted on Saturday. "That's for the out-of-towners. Two: last night it was 60 degrees in Miami!"
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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Highlights The Chinese government released a statement notifying all military personnel of the immediate ban on all Tesla vehicles on or near military areas.

Elon Musk defended Teslas position and aims to rectify the misconceptions the Chinese government has about Tesla vehicles.

China accounts for nearly 25% of Tesla's global sales.

China, which is the world's biggest market for electric vehicles (EV) by the number of EVs sold every year, has reportedly banned military and government personnel from using Tesla vehicles, citing a potential data security risk posed by the Elon Musk-run electric carmaker.

Commenting on the Chinese government's decision, Elon Musk stated that he would shut down the company if he finds that the cars are being used to spy. According to a Reuters report, China has barred Tesla cars from entering its military and security complexes earlier last week. Tesla EVs have a total of 8 cameras; 3 front-facing, 2 side-cameras, and 2 side-rear-facing cameras under the front fender badges, and one rear-facing camera. These cameras provide 360 degrees of visibility around the car at up to 250 meters of range.

This was out of security concerns as the Tesla vehicles had cameras installed in them. So, the Chinese authorities believe that the cars could be used to collect government information to spy on the country.

As mentioned in the report, the talks came up after top U.S. diplomats held a physical in-person discussion with the Chinese diplomats in Alaska as a contentious meeting. This meeting was the first in-person discussion between the two superpowers since President Joe Biden took office.

The Chinese authorities are concerned that data gathered by Tesla vehicles, such as images taken by the cars' cameras, could be transmitted to the US.

The Chinese automobile market is critical to Tesla. It equates to roughly a quarter of Tesla's global sales and it also operates a factory in Shanghai.
Oscar nominee Riz Ahmed has opened up about how he was once so broke he almost quit acting as he thought he had 'reached the end of the road'.

The British actor, 38, who received an Oscar nod for his role in the film Sound of Metal this week, said he nearly gave up on showbiz when he couldn't afford a plane ticket to an audition in Los Angeles.

Riz revealed that when he was asked to audition for his breakthrough role as Rick in the 2014 movie Nightcrawler, he was so hard up for cash he almost pulled out.

Oscar hopeful: Riz Ahmed has opened up about how he was once so broke he almost quit acting as he thought he had 'reached the end of the road' (pictured in 2019)

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'They asked me to fly to fly to L.A. I was like, "I cant fly to L.A. Im broke".

'But I had to fly to L.A.  and just bet on myself. I spent that whole flight just running lines. I remember landing and seeing Jake Gyllenhaal in the room and going, "Whoa".

The Londoner landed the part in Nightcrawler, starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and said it 'opened doors' for him but came at a time when he was ready to quit.

He said: 'It came when I thought Id reached the end of the road. I wasnt really making any money, being offered that next tier of roles.'

Breakthrough: The actor, 38, revealed that he was once so broke he almost couldn't afford a plane ticket to an audition in Los Angeles for his role in the 2014 movie Nightcrawler

Rock-and-roll: This week he made history to become the first Muslim nominated for an Oscar for lead actor for his role in the hit film Sound of Metal as a drummer who loses his hearing

Earlier this week he made history to become the first Muslim nominated for an Oscar for lead actor for his role in the hit film Sound of Metal.

He won rave reviews for his depiction of Ruben Stone, a rock-and-roll drummer and recovering alcoholic whose life goes into a free-fall when he loses his hearing.

The US actor Mahershala Ali was the first Muslim to win an Oscar when he was named best supporting actor for Moonlight in 2017, and won the same prize in 2019 for Green Book.

Ahmed tweeted on Monday: 'Wow! I'm honoured to be nominated by my fellow actors alongside such inspiring performances, and am grateful to the Academy for their support and encouragement.'

'Wow!': Riz won rave reviews for his depiction of Ruben Stone, a rock-and-roll drummer and recovering alcoholic in the movie, and tweeted his excitement at the Oscar news on Monday

The actor was praised for his 'passionate performance' on Sound Of Metal, which he prepared for by learning drumming and American Sign Language as well as attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

He was previously the first Muslim to win a lead acting Emmy in 2017 for his performance in The Night Of.

Last month, Ahmed told Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast that he recently tied the knot with his wife Fatima in a 'super intimate' ceremony with only a few guests present.

He previously revealed how he met his future wife in a cafe in New York while he was preparing for his role in Sound Of Metal.

Wedding bells! Ahmed announced on Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast he'd recently tied the knot with Fatima in a 'super intimate' ceremony with only a few guests

He said he and Fatima, who is a novelist, exchanged vows in a simple ceremony with only a few guests present due to COVID-19 restrictions.

He said: 'Obviously, kept it super intimate, and socially distanced. There was just like, hardly anyone there really.

'We did it in a backyard, which is nice in lots of ways. I think the nicest thing about it was you didn't have 500 aunties hanging around you, pinching your cheeks.'

The Four Lions star joked: 'No disrespect to the aunties, but Asian weddings are big.

'You always got these people crawling out the woodworks, who I think are kind of probably impostors. They just smell the kebabs on the street and just wander in.'

Chance encounter: He previously revealed how he met his future wife Fatima (pictured in 2018) in a cafe in New York while he was preparing for his role in Sound Of Metal

Ahmed went onto reveal more about his wife while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, explaining they met in 2019 while he was preparing to play a deaf drummer in Sound Of Metal.

He said: 'She's an amazing novelist. We met so randomly while I was preparing for this role, for Sound Of Metal when I was in New York.

'We both sat down at the same table in the cafe where we both turned up to write. We were both jostling over the same laptop plug points, like a very modern way of meeting.

'And we struck up a friendship and reconnected down the line. But it's weirdly like one of the many things about preparing for this role that was so special, it just brought a lot of goodness into my life.'

Across the pond: Riz, who was born in Wembley, has carved a Hollywood career and won an Emmy for lead actor for his performance in The Night Of (pictured at the Emmy's in 2017)
The irony about criticizing South Pacific for bias concerns, leading Hunterdon Central Regional High School to cancel its planned performances, is mind-boggling.

South Pacific contains one of the most powerful anti-racist messages Ive ever seen in a musical or play. Hunterdon Central has inadvertently lined up with closed-minded bigots who, in the 1950s, protested the musical because of its message of interracial tolerance. And, when even supporters of composer Richard Rodgers and dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II told them that the song Youve Got To Be Carefully Taught carried too strong a message about racism and should be cut from the show, Rodgers & Hammerstein stood firm. They would rather see their prized musical fail than gut its message.

If the high school could not find a way to stand firm this time, I hope it can still find a way to carefully teach the great messages contained in this musical.

Bob Stewart, Bridgewater

Is Shakespeare next on cancel list?

I read your article on the cancellation of the performances of South Pacific at Hunterdon Central Regional High School with total amazement and disbelief.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway show takes place during a war, but war is not the plays main theme. It focuses on racial and class intolerance, and its message is about the pernicious effect these behaviors have on social relationships.

How could the board of education agree with a couple of students who clearly have no concept of the context, rather than trying to educate them? Is it possible that everyone on the school board missed it, too.

Does the school still include Shakespeare in its English curriculum? What will they do about Merchant of Venice? You know, Shylock.

David Sutton, West Orange

Act now to prevent disconnect on road revenue

In 2016, then-Gov. Chris Christie signed a law to provide $2 billion annually to the New Jersey Transportation Fund to assure sufficient funding for the states transportation infrastructure.

Under the law, New Jerseys per-gallon taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel are adjusted as needed to assure that funding level. Because of the lack of driving attributed to the pandemic, these taxes increased last fall to 50.7 cents for gasoline and 57.7 cents for diesel.

The state is now setting future goals to eliminate gas and diesel vehicles from our roads by mandating that new vehicles for sale be electric-powered. My problem is, I have not read any proposals about how the funding will be maintained as more residents switch to electric cars.

Owners of electric vehicles will obviously have to share the costs of using our roads. What I assume is that a law will require electric-vehicle manufacturers to provide software and physical restraints to prevent plug-in electric vehicles from being recharged at home so the owners can avoid whatever tax is imposed at charging stations.

The state will have to assure sufficient electric charging stations are available, just as we now have numerous gas stations. Electric utilities might decide to offer a separate meter for residents who want to charge their cars at home. The separate meter would add the same tax that is applied at charging stations.

These infrastructure changes will take years, as more electric vehicles are manufactured and purchased.

This is a huge issue that should be investigated now, instead of waiting until a problem is realized. We must develop a plan now to address all of the anticipated difficulties, as well as others that may come up during the transition.

Bob Barrett, Clark

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Editors note: The Journal continues Whats in a Name?, a twice a month column in which staff writer Elaine Briseno will give a short history of how places in New Mexico got their names.

The tale of San Mateo Boulevard includes a woman, a saint, some telephone lines in a foreign country and the desire to grow up.

San Mateo is the Spanish translation of St. Matthew, who was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of St. Matthew, which is the first book in the New Testament.

According to Robert Julyans The Place Names of New Mexico, 16 places in New Mexico feature the name San Mateo, one of which is a small village in Cibola County. The population there in 2010 was 161. The town was named after the nearby small mountain range of the same name.

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San Mateo Boulevard was one of many new roads established in the Albuquerque during the 1940s and 50s. It was a time when Albuquerque went from a town to a mature, robust city. Albuquerque residents, like many across the country, voraciously embraced life after suffering the hard years of The Great Depression. Developing cities into modern metropolises with paved roads, rows of houses and commercial endeavors was a symbol of wealth and prosperity post-World War II.

Albuquerque Mayor Clyde Tingley was at the forefront of the movement here in the 1940s and 1950s, and he had plenty of like-minded developers offering their support. The Albuquerque Heights were birthed during this time, with new subdivisions creeping over once empty fields, blanketing the area with tract houses.

Before this time, Albuquerque residents were clustered Downtown, in Old Town, near the University of New Mexico and scattered on homesteads along the river. Maps of the city from the late 1930s show absolutely no development in East Mesa, which is now the Heights, and there was no road named San Mateo. The road appeared in 1948 in newspaper advertisements. One talked about Valuable lots near new High School off San Mateo for sale. It does not indicate which high school that was but it was possibly Highland High School, which opened in 1949.

The street, however, was not just named to honor the well-known saint.

According to Judy Nickell in her book Atrisco to Zena Lona, the area between San Mateo and San Pedro, between Zuni and Lomas, was subdivided by Mary Fox. It is Fox who gave the street its name.

Foxs travels to South America with her husband, Marion L. Fox, provided the inspiration for the names. Mr. Fox was involved in installing telephone lines in South America. Many of the streets in the subdivision, including San Mateo, were named for Venezuelan towns the couple visited while there.

Another interesting fact  but not necessarily related to street-naming in Albuquerque  is that Marion L. Fox was the editor of the Albuquerque Journal from 1912 to 1920. He was also responsible for helping to establish the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. He died in 1942.

The Foxes married in 1906, but Mary was already blazing trails, doing work that was mostly left to men in the early 1900s. According to her Sept. 26, 1961, Albuquerque Journal obituary, Fox was successful as a pioneer woman operator in the oil fields of Kentucky. Even earlier she was active in numerous business ventures in the eastern part of the United State and in Latin American countries 

It gives her credit for being one of the first people to anticipate development of the citys then empty east mesa. She formed a development company in 1923 in preparation of the growth and remained president until she died. The obit also notes that she was actively interested in several major projects either completed or in the works at the time of her death, including Coronado and the iconic 17-story First National Bank building at San Mateo and Central. Mary Fox also has a park named after her in Downtown Albuquerque. She donated land for another park nearby and named it Marion L. Fox Memorial Park in honor of her husband.

Mary Fox died on Sept. 25, 1961, of a heart attack and is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque.

Unfortunately, there isnt much more public information about her life. Its only in the recent past that newspapers and even historians began to take note of womens accomplishments and contributions. Women werent even given their own identity at one time. Publications identified them by their husbands name and slapped a Mrs. in front of it.

The population in Albuquerque nearly tripled from 1940 to 1950, going from 35,449 residents to 97,012 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Jumping again in the 1960 census to 201,189.

Mary Fox, no doubt, contributed to the citys mid-century population boom.

Curious about how a town, street or building got its name? Email staff writer Elaine Briseno at ebriseno@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3965 as she continues the monthly journey in Whats in a Name?
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Escaping the Cambodian genocide to a refugee camp in Thailand, 17-year-old Linath Lim wanted to become a medical doctor after meeting an American dentist. Her journey in the medical field began in 1982, but ended as Covid-19 hit its peak in America. VOAs Chetra Chap reports.
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CB gathers info on firm promoting NYSE stocks By Duruthu Edirmuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):

Its no secret that Sri Lanka is more than susceptible to questionable financial transactions, schemes and downright financial scams.

While authorities are warning investors to be more vigilant against online scams and fraud with the rise in digital transactions in the country, many are raising concerns on rupees leaving Sri Lanka  digitally, no less. Thankfully, the Central Bank (CB) is looking at the operations of a company allegedly promoting stocks in the New York Stock Exchange.

A company called Corpus is promoting foreign stock markets promising exponential returns and according to CB officials certain investors in this scheme have lost a significant amount of money.

Several telephone calls were received by certain professionals and high networth investors in regard to investing in popular stock markets such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) over the past year.

One such person told the Business Times that it was a  random call by a person with a very friendly demeanour who identified himself by the first name only. It was a sales call asking if I was interested in investing in stocks such as Microsoft, Apple, AstraZeneca etc. He assured that I can make upto 23 per cent return on investment within a week and as an afterthought added the potential to do so is there, this individual said.

When trying to find out how the telephone number was obtained, he had got a vague answer. I was asked the requirement of opening a gmail account and when I replied you need the name and the mobile number, he simply said, there you have the answer, he said. It was very strange how he would allude to obtaining my information like that and when I objected he said that its really easy to obtain ones contact information.

This person, a professional noted that the telemarketer insisted the company is legit and gave its location as the World Trade Centre in Colombo.

Another such person who received a call noted the person at the other end ran down the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and extensively talked about the merits of investing in foreign exchanges such as the NYSE.

They say the CB allows upto US$ 200,000 investments abroad. However, a senior official at the CB told the Business Times that CB issued this circular in 2017, but after the pandemic several circulars were sent banning this.

The CB has to dig deep into their operation as no transfer of funds out of the country is happening. The entire scheme is complex and dubious, especially as the shareholders of the company isnt revealed.

Again, the writing on the wall is clear. Sri Lanka needs cut and dry laws to negate these dubious schemes, offerings and financial crime. Hopefully itll be done before more gullibles bite the dust.
Ore.- Oregon State Representative Pam Marsh and her team are partnering with the nonprofit consumer advocacy group, United Policyholders to host a free online workshop for wildfire-impacted households in Southern Oregon on Tuesday, March 23. This online event will help with legal issues and questions about insurance claims regarding the 2020 wildfires.

This event will also help provide guidance about documenting and valuing losses, strategizing claim negotiations, and resolving disputes regarding loss estimates and coverage. Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services will help answer questions and share information.

Simultaneous Spanish translation will be available for people that want to listen and participate.

The second event will be held on Thursday, March 31 for free one-on-one online consultation will be with an insurance attorney volunteer. This event will be through appointment only with a limited number. Some insurance-related legal problems include under-insurance, unfair claim handling, replacement cost disputes, unreasonable delays and low estimates and offers.

Sign up for the online events here:

Tuesday, March 23 (6-7pm) Insurance Workshop & Legal Help Clinic

Wesnesday, March 31 (2-5pm) Appointment only one-on-one online consultation
A deputy commander of the Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied that any deaths had resulted from a string of airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Israel in Syria earlier this week.

The attacks left no human casualties, Ahmad Karimkhani told Irans state Fars News Agency on Thursday. Despite their fake propaganda, the Zionists do not dare to attack the Iranian and resistance groups centers and positions in Syria, he added.

Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit multiple locations in and around the cities of Deir ez-Zor, Mayadeen and Abu Kamal in eastern Syria in territory occupied by IRGC-backed forces supporting Syrias President Bashar al-Assad.

Reports of deaths varied. Omar Abu Layla, who runs an activist network in Deir Ez-Zor, told reporters that no more than 40 had been killed. The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 57 had been killed, including more than a dozen Syrian army personnel. Most killed were from Iran-backed Shiite militias, the observatory reported.

A commander of the IRGC-backed Afghan Fatemiyoun in Syria denied Thursday that any of his militias members had been affected, but said Syrian army personnel were killed in the strikes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday that the strikes caused the Fatemiyoun to redeploy personnel in the three Euphrates River valley cities to avoid potential follow-up strikes.

The strikes targeted warehouses used to store Iranian weapons systems in Syria, a US intelligence official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The official also said the sites stored materials needed for Irans nuclear development, though it was unclear what.

The United States has sought to strangle Irans financial ability to support proxy militias abroad in conflict zones in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and has clamped down on Irans ability to obtain certain metals that could be used to manufacture ballistic missiles.
A general view as water runs from the Warragamba dam wall in Sydney, Aust., on Aug. 18, 2020. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Sydneys 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 70 kilometres 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.

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, Pittock said.

Its always worrying when theres a flood in western Sydney because its one of the most dangerous places in Australia for floods.

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 Sydneys west, specifically at Penrith and North Richmond later on Saturday.

Its 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.

Weve had drought, bushfires and floods. I know its mother nature but how much can a local business take? he said.

The dam spill has occurred amid the NSW governments controversial plans to raise the dam wall by at least 14 metres to potentially hold back additional water in the Blue Mountains.

By Andi Yu
KYODO NEWS - Mar 21, 2021 - 12:57 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan is considering requiring all inbound travelers to undergo a test for new variants of the coronavirus, health minister Norihisa Tamura said Sunday.

Under the current system, all people arriving from 24 designated countries where coronavirus variants are known to exist are required to take additional testing three days after entering Japan. Authorities also carefully monitor whether they are strictly observing a 14-day self-quarantine period.

While speaking of the need to tighten border controls on an NHK television program, Tamura also said the government is considering contracting private security companies to monitor those who should be self-quarantining at their accommodation to make sure they adhere to the rules.

On Saturday, Japan tightened border controls on travelers from seven additional countries, mainly from Europe.

Japanese and other nationals who have recently traveled through Estonia, the Czech Republic, Pakistan, Hungary, Poland, Luxembourg and Lebanon fall under the scope of the system.

As the government has decided to end the COVID-19 state of emergency in the Tokyo region on Sunday, the minister also said, "It is important to avoid activities with a high risk of infections."

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga formally announced Thursday the lifting of the emergency in Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama, the last prefectures of Japan under the measure since early January.

Under the measure, people were urged to refrain from nonessential outings and restaurants and bars told to close by 8 p.m.

On the same TV program, Shigeru Omi, head of the government's COVID-19 subcommittee, warned that "a rebound in infections is possible to occur in the next one or two months."

Omi said it is vital to prevent the further spread of the virus until people aged 65 or older in Japan are being vaccinated, with that group eligible to start receiving shots in mid-April.

Related coverage:

Japan to tighten border controls on travelers from 7 more states

New coronavirus variant found in traveler from Philippines: Japan

Japan's airlines partly suspend bookings on flights from abroad
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Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers on Sunday (March 21) staged protests in various cities demanding resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in view of allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The protests were led by state unit BJP president Chandrakant Patil in Pune and Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur, reported news agency PTI.

Altogether, demonstrations were held at more than 200 locations including in all district headquarters like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Nashik, Aurangabad etc, and at various district headquarters and taluka places.

At many places, BJP activists courted arrest. MLAs of BJP, senior functionaries and workers participated in these demonstrations.

"The MVA government is creating a 'tamasha' of our beloved Maharashtra. We have launched a strong protest demanding that the home minister step down immediately (sic)," Patil said in a statement.

Days after he was shunted as Mumbai police chief, Singh wrote a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray claiming that Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, had asked Sachin Waze who is currently in the NIA custody, and other police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

Deshmukh had dismissed allegations raised by Singh as baseless and termed them as a bid by the IPS officer to save himself from inquiry.

Live TV
Book launch - Hot Seat: Hard-won Lessons in Challenging Times by Jeff Immelt

The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) invites members of the media to join us for a conversation with former CEO of General Electric, and author of, Jeff Immelt. Named one of the Worlds Best CEOs three times by Barrons, his memoir offers insight into the hard-won lessons he learned from his experience leading GE immediately after 9/11, through the economic devastation of the 200809 financial crisis, and into an increasingly globalised world.offers a rigorous and candid self-interrogation of Immelts tenure, detailing for the first time, his proudest moments, missteps, and the lessons he learned battling one crisis after another as he led GE into the 21st century.Jeff Immelt was the ninth Chairman of GE and served as CEO for 16 years. He has been named one of the Worlds Best CEOs three times by Barrons. During his tenure as CEO, GE was named Americas Most Admired Company by Fortune and one of The Worlds Most Respected Companies in polls by Barrons and the. Immelt has received 15 honorary degrees and numerous awards for business leadership and chaired the Presidents Council on Jobs and Competitiveness under the Obama administration. He is a member of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and a lecturer at Stanford University. Immelt earned a BA in applied mathematics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard University.Thursday, 25 March 20214:00 pm (online)Click here to register.
A young woman has revealed how her dream job working as a flight attendant was shattered after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Alisi Jack-Kaufusi, originally from New Zealand but who now lives in Brisbane, started experiencing bloating, exhaustion and bleeding but she dismissed the symptoms because she assumed she was 'too young for any serious health concerns'.

But at just 24, she was given the 'soul crushing news' she had stage three ovarian cancer after scans found two tumours - one on each ovary - the size of grapefruits.

'It felt like my life had been sucked out of me. I had to give up my dream and that was being a flight attendant and my life changed forever,' Alisi, now aged 28, told Daily Mail Australia.

Alisi Jack-Kaufusi (pictured) has revealed how her dream job working as a flight attendant was shattered after months of bloating and exhaustion led to her shock ovarian cancer diagnosis

At just 24, Alisi was given the 'soul crushing news' she had stage three ovarian cancer after scans found two tumours - one on each ovary - the size of grapefruits (left before diagnosis and right after losing all her hair and eyebrows following chemotherapy)

Her world came crashing down in late 2017 after being told she had the condition at such a young age, given the average age of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 64

Ovarian cancer symptoms There are often no obvious signs of ovarian cancer, but they include: abdominal bloating

difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

frequent or urgent urination

back, abdominal or pelvic pain

constipation or diarrhoea

menstrual irregularities

tiredness

indigestion

pain during intercourse

unexplained weight loss or weight gain Advertisement

Before her diagnosis, Alisi experienced bloating in her lower abdomen area, she was tired 'all the time' and her menstrual cycle was 'irregular'.

During a visit to see a GP in October 2017, she mentioned she had been experiencing bleeding for about a month and the blood was clotted and dark.

After getting multiple blood tests, MRI and a CT scan, the doctor booked her in to get a biopsy after they noticed 'something blocking' her ovaries.

Her world came crashing down in December 2017 after being told she had the condition at 24, given the average age of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 64.

'Once I heard ovarian cancer, I looked at mum and froze. It felt like the room went silent and all I could see was the doctor's mouth moving. It was all just a blur. I just remember saying to the doctor: "No, this can't be because I am only 24, you have the wrong person",' Alisi recalled.

'Being told by the medical team that I got this disease 30 years early was hard to process and still is. When you think cancer, you think old.'

By the time she was diagnosed, the cancer had spread outside her ovaries.

'I had to have a full hysterectomy and unfortunately, they were unable to save any eggs. In your 20s, the last thing you think of is having to come terms with not being able to have your own biological children. I felt robbed,' she said.

'It feels like all my wishes and goals squeezed into a smaller time frame. I might not die tomorrow, but I may not live long enough to have long-term plans.'

Alisi said the biggest challenge was not knowing what her life looks like in the future after she was told the five year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46 per cent (left before cancer and right during chemotherapy)

Alisi sitting in hospital 2020 during chemotherapy in which she described treatment as tough

Alisi has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy - and every treatment led to 'bad experiences' (pictured in early 2019 when her hair started to grow back)

What is ovarian cancer? Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumour in one or both ovaries. The ovaries are made up of three main kinds of cells  epithelial cells, stromal cells and germ cells. Each of these cells can develop into a different type of tumour. The average age of women when they are diagnosed with ovarian cancer is age 64. It is mainly diagnosed in women over the age of 50; however, there are cases diagnosed in younger women. Advertisement

Alisi has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy - and every treatment led to 'bad experiences', she recalled.

'I started to feel the effects afterwards, and it would worsen the next day. For two weeks I would just sleep but I had a loss of appetite so anything I ate tasted like metal due to the type of chemotherapy drug I had,' she said.

'It was tough. Just when I would start feeling better I was hit with another round of chemo and that went on for six to seven months. In 2017 I had to do six rounds of chemo and in 2020 I had to do another six rounds of chemo due to a recurrence.'

Alisi said the biggest challenge was not knowing what her life looks like in the future after her cancer returned for the third time.

She was told the five year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46 per cent.

'It can be such a lonely and isolating feeling. You have all support around you but yet you can still feel lonely, and everyone thinks "great you beat it, you can get back to your old life". That is far from the truth,' she said.

'You're left with a body that you don't trust and it doesn't function like it used to. My life now involves scans, and appointments. After every scan and blood test that you've done you can't help but wonder "is it back?".

'I live every day with the knowledge that my cancer can come back at any time which has proven twice in the past four years.'

By sharing her story, Alisa wanted to remind other women suffering from cancer to just 'take each day as it comes' (left at age 20 before diagnosis and right after)

Alisi in hospital with her hair shortly after undergoing a full hysterectomy in 2017 - she was told doctors couldn't save her eggs so she won't able to have her own biological kids in the future

Alisi comes from a large Tongan family - and she's one of six siblings. She was adopted at a young age to her auntie and uncle, who she now calls her parents (pictured together - left: before cancer and right: now). But she's still close to her siblings and biological parents

Alisi said the biggest challenge was not knowing what her life looks like in the future after her cancer returned for the third time (pictured before her cancer diagnosis)

Alisi said she's currently on a treatment called Tamoxifen - a drug used to prevent breast cancer in the hope it would suppress the cancer, which has since spread to her abdomen and bowel area.

'If that does not work and the cancer continues to grow there is talk for a clinical trial and more chemotherapy,' she said.

By sharing her story, Alisa wanted to remind other women suffering from cancer to just 'take each day as it comes'.

'My advice is to not compare your timeline to anyone else's timeline - you are faced with the biggest battle and you may feel you are at a standstill,' she said.

'I have learnt that the body is an amazing machine despite what it has been through. We all are on borrowed time and we just don't know what will happen tomorrow but we should live in the moment.'
A suspect has been charged in connection with the shooting of a Chicago police officer on the city's West Side Saturday.

Video Transcript

MICHELLE GALLARDO: Good news is that the officer's injuries were minor. She was treated and released from Mount Sinai Hospital late this afternoon. The suspected gunman is also in custody, as detectives work to complete their investigation.

- We have an officer shot, officer shot. 207 North La Crosse. 200 North La Crosse. Offender is still at large.

MICHELLE GALLARDO: The call came in around 11:30 this morning. Police officers on routine patrol were responding to a report of shots fired when they were shot at themselves. One of them, a female officer, sustained a hit to her left hand.

- I was taking my dog outside in the backyard. So all of the sudden, I heard some shots out here. And so me and the dog-- I took my dog in the house, and I ran to the front door. And I seen all the police cars.

- He's in the building, units. He's in the building. Please everybody take cover. We have an ambulance in route.

MICHELLE GALLARDO: Seen firing into the street from an elevated first-floor apartment, officers fired back at the suspect to no avail. SWAT were soon called in. Heavily armed police acted quickly, first to establish a perimeter around the three-flat building where the gunman was believed to be hiding, and then establishing contact with him through one of their hostage negotiators. The alleged shooter eventually surrendered. Investigators tweeting out this photo of what they say is the pistol used during the incident.

DAVID BROWN: We evacuated the house, and we're interviewing all the people that were in there. Some were just, you know, innocent bystanders that just at home. But we have yet to confirm who were other people that might have been involved.

MICHELLE GALLARDO: This is the third time in less than a week where a police officer has been injured by gunfire. The first came on Sunday, when an on-duty sergeant was shot standing in the parking lot outside the Gresham District Police Station. A day later, an off-duty officer was ambushed by two men while sitting in his vehicle at a traffic light in Calumet Heights. No arrests have been made in either of those incidents.

DAVID BROWN: This is the third officer shot this week. But this is the 16th officer shot at or shot this year, after 79 officers were shot at and shot at in 2020.

MICHELLE GALLARDO: No one else appears to have been injured during today's exchange of gunfire, although a second officer was briefly hospitalized after experiencing chest pains. Charges against the suspected gunman are still pending.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The New Mexico state Legislature will distribute millions of dollars in capital outlay funds to governments, organizations and entities across the state, including in northern New Mexico.

Once the Legislature passes the final version of the bill, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham can line-item veto certain projects. Those projects that make the cut will then receive state funding.

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Heres a look at some of the projects in northern New Mexico that could receive funding:

Espanola shelter

The Espanola Pathways Shelter opened its doors in early 2020 to address the homeless problem in the Espanola Valley, an area that has historically lacked resources for this population.

Now, the shelter stands to receive a sizeable amount of money  around $1.8 million  to expand its operations. That money would go toward acquiring the rest of the building that currently houses the shelter, a total area of around 15,000 square feet, Shelter Board Member Ralph Martinez said.

Weve been doing the work now for slightly over a year, Martinez said. The numbers that were seeing of individuals in need of just shelter alone is a little bit more tremendous than what we had anticipated.

He said a larger building will allow the center to expand the services they offer, which could include those based on economic development.

The buildings assessed value is around $2.2 million, but Martinez said the owner is willing to sell it at $1.8 million, with the discount acting as a donation.

Santa Fe city projects

The city of Santa Fe is set to receive millions of dollars for multiple projects across the city.

One of the largest allocations would be $1.8 million for the Southside Teen Center. The city had originally requested $890,000, but is set to receive far more than that sum, which would be added to $6 million it has received for the center in previous legislative sessions.

Advocates have long highlighted the need for a teen center on the Southside, an area with less recreational infrastructure than other parts of the city.

The city could also receive $1 million for upgrades at the 64-acre Midtown campus, which is seen as an unprecedented economic opportunity for Santa Fe.

Plans for Midtown have been halted since the master developer, KDC Cienda, pulled out of the project in January, citing the campus crumbling infrastructure and obsolete buildings. In a proposal for the capital funding, the city wrote the project would mitigate asbestos and lead present in facilities, and improve safety of utilities.

The site has undergone numerous asbestos remediations over the past decade.

The city declined interview requests for this story and referred a reporter to Mayor Alan Webbers Tuesday webcast, during which he mentioned the projects slated for funding.

Rather than go for one big allocation, we went for a number of smaller projects, Webber said. The Speaker of the House, the Senate Majority Leader, the governor all gave us the things we asked for  and we cant do better than that.

The city would also receive money for park and road improvements across Santa Fe.

Cumbres and Toltec

One of the largest tourist attractions in northern New Mexico is also slated to receive money for much-needed repairs and comes as the tourism industry continues to crawl out of the economic struggles from COVID-19.

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad could receive $1.1 million for repairs to its locomotives, famed for taking riders on scenic routes between Chama and Antonito, Colorado.

Cumbres and Toltec CEO Eric Mason said the railroad has not always received its requests for state funds, which has led to the company having to defer maintenance in prior years.

It certainly takes quite a bit to keep a railroad running, Mason said. Particularly one that the majority of equipment is from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The money, he said, would go toward the maintenance of tracks and locomotive cars, which are co-owned and operated by the states of New Mexico and Colorado.

Its imperative, he said. Its sort of a lifeblood of the organization to be able to maintain this historical asset for the states.

The Cumbres and Toltec railroad was shut down in New Mexico for much of 2020 due to pandemic-related restrictions. Mason said theyve recently started offering rides again and that demand has soared in recent weeks.

Even if we compare it to a normal year, were seeing patterns that are above pace, he said. There is a huge population of people that love this railroad.

State projects

Some of the largest allocations of funds would go to state facilities around the Santa Fe area.

That includes $5 million for construction of a new crime lab within city limits for the Department of Safety.

Various existing state-owned buildings would receive funds totalling more than $11 million for renovations. That includes $5 million for a new Educational Retirement Board building and $3.5 million for improvements at the New Mexico School for the Deaf and the James A. Little Theater.

Numerous water projects  from improvements to acequias to water and wastewater treatment facilities  are also in the pipeline for state funding.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 14:16:01|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, March 21 (Xinhua) -- This year's first tourist train from Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, was launched Saturday, according to local transport authorities.

The train carrying nearly 900 tourists is scheduled for the city of Xiangyang in the province. During the two-day journey, tourists can visit a popular movie location and other tourist destinations, said the operating company of the train.

"The tourist train is quite cost-effective and the travel arrangements are suitable for us middle-aged and elderly people," said a tourist surnamed Wang.

The company also plans to launch other short-distance tourist train routes, along with long-distance ones to regions outside the province. Enditem
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The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu ,has ordered an investigation into the attack on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

This was disclosed in a statement by the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, on Sunday.

The governor on Saturday raised the alarm about an attempt to assassinate him by some gunmen.

He, however, said security details attached to him were able to repel the attack.

The governor has since fingered the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for the attack, adding that he had been marked for elimination.

Mr Ortoms party, PDP, on Saturday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on the governor.

Reacting to the development, the IGP ordered a full scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

He also ordered that security around the governor be beefed up.

Read full statement:

PRESS RELEASE

ATTACK ON GOVERNOR ORTOM OF BENUE STATE: IGP ORDERS FULL SCALE INVESTIGATIONS

 Directs strengthening of security around the Governor.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered full-scale investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack and reported attempt on the life of the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Chief Samuel Loraer Ortom, at his farm in the outskirts of Makurdi, the State Capital, on Saturday, 20th March, 2021. The IGP who condemned the incident, has equally directed the Commissioner of Police (CP), Benue State Command to take adequate measures towards strengthening and improving security in the State, particularly around the Governor.

The IGP has also specifically directed the CP to carry out painstaking investigations into the incident and ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons indicted in the course of the investigations. Meanwhile, in order to ensure a speedy, thorough and conclusive investigation into the matter, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of a team of specialized investigators from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Abuja to Benue State to provide additional investigative support to the Benue State Police Command.

While calling for calm, the IGP has assured the people of Benue State and the country at large that the Force will continue to do its best in stabilizing the security situation in the country. The IGP further reiterates that the Force will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to advance the fight against violent crimes and other criminal activities across the country.

CP FRANK MBA

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA
EDITORS NOTE: On April 13, NJ Cannabis Insider hosts a virtual networking event, featuring professionals in the legal cannabis industries. Tickets are limited.

Republican lawmakers want to change a controversial part of marijuana legalization that police officers say puts them at risk of a criminal charge for trying to stop a young person who has weed or alcohol.

Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, & Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, introduced a bill that would raise the bar for an officer to be found guilty of deprivation of civil rights for their interactions with those under 21.

A law signed last month makes officers susceptible to the third degree charge if they detain any young person too long or illegally search them for weed and alcohol.

The change came in the late hours of negotiations on underage penalties for weed use. The debate held up the signing of two other bills  one to launch a legal cannabis industry and another to decriminalize marijuana.

Days before Gov. Phil Murphy signed all three, lawmakers added a provision to decriminalize underage drinking and to create more protections from police.

The OScanlon and Bucco bill would make officers only liable for the criminal charge if the officer acted to intimidate or discriminate against a person based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Thats the ordinary standard for deprivation of civil rights, which carries a possible three to five year prison term or $15,000 fine. But Democratic lawmakers took the concept further when crafting the underage penalty law and included everyone into the safeguard, not just those from protected classes.

Its created concerns among police departments. They fear officers trying to intervene in instances of underage drug and alcohol use could face criminal charges  or worry that officers will do nothing when they see the substance use to avoid the specter of a criminal charge.

This language is anti-police rhetoric at its worst and its consequences will be real, the state Police Benevolent Association said in a statement when it passed last month. Underage users of marijuana will be free to smoke it anywhere, including in places the bill says is illegal, because merely stopping a person to enforce the law is now illegal for police.

The bill permanently ties an officers hands, the statement said.

Supporters of the law have maintained bringing a deprivation of civil rights charge remains a high bar.

I dont understand their concerns, Sen. Nellie Pou, D-Passaic, who worked on the underage penalty bill, said in an interview early this month. Clearly, theyve taken the oath of office to do their job. They will do it in upholding the law. Its clear that this law is no different.

But opponents say the threat to officers is real.

Of course, we want officers to follow proper protocol at all times, but there has to be some proportionality between the violation and the punishment, Bucco said in a statement. In a split second, an unintentional mistake could land an otherwise exemplary officer in prison for years, even if no actual harm came to anyone during the interaction.

This is the second issue with the underage penalty law. Many lawmakers have spoken out against a piece that blocks police from notifying parents when a juvenile is given a warning for weed or alcohol use. They have introduced several pieces of legislation to repeal that part of the law.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
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Chawai community in Kauru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State has decried the spate of killings in the area and urged security agencies and the state government to find a lasting solution.

The President of Chawai Development Association, Reuben Turbi, spoke for the community while reacting to the recent killings in Kizachi village that left 10 people dead.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, had, on March 19, confirmed the attack on Kizachi village of Kauru LGA by bandits.

Mr Aruwan said the attack left 10 people dead, with four others injured, while 56 houses and 16 motorcycles were burnt, with several food barns also raided and burnt.

Mr Turbi said in a statement in Kaduna, on Sunday, that the Thursday attack came less than 24 hours after the neighbouring Unguwan Magaji in Kamaru ward was attacked, leaving four youths injured.

The attackers did not only kill innocent people, but burnt houses, food and properties worth millions of naira, leaving the villagers in a state of sorrow, fear and hunger.

As we are about to witness yet another mass burial in our peaceful land and local government, our youths are being reminded to remain calm and cooperate with civil authorities and security operatives.

We are appealing to the government to act promptly, to avert untimely deaths and mitigate the pains our people are being subjected to.

We are also calling on our political leaders to urgently assist in addressing the challenges being faced by the victims of the attacks, he said.

Mr Turbi further appealed to the state government to deploy additional security to the affected areas to maintain peace and secure lives and properties.

He said governments at all levels should do everything possible to end the incessant attacks on law abiding citizens, and proffer lasting solutions to the unabated killings and insecurity bedeviling the country.

Our communities are facing one of the most devastating security crises in the history of Nigeria as an independent nation. We all need one another, and we must work together to find lasting peace, he said.

NAN reports that 13 people were killed by bandits, while seven others were injured after a series of attacks on March 19 in Zangon Kataf, Kauru and Chikun LGAs of Kaduna State.

(NAN)
Five-days Residential English Camp at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka View(s):

Five-days residential English Camp for the second-year undergraduates of the Department of Accountancy and Finance, Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, was conducted from 9th March to 13th March 2021 at the university premises in Belihuloya with the assistance of the AHEAD Grants provided by the UGC. Five English camp resource persons made the experience remarkable by conducting a variety of sessions throughout the days.

The history of the residential English education camp in Sri Lanka goes back to 1997. This concept began with a core of dedicated Peace Corps education volunteers from the USA over a decade ago in 1996 together with the Ministry of Education with the financial support by Serendib English Camp Foundation, a Sri Lanka based organisation created for English education development in the country with the kind patronage of Mr. Tucker McCravy Jr. The first-ever Sri Lankan planned and executed camp was held at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka in 1997.

The Department of Accountancy and Finance of SUSL conducted this camp for the Second Year Financial Management and Banking and Insurance undergraduates with the support of five language experts specialised in conducting English Language camps for more than twenty four years. The Organizing Committee comprised of the lecturers in the department contributed immensely around the clock on all five days to develop undergraduates communication skills while enhancing their confidence and job-related soft skills.

Prof. Udaya Ratnayake, Vice-chancellor of the SUSL, graced the inauguration and pointed out the importance of conducting English camps for the first-year students of each faculty of the university. Addressing the gathering, Dean, Prof. Athula Gnanapala, emphasized the need for maximum utility of the programme by each student with high enthusiasm. Dr. Dunusinghe, Head, Department of Accountancy and Finance, appreciated lecturers efforts in organizing such an event. The undergraduates who participated in the camp stated that the camp helped them to learn English with a lot of fun and the activities done tremendously contributed in developing their confidence and communicative competence while stressing the importance of conducting such camps for the undergraduates at the entrance to the university.

The camp covered diversified sessions in which students learn English with lots of fun. There was a zoom session with Mr. Tucker McCravy, Founder of English Camps in Sri Lanka who joined from Cambodia, and Mr. Cambell, a resource person of English camps who joined from New York. Undergraduates interacted with them with high spirits. The closing ceremony with a talent show on 13th March 2021 was a clear witness for undergraduates improvement of their communication skills with solid confidence.
DAKAR (Reuters) - Islamic State's West Africa affiliate claimed responsibility on Sunday for an ambush last week that killed 33 Malian soldiers, according to a statement published by the SITE Intelligence Group.

Fourteen soldiers were also injured in Monday's attack near the northern town of Tessit, near the border with Niger, according to Mali's army.

Islamic State said in a statement that its fighters captured three vehicles as well as weapons and ammunition, according to SITE.

The group has claimed responsibility for previous attacks on either side of the border that have killed dozens of Malian and Nigerien soldiers. It also carried out the 2017 ambush in the Nigerien village of Tongo Tongo that killed four American special forces troops and five Nigerien soldiers.

(Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Patna, March 21 : A trader-cum-property dealer was allegedly shot dead by two unknown bike-borne assailants in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, a police officer said on Sunday.

The deceased, who has been identified as Vinod Kumar, was killed outside his house late on Saturday evening near the Ahiyapur police station. His relatives admitted him to a private hospital in Bairiya locality where the doctors declared him dead.

The SHO of Ahiyapur police station, Sunil Kumar Rajak, said the deceased owned a shop of electrical equipment in the Imlichatti area.

"After closing the shop on Saturday night at around 9.30 p.m., Vinod returned to his house on his motorbike. As soon as he parked the bike in front of his house, two bike-borne assailants shot him twice. As a result, Vinod collapsed on the ground while the attackers fled from the spot, just before his family members and neighbours could assemble there after hearing the gunshots," said the police officer.

"Apart from being a trader, Vinod was also a property dealer and was recently involved in the dealing of a plot, which is alleged to be the reason behind his murder. At present, the actual cause behind the murder is not known," he said.

"We are trying to identify the accused persons. We are conducting raids at several places to nab them," Rajak added.
Government ready to order 5m more virus jabs from China

THAILAND: The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) plans to order another five million doses of China-based Sinovac, after two million doses arrived yesterday (Mar 20) amid the emerging new cluster infection in Bang Khae fresh market in the capital.

ChineseCoronaviruscorruptionhealth

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 21 March 2021, 10:11AM

Officials inspect a crate containing some of the 800,000 shots of CoronaVac that arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. Photo:   Facebook page.

We are going to place an order for five million more doses from Sinovac, and we expect the shipment to come in from April to June. That is one part of the ministrys vaccine management plan for securing peoples health and driving economic growth, GPOs director Witoon Danwiboon said after inspecting the batch of 800,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine which arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday morning.

The shipment yesterday is part of two million doses from Sinovac. The first 200,000 doses had been shipped to Thailand last month, and one million more doses would arrive in April, with another five million expected.

Apart from the Chinese vaccines, the government procured vaccines from AstraZeneca to supply all of the countrys remaining vaccine needs for the rest of this year.

A total of 26 million doses, made locally by Siam Bioscience, are expected to be available from June to August, with another 35 million to follow from September to December.

The rush to procure vaccines is in response to the increasing number of new infections found - over 100 cases a day - after the Bang Khae market cluster.

Yesterday in Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of the resurgence of COVID-19, the first shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was injected in a vaccination programme organised for local leaders, important people and those aged 60 and over.

Samut Sakhon has been supplied with the highest volume of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, said provincial public health chief officer Naretrit Khatthasima.

The 10,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine received recently have also been distributed to all three districts of the province - Muang, Ban Phaeo and Krathum Baen, Dr Naretrit said.

Muang district received 5,000 doses, Bang Phaeo 2,000 doses and Krathum Baen 3,000 doses, he said. No serious side effects of these vaccinations have been found, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Sophon Mekthon, assistant to the public health minister and chairman of a subcommittee on COVID-19 vaccine management, has urged Thai males to receive COVID-19 jabs because the Public Health Ministrys monitoring found Thai males face a risk of death three times higher than that of women.

For the new round of outbreak, we have found that 22 Thai males died from the disease, compared with only seven cases in women. Statistics also show that women tend to be more open to take vaccine jabs than males. I would like to invite gentlemen to get the vaccine because it could reduce the risk of death and severe infection, he said.

According to the ministry, there are 61,791 people who have received COVID-19 inoculations. Among them, just 35.5% are male, with the average age of recipients from both sexes 44 years.

Divided into groups, 50.25% are medical staff, followed by 11.08% for medical volunteers, 6.26% for people living with non-communicable diseases, 32.39% for ordinary people and 0.02% for people aged over 60.
I really learnt how to cook by experimentation. And by eating. To replicate tastes and memories

One asked me to look up the Internet for recipes, the other explained how to cook the kachnar.

The cooking revolution was perhaps one of the upsides of the pandemic. Entitled people who employed cooks suddenly found themselves staring at unprepossessing bunches of bottle gourd and cabbages and tried to imagine how to make them appetising. I shared with great enthusiasm some 10 one-pot recipes with family and friends until I ran out of steam and they ran out of ingredients.

Early in the lockdown of 2020, a friend started a recipe-sharing online group. It was brilliant. A bunch of similarly middle class but otherwise disparate people tried to make each others lives easier with tips and recipes and answers.

It was a very happy experience for a short while. And then as the group grew, it became a cesspit of gender, ethnic, caste, caste biases. (There would have been race if we had enough varied races in the group.) Anger and accusations, offence and defence, and suddenly we werent talking about how to best temper a daal but oh, in my high caste family we never eat X, Y and so on.

That something so beautiful in its conception and its early days could descend so quickly into fractious lines of othering and hatred is testament to the human ability to destroy anything worthwhile with our inherent stupidity.

That said, I learnt a lot in my first few weeks and top of the list is an onion chutney for idlis and dosas. With due apologies to our esteemed Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and anyone else who doesnt eat onions or care how much they cost. It is delicious so the loss is not mine.

My journey as a cook started somewhat before the online world governed our lives. Like many of my sort, I tried a little baking. At 10 I proudly made a hard as rock cake that wasnt supposed to be a rock cake and watched in awe as a visiting family friend munched through it saying delicious after every long torturous chewing expedition. I havent forgotten his kindness and he still claims it was delicious!

This story is my Mothers. When I was about 16, my grandparents were horrified that she hadnt taught me how to make proper Indian food. Baking did not count in the marriage mart scheme of things. (This turned out to be correct. During one of my parents many short-lived disasters into the murky world of arranged marriages for me, one grandmother said all her grandson wanted from a bride was the ability to make fried brinjal wheels. The conversation did not go any further nor did the fancy cake I had baked.) My Mother told me that her honour was at stake and it was up to me to uphold it.

I cooked whatever I did. At the end of the meal, my Mother informed the grandparents of the reality. They blustered but, but you never taught her. My Mother, a teacher, had the last word: I taught her how to gather knowledge. No answer to that.

But I really learnt how to cook by experimentation. And by eating. To replicate tastes and memories. To try new things and ideas that were floating about in my head. And all that means stepping out of your comfort zone. For instance, when I was in my late teens all I wanted to eat at a Chinese restaurant was chilli chicken. I know, right. Even if Indian Chinese in the early 1980s was not as resplendent in choice as it is now, that was a pretty dumb choice to have set in stone.

I also experimented with vegetarianism in my early 20s. Until I got tempted by taste. O dear. Crabs at Kamling and chicken at Baghdadi. I got done in by Bombay, you might argue and that set me on my culinary journey. Underlying that of course is childhood. Bengalis have a terrible phrase inflicted on children and on us by our grandmother: khete shekho. Learn to eat.

Attached to this phrase were some pretty gruesome vegetables like chichinge or snake gourd and borboti or yardlong or asparagus beans. There is no taste connection between this bean and an asparagus, it has to be made clear. To this day, I cannot and will not eat these. Add to this cluster beans aka gawar ka phalli, which is not a Bengali staple but which I wont eat anyway.

Conversely my Mother hated arbi or taro root or Colocasia corms. So we never ate that at home. I love it. My paternal grandfather hated pumpkin of all kinds so that was banned, but now we find we love it. What sense does it make? None at all. The Chinese ability to get over food taboos may be unpalatable for some, but shows a remarkable ability to adapt. There is no moral high ground in proclaiming that you are too superior to eat onions. It only means that your mind is consumed by taught rigidities.

Food taboos however are a topic of great sensitivity and resultant anger, so lets not go there! To each her own. But I made two fabulous new finds recently: buds of the Bombax ceiba and Bauhinia flowers. In both cases, the vegetable vendors were pleasantly amazed that I wanted to buy these local delicacies, having stereotyped me as a broccoli and salad patta buyer. One asked me to look up the Internet for recipes, the other explained how to cook the kachnar. The look of his joy when I came back to buy more was delightful.

I realise I have left the door open for the great controversy of veg biryani. Maybe for another time?
The highly anticipated findings from experts convened by the World Health Organization and the Chinese government are expected to show parallels to the spawning in 2002 of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, a bat-borne coronavirus spread by civets that killed 800 people. The path trod by SARS-CoV-2 -- as the new coronavirus is known -- before it emerged in central China in December 2019 remains a mystery, though its one researchers say can be solved.

In Wuhan, where the first cluster of cases occurred, scientists involved in the hunt identified four hypotheses to explain the viruss genesis, including two that stoked controversy even as they were deemed unlikely. The idea that the virus was introduced via contaminated food or packaging is one embraced in Beijing, while the Trump administration said it may have been the result of a laboratory accident. But the most plausible theory, say experts involved in the mission, concerns Chinas wildlife trade for food, furs and traditional medicine, a business worth about 520 billion yuan ($80 billion) in 2016.

Live animals susceptible to coronavirus infection were present at the Huanan food market in downtown Wuhan, the city where the first major Covid-19 outbreak was detected. Its possible they acted as conduits for the virus, carrying it from bats -- likely the primary source -- to humans, says Peter Daszak, a zoologist who was part of the joint research effort, which saw international experts visit Wuhan earlier this year after months of stonewalling by the Chinese government.

The main conclusion from this stage of the work -- and its not over yet of course -- is that the exact same pathway by which SARS emerged was alive and well for the emergence of Covid," said Daszak, who is also president of EcoHealth Alliance, a New York-based nonprofit that works to prevent viral outbreaks around the world.

The scientists report, slated for release this week after delays due to political wrangling, is likely to be far from conclusive. More studies are planned, including outside China, with deciphering Covid-19s creation story vital to understanding how best to thwart its resurgence, and to help avert similar catastrophes in the future.

China is Making It Harder to Solve the Mystery of Where Covid Began

While the hunt for the viruss origin has become political football for the worlds superpowers, Daszak says he thinks the scientific process will prevail. Significant data on where SARS-CoV-2 came from and how it emerged will be uncovered over the next few years, he said during a March 10 webinar organized by Chatham House.

SARS Spread

Farmed and wild-caught civets, a small, nocturnal mammal consumed in China, were blamed for spreading the SARS virus in a market in the southern province of Guangdong in 2003. Scientists later found the infection originated in horseshoe bats, a natural reservoir of coronaviruses.

The two species likely collided in markets where live animals are caged in crowded conditions, potentially allowing the bat-borne virus to adapt and amplify before it spilled over to humans, initially among workers and those handling the animals.

Scientists working on the origin hunt say a similar scenario may have played out with Covid-19. A study of the first 99 patients treated at an infectious diseases hospital in Wuhan found half were linked to the Huanan seafood market, which also reportedly sold live animals, some illegally captured in the wild and slaughtered in front of customers.

Its possible the virus was introduced through an infected animal that was sold at the Huanan market or somewhere else in Wuhan, said Dominic Dwyer, a microbiologist in Sydney who was part of the WHO-convened team that traveled to the Chinese city in February.

Still, questions remain about the markets ultimate role.

Testing after it was shut down in December 2019 failed to turn up any infected animals. Contaminated surfaces were widespread, compatible with the virus being introduced via infected people or tainted animal products. Compounding the confusion, the first known Covid-19 patient developed symptoms four days before the earliest cases tied to the market.

An analysis of SARS-CoV-2 samples collected in mid-December found subtle genetic differences between them. The variation indicates the virus may have circulated surreptitiously for weeks in the community before doctors were alerted to it via a handful of severely ill patients with a mysterious viral pneumonia.

The original spill over of the coronavirus to a human was probably followed by rapid adaptation of the virus, said Joel O. Wertheim, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Its possible the virus was transmitted multiple times and went extinct when infected individuals didnt transmit the virus to anyone, Wertheim and colleagues said in a paper published March 18 in the journal Science. Eventually, the virus infected someone who passed it to several people, who also passed it on to others, possibly in a super-spreading event.

The Huanan market may have been where that occurred, Wertheim said in an interview. The market may have been key to the virus ensconcing itself in humans."

Current evidence suggests the market is where SARS-CoV-2 was amplified, and not necessarily its birthplace, Dwyer said.

Perfect Place

When you visit the market, you realize that its a perfect place for an outbreak to occur because its crowded, lots of stalls, lots of animal products, and ventilation and drainage are a bit suboptimal," he said in an interview. Its not surprising we had an explosion through there."

The WHO research team found evidence that wildlife farms in southern China were supplying vendors at the Huanan market, Daszak told the U.S. National Public Radio. It also found a route from southern provinces such as Yunnan -- where the closest known coronavirus to SARS-CoV-2 was found in horseshoe bats in 2013 -- to Wuhan, he said on the Chatham House webinar.

It provides a link and a pathway by which a virus could convincingly spill over from wildlife into either people or animals farmed in the region, and then shipped into a market by some means," Daszak said. Thats a really important clue. Those beginnings of an understanding of a pathway need to be followed up pretty rapidly."

For decades, the government of China promoted the farming of wildlife to bolster rural incomes. The practice provided an especially valuable alternative source of meat after African swine fever emerged in 2018. The deadly outbreak resulted in an unprecedented shortage of pork, researchers at the South China Agricultural University and University of Glasgow said in a study that was released in February without a formal peer-review. China typically consumes half the worlds pigmeat.

Squirrels, Porcupines

While the pork shortage bolstered wildlife consumption, eating birds, snakes, bamboo rats, squirrels, porcupines and other non-domesticated animals was already popular, especially in southern provinces, the researchers said.

They cited a 2004 survey by the China Wildlife Conservation Association that found 46% of urban residents had consumed wildlife and 2.7% were regular consumers. A January 2017 survey found 52% of markets they investigated were trading wildlife, while 40% of restaurants were providing wild animal dishes.

Much of the trade supposedly ended just over a year ago. After President Xi Jinping warned that the consumption of wildlife posed an immense risk to public health, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress decided on Feb. 24, 2020, to expand the scope of Chinas Wildlife Protection Law to ban the consumption of almost all wild animals.

Amid international criticism of its handling of the early days of the pandemic, Chinas official rhetoric is focused on creating doubt that the pathogen originated within its borders. But China targeted the wildlife trade a year ago for a reason, Daszak told NPR.

The reason was, back in February 2020, they believed this was the most likely pathway" for the coronavirus to reach Wuhan, he said. And when the WHO report comes out...we believe its the most likely pathway too."

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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.
CHICO, Calif.  If you are planning a trip out of town, you might be able to get some extra security from Chico Police Department volunteers, known as VIPS.

The acronym VIPS stands for Volunteers in Police Services.

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The service is free, said VIP John Carver.

We are a non-profit organization, Carver said, so donations are welcome.

Those donations from the community keep us doing what were doing, and the programs that we offer, he explained.

If you are interested in signing up for the program CLICK HERE.
Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh on Saturday claimed that Maharashtra 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 Maharashtra 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 Maharashtra 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 National 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.
Many people are rushing to see a sea dyke covered by green moss in the southern central province of Phu Yen.

The dyke in Quang Dong Ward in Tuy Hoa City is being built with rocks and concrete. After the Tet Holiday, green moss has strongly developed on the dyke.

The moss is quite long.

Many visitors come to see the dyke.

It is best to visit there in the morning or late afternoon when the tide goes down.

Tourists are interested in taking photos there.

Recently, the area has become an attractive destination for travellers.

However, visitors are advised to be careful due to the slippery surface.

Dtinews
Amb. Richard Grenell, former Acting Director of U.S. National Intelligence, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 27, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A former Trump official was accidentally named the "President of the United States" by Google.

In light of the mistake, Richard Grenell tweeted his personal "plethora of Executive Orders."

Grenell was the former acting director of national intelligence under Trump.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A former Trump official jokingly tweeted a list of his "executive orders" after he was mistakenly listed as the president on Google's search results, according to screenshots captured by The Guardian.

Richard Grenell's office title briefly said "President of the United States since 2021" in the right-hand information box. The error was apparently corrected on Saturday, and Grenell's title was accurately listed as "Former Acting Director of the United States National Intelligence." It's unclear how long the incorrect title was visible.

In light of the mishap, Grenell joked that he would announce "a plethora of Executive Orders" on his Twitter Saturday. He added that he "will run up the stairs without tripping" - a dig at President Joe Biden, who tripped on the stairs of Air Force One earlier this week.

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In a few tweets, Grenell laid out his joke executive orders, including "an LNG terminal to be built ASAP on the West Coast of the United States (preferably in California)."

He continued: "I hereby order multiple desalinization plants to be built in California. And I also hereby order new Nuclear power plants to be built in California."

He also took a jab at Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, tweeting, "Oh, and Eric Swalwell hereby loses his security clearance." Swalwell has been under scrutiny by Republicans over his previous interactions with an alleged Chinese spy, though Swalwell has said he hasn't spoken to her in six years and cut off contact after intelligence officials raised concerns about her.

Grenell, a Republican, was the former acting director of national intelligence and ambassador to Germany, appointed under President Donald Trump. In Grenell's speech last month at the Conservative Political Action Conference, he hinted at a future run for governor of California.

Read the original article on Insider
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Imperial Valley News Center

Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of a Gay Man and Plot to Kidnap and Murder Other Gay Men

New Orleans, Louisiana - A Louisiana man was indicted and charged Thursday in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana on six counts, including hate crime, kidnapping, firearm and obstruction charges.

Chance Seneca, 19, of Lafayette, was charged by a federal grand jury on March 18 based on his attempted murder of a gay man and his overarching scheme to kidnap and murder gay men whom he met online.

The indictment alleges that on June 19 and 20, 2020, Seneca attempted to kidnap one man and successfully kidnapped two other men through his use of Grindr, a dating application for gay and bisexual men. The indictment further alleges that the defendant attempted to murder one of these men because of his gender and sexual orientation, and that the defendant intended to dismember and keep parts of the victims body as trophies, mementos and food. The indictment further alleges that the defendant possessed a firearm in furtherance of the hate crime, and that he tried to cover up his actions by deleting communications between himself and the victim of the attempted murder.

The statutory maximum for the hate crime, kidnapping and firearm offenses is life imprisonment. The statutory maximum for the attempted kidnapping and obstruction offenses is 20 years. The statutory minimum for the gun charge is five years.

The indictment was announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pam Karlan of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran.

The FBI conducted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Abendroth of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
RTHK: Over 200 Chinese vessels at disputed reef: Manila

The Philippines expressed concern about hundreds of Chinese military vessels it said were spotted this month in the disputed South China Sea, the latest example of tension in the crucial waterway.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored in line formation at a reef on March 7, a cross-government task force said late on Saturday.

Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the ships' presence, told a journalist on Twitter: "Only if the generals tell me. In my watch foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces."

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea expressed concern about overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered.

An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China's claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling.

China in recent years has built islands in the disputed waters, putting air strips on some of them.

Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei all claim parts of the sea.

In January, the Philippines protested a new Chinese law allowing its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a "threat of war".

The United States has repeatedly denounced what it called China's attempts to bully neighbours with competing interests, while Beijing has criticised Washington for what it calls interference in its internal affairs.

The Chinese vessels were at the Julian Felipe Reef, also called Whitsun Reef, in Manila's exclusive economic zone, the task force said, describing the site as "a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs."

"Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time," it said in a statement.

The Philippines vowed to monitor the situation and "to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.




Haiti - Diaspora : The Archbishop of Miami against the expulsions of Haitian migrants





Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami in an open letter to state departments appealed to US federal authorities against the deportations of Haitians.



"[...] The deportation of Haitian migrants from the United States must end immediately [...] In the midst of the current political turmoil in Haiti [...] the return of these people to their country is not only contrary to our national values, it is also unnecessary to ensure public health and safety in the United States and could contribute to further destabilization" writes the Archbishop, who adds that the continuation of deportations to Haiti "[...] risks favoring the spread of the coronavirus both among passengers on flights departing from the United States and among citizens residing on the island."



Recalling that the Archdiocese of Miami has "the largest percentage of Americans of Haitian origin in the United States", Bishop Wenski emphasizes that they "[...] They are also essential workers, who support our Nation in these difficult times and contribute to its recovery" calling on President Joe Biden to keep his promise to "adopt a more humane approach to immigrants and refugees."



Bishop Wenski suggests that Haitian migrants present in the United States be granted "Temporary Protected Status" (TPS) allowing them to work in the United States during a period during which it is considered dangerous for them to return to their home country. This particular designation is valid for eighteen months and can be renewed if the conditions which motivated it are still in place at the time of its expiration.



At the same time, Bishop Wenski encourages the American authorities to "[...] consider long-term measures that will reduce the need for migration" of Haitians, as well as "to take better care of those present in the United States [...]"



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The has asked the Uttarakhand government to step up Covid testing and set up early warning systems to control the spread of the virus as the state prepares to organise the Mahakumbh Mela amid rising Covid cases in the country.

The religious event, one of the largest human congregations in the world, starts from April 1.

India recorded the highest single-day spike since late November of over 43,000 Covid cases on Sunday. More than 12 states have shown a surge in Covid cases during the past few weeks. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tested positive for the virus on March 19 and was admitted to Covid centre at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar during the event could be from these states and could potentially lead to an upsurge in cases among the local population.

Bhushan wrote to the chief secretary of Uttarakhand, drawing his attention to the inadequate daily testing numbers in Haridwar  50,000 Rapid Antigen Tests and 5,000 RT-PCR tests. Bhushan said these numbers were not enough to effectively offset the huge number of expected pilgrim footfall.

The report of the central team that visited Haridwar to review medical care and public health arrangements for the religious event said 10-20 pilgrims and 10-20 locals were being detected Covid positive every day. This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turn to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh, the ministry said.

A high-level central team led by S K Singh, director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); along with S K Jain, additional director; and Meera Dhuria, deputy director, NCDC; and other members were deployed to review preparations ahead of the event on March 16-17.

The ministry advised the state to follow scrupulously the SOPs issued by the Centre, increase awareness of self-reporting, especially among the local population, in case of symptoms suggestive of Covid-19.

The local authorities have to enhance testing in potential high transmission areas and continue periodic testing of frontline workers before and after auspicious snan (bathing) days of the Kumbh.

In case there is a surge in cases or any super-spreader event, the state has to promptly send samples for genome sequencing in consultation with the NCDC. More than 80 per cent of the new cases recorded as of Sunday morning were from six states.

Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh accounted for 77.7 per cent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of Sunday. As many as 197 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. Six states accounted for 86.8 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties with 92 deaths.

A survey by LocalCircles said 52 per cent citizens believe the risk of new variants leading to a strong second wave is high. So far, the government has detected 400 cases with UK, South Africa, and Brazil variants in the country.
Talks with India for currency swap of US$ 1 billion View(s):

The Finance Ministry will soon negotiate a facility with India to obtain US$ one billion under a currency swap programme.

A senior Treasury official said a Finance Ministry delegation would begin talks with the Indian High Commission to obtain the facility. The amount will be repayable in one year.

The facility was to be obtained earlier, but the request was turned down by the Indian government.

However, New Delhi has agreed to provide the facility again.

The moves come as the Central Banks foreign reserves dropped below US$ five billion.
TORONTO  Weeks after pressing the United States to help Canada secure more COVID-19 vaccines, Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised U.S. President Joe Biden Thursday for work his administration is doing to provide the country with millions more shots.

Ford lauded the efforts of the president at a news conference shortly after the White House announced plans to lend 1.5 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada.

"God Bless America!" Ford said. "They're coming to our rescue. Thank God."

In January, Ford appealed directly to Biden to help Canada by sending a million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from a plant in Michigan.

At the time, Canada had discovered construction to expand a Pfizer factory in Belgium had delayed shipments of the vaccine.

Ontario ended up receiving thousands fewer vaccines that anticipated in February as a result.

A frustrated Ford publicly pressed Biden, who had just been inaugurated, for a commitment to send more vaccines north.

My American friends ... you have a new president, no more excuses, we need your support Ford said. That's a direct message to President Biden. Help out your neighbour. You want us all to get along, hunky-dory, kumbaya - help us.

Ford said Thursday that he understands the United States would vaccinate its own citizens first, but he's grateful they're now trying to help their allies.

"That's what true neighbours do, they help each other in a crisis," he said.

The premier promised to call Biden "a champion" once Canada received the promised doses, and even offered to drive his pickup truck to the U.S. to get the vaccines and bring them home.

"I've been bugging Trump, bugging Biden, all of them, they must get sick of Doug Ford, asking for help," he said. "President Biden, thank you."

Ford has been pressing the federal government for months for an increased and more consistent supply of COVID-19 vaccines to help bolster Ontario's immunization efforts.

Story continues

Critics have slammed Ford for Ontario's vaccine plan, which they say has been sluggish and poorly communicated.

Ontario reported Thursday that 58,119 more vaccine doses were administered in the province since the last daily update.

More than 1.3 million vaccine doses have been given out in Ontario so far.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2021.

Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian Press
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. lodged on Sunday a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of over 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef, which is within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.

"Diplomatic protest fired off tonight; can't wait for first light, Locsin said in a tweet on Sunday.

The move was recommended by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on Sunday afternoon, according to the DFA chief. Locsin earlier said he was only awaiting the directive from Hermogenes and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to fire the protest, adding he listens only to the generals.

On Saturday, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said it received a report that around 220 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted on March 7 at the Julian Felipe Reef.

According to the task force, the incident reported by the Coast Guard was a cause for concern since the vessels at the time were not seen conducting fishing activities and their white lights were turned on during nighttime.

The NTF-WPS notes this circumstance as a concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation, it said.

Lorenzana also expressed alarm over the sighting, saying the presence of the Chinese vessels is a clear provocative action of militarizing the area.

He stressed that under international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling, Filipinos have the sole right to resources in territories within the country's EEZ and continental shelf.

We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory, Lorenzana said. We are committed to uphold our sovereign rights over the WPS.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Cirilito Arevalo likewise issued a statement condemning any move of encroachment in Philippine territory, but added that the AFP will continue to pursue a "peaceful, principled, and rules-based approach in resolving issues in the disputed sea.

We will defer to the decision of the Department of National Defense and Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the matter, he said.

Our utmost priority remains to be the protection of our citizens in the area, particularly our fishermen, through increased maritime patrols, he added.

It is unclear based on the statement if the vessels are still docked in the reef but the task force said it will continue to monitor the situation.

The reef is claimed by China and Vietnam, but an arbitral tribunal in The Hague recognized the Philippines sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone. However, China rejects the landmark ruling.

In December last year, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative had warned that China may have increased the frequency of its patrols in the South China Sea during the COVID-19 pandemic, including areas Manila claims as the West Philippine Sea. In the same report, the US think tank flagged that Chinese forces conducted patrols at Scarborough Shoals, also known as Panatag for a total of 287 days from Dec. 1, 2019.

READ: China normalizes presence in West Philippine Sea with more patrols  US think tank
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks as President Joe Biden looks on during a listening session with Georgia Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia on March 19, 2021. The Indian American vice president said everyone has the right to be recognized as an American. Not as the other, not as them. But as us. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)


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Hundreds gathered at a Stop Asian Hate vigil and rally Saturday at Discovery Green to mourn the six Asian Americans killed in Atlanta last week.

"Join us in solidarity as we remember and honor the victims from the mass murder in Atlanta and denounce the rapidly growing hate crimes against Asian Americans," the organizing group, OCA-Greater Houston, wrote in a Facebook event post.
Asylum-seeking migrants from Central America, who were airlifted from Brownsville to El Paso, Texas, and deported from the U.S., walk towards Mexico at the Paso del Norte International border bridge, in this picture taken from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on March 19, 2021.

REUTERS
Peter Laufer is an independent journalist, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker and the James Wallace Chair in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.
Mumbai, March 21 : A day after demanding the resignation of Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray on Sunday sought a Central probe into how an explosives-laden SUV came to be parked near the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, besides firing a salvo of unanswered questions.

"The basic issues are getting sidelined. How did the SUV with explosives (gelatin sticks) come to be parked near Antilia? We suspected that it was done by terrorists, but now it seems that it was the handiwork of the police," Raj Thackeray told mediapersons.

Seeking a probe into the entire affair, he said, "Who authorised (arrested-suspended cop) Sachin Vaze to dump that SUV? From where the gelatin sticks were sourced?" The MNS chief said that all these points raise questions on the nexus between Vaze and Param Bir Singh, former Mumbai Commissioner of Police, who dropped a 'letter-bomb' on Saturday evening that triggered a huge political row in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.

The MNS leader, who is the estranged cousin of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, appealed to the Centre to conduct a thorough probe into the matter so that the truth could emerge without diverting the real issues form a maze of wild speculation, half-truths and hidden facts.
In the romcom Notting Hill, the love affair between a bumbling bookseller and a famous actress seemed so improbable it was dismissed as mere 'fantasy'.

But it seems the plot of the 1999 film may have been inspired by a real-life relationship between a London publisher and Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman, when she was the toast of Hollywood.

Hugh Grant has previously suggested his Notting Hill character William Thacker was based on an unnamed real person  something writer Richard Curtis has always been keen to play down.

But evidence now suggests he was inspired by William Sieghart, an old Etonian who became friends with Curtis when they were both students at Oxford.

It seems the plot of Notting Hill may have been inspired by a real-life relationship between a London publisher and Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman, when she was the toast of Hollywood

In 1994, Mr Sieghart had a romance with Uma Thurman, then 24. She had divorced British actor Gary Oldman two years earlier and was in London filming.

Like Thacker and Anna Scott, Julia Roberts's Notting Hill character, Ms Thurman and Mr Sieghart are thought to have started a romance after a chance meeting.

Last year, Grant said: 'This is a story [Curtis] won't admit to but he's told me in a drunken moment.

'A friend of his, an ordinary guy, was in Harrods and met a very famous woman, and took her back to his flat.

Hugh Grant has previously suggested his Notting Hill character William Thacker was based on an unnamed real person  something writer Richard Curtis has always been keen to play down

But evidence now suggests he was inspired by William Sieghart (right with Curtis), an old Etonian who became friends with Curtis when they were both students at Oxford.

'That was the genesis of his script. But he's so scared of people finding out who this famous person was he won't tell anyone.'

Mr Sieghart, now in his early 60s, married film-maker Molly Dineen in 1996. He and Ms Thurman declined to comment last night.

Mr Curtis did not deny he knew the 'original Thacker', but added his inspiration 'was imagining what it would have been like to turn up to dinner at a friend's house with Madonna or Princess Diana.'
Phuket Opinion: Muddying the waters

PHUKET: The claim by the Patong sanitation chief this week that untreated wastewater is in no way a contributing factor of the macro algae bloom in Patong Bay  which in turn spurred the flood of red sea urchins onto the beach  has only muddied the waters over what has been a recurring issue for decades.

opinionpatongpollutionhealthtourism

By The Phuket News

Sunday 21 March 2021, 09:00AM

A screenshot from a video taken by a visitor to Patong Beach on Feb 27 showed brown water along the southern half of the Patong beachfront. Image: The Phuket News / reader

As far as Nattawut Thepthon, Chief of the Patong Municipality Sanitary Works Division, is concerned the algae bloom is purely a natural phenomenon. No doubt algae blooms can be a natural phenomenon, but they are also exacerbated by higher concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus  the key remains of human waste.

As the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says plainly: When a septic system is improperly managed, elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels can be released into local water bodies or ground water.

The EPA also plainly points out: Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle Some algal blooms are harmful to humans because they produce elevated toxins and bacterial growth that can make people sick if they come into contact with polluted water, consume tainted fish or shellfish, or drink contaminated water.

Perhaps Mr Nattawut, as the chief of all issues concerning wastewater in Patong, needs to be made aware of that.

As for Mr Nattawut challenging respected marine life expert Dr Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong, Chief of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC), which is operated by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), to explain further how the algae bloom developed, there is no need for Dr Kongkiat to respond. His claim is solid, and deserves kudos and support for publicly voicing his concerns.

What Mr Nattawut might also need to understand is that Patong Municipality chiefs have already admitted, during pre-COVID times, that wastewater from homes in Patong that are not connected to the towns sewerage system account for 20% of wastewater discharged at this time of year.

There was no need to try to save face by hiding from that fact by speaking solely about the wastewater released by the sludge treatment plant.

Worse, Mr Nuttawut might have to learn the hard way that in the age of social media there is no hiding such incidents from the public. A video posted online by a visitor to Patong Beach on Feb 27 showed the beach water was a sickly brown from the canal at the southern end of the beach, from where all previous brown water blooms have emanated, to halfway along the three-kilometre beach. This fact was realised by The Phuket News only after we ran the story announcing Dr Kongkiats concerns.

Mr Nuttawut failed to mention the brown-water episode late last month. Either he was unaware of it, or he decided it was not relevant.

More depressing is the attitude taken by Mr Nuttawut about the issue. Brown water at Patong Beach can be a killer in the decision by tourists wanting to return, at a time when Phuket desperately needs to restart its tourism industry.

Dont forget that dirty beach water was one of the key issues raised by a delegation of no less than 17 ambassadors who travelled to Phuket in 2013 to highlight all the woes created locally that were becoming major deterrents for foreign tourists wanting to come to Phuket.

Brown water at Patong Beach is not likely to inspire any Thai tourists either.

Sadly, Mr Nattawut is not alone in relegating wastewater as not a major concern. When former Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup announced her grand plan to develop Patong into a Green Tourism City last month, wastewater did not even rate a mention.

Mr Nattawuts attitude of If I didnt do it, then its not my fault is also shared, as evidenced by the incredible denial of haze over Phuket this week.

Polluting beach water via canals, waste dumping and even razing of large tracts of land at Cape Panwa is continuing. Phuket has not changed its ways, and may well pay for that dearly as the economic crisis continues.

Despite all the rhetoric, there have been no attempts to move Phuket toward a truly more sustainable future by preserving the islands natural beauty  the key driver of tourism to the island. Its simply not on the agenda.

And this comes while the leading figures for all the islands municipalities are vying for office in the municipal elections to be held nationwide next Sunday (Mar 28). If the ongoing widespread economic suffering across the island is not enough to prompt the next round of leaders into action, we shudder to think what will.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese and U.S. defence chiefs agreed in their meeting last week to closely cooperate in the event of a military clash between China and Taiwan, Kyodo News reported on Sunday, citing multiple government sources.

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin brought up the issue when he met with Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi on Tuesday although there was no discussion on the specifics of how the two countries should coordinate responses to such an emergency, the news outlet reported.

Japan has historically refrained from commenting on potential emergency situations in Taiwan in relation to China and its stance remains to "encourage dialogue for a peaceful solution to cross-strait tensions," Kyodo said.

Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met their counterparts in Tokyo last week in what was the first overseas visit by top members of President Joe Biden's cabinet.

In a joint statement issued with Japan, Austin and Blinken said, "China's behaviour, where inconsistent with the existing international order, presents political, economic, military and technological challenges to the alliance and to the international community."

No immediate comment from U.S. Embassy in Japan was available. Representatives for the Japanese defence ministry could not be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Sam Holmes)
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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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com.
President Joe Biden. White House/Lawrence Jackson

Democrats are seeking another multitrillion-dollar economic bill, one focused on jobs and infrastructure.

Republican resistance to tax hikes may end up leaving them to enact it on their own like the stimulus.

"They have their work cut out for them," one economic expert told Insider.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Fresh off their first major legislative victory, Democrats are renewing their push to achieve another key part of President Joe Biden's agenda: A massive, multitrillion-dollar infrastructure bill.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi instructed key House committees last week to start assembling a package. House Democrats scheduled two hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday as well. The process will likely stretch on for months, longer than it took to draft and pass Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan.

Democrats are seeking to modernize the nation's aging structural foundations through what may be a $2 trillion economic recovery bill. The latest report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the US a C-minus. Experts say upgrades are long overdue, particularly after a destructive winter storm last month caused mass power and water outages in Texas.

A Democratic plan would provide major funding for areas cited by lawmakers in both parties, such as highways, bridges, broadband, water, and sewer systems. "Building roads and bridges and water supply systems and the rest has always been bipartisan," Pelosi told ABC News last week.

The Biden administration wants to offset some of the plan's hefty cost with tax hikes on wealthy individuals and multinational corporations to bring in new revenue. But that has already triggered Republican resistance in an early blow to the White House's efforts to garner GOP votes for a bipartisan bill.

The wall of Republican opposition to tax increases may leave Democrats to press through a plan without Republican votes using budget reconciliation - the same procedure used to enact the pandemic relief law. It's a perilous route given their thin majorities in both chambers of Congress and competing sets of views on a bill's composition and scale. But some Democrats are already indicating it's likely to happen again.

Story continues

"They have their work cut out for them," Sarah Bianchi, the head of policy at Evercore and a former Biden economic advisor, told Insider. "They're working with a really narrow margin of error."

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Zach Gibson/Getty Images

'I sure hope we build some roads and some bridges'

Some economists and Federal Reserve officials are urging lawmakers to seize on the cheap cost of borrowing to fund comprehensive new economic recovery programs.

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference Wednesday there "should be a longer-term focus on the investment front," pointing to "people's skills and aptitudes, investment in plant and equipment, investment in software."

Many Republicans favor new spending on to upgrade roads, bridges, and highways as Democrats do. However, the parties sharply diverge on details such as cost and the specific programs to incorporate.

"I sure hope we build some roads and some bridges, I hope we do some stuff for ports and waterways," Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said at a local press conference earlier this week. "I think the real question is what else do they wish to have there."

"My suspicion is they will try to jam everything they can into that bill and call it an infrastructure bill," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday.

The GOP is unlikely to support green-energy initiatives many Democrats want to merge into a bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is championing a proposal to gradually phase out gas-powered cars and replace them with electric ones.

An infrastructure bill with Republicans would almost certainly be targeted in scope. Such a move would probably trigger backlash from progressives seeking ambitious initiatives to combat inequality, and threaten to derail the Democratic effort.

"There is a lot of different ways to cut this," Bianchi said. "This isn't going to happen in the same speed and timeframe that [Covid relief] did. I think it's going to take longer to suss out whether they can get real agreement with Republicans on any part of it and try to pull that forward."

Senator Bernie Sanders. Jim Watson/Pool via REUTERS

'We still can't seem to get it across the finish line'

Congress has tried passing an infrastructure package for years. Drafting a bill and pushing it through both chambers is an enterprise increasingly fraught with political peril.

Former President Donald Trump campaigned on enacting up to $1 trillion in new infrastructure spending, double the amount his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton sought. D.J. Gribbin, his former infrastructure advisor, led efforts to shepherd a plan through Congress.

"The mistake made early on in the Trump administration was we had a trillion-dollar figure and before that number was selected, there wasn't a lot of thought in terms of what the need was from the federal government," Gribbin told Insider. He argued the focus should be on "producing results" with state and local governments at the helm.

Trump's push was repeatedly overshadowed by political scandals during his four years in office and the president made little headway, drawing jokes about "infrastructure week." Shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama pitched a plan to repave roads and set up new rail lines. Republicans blocked him.

Now Biden has an opportunity to break through in an area his last two predecessors failed.

There are early signs it may be another piece of legislation maneuvered through reconciliation. That's a budgetary tactic to approve a bill with only 51 votes in the Senate, protected from the usual 60-vote threshold. Some in the caucus already support ditching Republicans to enact a large-scale jobs and infrastructure package.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, told reporters on Tuesday: "One always wants to try to go the bipartisan route but what I have seen this year and in past years, if you want to do something significant, it's very hard to get Republican support."

"From my conversations, a lot of Republicans are anticipating that what has started as bipartisan discussions on infrastructure are going to devolve into partisan conversations on infrastructure," Sarah Anderson, policy director at FreedomWorks, a conservative think-tank, said in an interview.

The configuration of the package hasn't been finalized. The White House is reportedly considering breaking up the package into smaller parts, an apparent effort to make some of it bipartisan. That step has drawn the support of Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who told Capitol Hill reporters on Thursday it was "a very good approach."

Still, the prospect of a jobs bill that reaches Biden's desk is still many months away. It's a path laden with risks for Democrats trying to get it there. "Infrastructure is always the bipartisan thing everyone loves. Yet we still can't seem to get it across the finish line," Bianchi said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

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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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

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Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
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[March 21, 2021] Spaceflight Inc. Awarded NASA LLITED Launch Contract

Spaceflight Inc., the global launch services provider, announced today it has been awarded a launch service contract for the integration and launch of NASA's LLITED mission, two 1.5U spacecraft. Spaceflight Inc. will transport the NASA Low-Latitude Ionosphere/Thermosphere Enhancements in Density (LLITED) CubeSats to low Earth orbit on its Sherpa-LTC orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) at the end of the year aboard a SpaceX (News - Alert) Falcon 9. For this mission, the Sherpa-LTC, which uses chemical propulsion from Benchmark Space Systems, will make its initial spacecraft deployments and then ignite and maneuver to another orbital destination to deploy the NASA CubeSats. The LLITED mission is a grant awarded to The Aerospace Corporation (News - Alert) through NASA's Division of Heliophysics in the Science Mission Directorate and was selected for flight by the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). As a U.S. government direct procurement, Spaceflight is the prime contractor to NASA for the mission and the launch service is led by NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Services Program. The LLITED team includes scientists and engineers from The Aerospace Corporation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and University of New Hampshire. "Spaceflight's full-service offering with our portfolio of Sherpa OTVs vehicles greatly increases the scientific opportunities for NASA, universities, and other organizations that require deployments to non-traditional orbital destinations," said Valerie Skarupa, director of government business development for Spaceflight Inc. "We've enjoyed a long relationship with NASA, launching nearly 20 spacecraft for the organization over the years, and are focused on helping them get their spacecraft exactly where they need to be on orbit. This opportunity is especially rewarding as the award recognized Spaceflight's experience with in-space transportation systems." In January, Spaceflight successfully deployed 15 spacecraft from its first next-gen OTV (Sherpa-FX) on the ecord-breaking SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-1 launch. Spaceflight is preparing several Sherpas for launch with both electric and chemical propulsion for missions later this year along with many traditional rideshare and dedicated missions, for a total of approximately 10 launches in 2021.



The NASA CubeSat project, named LLITED, will investigate the equatorial temperature and wind anomaly that occurs in the neutral atmosphere, and the equatorial ionization anomaly that occurs in the region containing charged particles. "Aerospace's innovative CubeSat mission will measure these two features simultaneously, a major new milestone for on-orbit satellite capability," said. Dr. Rebecca Bishop, principal investigator for LLITED. "By observing this altitude region more closely, scientists will gain a greater understanding of the degree of change in atmosphere density, which in turn affects the amount of drag satellites encounter, as well as reentry rates. Because drag is dependent on atmosphere density, understanding regional changes in density can help predict an object's reentry time and path."

Celebrating 10 years of providing innovative launch services, Spaceflight has launched nearly 350 satellites across 37 missions on eight different launch vehicles, including the Falcon 9, Electron, PSLV, and Vega. It has orchestrated several industry firsts including the first fully dedicated rideshare with 64 smallsats about the historic SSO-A mission and the first-ever rideshare mission to GTO with a lunar lander. About Spaceflight Inc. As the premier global launch services provider, Spaceflight is revolutionizing the business of space transportation through its comprehensive suite of launch services and Sherpa orbital transfer vehicles. The company provides unprecedented launch flexibility to ensure customers' smallsats get to orbit exactly when and where they want through a combination of long-standing relationships with a diverse portfolio of launch partners, innovative satellite integration capabilities, including flight and ground support hardware, licensing and logistics management, and extensive mission management expertise. Based in Seattle, Spaceflight has successfully launched hundreds of satellites and is a part of the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. portfolio, operating as an independent, U.S.-based company. For more information, visit http://www.spaceflight.com. About The Aerospace Corporation The Aerospace Corporation is a national nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center and has approximately 4,000 employees nationwide. With major locations in El Segundo, Calif.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Washington D.C., Aerospace addresses complex problems with agility, innovation, and objective technical leadership across the space enterprise and other areas of national significance. For more information, visit www.aerospace.org. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) : @AerospaceCorp. About NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative NASA's CSLI provides access to space for small satellites, CubeSats, developed by the NASA Centers and programs, educational institutions and non-profit organizations giving CubeSat developers access to a low-cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education or operations. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center manages the CubeSat missions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210321005007/en/

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Although the corporate governance of Gulf Cooperation Council-based companies has improved over the past decade, it remains below international best practices, according to S&P Global Ratings.

Issues arising from board independence and board member skills, along with risk management weaknesses, are a common feature in the GCC's major governance failures.

As the GCC continues to import capital, conditions imposed by institutional investors are likely to help further strengthen governance practices, financial transparency, and sustainability reporting.

While there have been relatively few governance-related negative rating actions to date for rated GCC issuers, governance-related bankruptcies have been more prevalent in the larger market.

Governance practices in S&P Global Ratings view are stronger for GCC financial institutions and larger nonfinancial companies active in the capital markets as they are subject to greater regulatory scrutiny, disclosure, and market discipline. Similarly, government ownership appears to bring closer supervision of certain basic governance practices.

Many GCC companies operate with concentrated shareholder profiles with relatively limited institutional investor participation. In addition, S&P Global Ratings notes that, compared with best practices elsewhere, GCC boards are often less independent from ownership. S&P Global Ratings also note that board members themselves may have less experience and fewer qualifications than similarly positioned directors elsewhere. S&P Global Ratings also observe that in-business controls and risk management appear weak in certain sectors. These weaknesses have, in S&P Global Ratings view, contributed to governance failures in the GCC.

Nevertheless, GCC-based banks generally have stronger governance practices given the multiple layers of supervision and their more frequent interaction with external capital markets.

Similarly, governance practices and financial transparency appear to be more developed for nonfinancial corporates and insurance companies whose shares are listed, or that issue debt, on the capital markets.

As the GCC continues to import capital and attract institutional investment to support recovery from the pandemic and long-term economic diversification, S&P Global Ratings believe that stronger governance practices, financial transparency, and sustainability reporting will take firmer hold.

The large economic footprint of governments and their related entities is a common feature of GCC countries. Although it is growing, the GCC's private sector is relatively underdeveloped and dominated by family groups that have increased the diversification of their businesses over the years by tapping into growth sectors. These businesses are important contributors to the GCC's non-oil economy.

Many of these have now transitioned from their founders to second and third-generation managers. Their funding remains based on relationships and is dominated by local banks.

That partly explains why the GCC's capital markets remain relatively small. From 2003 to 2008, governments used them to distribute oil wealth via IPOs of some government-related entities.

However, since the correction amid the global financial crisis at that time, the overall contribution of GCC capital markets to regional economies has been limited. For example, over the past five years, the funds raised via IPOs on GCC-based stock exchanges was limited, outside the $25.6 billion raised via the Saudi Aramco (unrated) deal in late 2019. In addition to a relatively limited

number of IPOs from 2015 to date, we have also seen a number of high-profile delistings over the same period.

Many GCC-based companies are controlled by one or two key shareholders, even in the case of GCC-listed entities. A 2020 report found that a small number (averaging 2.8) of significant shareholders (parties with more than 5% of a company's voting rights) represented on average 52.7% of the shareholding of listed GCC companies as of 2015 (see Related Research).

S&P Global Ratings believe this finding has implications for corporate governance as strong key shareholders can disproportionately influence key organisational decisions, including the appointment of board members.

Concentrated shareholding is not unique to GCC companies. For instance, most Swedish companies are still controlled by their founding families though they have stronger corporate governance checks and balances than most GCC companies. In other cases, public and

state-related entities are important owners of listed companies such as in Saudi Arabia, China, and Norway. In some of these countries, concentrated ownership was mitigated by higher requirements for checks and balances in regulation or the business environment.

In other countries, a well-diversified base of shareholders that includes a large share of institutional investors can foster best practices in governance. Typically, sophisticated long-term investors such as pension funds and life insurance companies have an active interest in the long-term performance of companies in which they invest. As such, this type of investor will often hold the board accountable for sound governance practices, ask for strong disclosure requirements, and promote long-term risk management processes.

That said, the mere listing of a company's shares or the presence of institutional investors is not necessarily sufficient to guarantee best practices, as has been seen in the case of London-listed UAE-based health care operator NMC Health PLC (unrated), where a material amount of previously unreported liabilities was discovered in early 2020.

COMMON GOVERNANCE FAILURES

While this is not unique to the GCC, management or shareholder fraud and financial reporting shortcomings are the two most common corporate governance failures we have observed there over the past 15 years.

The origins of these shortcomings include, in our view, ineffective board oversight and a weak risk assessment culture, sometimes accompanied by ineffective external oversight. The lack of disclosure and weak market discipline were also contributing factors.

Abraaj Group collapsed in 2019 after allegations surfaced that the Group diverted client funds to cover both the Group's operational expenses and its founder's other, unrelated, businesses. The Group's regulator, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, imposed a $315 million fine on the company in July 2019 for misuse of investor funds.

In the case of NMC Health PLC, a US-based investment firm issued a report criticising NMC's financials. Thereafter, an independent review identified certain undisclosed financing arrangements and potential discrepancies in the reporting of cash balances. It also came to light that NMC failed to disclose transactions in NMC shares by its two largest shareholders as well as loans to a shareholder secured by their NMC shares. The company and its other board members (excluding the shareholders) were reportedly unaware of the loans and pledges. On March 2, 2020, NMC announced that it was asking for continued support and an informal standstill of existing facilities from its lenders while later that month NMC disclosed an additional $4 billion of previously unreported debt. In April 2020, NMC declared insolvency, went into administration, and had its listing on the London Stock Exchange suspended.

Among other things, the NMC case illustrates the difficulty of forming an accurate picture of an entity's governance by looking at only its reported metrics and behavior. While NMC Health was London-listed, had a high-profile board containing a number of non-executive and independent board members, and reportedly adhered to best practices in corporate governance, it did not, in practice, have effective institutional checks and balances for detecting the activities that led to its insolvency.

A prominent corporate governance failure in the insurance sector involved Arab Insurance Group (Arig), a Bahrain-based reinsurer whose shareholders included several governments in the region.

In early 2019, the Central Bank of Bahrain uncovered some significant deficiencies in Arig's internal controls, a lack of strategic direction as some key positions remained vacant for a prolonged period, and a fraud at one of its subsidiaries that had led to high losses.

Consequently, Arig ceased writing new business in 2020 after operating for more than 36 years.

LACK OF BOARD INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS

Controlling shareholders can also weaken the independence and effectiveness of the board.

Moreover, the weakness can extend to the composition of board committees, and hiring of board members, and can lead to undue influence by the controlling shareholders on management and organisational and strategic decisions.

Ultimately, such situations engender a culture of weaker checks and balances at the executive level. While the board's fiduciary duty is to serve the best interests of a range of stakeholders, including minority investors, the interests of key sponsors can prevail.

Secondly, ineffective board oversight due to time constraints and potential conflicts of interest are other issues we have observed in the GCC. If directors also sit on boards of companies, there may be an increased likelihood of conflict of interest depending on whether the related companies are in the same sector or otherwise compete.

Third, S&P Global Ratings have observed that the presence of board members with the right skills and competencies can be uneven. In some cases, this may be due to board appointments being made based on other factors than their skills and experience. In several cases, directors sitting on the boards of several companies, where they may not be able to contribute significantly or challenge leadership.

This factor is, in S&P Global Ratings experience, often accompanied by a more general lack of diversity, particularly by nationality or gender. Nevertheless, we see progress on gender diversity and expect to see more female involvement in senior management and board positions. For example, in January 2021, First Abu Dhabi Bank appointed its first female CEO.

S&P Global Ratings believe that companies with less effective boards are less likely to set a clear strategic direction, hold management accountable, or help management implement and cascade a strong risk assessment culture. This lack of board effectiveness increases, in our view, the potential for management fraud and financial reporting incidents like those we have described above.

LACK OF DISCLOSURE AND MARKET DISCIPLINE

These phenomena vary from one industry to another and often depend on the degree and type of regulation, supervision, and the sourcing of a company's external financing. For banks and insurers, for example, accounts are reported under IFRS and the quality of disclosure tends to be relatively good. For nonbank financial institutions and for corporates that do not actively issue capital market instruments such as bonds or equities, the quality of disclosure is generally weaker. An additional challenge for the GCC is to step up disclosure requirements about environment, social, and governance (ESG) factors now that more investors are requiring alignment with ESG principles before committing funds.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

Despite improvements over the past several years, governance practices are generally not a strength for nonfinancial corporates in the GCC, many of which are controlled by their founding families with limited financial transparency.

Generally, governance practices are stronger for those companies tapping the capital markets through bonds and sukuk or whose shares are listed on regional or international exchanges. In S&P Global Ratings view, this is because those companies are often subject to higher regulatory scrutiny, disclosure requirements, and market discipline. Similarly, government ownership of a company often results in higher levels of supervision that bring with them at least basic governance practices.

Banks tend to have more established and robust governance frameworks and financial transparency versus nonbank financial and nonfinancial corporates. GCC banks often have stronger linkages with international investors (through interbank lines, external deposits, and bonds or sukuk issuance). Moreover, as they collect deposits, banks are, by definition, subject to higher regulatory scrutiny and requirements than other corporates in the region. In our view, the quality of regulation and supervision, across the GCC, is comparable with international standards.

It is also more advanced than in other regions like, for example, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, where we believe weaker management and governance practices contributed to the failure of some banks (see "How Management And Governance Lapses Contributed To Bank Failures In Russia And The CIS," Oct. 12, 2017). S&P Global Ratings regard Kuwaiti banks' corporate governance and transparency as weaker than other GCC banking systems. S&P Global Ratings see room for improvement in terms of transparency and disclosure quality, compared with their peers'. Nevertheless, we see the Kuwait central bank's requirement that banks host earnings review calls and publish call transcripts as a positive development.

Greater regulatory scrutiny may also explain why, in the several cases of corporate governance failures over the past 15 years, the number of banks was small and often confined to fraud cases that various stakeholders could not detect. By contrast, nonbank financial institutions are generally subject to less stringent requirements and, as such, featured more prominently in cases of corporate governance failures.

To meet the requirements of new and more stringent risk-based regulations, insurers in most GCC countries have further strengthened their governance and internal controls in recent years. The governance arrangements and internal controls of most GCC insurers we rate are adequate, based on their current size and complexity and are neutral for their ratings. That said, we have observed some governance weaknesses, particularly regarding financial reporting standards, at certain smaller primary insurers as well as regional reinsurers, resulting in qualified audit opinions or even temporary license suspensions over the past five years. From 2016-2020, we took negative rating actions on around 20% of the approximately 32 rated insurers in the region either because of a weaker governance assessment or governance-related matters that in some way weakened the insurer's financial risk profile.

ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT

Well-directed foreign direct investment (FDI) tends to contribute to a "stickier" form of funding frequently associated with boosting longer-term growth prospects. In a region like the GCC where the costs of promoting new economic activity have typically rested on the public sector, ambitious economic diversification plans imply a substantial fiscal cost. Government balance sheets have weakened markedly since oil prices crashed in 2014, and given continued low oil prices, regional policy changes indicate a growing interest in more diverse and less fiscally burdensome funding.

While stocks of FDI and portfolio investment in the GCC are among the lowest globally, demand-side dynamics are only part of the story. There are important differences within the GCC, but the existing regulatory landscape is relatively restrictive regarding foreign investment and ownership. Moreover, the narrow structure and slow diversification of GCC economies present limited investment opportunities. What's more, there has been ample liquidity at home. In some instances, local wealth funds actively restrict the amount they invest in their domestic economy, in part to limit their amount of GDP creation.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stand out as regional magnets for foreign investment.

Nevertheless, the low stock of FDI in the GCC more generally is partly due, in S&P Global Ratings view, to the suboptimal governance practices. New measures to improve transparency and governance standards are in part designed to attract FDI and support gradual economic liberalisation.

Together, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates account for about 80% of the total GCC stock (58% and 33% respectively) of FDI, from around the globe. Flows into the UAE, in particular, have grown faster than for the rest of the GCC in the past decade. This partly reflects a more diverse economic base that provides greater opportunities, but also increasingly a country that encourages engagement with foreign business.

S&P Global Ratings expect Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to continue attracting more FDI than their GCC peers. Through 2023, however, S&P Global Ratings expect that investment inflows to the GCC will fall slightly because of pandemic-related factors and low oil prices, which can reduce investor confidence and, thus, the amount of new projects signed. This slowdown also suggests that opening GCC economies, even with its companies adopting better governance standards, will likely take time.

IMPROVING REGULATORY PICTURE

Conscious of best practices worldwide, particularly in the ESG sphere, various GCC regulators have initiated several revisions of their regulatory requirements. For example, over the past couple of years, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar strengthened corporate governance requirements including in areas such as listing standards. Moreover, regulators in these countries have relaxed foreign ownership rules.

In early 2020, the Securities and Commodities Authority of the UAE adopted a new corporate governance framework for public joint stock companies. This framework clarifies the duties of the board of directors. It adds a requirement to establish a code of conduct applicable to board members, employees, and auditors. It also establishes mechanisms to avoid conflicts of interest, and more deeply embeds compliance and its role and responsibilities. S&P Global Ratings have also seen some moves to adopt sustainability principles and disclosure guidelines, with the aim of attracting more ESG investment.

There remains more to be done to increase the awareness of corporates about sustainability. Banks appear again more advanced than corporates in the GCC, but they are further behind leading players in integrating ESG factors in strategy, decision making, and risk management.

Nevertheless, the ESG momentum appears to be building. Abu Dhabi General Market, for example, has adopted a sustainable finance agenda focused on four pillars: the integration of sustainability in their regulatory framework, enhancing cooperation with stakeholders inside and outside the country, increasing communication and awareness, and the creation of a sustainable finance ecosystem. Similarly, Dubai Financial Market (DFM) assumed a leadership role in the region and, among other initiatives, has been promoting sustainability reporting for listed companies. To further promote best practices in the market, DFM and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) launched a Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group in 2019 and Sustainability Strategic Plan 2025 to promote best practices in this area. In the nongovernmental sphere, DIFC's Hawkamah Institute has been working with the GCC's financial and nonfinancial companies as well as with regulatory authorities and governments to promote best practices and deliver several governance-specific training programmes. -- Tradearabia News Service
(Natural News) A new variant of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) originating from the Philippines has been detected in the United Kingdom.

The new mutation of the coronavirus, known as P3, was detected in two people, one in London and one in the city of Birmingham in central England. The Birmingham case was picked up through routine testing after the patient arrived in the country through Birmingham Airport, where he was quarantined. The London case was picked up through mass testing.

The Birmingham patient had recently traveled to the Philippines. The London patients infection is still being investigated, and health officials are still unsure of where the patient contracted P3.

Public Health England (PHE), the main agency that executes health policies in England, is concerned about P3 because it has mutations that are also present in variants discovered in southern England, South Africa and Brazil. (Related: Another Plandemic? P1 said to be a different pandemic from the one we saw last year  Brazil is the target.)

PHE said the P3 strain has the same E484K spike protein found in the mutation from Brazil and the same N501Y spike protein found in the variant discovered in southern England. Scientists have linked both of these mutations to an increase in viral transmission.

The E484K protein possibly helps the coronavirus dodge the bodys immune defenses, while the N501Y mutation helps the coronavirus bind more easily to ACE2 receptors. ACE2 is an enzyme present in the membranes of the human heart, kidney and lung cells. If these cells are compromised, it can increase the viruss range and transmission.

The P3 strain was discovered in early March when dozens of cases of it were announced in the Philippines. PHE has designated it as a variant under investigation, one of six strains of the coronavirus discovered in the U.K. that health officials are pouring time and resources into thoroughly understanding.

The discovery of the P3 strain in England comes as more cases of the Brazilian strain were uncovered in the country. PHE say that it will ramp up its mass testing programs in Birmingham and London. Meanwhile contact tracing teams have been called up to investigate if the two P3 patients have been in contact with anybody before they were admitted.

Philippine government does not have enough information on P3 variant

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) announced the detection of the new COVID-19 variant on Saturday, Mar. 13. As part of the announcement, it clarified that this strain is more accurately described as a variant first reported in the Philippines, rather than a Philippine variant of the coronavirus.

The [World Health Organization] discourages use of places to identify variants, said the DOH. The so-called U.K. and South African variants were tagged because these variants were first reported in these countries.

Even though the P3 variant found in the Philippines contains the N501Y and E484K mutation, local health officials have attempted to downplay its potential impact on the outbreak in the Philippines. Theyve said that it is still not identified as a variant of concern as current available data are insufficient to conclude whether the variant will have significant public health implications.

But at the same time, the DOH reported that at least 98 cases in the country were potentially caused by the P3 variant.

In an interview, Philippine Genome Center executive director Cynthia Saloma said they believed that the P3 variant was locally developed after having comparing it with 600,000 samples of the coronavirus in their database and finding it to be unique.

Saloma agreed with the DOHs assessment that theres not enough evidence to conclude that the P3 mutation will significantly impact public health impact. But she agreed that P3 might be more transmissible than the more common, original strain of the coronavirus circulating in the country.

Were not saying its more infectious, but its mutation suggests that its possible that it is more transmissible, she said in Filipino during the interview.

When Saloma was asked about whether the P3 variant is deadlier, she answered in the negative. What were saying about increased pathogenicity is that symptoms will not worsen, its not deadly if youre not immunocompromised  What were monitoring here is its increased transmissibility.

While the P3 variant most likely originated in the Philippines, there has been some confusion about which country reported it first. The DOH insists that it had found out about the new variant first. But on Mar. 12, Japanese health officials confirmed this new virus type from a passenger from the Philippines who arrived in the country on Feb. 25.

Learn more about the many variants of the coronavirus spreading all over the world by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Independent.co.uk

BMJ.com

News-Medical.net

Rappler.com
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New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department has said that several parts of north and northwest India might face some scattered light to moderate rainfall from March 21 to 24.

Under the western disturbance, widespread rainfall as well as snowfall, along with isolated thunderstorms and lightning, have been predicted over the Western Himalayan region.

Thunderstorm activity with light to moderate rainfall at a few places are very likely over Western Himalayan Region, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra during 21st-23rd March, 2021.  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) March 20, 2021

On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana might receive isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds, with speed ranging from 30-40 kmph. These showers are expected to bring relief from the scorching heat in the region. Also, Delhi and other northern India states are likely to receive light to moderate showers.

Thunderstorm activity currently continuing over parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. For location specific forecast please follow the Nowcast link of India Meteorological Department: https://t.co/XlFTYwvsp7 pic.twitter.com/0FaE5hgree  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) March 20, 2021

IMD, on Sunday, also issued orange alerts for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad urging the residents to be prepared for rough weather. No significant heat wave conditions are likely over the country during next one week.

The beginning of the pre-monsoon season in India, from March 1, brought multiple western disturbances that have successively impacted the North Indian weather. However, India recorded rainfall activity of 34% below Long Period Average (LPA) last week.

Meanwhile, due to absence of any active Western Disturbance, rainfall activity is likely to be below normal over northern parts of the country in the next week. However due to trough/wind discontinuity at south Peninsular India, light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm & lightning activity likely over south Peninsular India.
Myanmar's military junta has put an Australian couple under house arrest after turning the pair away from the airport.

Matthew O'Kane and Christa Avery, a dual Canadian-Australian citizen, were detained after Ms Avery tried to leave the country on a relief flight out of Yangon Airport on Friday.

The couple, who co-founded Avery O'Kane & Associates, a bespoke business advisory firm based in Myanmar's largest city and former capital Yangon, have been under house arrest since.

Their detention follows that of Australian economics professor Sean Turnell, who has been held since February 6.

Christina Avery, who runs a bespoke business advisory firm with her husband Matthew O'Kane, was blocked from leaving Myanmar on a relief flight on Friday

Australian Matthew O'Kane pictured in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been detained by the military junta and is now under house arrest in the largest city of Yangon

Some of the projects the consultancy helped included garment and textile manufacturing, clean energy, technology startups and oil and gas exploration, according to their website.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed they are assisting two Australians in Myanmar but would give no further detail.

Friends of Ms Avery, who has a masters in environmental management from the University of NSW and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, said she alone had been scheduled to fly out, but her husband Matt had taken her to the airport.

'They told her, "You can't get on the plane  please go back to your home",' a friend in Yangon told The Australian.

Economist Tim Harcourt, a friend of Ms Avery and Mr Turnell, said she was popular and respected in Sydney and Myanmar.

'In Myanmar, I understand she is quite prominent for her work in international development and with the Myanmar Institute of Directors. She is obviously a person who is trying to do a lot of good work for the country, just like Sean,' he said.

Matthew O'Kane (right) and Christa Avery (second from right) pictured in Myanmar

Myanmar borders Bangladesh, China, Thailand, India and Laos

Protesters in Mandalay demonstrating against the February 1 military coup in Myanmar on March 13. Anti-coup protests continue despite the harsh crackdown

Myanmar's military took control of the country in a coup on February 1 following a general election which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won by a landslide on November 8.

The coup took place as the new session of parliament was set to open.

The military - who had backed the opposition - demanded a rerun of the vote, claiming widespread fraud.

Military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing has seized power and declared a year-long state of emergency.

Professor Sean Turnell (right) who is detained in Myanmar pictured with his wife Ha Vu

Mr Turnell was a consultant to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured)

Plumes of smoke rose over Myanmar's largest city Yangon on March 16 as security forces fired on unarmed protesters. The death toll from the unrest reached at least 248 as of Sunday

Suu Kyi has been arrested and hit with charges including possessing illegal walkie-talkies, violating Covid-19 restrictions and publishing information that may 'cause fear or alarm'.

A third Australian, economist Sean Turnell who worked as an advisor to Suu Kyi was also detained by the military after being arrested a week after the coup.

The economics professor from Sydney was a long-time adviser to Suu Kyi.

At least 248 people have so far been killed in the unrest as the death toll rose on Sunday with a man killed in the central city of Monywa.

Two others were injured in Sunday's clash with security forces.

A total of 2,345 people have been detained since the coup in the country formerly known as Burma since the coup.

Around 20 protests were held overnight on Saturday across the country.

Myanmar has a population of 54million people, mostly buddhists, and borders Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, China and India.


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It has been two weeks since actor Mithun Chakraborty was inducted into the BJP with great fanfare in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Kolkata. However, there is still no clarity about his exact role in the upcoming Assembly polls. No one knows if he will only campaign for the BJP or whether he will contest these elections and be projected as the partys chief ministerial candidate. In his initial interviews, Chakraborty had been circumspect when asked if he was the BJPs face for the top job but has subsequently warmed up to this suggestion, saying he will not mind taking on this responsibility if directed by the BJP leadership. However, the actor is still awaiting his turn as he has yet to participate in any major party programme. According to the buzz in Kolkata, BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya and Dilip Ghosh are avoiding Chakraborty. Apparently, they are not confident about including him in the poll campaign as the actor is reputed to be an unguided missile.

Heres more on the high-voltage West Bengal Assembly poll. The battle between the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress and its main challenger, the BJP, is intensifying with both sides pulling no punches in showing the other one down. As the campaign picks up momentum, several photographs have appeared in the local press showing the sparse crowds at the public rallies addressed by BJP leaders, including its president J.P.Nadda and home minister Amit Shah. It appears the Trinamul Congress has been using a drone to take aerial shots of the BJPs election rallies, which are then brandished by it to mock its chief political rival.

Rahul Gandhi may have stepped down as Congress president close to two years ago but he continues to have a major say in the partys internal matters. For instance, the Nehru-Gandhi scion was involved in the selection of candidates for the upcoming Assam and Kerala Assembly polls. The Wayanad MP is learnt to have asked the Youth Congress to provide a list of potential candidates for both states, preferably who do not belong to political dynasties, come from humble backgrounds and have been working at the grassroots. As a result, 15 Youth Congress office-bearers made it to the Kerala list. Most of them are in the 25-50 years age group. Another 10 tickets have gone to those who moved from the Youth Congress to the partys district and state units in the last 10 years. In Assam, six members of the Youth Congress non-dynast candidates have been fielded. The only exception here is Angkita Dutta. Rahul Gandhi has also told the Youth Congress leaders that this experiment will be replicated at the national level if these candidates perform well in the Assembly polls, provided they intensify their agitations and protests against the government.

There appears to be no end to the Ashok Gehlot-Sachin Pilot saga. After their brief show of solidarity when the Rajasthan chief minister and his former deputy held joint public rallies for the forthcoming four by-elections, their cold war has resurfaced once again. Mr Pilot apparently saw red when he heard that Mr Gehlot planned to field his son Vaibhav Gehlot from the Rajsamand Assembly seat. There was also talk that Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshis son Himanshu would be fielded from the Sahada Assembly segment. Mr Gehlot is keen on rehabilitating his son ever since he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from Jodhpur. However, the two veteran leaders hit a hurdle when Mr Pilot and his camp followers objected to their choices. Meanwhile, Mr Pilot is getting impatient and has been petitioning the Congress leadership in Delhi to meet his long-pending demands. Though he has been reassured that he will be adequately compensated for the loss of the deputy chief ministers post, nothing concrete has emerged so far.

The Modi government is extremely sensitive to criticism, especially when it comes from civil society groups or politicians in the West. Recently, the government reacted sharply when US-based non-governmental organisation Freedom House and Sweden-based Varieties of Democracy Institute downgraded India on the democracy ratings with the Swedish institute describing India as an electoral autocracy. And yet the Modi governments actions speak louder than its words. For instance, the ruling dispensation has gradually restricted the entry of media persons to several ministries and the Parliament House. It was helped in this exercise by the year-long pandemic as the fear of infection was used to keep out journalists. These restrictions remain in place even though the government never fails to point out how it succeeded in containing the coronavirus pandemic. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has been proactive in denying access to journalists to Parliament. Not only has entry to Parliament been severely restricted but now even the routine exercise of renewing a journalists annual pass has become problematic. Apparently, the applications for the renewal of passes has been sent to the Speakers office for further scrutiny.
KABUL  State media reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived Sunday in Kabul on his first trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, amid swirling questions about how long American troops will remain in the country.

State-owned Radio and Television Afghanistan and popular TOLO Television reported Austin's arrival in Kabul from India. He was expected to meet with senior Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani.

President Joe Biden said last week in an ABC News interview that it will be tough for the U.S. to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. But he said that if the deadline, which is laid out in an agreement between former President Donald Trumps administration and the Taliban, is extended, it wouldnt be by a lot longer.

In response, the Taliban on Friday warned of consequences if the U.S. doesnt meet the deadline. Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiation team, told reporters that if U.S. troops stay beyond May 1, it will be a kind of violation of the agreement. That violation would not be from our side. ... Their violation will have a reaction.

Austin was expected to meet with Ghani and the newly appointed defense chief Army Chief of Staff Gen. Yasin Zia, who was appointed acting defense minister this week. Washington is reviewing the agreement the Trump administration signed with the Taliban last year.

In a sharply worded letter to Ghani earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it is urgent to make peace in Afghanistan and all options remain on the table. He also warned that it is likely the Taliban would make swift territorial gains if U.S. and NATO troops withdrew. The United States spends $4 billion a year to sustain Afghanistans National Security Forces .

The Taliban warned America against defying the May 1 deadline 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 Afghanistans decades of war.

Washington has also given both the Taliban and the Afghan government an eight-page peace proposal, which both sides are reviewing. It calls for an interim so-called peace government which would shepherd Afghanistan toward constitutional reform and elections.

Ghani has resisted an interim administration causing his critics to accuse him of clinging to power. He says elections alone would be acceptable to bring a change of government.

Both the U.S. and Kabul have called for a reduction in violence leading to a cease-fire. The Taliban say a cease-fire would be part of the peace negotiations. However, the insurgent movement has not attacked U.S. or NATO troops since signing the agreement.

However, U.S. military commanders and NATO leaders have argued that the Taliban have not lived up to their part of the peace agreement, which includes a reduction in violence and a separation from al-Qaida and other terror groups.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month that the alliance will only leave when the time is right and when conditions have been met.

The main issue is that Taliban has to reduce violence, Taliban has to negotiate in good faith and Taliban has to stop supporting international terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, he said.

Austin has said little on the record about the ongoing stalemate. After a virtual meeting of NATO defense ministers, Austin told reporters that our presence in Afghanistan is conditions based, and Taliban has to meet their commitments.

Austins stop in Afghanistan marks his first return to a U.S. warzone in the Middle East since taking the Pentagon post. But he spent a great deal of time in the region during his service as an Army commander. Austin, a retired four-star general, served in Afghanistan as commander of the 10th Mountain Division. And from 2013-2016 he was the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan visit comes at the end of Austins his first overseas trip as secretary. After a stop in Hawaii, he went to Japan and South Korea, where he and Secretary of State Blinkin met with their defense and foreign ministers.

This article was from The Canadian Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
An Offaly company has managed to increase employment numbers and production in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Simpli Baked, the food manufacturing business based at Cloncollig in Tullamore which produces tortilla and pizza bases, recently employed 12 extra full-time team members to help them meet production demands.

This brings the workforce to a total of 62 full-time team members at the plant.

The staff increase is particularly significant in the time of Covid-19 restrictions. In addition to the challenges posed by the pandemic, the company has also overcome Brexit challenges.

Despite all these challenges, the company is working at full tilt at present.

Managing director Kieran Walsh explained the situation. We are currently running a 24 hour, seven days per week production schedule. We are seeing a bit of a Brexit bounce at the moment, which we didnt expect, so we needed to take on extra staff, he said.

Normally, the company works on a five shift per week basis, but with a surge in orders, they have stepped up to a seven-day shift cycle.

In 2008, Simpli Baked gave a commitment to Enterprise Ireland to employ sixteen. The steady growth of the company has now seen an almost four-fold increase of staff in just over a decade.

The Tullamore company is the only one in Ireland which produces flour tortillas. It also produces thin crust pizza bases.

Luckily for us, pizza demand increases in bad weather, especially when it is lashing rain. And in the good weather people are more likely to eat outside and go more for wraps and sandwiches, Mr Walsh said.

Hiring new staff during a pandemic, and level 5 lockdown restrictions, presented a new set of challenges which the company hadnt previously faced.

We were very cautious about bringing in new people. Every person we hired was given a Covid-19 test first. Throughout the pandemic we have kept each shift isolated so if you were working a specific shift last March, then that is the one you are working on this March, Mr Walsh explained.

In a change from normal procedure, all job interviews were done remotely over video software Google Meets which was a new experience for us at Simpli Baked, Mr Walsh said.



Management was also impressed by the level of interest and quality of candidates who applied for the jobs. Many applications came through job specific websites, but also from local word of mouth.

The latter is particularly important for a local company like Simpli Baked. It might sound like nepotism, but people need to know the type of work and shifts involved, before they start, Mr Walsh said.

An enjoyable work environment is something which Simpli Baked places particular value on. Mr Walsh said if people spend almost half of their conscious day at work, it is somewhere they want people to be happy in. We do want it to be an environment where people can have a bit of craic, while maintaining the highest standards for a modern food producer, he said.

With many business premises shuttered at present, being able to work in a safe environment is not an option for many who have embraced the new working from home environment, which can lead to a not always successful blurring of work and home life.

We are lucky that in these difficult times, at least our team get to go to work and get that bit of headspace and engage in social interaction, Mr Walsh said.
(CNN)  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has withdrawn his country from an international treaty to protect women through a presidential decree issued in the early hours of Saturday.

The move has sent shockwaves through a country that has been reeling from high-profile domestic violence cases and femicides.

Turkey was the first country to sign the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in 2011. The Istanbul Convention, named after Turkey's largest city, seeks to prevent violence against women, including domestic violence, and bring an end to legal impunity for perpetrators.

It is unclear why Erdogan made the decision to pull out of the convention. Turkish women's rights defenders have protested against the withdrawal, while some conservatives argue it harms traditional family values.

The public debate around the convention peaked in August when religious and conservative groups began an intense lobbying effort against the convention, lambasting it for degrading family values and advocating for the LGBTQ community.

Erdogan's cabinet came out to assure people that the withdrawal from the convention will not mean backsliding on regulations around domestic violence and women's rights. "The guarantee of women's rights are present in our current laws and especially in our constitution. Our judicial system is dynamic and strong enough to implement new regulations as needed," the Family and Social Policies Minister Zehra Zumrut Selcuk said on Twitter.

Turkey's main opposition called the move an effort to relegate "women to second class citizens," and vowed to return the country back to the convention, saying the current government failed to secure the rights of women and children. "You are failing to protect the right to life," said Gokce Gokcen, an opposition parliamentarian on Twitter.

A coalition of women's groups said the presidential decree withdrawing from the convention felt like a "nightmare" and by pulling out of the convention the government has announced that it will no longer protect women from violence.

"It is obvious this withdrawal will empower murderers, abusers and rapists of women," the coalition statement said.

Turkey does not have femicide numbers issued separately but a non-governmental women's right group puts the number of women killed in 2021 at 78.

Violence against women in Turkey is a "huge human rights crisis" that is "escalating," Turkish novelist and women's rights activist Elif Shafak told CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Friday.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Turkey withdraws from Istanbul convention to combat violence against women."
By Jason Lim





I always found the hundredth monkey phenomenon interesting. It's this theory that there is a critical tipping point (i.e. 100th monkey) that would trigger a new behavior or idea that would spread almost instantaneously throughout the population. It also reminds me of the popular saying that Korea has a "Pot Characteristic." No, I don't mean the green stuff that you smoke. It means that the Korean public opinion heats up quickly, just like a cooking pot does, only to cool down just as quickly. In other words, it speaks to the tendency of Korea to collectively jump on a trend or issue really quickly and then move on en masse to the next hot thing without lingering too long.



Why should that be? Well, it's actually not that difficult to see why when you live in Seoul for a while: everyone lives on top of one another and is largely visible to everyone else.



The combination of post-Korean War demographics, rapid industrialization, geography and historical trends all conspired to create an incredible concentration of people, power, wealth and everything else in Seoul. For decades, anyone with ambition, hope and vision for the future would move to Seoul to try their luck. This is where you had to be in order to be anyone. It's only a slight exaggeration to say that Korea is literally the Republic of Seoul.



Today, about half of Korea's 50 million population live in the larger Seoul Metropolitan area. Whatever demographic category you might belong to  rich, poor, young, old, straight, gay, Korean, non-Korean  you are likely to live in Seoul and see one another every day both professionally and personally. I don't mean that a young college kid fresh off the boat from rural Korea would be in the same social circles as a Seoul-native, privileged white-collar bank executive. What I do mean, however, is that there is a good possibility that they would at least encounter one another or be aware of each other in some ways  not as individuals, per se, but as different, delineated but partially overlapping groups. In other words, they would at least be visible to each other due to the sheer concentration of the population in Seoul.



In fact, when I used to live in Seoul in the late 1990s, the one thing that struck me was how people from vastly different socioeconomic classes occupied the same spaces, albeit fleetingly. There was definitely more cross-pollination than I had experienced growing up in New York City in the 1980s.



I went to a top private high school in New York growing up. Although I wasn't one of them, I was friends with the rich Manhattan and Hamptons crowd. I definitely wasn't in the in-crowd to be sure (I mean, my nickname was Long Duk-dong after Sixteen Candles came out), but I wasn't totally shut out of privileged access either. However, I never saw Donald Trump or his kids. I never got to glimpse the truly privileged lives of the wealthy. They were invisible to me and many others like me. There definitely was a wall  unspoken, invisible but very high and very real  that marked the boundary between the wealthy and everybody else. I literally couldn't see what their lives were like, which means that I had no target or any jealously or envy that was in my face all the time. In today's lingo, there was no cause for me to feel an acute and constant sense of relative poverty because I had no one to compare myself to.



But in Seoul, everybody sees everyone else every day. You are constantly surrounded by those that you have to gauge yourself against. Many of them are far richer than you can ever hope to be. The concentrated density of your existence sears the perceived reality of everyone else's fabulousness into your senses. This periscope visibility and inescapable proximity of Seoul really drives this velocity of trends, fashion, topics and the next hot thing. And you can't keep up. In fact, it's impossible to keep up.



And then focus the artificial and amplified lens of social media on this. You're now an ant with a magnifying glass held by a cruel god training a hot beam of unbearable light on your back. It's Instagram hell come true. You feel as if you're sharing your apartment with hundreds of Instagram influencers. This is what living in Seoul feels like for many young people.



Elders tells us that you are not supposed to do this. That you have to walk your own path. Then again, trite admonitions warning you to define self-worth based on some intrinsic value is hollow when our own evolutionary psychology drives us to constantly measure our own status and security in relative terms against others. Others who are constantly in your face. Others who are far more fabulous than you are.





Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture.












Police were warned about violent criminal Ken Flanagan just hours before he butchered his mother and girlfriend in Co Antrim.

Druggie Flanagan killed his mum as well as Stacey Knell in separate knife attacks. Police later found his dying body but were unable to save him.

The double murder has shocked Northern Ireland to the core.

The Sunday World can reveal that a former partner of Ms Knell tried to raise the alarm about of the relationship between "out-of-control" Flanagan, also known as Ken McClean-Flanagan, and Ms Knell.

Sam Lillie, who had a child with Ms Knell, said he contacted social services and visited a police station early on Friday, a day before the horrific chain of events unfolded at around 10pm.

Sam told the Sunday World yesterday: "I contacted social services on Friday and they said they couldn't do anything at short notice, so they advised me to go to the police. They told me the soonest they could look at the situation would be Monday.

"Unfortunately for Stacey, Monday was too late.

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"So I went to Musgrave Police Station on Friday and asked to make a report. They told me they only investigate crimes. They said they can't advise Stacey on who she has a relationship with.

"I said I just wanted them to look into the matter and look into Ken and the fact that he was around my daughter, which was my main concern."

The PSNI is investigating the three deaths after officers were called to an address at Derrycoole Way, Co Antrim, at around 11pm on Friday.

It is understood that is where the body of Flanagan's mother was found.

When police went to an address just a mile away at Glenville Road they found the body of Stacey Knell and an unconscious Ken Flanagan.

First responders applied first aid treatment, but he died at the scene.

Sam added: "The reason why alarm bells started ringing was because on Wednesday I saw Ken with Stacey, my daughter, and that's when the red flags started popping up for me - that's when I realised I had to take some kind of action because I didn't want a guy with his reputation to be near my daughter.

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"I knew I had to ring social, even though me and my family don't do that, we don't ring social on anyone, but this was different. My gut instinct was telling me to do it. I knew something was wrong.

"I knew of Ken and I knew he was bad news. It's not for me to say who my ex-partner goes out with but I just didn't want him being around my daughter.

"I said to them, 'you need to do something'. Then I woke up [yesterday morning] and got a phone call saying Ken had murdered Stacey and his own mother."

A tearful Sam added: "I really tried my best. I tried to raise awareness and nobody did anything about.

"The fact of the matter is I knew Ken was a danger to my daughter, and also Stacey. I knew all about him. I knew he was an unstable man.

"I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should leave the house or who I should speak to. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do at all.

"It could have been my daughter. Just the thought of that absolutely terrifies me. My heart is broken.

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"I was trying to look after my daughter because I knew what he was like. This is a man who stole a car and crashed it not so long ago, and put other people's lives in danger.

"But it's too late. Now Stacey's gone, and Ken's mother's gone and he's gone. I knew something bad was going to happen."

Last night North Area Commander Chief Superintendent Davy Beck said: "Police received a report of concern for the safety of a child yesterday afternoon (Friday, 19th March).

"Following review, there was no evidence of immediate concern for the child's safety and the caller was provided with advice in respect of the matter."

Ms Knell, from the Holywood area of north Down, was murdered in a large country-style house off the Glenville Road, understood to be owned by Flanagan's elderly relatives.

It is also understood Flanagan had been involved in an incident involving a car chase with police before spending time in jail recently.

When he was released, he resumed his relationship with Ms Knell and is said to have been "obsessed" with her.

Sources close to Flanagan's family have described Ken as a "hell-raiser" and "out of control".

On the Glenville Road yesterday morning, a small laneway connecting the main road to the large house where Ms Knell was murdered remained cordoned-off by police.

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There were no signs of any residents inside the property, apart from a small silver hatchback car parked just outside.

Neighbours described the property, which is understood to have been passed down through the killer's family for generations, as a "party house".

In the Derrycoole Way area of Newtownabbey yesterday the Sunday World spoke to locals who said they were shocked and saddened that such a heinous murder had taken place on their doorstep.

One told us: "It's so quiet around here. I've lived here for a long time I can't remember anything like this happening here."

Speaking of Ken Flanagan's mother, they said: "The woman who lived in the house kept herself and was very quiet.

"You only ever really saw her when she was going in and out of the house."

As forensics teams searched and examined the scene yesterday morning, the small enclave of one of Europe's largest housing estates remained mute, bar the distant chatter and laughter of children playing in a play park adjacent to the property, and the odd car passing.

Other neighbours said they were unaware that something terrible was happening just yards away from where they lived.

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"I can't believe this happened and I didn't hear anything", said one.

"I didn't even know the woman, and have been speaking to other neighbours this morning who say the same thing.

"The thing is, people come and go here all the time. It's not like it was years ago when you have someone living in the estate for years. Nowadays people are moving in here for a couple of months and then they're gone again.

"As far as I know, the woman who was murdered hadn't been here for a very long time."

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.

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"Violence against women and girls is prevalent throughout all of our society, not just in the UK, but across the world." Alliance MLA John Blair said: "This is a sad and shocking set of circumstances.

"My thoughts and sympathies are with the families concerned in what they are going through at this time. There is a sense of shock in the wider Newtownabbey community upon hearing this tragic news."

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell of the PSNI 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 inquiries, 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."
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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 business ventures, allies said last night in fresh revelations about the Royal Family amid the fall-out from the Sussexes' Oprah interview.

The Duke of Cambridge's rift with his brother is said to have soured even further in early 2020 when the Sussexes 'blindsided' Her Majesty with a terse statement hitting back at the Palace last year.

William's allies have provided fresh insights amid the ongoing fall-out from Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism in the Royal family, and their revelation last week to US TV host Gayle King that peace talks with the prince and Charles had not been 'productive'.

The sources said that the episode that 'most upset' William was in March 2020 when 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 last year, crossed a line for William, who felt it a rebuke 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 - in a piece which interviews numerous allies and makes the second-in-line to the throne's feelings clear.

Describing the Sussexes' response, the royal source added to the paper that 'the content and that it is still online is staggering', while adding that the brothers 'did not part shores as friends' - despite going for a lengthy walk together at the Sandringham summit during which Harry agreed he would step back from Royal duties.

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.

The friends also say that William was a peacemaker during the 'tensions' leading up to Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, during which the infamous incident in which Meghan claims Kate Middleton made her cry occurred. Differing accounts of that event say it was Kate who was the one in tears.

The source said: 'Every time there was a drama, or a member of staff on the verge of quitting, William would personally try and sort it out.' The Palace has also opened an inquiry into claims that Meghan bullied staff.

The coronavirus pandemic is said to have made William embrace his role in public life 'more than ever', and while supporting frontline health workers he has reflected on his time as an Air Ambulance pilot where he witnessed 'some very sad, dark moments on very traumatic jobs involving children'.

However he still believes in his grandmother's approach of taking a 'more passive role' as head of state and does not wish to 'meddle' in party politics.

But he was said to have been 'unhappy' at Boris Johnson putting the Queen in an 'unenviable' position over Brexit, a source told the Sunday Times.

The Prime Minister asked the Queen to prorogue Parliament in 2019 - which the Queen had no option but to do under he role as head of state.

But the move move was later declared unlawful and sparked an apology from Mr Johnson to the monarch.

The Mail On Sunday also today revealed that The Queen is to boost the Palace's diversity initiatives after Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism continue 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'.

And aides say the rift with Harry has brought William closer to his father, and William is said to have been responsible for stressing that the Royal Family take issues of race 'very seriously' in the statement responding to the Oprah interview.

The friend said: 'At Williams wedding there was a gag in one of the speeches that he was more like his father than hed ever admit, which made a lot of us laugh. As their respective destinies get closer, it weighs more heavily on them and strengthens the bond. The rift with Harry has also brought them closer.

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 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

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 rebuke to the Queen

Harry and Meghan's announcement early last year they planned to step down as senior royals plunged the Family into crisis talks at Sandringham.

Sources told the paper William and Harry went for a walk after the Sandringham Summit to cool tensions that had been mounting for some months.

After initially being hailed as the Fab Four set to broaden the monarchy's appeal to a younger generation, cracks had long started to appear in the Sussex-Cambridge dynamic.

Harry and Meghan uprooted from Kensington Palace to set up their own household at Frogmore Cottage, while reports started emerging of friction between the duchesses.

A year later and the Royal Family - and the brothers' relationship - has been rocked by a fresh saga following explosive claims during the Oprah Winfrey interview.

William is the only royal to have so far addressed the interview publicly, telling reporters he was due to speak with his brother and stressing 'we're very much not a racist family'.

But friends told The Sunday Times his 'head is all over the place' and he's still reeling from the couple's remarks.

Those close to him refute Harry's claim that William is 'trapped' within the institution of the monarchy, rubbishing it as 'way off the the mark'.

However while the situation is still 'raw', William is said to have resolved to repair the relationship with Harry 'in time'.

The gulf between him and his brother has brought him closer to Charles and his grandmother, The Queen, a source said.

A year later and the Royal Family - and the brothers - have been rocked by a fresh saga following explosive claims during the Oprah Winfrey interview

Meanwhile a former Palace aide described how William 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 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

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'.

The Queen plans diversity drive: Royals will boost existing programmes as Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism are blamed for 'unproductive' peace talks with William and Charles

By Kate Mansey for the Mail on Sunday

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.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

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

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.

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.
Sri Lankas circus of painful follies and the Geneva trials View(s):

There is an exceedingly dangerous vacuum growing at the heart of the Sri Lankan State that cannot be ignored any longer. If a passionate teenager who speaks her mind about environmental destruction in Sinharaja has state officers visiting her home to interrogate her and if a courageous forest official who protests against the felling of trees faces an inquiry as a result, that indicates how deep the political tentacles of corruption have embedded themselves into the state.

Needless controversies and extreme insensibility

An absurd surreality is part of that suspenseful show. Hence, the Colombo Municipalitys sudden energy in bringing down a beautifully illustrated mural protesting ecocide put up in the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo by young wildlife enthusiasts. The reason offered by the zealous municipal officers was that the mural itself is harming the trees and that permission had not been obtained. The classical maxim that, whom the Gods want to destroy, they first make mad must surely apply to those who issued this order and those who carried it out. Apparently, the mural was put back on due to heavy media presence at the scene but removed again.

This veritable circus of follies will soon find its way to the international press, one may confidently predict. Sri Lanka will once again capture international headlines in the same distinguished manner as news reports of witchdoctors and their tonics to the Minister of Health dipping charmed pots in the river in order to stave off covid-19 only to catch the dreaded virus a few weeks later. None of these incidents are incidental. Instead they form a pattern that frames Sri Lanka as a basket case in the critical eyes of the world. One idiocy follows another. A needless controversy (to cremate or not to cremate the Muslim covid-dead) is dictated to by visiting Prime Ministers.

And Ambassadors merrily violate diplomatic protocols by commenting on matters all and sundry in the wake of confusion reigning supreme as we go a-begging for the votes of friendly countries ahead of a potentially tough resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. I will return to that later. But the point is that sensible questions needing to be asked in the first instance are replaced by extreme insensibility. In the case of the Sinharaja devastation, how were relevant environmental protection approvals in regard to the felling of trees on private lands dispensed with? That is the core issue rather than the questioning of a young girl.

Commonality of desperation and claims of privilege

Meanwhile elsewhere in Sri Lanka, a furious priest tells forest officers who inform villagers to refrain from trespassing on state land that these are Sinhala Buddhist villagers as if somehow that identity would suffice to wash away the taint of breaking the law. A woman protests that they have been living on that land for generations and that they are not harming the environment. Her protests may well be true but it is the claim to priority, to privilege, to a status that is above others that is deeply troubling. Never mind that they are also desperate, that they are eking out a living barely enough to survive as do the Tamil or Muslim villagers nearbye.

That commonality of desperation, by itself, is not sufficient to compel empathy. Instead, privilege is claimed, based on no logical basis but race and religion, drawing support from unconscionable ravings of politicians and priests supported by vicious hate propaganda masquerading as journalism. But this is the desperate nation that we have become, from Point Pedro to Devinuwara, framed and defined by historic enmities and hatreds fanned by those who feed off those hatreds to keep themselves in power, relevant and (so they think), important. Indeed, the rhetoric of hate and racial privilege followed by key powerbrokers in this Government has put the nation and its people in a dire predicament of their own most disgraceful making.

Strategy let alone discretion has been thrown to the four winds in state policy. Regardless of how the vote will turn out, the Geneva resolution up for voting at the United Nations Human Rights Council in the coming days constitutes the first steps towards enabling the heavy wheels of international criminal responsibility to turn in regard to holding Sri Lankas gross human rights violators liable. This Governments shouters and shriekers may look to the example of Syria. This was the focus of a similar United Nations effort, in collaboration with the Human Rights Councils International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (established in August 2011) to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence pertaining to violations and abuses of human rights and humanitarian law.

Apportioning the blame for the crisis that Sri Lanka faces

Recently that process led to a German court convicting a Syrian middle ranking security officer for the offence of facilitating torture by rounding up protestors who were later abused by intelligence officers. His defence that he was only following orders and would have risked his own life if he had defied them was dismissed. But even as moralizing on Sri Lankas victims goes on unendingly it seems in the corridors of the United Nations, let us acknowledge some hard truths. Countries pontificating the failure to address the nations accountability question must bear their distinct share of the blame, let it be said most clearly. Notably Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States uncritically backed a constitutional reform cum transitional justice process that existed finally only in the minds of governing politicians sitting comfortably in Colombo from 2015-2019.

The less said about a purported anti-corruption exercise bedeviled in equal parts by singular incomptence and political manipulation, the better. Sri Lankas courts commenced throwing out cases filed by the Bribery and Corruption Commission against Rajapaksa frontliners on technical grounds during the yahapalanaya period itself. Key prosecutors who led that effort were captured on tape betraying the integrity of that process in a shocking display of sheer stupidity even if higher norms are to be brushed aside. Thoughtlessly clumsy and politically manipulative seeds of their own downfall were sowed by yahapalanaya leaders cock-a-hoop in believing that they had the international community at their beck and call.

We are reaping its poisonous harvest now with full vengeance. That singular lack of discretion on the part of the international community and the closing of its eyes, ears and mouths in Colombo to signs very early on that the United National Partys petted and pampered favourites in power were heading towards certain disaster is remarkable. It is ironic now that we have to now listen to sermons on genuine accountability. Indeed, the tidal wave of popular anger that swept against the the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition is precisely why the Rajapaksas were returned to power and hence, by all the laws of inexorable logic, to this crisis that we face now.

The long shadow of the Geneva trials

Interestingly, there are other contradictions at play. For example, a storm of protests has been evidenced against the recently gazetted deradicalization Regulations under Sri Lankas Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for being vague in its reach and overbroad in its scope. This criticism is quite rightly so. However, that frantic activity is quite in contrast to the deathly silence that prevailed in Colombo and elsewhere when the Wickremesinghe-led Government proposed a so-called Counter-Terrorism Act (CTA) in 2018 which, in some respects, was far worse than these Regulations.

But even so, if the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition regime had left Sri Lanka pitifully defenceless to cheerful Islamist jihadists carrying bombs in their rucksacks on Easter Sunday almost two years ago, let it be said that this Government has, with far more devastating force, exposed the country to a trial in Geneva.

This will cast a long shadow as we will soon see.
Brussels, March 21 : The European Union's (EU) top diplomat and the President of the EU Commission on Sunday condemned Turkey's decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on women's rights.

EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen called on all signatories to ratify the convention on Twitter on Sunday, dpa news agency reported.

"Women deserve a strong legal framework to protect them," she said.

"Violence against women is not tolerable." EU Foreign Affairs envoy Josep Borrell expressed regret and incomprehension over the decision to withdraw on Saturday and urged Turkey to change its decision.

"We hope that Turkey will soon join again the European Union in defending the rights of women and girls, a fundamental element of human rights, peace, security and equality in the 21st century," Borrell said in a statement.

The Istanbul Convention, a treaty developed by the non-EU organization Council of Europe in 2011, aims to create a legal framework to prevent and fight against violence against women and domestic violence.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the convention in Istanbul when he was still Prime Minister, and it was later ratified in the country.

However, according to the country's We Will Stop Femicide Platform, the convention was never applied.

According to the platform, at least 300 women were murdered by men in Turkey last year alone.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 00:52:26|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- International partners on Sunday committed to supporting the implementation of the electoral process once details are agreed upon by leaders who are due to meet Monday to break the current election impasse.

The partners including the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations and other Western countries welcomed the arrival of participants of the government and Federal Member State leaders for the summit to be held in Mogadishu.

"We appeal to Somalia's leaders to seize this opportunity for a peaceful political settlement leading to elections and to make the necessary compromises in the interest of the Somali nation and its people," the partners said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu.

The international partners stressed that they will not support a partial or parallel electoral process or any initiatives leading to extension of prior mandates.

The statement comes after President Mohamed Farmajo called for a two-day summit to finalize the election deal based on recommendations of the technical team which met in Baidoa in the southwest region on Feb. 15 to 17.

The partners urged the leaders to convene quickly and to show leadership by building on the Baidoa technical committee proposals to implement the Sept. 17 2020 electoral model and proceed with elections without delay.

"We also encourage consultation with other stakeholders such as political actors, civil society organizations, and key legislators to listen to their views and ensure broad support for the electoral process," the partners said in the statement.

The Monday meeting is expected to arrive at a way forward for the delayed elections and is considered critical for the sake of entrenching the federal system of governance, which is required to appease communities and regions claiming systematic exclusion and marginalization for decades.

Somalia on Dec. 1 2020 missed a deadline to hold its parliamentary elections which were due to begin as agreed by the government and six regional states in September 2020.

Parliamentary and presidential elections were to be held between December 2020 and February 2021, respectively. Enditem
Sudhir Tiwari is a big science fiction movie buff and passionate about Indian philosophy.

Rather than the epic Star Wars, Tiwari finds a lot of inspiration from science fiction action film The Matrix and is excited about the release of The Matrix-4 this year.

As managing director (MD) of tech company ThoughtWorks India, Tiwari leads business strategy and builds high-performance teams. He also oversees investments in data and artificial intelligence (AI).

One such initiative that Tiwari is leading is Engineering for Research (E4R), where the firm collaborates with research organisations in understanding and solving problems in the fields of astronomy, biology, epidemiology and robotics.

There are very clear business areas where we know the industry would move, said Tiwari. But there are always these questions around what technology stacks would they use as a lot of these tech stacks are going to change rapidly. Research firms are key areas as they are focused on cutting-edge technologies and think a few years ahead, he added.

One of the projects is called the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), where engineers, astronomers, and project specialists are working together to build a next-generation observatory for the astronomical community.





According to the firm, with TMT, one will be able to study the universe like never before. These include finding answers to many grand challenges of science such as origin of galaxies, birth and death of stars and turbulent regions surrounding black holes. It would also help in discovering planets orbiting distant stars and the possibility of life in alien worlds.

ThoughtWorks  in association with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics  is collaborating with the TMT team to build various systems. This includes various software and data management systems. One of the unique problems is big data like photographs on the universe, which are massive files and come in at a very rapid pace. The aim is to find the right technology to service this kind of requirement.

It is a matter of time before we start seeing the same volumes (of data) in every business, said Tiwari. For us, a lot of these projects are driving innovations, he added.

For instance, after the outbreak of coronavirus, the E4R division started working on a project called BharatSim. It is a collaborative project between Ashoka University and ThoughtWorks, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The vision for BharatSim is to build a distributed, multi-scale agent-based model simulation framework for the scientific community, to help envision the disease spread of Covid-19 in India.

It would enable modellers from various fields to provide useful analysis, predictions and input to policymakers to control the pandemic.

Most real-world systems are complex in nature. The agent-based modelling allows researchers to create models with the required complexity. It helps perform various what-if, if-what kind of scenarios to understand behaviour of the system.

Such models have applications in other industries, including financial institutions.

The kind of problems we are solving will be seen in every industry, said Tiwari, adding, This gives us a headstart on various technologies and then obviously we take them mainstream.

The scientific discovery process governs how scientists and engineers discover the laws of nature, new materials, and new medicines. Traditionally, these discoveries were made by humans.

Now, there is a growing community of scientists and engineers who believe machines can autonomously make discoveries in the future. Last year, ThoughtWorks hosted its first virtual E4R Symposium, which was based on the theme of AI earning a Nobel prize of its own.

Founded over 25 years ago, ThoughtWorks has grown from a small team in Chicago to a leading global software consultancy with more than 8,000 employees. It has expertise in providing digital transformation and software development. The company started its operation in India in 2001 as an offshore arm serving clients in the US and UK. This has evolved significantly. A large portion of the companys employees is based in India. In the last few years, ThoughtWorks has also placed a major focus on the India market as well.

It is a level-playing field now, said Tiwari. It is no longer about the technology, which reached the US, coming to India five years later.

In India, ThoughtWorks is also working with a lot of global in house centres (GICs) to upgrade and modernise systems. One of the top customers is Chilean retailer Falabella, which has set up a centre in India.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ThoughtWorks is witnessing rapid business growth, aided by strong demand for the companys services and expanding digitalisation of its customers. The firm is betting big on opportunities in areas such as the financial industry, retail and pharma in India.

It is seeing that a lot of are adopting technology, having aspirations to go global.

Referring to an article by Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Tiwari said it is now very cheap to set up a business anywhere, leveraging cloud.

He said the company witnessed an improved order book. Some of the R&D investments that faced a blip due to the pandemic are also progressing.

When asked about his strategy during the pandemic, he said the company went into a communication overdrive. The firm also focused on the health of its employees. It helped the staff, who were travelling, to get back to India. Many employees were already doing work from home (WFH) at the firm. The strategy to scale up WFH for everyone helped it deliver projects to clients with minimum disruption.
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.
Hamza Nasri, a young Tunisian activist, hit the streets as part of anti-government protests in recent months. Now he says he is under police watch and afraid for his friends.

"I've moved house three times in recent months. I've stopped going to see certain friends so I don't put them in danger," the 27-year-old told AFP.

Tunisia won plaudits for its democratic transition, its free elections and new liberal constitution after its 2011 revolution.

The popular uprising put an end to a police state and established freedom of expression that was unprecedented in the North African country.

But a decade later, in the face of limited reforms to the security and judicial systems, activists say the risk of arrest places a "sword of Damocles" over their heads.

In January, security forces arrested hundreds of youths, including many minors, from underprivileged and marginalised neighbourhoods across the country during several nights of unrest.

They have subsequently arrested several young activists who denounced what they saw as a repressive police response.

Nasri said he feared the country had taken a U-turn.

The law student twice spent 48 hours in custody after anti-government protests in the capital Tunis in December and January, and now risks more than three years in prison on charges including blocking roads and insulting a police officer.

"If I am sentenced to more than six months (in jail), it will go down on my criminal record and I can say goodbye to my dreams of being a lawyer," he said.

- 'We don't feel safe' -

In Tunisia, sex before marriage, same-sex conduct, social media posts deemed offensive and evidence of cannabis use in urine samples can all be punishable by imprisonment.

Observers say this leaves young people vulnerable when they stand up to the authorities.

Rania Amdouni, a 26-year-old rights and democracy activist, was sentenced to six months in jail this month for insulting police officers, though her sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal and she was freed.

Story continues

Dozens of human rights organisations in Tunisia and abroad had called for Amdouni's release.

Both Nasri and Amdouni are connected to the association Damj, which defends the rights of LGBTQI people.

"Life for a young person in Tunisia is about trying to avoid the police as much as possible," said 25-year-old Ahmed Ghram.

The philosophy student, sporting short clipped hair and earrings, was jailed for 15 days in January over a Facebook post criticising inequalities in the legal system.

"We don't feel safe. We are not free," he said.

Mehdi Barhoumi, an expert on rights and government in his thirties, said such arrests "place a real sword of Damocles over our heads".

Barhoumi himself was arrested at a friend's house and jailed for two days after criticising the growing presence of police unions during a private discussion.

He expressed concern at "the alarming security turn Tunisia is taking in its response to social movements".

According to a study published in 2020 by peace-building campaign group International Alert, where Barhoumi works, 17 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds from several marginalised areas in Tunisia said they had been arrested over the past year.

The organisation said it had found irregularities in many of those arrests.

- Generation of hope -

However, Tunisian police no longer have the discretionary powers they enjoyed under the regime of former autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

"Things have changed," said government spokesperson Hasna Ben Slimane.

While she acknowledged reforms had been slower than expected, she said there was now more "professionalism" among the security forces, and that a handbook had been published to improve police legal compliance, such as on arrests.

"We are taking action to radically change practices," Ben Slimane said.

The right to protest is enshrined in Tunisia's constitution and police abuse gets media attention.

But Oula Ben Nejma, vice president of a civil society organisation working for penal and security reform, said bad habits among the security forces persisted because violations go unpunished.

"We are yet to witness a trial where police officers are punished for misbehaviour," she said.

Amine Ghali, director of the Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center, said a return to a "systematic police state" was unlikely.

But he warned that some actors hostile to reforms, such as police unions and elements of the justice system, were returning to prominence.

Expert Haykel Mahfoudh said the greatest source of hope came from the new generation of police officers who have grown up in a democracy.

"There is a civic dimension to their conception of things," he said.

They have "absorbed certain ideas about governance".

cnp/kl/lg/sw
BJP 'charge sheet' lists 100 reasons to reject DMK, allies in Tamil Nadu polls

India

oi-Deepika S

Chennai, Mar 21: Stepping up its poll battle in Tamil Nadu, the BJP on Sunday released a 'charge sheet' against the DMK listing out 100 reasons to reject the Dravidian major-led combine in the April 6 assembly elections.

Accusing the DMK of 'deceiving' the people on a plethora of issues such as language and 'jallikattu', the party appealed to Tamil 'Makkal' (people) to ensure a massive mandate to the AIADMK-led NDA in this elections for a better future of Tamil Nadu.

The document, which listed out the DMKs 'betrayal' under 11 subjects, including Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, Tamil society and social justice, besides its 'antagonistic' stand towards the majority Hindus, alleged that party 'abused' power when it was at the helm.

BJP national general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu C T Ravi unveiled the 'chargesheet' in the form of a booklet in the presence of party's state elections incharge and union minister V K Singh and others at Kamalalayam, the state party headquarters here.

Coronavirus cases: Schools in Tamil Nadu to be shut from March 22

BJP is contesting 20 assembly seats as part of the AIADMK-led alliance. It has also been alloted the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat where a bypoll is being held.

The charge sheet accused the DMK of being behind the 'Karuppar Kootam' which allegedly depicted the 'Kandha Shashti Kavacham', hymn in praise of Lord Muruga, in a derogatory manner.

'DMK president M K Stalin shows his contempt for the Hindus at every instance be it the kumkum (vermilion) which he wiped off when it was applied on his forehead by the Srirangam temple priests or the vibuthi (holy ash) that he hurled when it was offered to him in Pasumpoon,' it said.

Throwing a barb on the language issue, the document claimed the DMK was responsible for creating a situation wherein learning Tamil was not 'compulsory' thus deviating from Tamil as medium of instruction (in schools).

'The BJP-led government at the Centre created an opportunity for the students to learn Tamil in the Hindi- speaking states through its new National Education Policy, but the DMK ruined their prospects,' it said.

Another reason to defeat the DMK was that the party had banned the popular Jallikattu bull taming sport when it was power in the state and a partner of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre, the BJP said.

On the emotive Sri Lankan Tamils issue, the 'charge sheet' accused the DMK of miserably letting them down during the last phase of the ethnic war in 2009 and held it 'fully responsible' for the 'massacre' of nearly 1.5 lakh innocent Tamils in the island nation.

Though DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was in power then, instead of taking steps to prevent the killings, he resorted to a 'fast between breakfast and lunch and fooled the people,' the BJP document said, calling it a 'historical disgrace'.

On the Cauvery issue, the BJP alleged the DMK had neglected Tamil Nadus interests and it had failed to renew the water-sharing agreement for a 50-year-period during 1974, leading to the water woes of the state.

It was the Narendra Modi government that notified the Cauvery Water Management Scheme on June 1, 2018, while the the Congress-led UPA did not take any step to notify the final award of the tribunal submitted in 2007, the document noted.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 20:23 [IST]
The Ministry of Investment and Trade (MOIT) has announced that a special bidding session, held once a year, will be organized in May for the right to import used cars.

The news has caught attention from the public as this is believed to be a great opportunity for Vietnamese people to buy Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadilac, Jaguar, Lamborghini and Ferrari vehicles at reasonable prices.

As tax falls, more cars will arrive

Under the CPTPP trade agreement commitments, Vietnam offers preferential import tariffs to a certain number of used cars to be imported from CPTPP-member countries under a quota.

MOIT plans to organize the bidding session for the right to import used cars in May this year. Seventy-two used cars are allowed to be imported in 2021, including 36 cars with the cylinder capacity of over 3,000 cubic meters and 36 others with the cylinder capacity of 3,000 cubic meters or less.

The taxes on the used imports from CPTPP countries will be based on the preferential import tariff for 2019-2022 stipulated in the government Decree 57/2019, which will be mixed taxes, including percentage tax and fixed tax.

The import tax rate for quota-based cars with 9 or fewer seats is 52.5 percent in 2021, while the fixed taxes are $7,500 for less than 2,500 cc cars and $11,250 for cars with cylinder capacity of 2,500 cc or higher.

The tax rates are much lower than the rates for non-quota imports.

Car dealers estimate that a quota-based used car with cylinder capacity of 2,500 cc which has the declared price of $10,000 would have the pre-luxury tax cost price of $26,500 if counting the 52.5 percent and $11,250 taxes.

Meanwhile, a non-quota used car of the same kind would have the pre-luxury tax cost price of $35,000-40,000 because of the high tariffs of 150 percent or 200 percent, depending on models, and the high fixed tax of $10,000.

In principle, the higher value the used imports are, the bigger the benefits will be. As Covid-19 has had an impact all over the world, many wealthy people have sold their luxury cars to tighten their purse strings. This is a great opportunity to bring luxury Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadilac, Jaguar, Lamborghini and Ferrari cars to Vietnam.

Not easy to earn money

However, experts warned that it would be not easy for car dealers to make money.

In principle, importers will have to attend bidding for the right to import cars.

Meanwhile, car importing is a conditional business field implemented in accordance with Decree 116 released in 2017.

All businesses have the right to auction for tariff quotas to import used cars, but only the businesses which have licenses for car import can import cars. Importers have to make commitments on maintenance services and recalls, if necessary.

With the requirements, the businesses which have licenses for importing cars and have maintenance facilities will have advantages in bidding, while empty handed businesses will be at a disadvantage.

When winning bids, they may authorize the enterprises with licenses to import for them. But this wont be easy, because the enterprises with licenses may charge very high fees.

Used cars are the cars registered for circulation in exporting countries before they arrive in Vietnam. Of the 11 CPTPP member countries, six countries use right-hand driving cars, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, which dont fit Vietnamese laws.

Therefore, Vietnamese businesses can only import quota-based left-hand driving cars from four CPTPP countries, namely Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

It will not be easy to find used cars which meet the requirements. The target countries are in America, which is far from Vietnam with high

transport cost.

MOIT organized an auction for tariff quotas for used car imports on August 14, 2020. Only two businesses won the bid. King F&B Co Ltd won the bid to import 10 cars, while Long Bien Investment Trade won for five cars. Meanwhile, the quota for 2020 was 66 products. Many enterprises with car import licenses did not attend the bid.

Nguyen Tuan from Thien An Phuc commented that the bidding for tariff quotas to import used cars is not attractive to Vietnamese businesses without licenses. Even if they win the bids, they will find it difficult to import cars.

Tuan said even if the tax rates are lower in 2021 and the used car prices in the world decrease, the business is still unattractive because of the strict regulations.

Tran Thuy

Vietnam's automobile manufacturers to develop solid-state batteries for electric cars Making solid-state batteries is a prerequisite for the development of the electric vehicle (EV) market, helping create smart cars which can run thousands of kilometers after just minutes of battery charge.
Mumbai, March 21 : A day after demanding the resignation of state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray on Sunday sought a Central probe to unearth how an explosives-laden SUV came to be parked near the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani in Mumbai last month, besides firing a salvo of unanswered questions.

"The basic issues are getting sidelined. How did the SUV with explosives (gelatin sticks) come to be parked near Antilia? We had suspected that it was done by terrorists, but now it seems that it was the handiwork of the police," Raj Thackeray told mediapersons.

Seeking a probe into the entire affair, he said, "Who authorised (arrested-suspended cop) Sachin Vaze to dump that SUV? From where the gelatin sticks were sourced?" The MNS chief said that all these points raise questions on the nexus between Vaze and Param Bir Singh, former Mumbai Commissioner of Police, who dropped a 'letter-bomb' on Saturday evening that triggered a huge political row in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.

"If that is so, then why was Singh merely transferred and not investigated in the matter. Was he involved in this matter? Also, the MVA government has still not disclosed what led to the ex-top cop's shunting instead of ordering a probe against him," the MNS chief pointed out.

In the letter on Saturday, Param Bir Singh had hit out at Deshmukh by alleging that the minister wanted his team member, arrested cop Sachin Vaze, to 'collect' Rs 100 crore per month from bars and hookah parlours.

Referring to BJP's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis' claim that when he was the CM, the then ruling ally Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray had pleaded for reinstating Vaze, who was under suspension for nearly 17 years.

"This means Vaze had close links with the (current) CM (Uddhav Thackeray). It (reinstatement) was not done then, then how was Vaze taken back into service and why," Raj Thackeray asked.

Adding another dimension to the matter, he asked that when Uddhav Thackeray and Mukesh Ambani enjoy "excellent relations", would Vaze dare to park the SUV there without someone's authorisation.

Dismissing the contentions doing the rounds in certain quarters that some police officers allegedly tried to extort money from the industrialist, Raj Thackeray said that when it is known that Mukesh Ambani and Uddhav Thackeray are so close, who would have the courage to resort to such extortion tactics? On the purported threat letter found along with the gelatin sticks from the Scorpio found near Ambani's house, Raj Thackeray raised doubts over it, saying that it appears that a Gujarati person had written the Hindi letter in English script.

"It says 'Nita-bhabhi and Mukesh-bhai'... Does any terrorist or extortionist address his targets so respectfully? There is definitely something more than what is coming out in this episode," he said.

The MNS leader, who is the estranged cousin of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, appealed to the Centre to conduct a thorough probe into the matter so that the truth could emerge without diverting the real issues from a maze of wild speculation, half-truths and hidden facts.
Four can storm home for the Madrid

15:05 Curragh - Back Fourhometwo

What a great afternoon in store with the first day of the Irish Flat season, and Johnny Murtagh is the trainer I am following to start with a bang with an each-way double.

We'll look at the two competitive handicaps starting with the Madrid, and Fourhometwo from 98 has plenty to offer.

He ran a cracker at Dundalk last time when pitched into Listed level, and he handles heavy conditions as he travelled very nicely to win a Gowran Park maiden last term by nearly three lengths. We can use the 6/1 for the first leg each-way.

Murtagh to continue where he left off

16:10 Curragh - Back Mirann each-way

Murtagh last won the Irish Lincolnshire back in 2013, but that was as a jockey and one of many victories in a stellar career. As a trainer, he fired in plenty of winners too in the previous campaign in Ireland and enjoyed one or two hot streaks. Hopefully he can start that way on Sunday.

Mirann takes a substantial drop down in trip as a regular 1m5f to 1m6f runner and he tries 1m today.

But testing conditions and a big field gives him a chance of outstaying his rivals. He goes well fresh having won off the shelf last term at Gowran and that was over 1m2f on decent ground.

At 16/1, we can also grab the extra place on the Sportsbook.
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Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Woven Planet Holdings, (Woven Planet), the Toyota Group company responsible for a wide range of mobility development projects anchored in software, held a groundbreaking ceremony (Jichinsai) recently for the construction of Woven City.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Woven Planet CEO James Kuffner attended the ground-breaking ceremony along with other respected guests representing the local community.

Together, the leaders expressed their hopes for a safe and successful start to the project.

The Woven City project has officially started, said President Toyoda. Taking action as one has decided is never an easy task. I must express my deepest gratitude to all who have provided their whole-hearted support and cooperation to the project through today. The unwavering themes of the Woven City are human-centered, a living laboratory and ever-evolving. Together with the support of our project partners, we will take on the challenge of creating a future where people of diverse backgrounds are able to live happily.

Toyota announced the construction of the Woven City in January at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, United States, to prepare for an era in which all ecosystems that support everyday life are connected with data. Woven City aims to continuously create advancements that will help better society by accelerating the cycle of technology and the development of services.

The project aims to demonstrate a human-centered approach to community development. As part of Toyotas shift from an automobile manufacturer to a mobility company, Woven City will bring new technology to life in a real-world environment across a wide range of areas including automated driving, personal mobility, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

It is expected to provide a number of exciting opportunities for businesses and researchers around the world.

Woven City will have three types of streets, which will be interwoven with one another on the ground level; one dedicated to automated driving, one to pedestrians, and one to pedestrians with personal mobility vehicles. There will also be one underground road used to transport goods.

The community will start with roughly 360 residents, mainly senior citizens, families with young children, and inventors, and will eventually have a population of more than 2,000 individuals including Toyota employees.

The infrastructure of Woven City aims to create an environment where inventions with the potential to solve social issues are created on a timely basis.-- Tradearabia News Service
Years ago, Margo Seibert and her college friend, Caroline Angell, volunteered together on Wednesday evenings at a homeless shelter in New York. Then, after coming across a January 2015 article in the Huffington Post and speaking to some of the shelters dinner guests, Seibert said the two realized that menstrual hygiene products are not readily available to everyone.

So, they wanted to make a change.

Seibert, 36, of Hoboken, is one of the co-founders of RACKET, a non-profit organization that aims to eliminate period shame and help those who dont have access to menstrual hygiene products. The organization has donated hundreds of kits  which includes feminine hygiene products  to homeless women and teens living in New York shelters and, most recently, the Hoboken shelter.

When we started RACKET, it was gender-focused... We as women have to menstruate, not want to be ashamed and spread the word. We were very focused on getting men involved..., Seibert said. ... (But now) we want to be as inclusive as possible because not all people who menstruate are women.

The organization now also aims to help the trans and non-binary community.

Seibert said she and Angell never set out to solve everyones problems, but to instead talk about and educate others on menstrual equity and have people see how expensive the products are.

Its an incredibly important and personal item that by surrounding it in taboo and shame, we are not providing people what they need, she added.

As of 2019, pads, tampons and heating pads are tax-exempt in New Jersey. But 31 other states still have tampon tax, which is the tax applied to pads and tampons, making the product more expensive, as of 2020.

Women in the U.S. spend close to $2,000 on tampons throughout their lifetime, according to an article by The Huffington Post.

But Seibert said theyve tried to help those who menstruate by giving them kits with necessary products that can last them for the month, at least.

RACKET has provided these kits through drives and partnering with other organizations like Covenant House, Broadway Serves and more.

When we check in with our partners, we are seeing how quickly those products are being used, Seibert said. Were seeing with the need is and what theyre comfortable with and their cycle.

... Our volunteers seem to be happy to have a safe space to talk about periods.

On April 22, RACKET will have a community building event online where they are going to encourage attendees to reach out to local organizations, find out what products they need and help the organization do their own RACKET drive. People may sign up to volunteer at weracket.com.
Tensions bubbled up in Fridays session of the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi as prosecution witnesses became visibly irritated at cross-examination questions by defensc lawyer Kaarle Gummerus.

The first witness to take the stand, codenamed Civilian 35 by the court to hide his identity, clashed with Gummerus who tried to establish that the witness was being rewarded for his testimony.

You and the Finnish police or group that contacted you to testify discussed offering you a scholarship, Gunmerus asked the witness. Wasnt it the discussion?

Civilian 35 responded angrily: I did not discuss scholarship business with anybody. I am a geologist and have a Masters degree from England. What scholarship do I want again when I am working and well paid on my job? he asked the court.

The witness conceded that he had asked questions about how he would be compensated to cover transport and absence from his work to testify in the trial.

I was only concerned, and I told the person who called me, to state how I will get to Monrovia and what would become of my job in Maryland County. And after some time of discussion on the issue of this war business that I know of myself, I agreed to come to town to testify.

Gunmerus countered the witnesss answer by playing a recording for the court, made during Finnish polices investigation of the case.

In the recording, Albert, the person who made the call is heard saying, Please come, it could be for a scholarship. The witness did not respond on the tape.

In court, Civilian 35 denied he was seeking any scholarship.

You hear what the recording is saying. Albert spoke of a scholarship, but you did not hear me say I accept a scholarship. The issue of scholarship was used as a psychological method to get me come to town, not because I wanted a scholarship, he said.

The trial of 51-year-old Massaquoi, the former commander of the Revolutionary United Front rebel group from Sierra Leonean is being conducted by the district court in Tampere, the city in the European country of Finland where Massaquoi had been relocated in exchange for testimony that helped convict former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other rebel leaders in the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Massaquoi had been a close associate of Taylor. The court moved to Liberia last month to hear from Liberian witnesses and to view the scenes where the crimes are alleged to have taken place.

Massaquoi is charged with committing and inciting the murders of civilians and enemy fighters, rape and other human rights violations during the second Liberian civil war in the northern part of Liberia bordering Sierra Leone as well as Monrovia.

Hearing

In Fridays hearing Massaquois defence lawyer Gunmerus questioned Civilian 35 as to whether he knew Massaquoi by the alias Angel Gabriel, as many other witnesses have claimed.

Thank you for reminding me, Civilian 35 told Gunmerus. Angel Gabriel was his doer name. I mean his wicked name that was used when he is ready to do his wickedness.

In another line of questioning Gunmerus challenged how the witnesss was able to remember so many details of the events from nearly 20 years ago but then gave different dates to investigators from those he gave the court.

Where you are, will you be hearing gun firing all over around you and people torturing you and you care to remember date? the irritated witness fired back to the Finnish lawyer. One of my workmates told me certain things yesterday and he had to remind me. Are you saying that such thing does not happen to you white people?

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Civilian 35 remained on the witness stand for four hours  longer than previous witnesses.

He told the Finnish court that he came across Massaquoi and his RUF rebel group in Kamatahun, in northern Liberia, where government forces managed to repel the forces of another rebel group, the LURD. He heard them speaking a Sierra Leonean dialect.

I saw them in yellow t-shirts speaking Krio, and they had the slogan: We will kill all, not one will leave, the witness said.

He echoed previous witnesses who said a Liberian military commander named Benjamin Yeaten appeared to be directing Gibril Massaquoi and his Sierra Leonean fighters.

Before Benjamin Yeaten could introduce the RUF forces to his soldiers, Massaquoi introduced himself that he was Gibril Massaquoi, a commander of the group and a spokesman for the RUF, he said.

The witness said Massaquoi ordered a man tied up and killed on a charge of spying. Another was butchered and the human meat given to a woman to cook pepper soup for the RUF fighters, he added.

I myself was ordered to lie down and open my mouth, which I did. A soldier of the RUF urinated in my mouth, he said.

ALSO READ: Emotions halt hearing in Massaquoi war crimes trial

In another atrocity Civilian 35 said he witnessed, RUF soldiers saw a pregnant woman and argued what gender the baby was. They cut the womans belly open and pulled the fetus out. He also said the RUF lynched a man who they believed was a correspondent for the BBC saying, Your mouth can run too much.

He said Yeaten had tempered the violence of Massaquois troops against Liberian civillians.

It was Benjamin Yeaten who came and told the RUF forces and government forces under the command of Zigza Marzah that the civilians were not the target of the government but enemies (LURD) were, and he ordered people who fled from the town as a result of the fighting to return and carry on their normal businesses. But all the atrocities and torture that took place in Kamatahun and the surrounding villages were carried out on the orders of Zigza Marzah and Gibril Massaquoi, Civilian 35 said.

Civilian 70

Another witness codenamed Civilian 70 told the court that in his home town of Kpokulahun in 2001, government forces and the RUF forces arrested him and others including his wife and aunt. He said the soldiers were going from farm-to-farm arresting and torturing people.

We, the men, were the target, and thats how one of the soldiers who knew me asked that I find my way out for the seven women arrested. I went into the bush but not far, and when I returned the next day after Massaquoi and his men had left with Zigza Mazah, I saw all the women including my wife and aunt lying down dead and naked after they were raped and tortured, Civilian 70 said through tears.

He recalled the names of some of the soldiers as Zigza Marzah, Stanley, Mark Guan, Idrissa Massaley, Gibril Massaquoi alias Angel Gabriel, Alexander Zinnah, alias Gen. Dont Connive, and Musa Kamara, alias Spiderman.

The RUF fighters were not going to the frontline but in the safe zone carrying out all the wickedness, and I saw Gibril Massaquoi among these commanders introducing himself as Angel Gabriel, tell God I sent you, he said angrily in response to defense cross-examination.

Civilian 70, showed a scar on his head that he said he received from torture.

He told the court that he later crossed over to Sierra Leone and was at the refugee camp when an NGO brought him to Monrovia where he received treatment at the Redemption Hospital.

Civilian 60, a woman, said she was a friend Gibril Massaquois girlfriend at the time. She also became a girlfriend of Massaquois driver, claiming that they were always making trips to Lofa County in the war zone where RUF forces committed many atrocities.

Massaquoi almost killed my friend for entering his secret room where his arms and other medicine (enchantments) were stored, and he told her that if she were not pregnant for him, he would have killed her, said Civilian 60.

The story was a collaboration with New Narratives
India's top-12 witnessed considerable decline in for the eleventh straight month in February to 600.62 million tonnes (MT), according to ports' apex body IPA.

at 12 major that are under the control of the Centre dropped by 6.61 per cent to 600.62 million tonnes (MT) during April-February this fiscal, compared with 643.10 MT in the year-ago period, the Indian Association (IPA) said in its latest report.

All ports, barring Paradip and Mormugao -- which recorded 0.27 per cent and 30.93 per cent increase in cargo handling to 102.90 MT and 19.28 MT respectively, saw negative growth.

Cargo handling at Kamrajar Port (Ennore) nosedived 23.29 per cent during April-February to 22.23 MT, while ports like Mumbai and VO Chidambaranar saw their cargo volumes dropping by over 12 per cent during the said period.

Cochin and Chennai ports suffered a sharp decline of about 10 per cent.

JNPT saw a decline of 8.06 per cent in cargo volumes, while Deendayal Port Trust and Kolkata ports logged an over 6 per cent drop in cargo volume. Cargo handling at New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam slipped 5.30 per cent and 4.87 per cent, respectively.

India has 12 major ports under the control of the central government -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V. O. Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, sharp declines were witnessed in the handling of containers, coal and POL (petroleum, oil and lubricant), among other commodities.

These ports handle about 61 per cent of the country's total They handled 705 MT of cargo last fiscal.

Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister ML Mandaviya had told Parliament earlier that there was a considerable decline in the total traffic, containers traffic and other than containers traffic in March, April, May, June, July and August 2020, as compared to the corresponding months in 2019.

The minister, however, had added that recovery has started since June 2020.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hyderabad, March 21 : Telugu star Rana Daggubati feels the audience only cares about the film and not where the person making the film is coming from. Rana is ready to release his new trilingual biggie "Haathi Mere Saathi". The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on March 26, in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil languages.

Although primarily focussed on Telugu films so far, Rana has also made significant impact in Hindi and Tamil film industries from early on in his career. Grandson of Dadasaheb Phalke Award-recipient late producer D. Ramanaidu, he firmly believes the art of cinema ultimately unites across languages.

"It is always the audience. They always want new stuff. When you buy a ticket and get into the theatre, you don't really care where the filmmaker is coming from. You just care about the film. I think the internet and the press has also broken language barriers in a big way. The audience won't care whether "Avengers" is in Hindi, in Telugu films or in any other language," he tells IANS.

The actor adds: "I know a little bit for history because of my grandfather. There was a time when all films, be it Hindi, Telugu or Tamil, were shot out of Chennai. The industries there never had a difference except for talent changing. There was not much difference. Art really unites. Whether you are a director or an actor, you don't really have a language for this craft. It's ultimately the art of filmmaking." Rana's role as the antagonist Bhallal Dev in the "Baahubali" franchise was lauded all over. While many remember him as the beefed-up ruthless king from the "Baahubali" films, Rana will soon be seen playing Bandev in "Haathi Mere Saathi". Bandev is a man who lives in the jungle and has dedicated his life to protecting the eco-system.

"Haathi Mere Saathi" releases as "Kaadan" in Tamil and "Aranya" in Telugu. Talking about the Prabu Solomon directorial, the actor says he underwent drastic transformation physically and psychologically to play the character, who is cut off from regular human interaction.

"When this film was offered to me, I had just done 'Baahubali'. Prabu was very clear that is not how a jungle man looks (refers to his Bhallal Dev physique). From shedding weight to growing beard, I kept doing that for three to four months. Then for the next 10 to 15 days we spend time on sets, defining how Bandev was and how he behaved," says Rana.

"We started creating grammar for him, which was very different from what society would have. He didn't speak to people for a long time. He is a very knowledgeable man but when you have disconnect with people you behave differently. Prabu detailed that out for me. The first schedule I shot was only with the animals in the wild. So, it took me almost 20 to 25 days to get into the mode. So, that really defined and designed who I was and how I looked in the film," he sums up.
New Delhi:

Complaints have been lodged on Thursday against hair stylist Jawed Habib accusing him of insulting and demeaning Hindu Gods in a newspaper advertisement for his salon.

Total of two complaints have been filed against the hair stylist.

One of the complaints was lodged by one K Karuna Sagar, a practising advocate, filed a complaint with the Saidabad police stating that while browsing through social media sites he came across a photo of an advertisment issued by Jawed Habib in a newspaper allegedly depicting the HIndu Gods and Goddesses in derogatory and insulting way.

According to the complaint the ad, which carried the caption Gods too visit JH Saloon insulted his religious sentiments.

A police official of Saidabad Police Station said, We are verifying. NO case has been registered so far.

The second complaint against Habib was lodged by University of Hyderabad student with Gachibowli Police. The student too had accused the hair stylist of hurting religious sentiments.

We should boycott #JavedHabib We made him what he is & as a natural trait showing his color by insulting us.Will make one for Prophet? pic.twitter.com/HEOXoQ1KVv  Anup Sharma (@anup_sri1) September 5, 2017

A police official from Gachibowli Police station said that they have made a General Diary entry and were seeking legal opinion.

Habib offered an apology through a video message posted on his Twitter handle.

In the video he said that one of his partners released the advertisement without permission in Kolkata.

Our system is through franchise and sentiments have been hurt. I have been working for 25 years. My only religion is scissor I apologise, said the Habib.

A letter was also posted on the social media handle in name of Jawed Habib Hair and Beauty limited which read, We never ever intended to hurt the sentiments of any community. It was done without our knowledge of the company by some local people in West Bengal. We undertake to remove all such advertisement material from the media."

The letter further added, "If our ad campaign had inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments we apologise for that to the public at large.

(With PTI inputs)

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One person has died and 11 are reported missing as forest fires have blazed through Argentina's Patagonia region for days, officials reported Friday.

Dozens of people have been evacuated from the path of the advancing flames, and some 200 houses have been destroyed.

The fires, which authorities suspect were started deliberately early this week, have reached several towns near the foothills of the Andes mountains, and have consumed about 1,500 hectares of forest, local authorities said.

The charred body of a rural dweller, reported missing since Tuesday, was found near the town of El Maiten, they added.

"The fire reached more than 200 homes and there are still 11 people whose whereabouts we do not know," Environment Minister Juan Cabandie told reporters.

Overnight rains brought some reprieve. But several fires, though contained, are still burning, he added.

Dozens of fire fighters, aided by fire trucks and helicopters are battling the remaining fires in the provinces of Chubut, Rio Negro and Neuquen.

"There are people left without a home, with nothing. A lot of people are in need," Marcelo Cardenas, who said he lost his house and a workshop, told AFP.

"I lost my house, my dogs, and 60 chickens," added Rosalinda Muena, 70, who makes a living selling jam and eggs to tourists in the affected region.

Cabandie said the fires started simultaneously in seven different places, leading investigators to suspect arson.

Last year, blazes devoured tens of thousands of hectares of forest in Argentina. These, too, were blamed on humans clearing land for farming or real estate, according to the environment ministry.
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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Three weeks before presidential elections in Peru, the favorite five of 18 candidates have increased their presence in the streets, trying to close the tiny margins of preference shown in polls.

The Presidential election on April 18 seeks to replace interim President Francisco Sagasti, who took office after his predecessor, Martin Vizcarra, was impeached while being investigated for corruption.

Massive gatherings are banned in Peru due to the State of Emergency in place to avoid the spread of COVID-19, forcing candidates to look for ways around the restrictions.

Most have reached their supporters by greeting them from passing trucks, while others have preferred direct contact with small communities or neighborhoods.

Among the favorites, candidate Yohny Lescano from the Popular Action Party is in the first place, visibly above the other four who share a second tight place.

Keiko Fujimori, leader of the Popular Force party and daughter of former leader Alberto Fujimori is also among the favorite contenders.

Fujimori is under investigation and accused of allegedly laundering money from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. A prosecutor has requested a sentence of 30 years in prison against her and dissolving the Popular Force party.

This is the third time she runs for president after unsuccessfully doing so in 2011 and 2016.

Other favorites are George Forsyth from Popular Victory party, Rafael Lopez Aliaga of the Popular Renovation party and Veronika Mendoza for the Together for Peru Party.

(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 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Trinamool Congress, accusing the ruling party in West Bengal of "breaking all previous records of harassment and corruption".

The Prime Minister's remarks came hours ahead of his visit to Bankura in poll-bound West Bengal where he will be addressing a public meeting at 3.35 p.m.

He also hit out at the Congress, Left and Trinamool, saying these parties didn't fulfil people's aspirations in the last 70 years of their rule in West Bengal.

"The people of West Bengal have given Congress, Left and TMC 70 years. But these parties didn't fulfil people's aspirations. Presently, TMC is breaking all previous records of harassment and corruption," the Prime Minister tweeted.

The Prime Minister on Saturday also addressed a mega rally in Kharagpur on Saturday and said if the BJP comes to power, it will undo the destruction and ruin brought about by the previous regimes in the past decades.

Before this, the Prime Minister had addressed a rally in Purulia where he accused the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government of crime, violence and corruption.

While the Prime Minister is campaigning to end Trinamool's 10-year rule in the state, Mamata Banerjee seeks to retain power for her third consecutive tenure.

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. The results will be declared on May 2.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Charmayne Oakey has suffered excruciating pain for more than a year after knee replacement surgery was delayed

An unprecedented audit of the effect of the pandemic has exposed the devastating impact on non-Covid care.

Almost a year on from the day we first locked down, analysis by a string of charities reveals the toll on patients with cancer, heart disease, arthritis and dementia.

NHS bosses last night admitted the disruption is eye-wateringly clear and will leave lasting scars.

Thousands of preventable deaths have already occurred, with many more likely to follow, and others will be left disabled or in crippling pain as a result of the past year.

Hospitals cancelled swathes of non-urgent operations to focus on coronavirus, while GPs switched to phone and video consultations. Screening programmes for deadly diseases such as breast cancer were put on hold.

In addition, many ill people delayed seeking help after ministers told the public to stay at home to protect the NHS.

The Mails audit of the Covid consequences paints a grim picture, with England recording the largest annual fall in life expectancy since the Second World War.

Waiting lists have already climbed to record highs  and are expected to get worse as more people come forward after the current lockdown ends.

Patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks for treatment after an NHS referral  but more than 300,000 have been waiting for over a year.

Health chiefs warn the backlog will take years to clear, with think-tanks predicting a decade of disruption after a crisis that has undone years of progress.

Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: The job facing surgeons and the teams they work with is huge. It will take years rather than months to catch up.

The widow of a man who died last year after his cancer treatment was delayed due to the pandemic believes his life was unfairly cut short. Malachy Watkins, 73, was first diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2018 and after six weeks of chemotherapy doctors told him the tumour had shrunk. After a check-up last February, he found out the tumour was growing again but his treatment was postponed for three months

The number of face-to-face GP consultations fell by almost 80million. Millions also missed out on cancer checks, while tens of thousands missed out on dementia care. Many others missed heart operations, diabetes checks, rehabilitation for asthma and lung disease and stroke treatment  leaving many with disabilities that could have been avoided.

Measures intended to combat coronavirus have also played havoc with the nations mental health, with friends and families forced apart and many workers left in limbo  or worse.

The number of adults suffering depression doubled during lockdown, as did the number of urgent referrals for children with eating disorders. In addition, the number of dental checks was cut in half.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said the impact of the pandemic on non-Covid patients has been profound.

She added: Some have stayed away from the NHS, but it has been more common for people to try to access care but find it is not available.

The result for many is long waits in pain and discomfort, prolonged uncertainty and anxiety, worse outcomes from operations when they are eventually performed, and in some cases people dying from what would otherwise have been treatable illness.

Patients needing non-urgent hip and knee replacements have consistently seen some of the longest waits. Tracey Loftis of the charity Versus Arthritis said: Thousands of people are enduring long waits with no end date in sight. We have heard from people who have lost jobs, are unable to care for relatives and are seeking help for depression because of the debilitating pain they are in.

Danny Mortimer  chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS organisations  said: The disruption of the pandemic is eye-wateringly clear and it will take many years before the system can return to any sense of normality. The pandemic will leave lasting scars on the NHS after the immediate threat subsides.

An NHS spokesman said: Since the beginning of the pandemic the NHS has urged people to come forward if theyre concerned for their health and has offered care to everyone who needs it.

I was lucky my cancer was found

Emma Gibson was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer last October after her initial screening was postponed for five months

Emma Gibson was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer last October after her initial screening was postponed for five months.

The 25-year-old, who works in marketing, believes she could have had a routine procedure to remove pre-cancerous cells if her March appointment had not been moved due to the pandemic.

She was left frustrated by the lack of urgency from doctors when she tried to find out when her screening would be.

She said: I called three times to try to find out when my smear test would happen but each time I was told to call back again in a couple of months.

Miss Gibson, of Wigan, finally had a smear test at her GP surgery in August and had a procedure called Lletz  large loop excision of the transformation zone  a month later to remove abnormal cells.

She was called to the Thomas Linacre Centre in Wigan for more testing and was told she had stage 1 cervical cancer.

It was a big shock. I never thought that at 25 I would hear that I have cancer, Miss Gibson said. We then went into the second lockdown and it was very scary because I heard that hospitals were cancelling appointments.

In November she had another Lletz procedure and later that month heard she was cancer free. She said: I am one of the lucky ones because there are so many people who have missed out on tests and surgery because of the pandemic.

Daily pain is off the scale

Charmayne Oakey has suffered excruciating pain for more than a year after knee replacement surgery was delayed.

The grandmother from Oxfordshire, who had severe osteoarthritis in her knee, was told in February that she could have the procedure at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford within a few months.

But her appointments were changed to telephone consultations at the start of lockdown and she was told it was no longer possible to set a date for her surgery due to the pandemic.

After eight more months of pain and immobility, Mrs Oakey was warned that she might have to wait another year for her knee replacement surgery because of the backlog in the NHS.

She said: It is affecting every aspect of my ability and it is putting my life on hold. The pain is off the scale and there is no date in sight.

I have severe osteoarthritis in my knee, its bone on bone and theres no cartilage there.

Its absolutely heart-wrenching and I have no idea where I stand.

She has been asked to call back when the current lockdown ends to find out when she can have the procedure.

I understand Covid is a killer but surely they can keep a hospital in a safe area open so important surgeries can go ahead, Mrs Oakey said.

I live in pain every day and there are times when it really gets to me.

I cannot play with any of my grandchildren and it drains me mentally, not being able to do things that I normally could.

Some days I think I cant go on. Ive had to just sit down in the supermarket and cry.

Mrs Oakey, 47, was made redundant last October and she is worried she may not get another job because of her current condition.

She said: Im out of work, quite stressed out about money... How do I tell a prospective employer I am going to need surgery and time off to recover, but I have no idea when?

Husbands life was cut short

The widow of a man who died last year after his cancer treatment was delayed due to the pandemic believes his life was unfairly cut short.

Malachy Watkins, 73, was first diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2018 and after six weeks of chemotherapy doctors told him the tumour had shrunk.

After a check-up last February, he found out the tumour was growing again but his treatment was postponed for three months.

The grandfather from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, started chemotherapy and immunotherapy at Lister Hospital in the town in May but died on September 25.

He began to have heart problems as a result of the treatment and fluid had built up in his lungs so doctors said it had to stop.

Sheila Watkins, 72, his wife of 53 years, said: I feel angry and its so wrong that people are being forced to wait for treatment. We could have had longer together if his treatment started earlier and the quality of his life may have been better.

His life was cut short, but the hospital is not going to admit that. They left us in limbo.

Mr and Mrs Watkins met as teenagers and got married in 1967. Their son Craig, 43, said: If the treatment was started then [last February] I think he would still be with us now. Both their children were not allowed to see their father until Mr Watkinss final moments.

Nick Carver, of the NHS trust which runs Lister Hospital, said: We offer sincere condolences to Mr Watkinss loved ones at this incredibly sad time.

Fiona Carragher, director of research and influencing at Alzheimers Society, said: The toll of the pandemic on people with dementia stretches far beyond deaths from the virus.'
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTHI) - Uber and Walgreens are partnering to help vaccinate Illinois drivers and those in delivery.

All eligible drivers and those in delivery in Illinois will soon be able to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.

Drivers will receive an authorization code to book their appointment at their nearest Walgreens location.

This is Ubers way of making sure their essential workers remain safe and know they are cared for.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic Uber drivers and delivery people have been essential -- getting medical staff to their jobs, delivering food and helping get their cities moving again." explains Carrol Chang, head driver operations for U.S. and Canada, Uber.

"We are pleased that Illinois has recognized this and given them priority access to the vaccine and now through our partnership with Walgreens, it will be easier for them to book a vaccination appointment." says Chang.

If you are an Uber driver or delivery person, head to the COVID-19 section of your Uber app to access your authorization code and make your vaccination appointment. Todays announcement is the latest in Uber and Walgreens partnership to develop initiatives aimed to help accelerate COVID-19 access to people and underserved communities.
John Patrick Holian (pictured), the headmaster of a Catholic school on Long Island, has been placed on leave after an incident involving an 11-year-old black student

The white headmaster of a $15,000-a-year Long Island Catholic school forced an 11-year-old black student to kneel down and apologize to a teacher because doing so was the African way to seek forgiveness, it has been alleged.

John Patrick Holian, the headmaster at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Uniondale, New York, has been placed on leave while the school investigates.

DailyMail.com has sought comment from the school and Holian.

Holians suspension stems from an incident last month involving a sixth grade Haitian-American student, Trayson Paul, according to the New York Daily News.

On February 25, Trayson was in English class when he finished a reading assignment and started a different task because he wanted to get a head start, according to his mother, Trisha Paul.

Thats when Trayson was scolded by the teacher for doing the wrong assignment, Paul said.

The teacher took Trayson to the headmasters office. It was there that Holian allegedly told Trayson to kneel and say sorry.

Holian is said to have told Trayson that kneeling and apologizing was a method of seeking forgiveness that the headmaster learned from a Nigerian father of a former student who claimed it was the African way.

Haiti is a North American country in the Caribbean Sea.

Once he started mentioning this African family, thats when it just clicked, Paul told the Daily News.

Like, this is not normal procedure. I felt there was no relevance at all.

Is he generalizing that everyone who is black is African? Thats when I realized something is not right with this situation.

The boys mother said that the family suspects Trayson was treated more harshly due to his race.

She said her son, who is normally an outgoing and socially active kid, has become really reserved since the incident. As a result, he has started to see a therapist, according to Paul.

Holian is headmaster at the $15,000-a-year St. Martin de Porrest Marianist School in Uniondale, New York (above). According to the New York Daily News, Holian forced a black sixth-grader from a Haitian-American family to kneel and apologize to a teacher because it was the 'African way'

My son was humiliated, hurt, embarrassed, sad and confused, the concerned mother told the Daily News.

He reads about things happening because of your skin color. To experience it... hes just trying to process it in his 11-year-old brain.

Holian told the Daily News that we love our students here while noting that the vast majority of matriculated kids are students of color, though he declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations.

On Friday, school officials sent an email to parents informing them that Holian was placed on temporary leave while the matter is being investigated.

I want to assure you that St. Martins neither condones nor accepts the actions of our headmaster, acting headmaster James Conway wrote to parents in the email.

The incident does not reflect our long, established values or the established protocols regarding student related issues.

Paul, who works in hospital administration, said that she enrolled her son in the school last fall.

I did my research, she said.

I placed him where I thought he was in a safe, a warm and loving environment where I thought he would learn.

She said that when Trayson told him about being forced to kneel, she initially gave the school the benefit of the doubt.

But on March 1 she asked Holian about the incident over the phone.

The boy's mother was outraged after Holian told her that he learned the method of discipline from a Nigerian father of a former student who said it was the 'African way' to apologize. The undated file photo above shows a church on the school grounds in Uniondale, New York

When she wondered if forcing students to kneel was a common practice to mete out discipline, Holian acknowledged that it wasnt, according to Paul.

Thats when the headmaster told the mother of the anecdote about the Nigerian family.

I asked the headmaster how the story was relevant, Paul said. The headmaster did not give a clear response, she said.

The mother said she was left with the impression that Holian thought the punishment was appropriate simply because Trayson was black.

Paul then met Holian face to face on March 4. The Daily News says that it obtained a recording of the meeting.

It was a situation where your son was really disrespectful and rude to a teacher in front of the other students, Holian told Paul.

The whole idea is for your son to see he cant speak to women that way.

Paul said that the school never complained in the past about her sons behavior, noting that Trayson is a well-mannered, honor roll student.

In the recording, Holian is alleged to have told Paul that forcing Trayson to kneel was a way to ensure that the apology was sincere.

If I had said to him Apologize and get back to class it wouldve meant nothing, Holian is quoted as saying.

So it was changing the way you say I apologize.

Holian is reported to have told Paul that he was told about the kneeling apology by the Nigerian father of a former student at the school.

This father came in and said, Youre going to apologize to this teacher the African way, and youre going to get down on your knees and apologize, the Daily News quotes Holian as saying.

I want to assure you that St. Martins neither condones nor accepts the actions of our headmaster, acting headmaster James Conway wrote to parents in the email

Ive never seen that before.

Holian said that left an impression on him and that he thought it was an appropriate way to discipline all children regardless of race.

I have six kids, and four boys. And if one of them is really acting rude and arrogant... I will say at times, Get on your knees and apologize, Holian is reported to have told Paul.

I was speaking to your son as I would my own son.

Holian is then reported to have told Paul: Im sorry if youre upset. It wasnt a thought-out situation.

Paul said she has no plans to accept Holians apology.

He showed no remorse until he realized how its impacted my son, Paul said.

Hes going to therapy. Hes been very reserved and humiliated.

She said Trayson has been traumatized to the point where he is fearful of going back to in-person instruction and tries to avoid the headmaster and teacher.

While Paul said that placing Holian on leave is a step in the right direction, the school needs to do more.

She has reportedly hired a lawyer.

What else can happen where it doesnt occur again to any other African-American or Haitian-American students there? she asked.
At least one group in America is unlikely to get any money from President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion economic rescue plan  his own top aides.

Most of Bidens senior West Wing advisers made far more than the threshold that would qualify them for direct payments from the presidents COVID-19 relief bill, according to White House financial disclosure forms released Saturday. The disclosure period runs through 2020.

The documents paint a portrait of advisers whose wealth is dwarfed by those that surrounded President Donald Trump but do not quite line up with Bidens image of Middle Class Joe.

Some of Bidens top advisers worked for President Barack Obamas administration and moved into the corporate world before returning to government service. Others in the West Wing  whose positions don't require Senate confirmation  have had deep ties to the business world.

White House chief of staff Ron Klain who worked for Biden when he was vice president, had been an executive at the venture capital firm Revolution. He was listed as having a salary of $1.8 million, according to his disclosure form. The threshold for direct payments is $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for couples.

Jen OMalley Dillon, who ran Bidens campaign before becoming his deputy chief of staff, was a co-founder of the consulting firm Precision Strategies and her financial disclosure gives a glimpse into the corporate advisory work she did for the firm. The filing lists clients such as General Electric, Lyft and Gates Ventures, the venture capital firm founded by billionaire Bill Gates.

OMalley Dillons deferred compensation and severance from Precision is listed as being over $420,000.

White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeffrey Zients was the CEO of the Wall Street investment firm Cranemere and his financial disclosure shows that he had a combined salary and bonus of $1.6 million. As a board member of Facebook, he made over $330,000, the new report shows.

Biden, long considered the poorest member of the Senate, fashioned his political image by touting his working-class upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

His West Wing team, though wealthy, does not include a plethora of the super-rich who worked for Trump, including Gary Cohn and Steve Bannon, a pair of Goldman Sachs alums each worth tens of millions. Some in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party have called for a ban on former lobbyists working in the White House and have urged severing ties with the business world.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan made $5,000 for speaking to J Street, a pro-Israel group, and made a $45,000 from Microsoft for being on an advisory board. Microsoft earlier this month was the victim of a major hack that Biden discussed with the leaders of India, Japan and Australia at a virtual summit this month, according to Sullivan.

Like Sullivan, Susan Rice, now the head of the domestic policy council, was a member of the Obama administration. She also made money on the speaking circuit, including $81,000 for an appearance for the Cambridge Speakers Series, and she pocketed $13,500 for op-ed contributions to The New York Times.

Mike Donilon a senior adviser, was a managing member of MCD Strategies, a media consulting firm, prior to his role in the White House. His filing shows that he made over $4 million in income while leading his consulting firm. Donilon lists the Biden campaign and Democratic National Convention Committee as two of his clients.

Brian Deese, head of the national economic council, was previously global head of sustainable investing at BlackRock, according to his disclosure. While at the investment firm, Deese made over $2.3 million in salary and bonuses and, according to the form, could have made an additional $2.4 million through its restricted stock plan.

___

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
The Biden administration is struggling to find appropriate places to house unaccompanied migrant children as the surge in arrivals at the border continues. As of Saturday, the U.S. government was housing some 15,500 unaccompanied minors, reports CBS News. Around one-third of them, or some 5,049 teenagers and kids, are in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That means unaccompanied minors make up more than half of the total of 9,830 immigrants of all ages who are in the custody of the border patrol, according to NBC News.

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The numbers of people in the custody of the border patrol is increasing rapidly. On Thursday, there were 4,615 unaccompanied children in custody out of a total of 7,970. Unaccompanied minors are spending an average of 136 hours in the custody of the Customs and Border Protection, almost double the 72-hour limit set out by law. And as of Thursday, more than 500 migrant children had been in custody for more than 10 days.

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The Department of Health and Human Services confirms to CBS News that it is housing almost 10,500 unaccompanied children in emergency housing facilities and shelters. And everyone expects the numbers to keep increasing. Over the past 21 days, officials have come across more than 500 unaccompanied minors per day meaning that the numbers for March are expected to be far higher than February, when more than 9,400 unaccompanied minors entered U.S. border custody.

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The Department of Health and Human Services is in charge of housing most unaccompanied minors until they can be placed with family members or other sponsors. On Saturday, the agency said it would open a new temporary overflow facility for unaccompanied migrant children in Pecos, Texas. The facility will house around 500 children initially but it could expand to 2,000. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS is aggressively working with our interagency partners to ensure that unaccompanied migrant children are safe and unified with family members or other suitable sponsors as quickly and safely as possible, HHS said in a statement.

As it scrambles to figure out where to place all the migrants that are flowing into the country, the Biden administration has sealed an $86 million contract for hotel rooms near border ares in Arizona and Texas to house some 1,200 migrant family members, reports Axios. The six-month contract sealed through a Texas-based nonprofit, Endeavors, could be expanded. The contract illustrates how immigration officials arent able to process the families that are arriving quickly enough.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2021 ) :President Dr Arif Alvi Sunday said that COVID-19 vaccine was "a must" advising people to beware of skeptics of vaccine as they were ignorant.

"Beware of those who who create doubt, as they know not. Covid-19 vaccination is a must," he said on Twitter.

The president's remarks came after skeptics raised questions on efficacy of vaccine after Prime Minister Imran Khan was tested positive on Saturday two days after getting jab.

He clarified that the vaccine was given in two doses and it took a few weeks to become effective.

The president explained that in most cases the vaccine was 100% effective and in remaining, it greatly reduced severity of infection which increased survival rate.

On March 15, President Alvi and spouse Begum Samina Alvi also got their COVID-19 vaccine as government was vaccinating people of aged 60 and above in initial phase.

On his official Twitter handle, the president said he had personally wished Prime Minister Imran Khan and the First Lady good health after they tested positive of COVID-19.

"May Allah grant them full and early recovery," the president prayed.
Ishrat Jahan case: Discharge plea of two ex-cops to be heard on Aug 7

Ishrat case: Order on discharge pleas of Vanzara, Amin on May 2

Sanction to prosecute 3 cops in Ishrat Jahan case rejected

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Ahmedabad, Mar 21: The Gujarat government has refused sanction to prosecute three accused police officials including IPS officer G L Singhal in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, the CBI told a court here on Saturday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had sought permission from the state government to prosecute Singhal, Tarun Barot and Anaju Chaudhary on the direction of special judge V R Raval.

Under section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, sanction is required for prosecuting government servants for anything done in the discharge of official duty.

"The Gujarat government has declined sanction for the prosecution of the three accused. We submitted the letter to the court today," said R C Kodekar, special prosecutor.

JeM commander killed in encounter at Shopian

Inspector General of Police Singhal, retired police officers Barot and J G Parmar, and Chaudhary have filed applications before the court seeking "dropping of proceedings for want of requisite sanction".

Parmar died during the course of hearing.

In its order in October 2020, the court had observed that the police officers had "acted in their official duties," so the CBI was required to obtain prosecution sanction.

In 2019, the CBI court had dropped proceedings against former police officers DG Vanzara and NK Amin in the case after the state government similarly refused sanction.

In 2018, former in-charge Director General of Police PP Pandey was discharged from the case.

The CBI had named seven police officers-Pandey, Vanzara, Amin, Singhal, Barot, Parmar and Chaudhary-as accused in its first charge sheet filed in 2013.

Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old woman from Mumbra near Mumbai, was killed alongwith Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar by Gujarat police in an 'encounter' near Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.

The police claimed the four were terrorists who were planning to assassinate then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

However, a High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team concluded that the encounter was fake, after which the CBI registered a case against police officials

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 9:23 [IST]
Two people were seriously injured after a tractor-trailer crashed into four automobiles due to brake problems in the north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri on Saturday.

The crash occurred along a section of National Highway No. 9 in Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province at around 4:00 pm.

The tractor-trailer was traveling from Lao Bao International Border Gate to Dong Ha City when it encountered a brake failure on a slope.

The vehicle then collided with a 12-seater automobile and three other cars, before flipping on its side.

Two people were severely injured and rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, while several others sustained minor injuries.

Eyewitnesses gather at the crash site in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The vehicles were damaged following the pile-up.

Local authorities quickly arrived at the site to deal with the case.

A car is knocked off the road after being hit by a tractor-trailer in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

A tractor-trailer is on its side after crashing into four automobiles in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

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Her husband is known the world over as the god of thunder himself, Thor.

But Elsa Pataky is stepping out from spouse Chris Hemsworth's considerable shadow and taking on a superhero role of her own.

'My daughter...has seen her father as a superhero, which is great, but now it's my turn,' the 44-year-old actress told Sydney Morning Herald of her new film, Interceptor.

Superhero goals: Elsa Pataky [L] is stepping out from spouse Chris Hemsworth's [R] considerable shadow and taking on a superhero role of her own in her new film Interceptor

And given Chris' famous workout routines to get himself into superhero shape, it's little surprise Elsa has also been hitting the weights for the film.

'I do four to five [gym] sessions a week and eat a bit more to get pumped,' said the mother-of-three.

Pataky enlisted Chris and British fitness guru Ross Edgley to help get her into shape for the movie.

In Interceptor, Elsa will star as a woman set to save the world from 16 nuclear missiles.

Godlike pysique: Given Chris' famous workout routines to get himself into superhero shape, it's little surprise Elsa has also been hitting the weights for the film

Meanwhile, Chris and Elsa celebrated 10 years of marriage in December.

And three months after celebrating their milestone anniversary, Elsa has shared the secret to their long and happy relationship.

The Spanish actress told Sunday Life that patience, communication and understanding are key for a successful marriage.

Revealed: Elsa revealed the secret to their successful 10-year marriage in an interview with this week's Sunday Life magazine

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage; I don't think every couple is perfect,' she said.

'It requires patience, understanding, a lot of conversation, getting to know the other person, to know yourself and what you do wrong.It's about not letting one's pride get in the way.'

Elsa also explained that it's important to spend time together as a couple without the children.

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage': The Spanish actress explained that patience, communication and understanding are essential for a successful marriage

She said: 'We make an effort to do things together without the kids. We make time for ourselves as a couple.'

Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married shortly after in December that year.

They welcomed daughter India Rose in 2012 and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, later in 2014.

Love story: Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married shortly after in December that year. They welcomed daughter India Rose in 2012 and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, later in 2014

The family of five now live in Byron Bay on the New South Wales' North Coast after relocating from Los Angeles.

In December, Chris shared a touching tribute to his wife as they celebrated 10 years of marriage.

'10 years together! 'Looking forward to the advancements of modern medicine and science and enjoying a couple hundred more!' the Thor star wrote.

Elsa also shared an Instagram post to celebrate the couple's momentous occasion.

The Fast and Furious star wrote: 'Going through ten years of photographs was almost as fun as the real thing!'
Sam Heughan plays a skilled 18th-century soldier in Outlander. And hes taking on another combat-heavy role for his new film, SAS: Red Notice. The actor  who stays active and inspires others to do through his charity, My Peak Challenge  recently opened up about his fitness routine for these intense action roles.

Sam Heughan | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Sam Heughan is a special training in SAS: Red Notice

In his latest project, SAS: Red Notice, Heughan plays special forces agent Tom Buckingham. The movie, which is based on Andy McNabs thrilling novel, follows Buckingham as he tries to thwart a terrorist cell that hijacks a high-speed train running under the English Channel.

Heughan has appeared in quite a few action films the last few years, including Bloodshot and The Spy Who Dumped Me. But when talking to Mens Journal, he revealed how McNabs real-life experiences as an undercover operative set this new role apart.

RELATED: Outlander: Why Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe Have Shy Moments on Set

I think we all love a good action movie, and this one came with a great character study, said Heughan. It also gave me a chance to work with Andy. I found him incredibly fascinating.

He was deployed on a great number of missions behind enemy lines, he continued. Theres a good amount of dialogue and even some of the situations that happen in the movie that are pulled directly from his life.

Sam Heughans military-style training was intense

For SAS: Red Notice, Heughan trained with Etienne Ferreira, a Krav Maga instructor from Cape Town, South Africa. Ferreira also works with the New York City Police Department, various SWAT teams, and the Israeli Special Forces, and he gave Heughan the same military-style training.

The kind of training he does with those soldiers is focused on being useful, and its terribly physical, the actor told Mens Journal. Everything they do is high stress and under pressure. We would do our workouts until failure, then transition immediately to weapons work.

RELATED: Outlander: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfes Chemistry Test Solidified Their Roles as Jamie and Claire

He added, You hit this point where you cant go anymore, then they throw a gun in your hands to do tactics, so your heart rate is up the whole time.

The Outlander star trimmed down for the new role

For his last project, Bloodshot, Heughan bulked up to play a half-cyborg supervillain opposite Vin Diesel. But his SAS: Red Notice role is much more demanding, and it required the actor to lean out some of his muscle.

Going into this, though, I wanted Tom Buckingham to be a bit leaner, Heughan said in his chat with Mens Journal. If you look at a lot of the guys from SAS, theyre not extremely large. Theyre incredibly fit and have amazing stamina, but that doesnt mean theyre bulging everywhere.

Tom Buckingham has to find Sophie, on a hijacked train, deep under the channel tunnel, in his latest mission!#SASRedNotice  available now on demand. @appletv @nowtv @redbox @skytv pic.twitter.com/PPEQiPDhi3  Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) March 17, 2021

RELATED: Outlander Star Sam Heughan Goes Sci-Fi in Bloodshot

So we adapted my training to suit that, he continued, I had the goal of trimming down a bit  the exercises we focused on were more about raw power and endurance than traditional weightlifting  we added a lot more weighted cardio, like weighted runs and weighted carries.

Fans can see how Heughans intense training routine translated on screen in SAS: Red Notice. The film is currently available to rent on Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video.
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LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Tippecanoe School Corporation (TSC) hosted "Steppin' Up Diversity and Inclusion With Unity" on March 20 at the River City Community Center. A panel of Purdue University students spoke with TSC students about their grade school experiences as people of color.

TSC students of all ages and ethnicities attended the program. Students asked difficult questions about race and adverse situations. Others told stories of confused identity and feeling like they didn't belong to any group.

The panel answered those questions and concerns with their own thoughts. TSC Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Sadie Harper-Scott was thrilled with the discussion.

"It made my heart feel so good because how our kids that were here represented today," Harper-Scott said.

"They had good questions, good answers, good concerns, and they're reaching for questions. They want to know how we can work as a team."

The topics were difficult. Panelists, who grew up around the country, spoke about times of discrimination and violence due to their race. One panelist, Carey Walls, wanted to make sure TSC students could share their experiences, even though some were difficult to talk about.

"It's really trauma to be honest with you," Walls said.

"Things that we've experienced growing up, from a kind of person who didn't like the things we did or the things that... how we look, how we dress."

But Walls believes that these discussions are what bring people together. He and the other panelists discussed how people from other races may ask questions that could seem offensive, but could be honest questions from a place of ignorance.

They believe if more people from different races come together to discuss and listen, ignorant questions can be replaced with ones with more meaning.

"They feel comfortable enough because they've been around here enough to ask certain questions and not be ashamed to ask these questions because they know that they're not asking out of ignorance, they're asking out of importance," Walls said.

"In order to build the kind of diverse community we want, it's going to take all of us."

That's a theme echoed by Harper-Scott. She believes that by having these discussions in school now, positivity can spread from school out into the community.

"We certainly want to make sure we take it from the schools out into the community so that kids will have an opportunity to basically express conversations with different races and people who do not look like them," Harper-Scott said."

TSC plans to hold another "Steppin' Up" event before the end of the school year.
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On November 2 last year, the day before Leo Varadkar apologised in the Dail for leaking a confidential Government document to a friend, a woman who does not wish to be identified filed a complaint to An Garda Siochana alleging the Tanaiste had breached the Official Secrets Act and the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act.

Her complaint was based on a Village magazine article published the previous Saturday, October 31, outlining how Varadkar had in early April 2019 sent a copy of an agreement between the Government and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) on a new GP contract to Dr Maitiu O Tuathail - who was then president of the IMO's rival organisation, the National Association of GPs (NAGP).

The Village article included screen grabs of text messages O Tuathail exchanged with Varadkar and separate group texts with fellow NAGP members - including a picture of the document, which was marked "confidential/not for circulation".

The Village article was based on correspondence provided by Chay Bowes, a healthcare entrepreneur and former member of the Army medical corps, whom O Tuathail had previously drafted in to carry out a review of the NAGP's financial governance. Bowes's report in part led to the collapse of the NAGP in May 2019.

Bowes was introduced to Village publisher Michael Smith by Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave, an outspoken critic of the Government. "He [Cosgrave] suggested to me that Village would be the place to run the story - and he was right because no one else wanted it," Bowes said, adding that Cosgrave was a friend whom he is working with on a number of health reform projects.

Varadkar's response to the Village article was to issue a lengthy statement on the day it was published, describing it as "both inaccurate and grossly defamatory". But he did not dispute its central allegation - that he had passed the document to O Tuathail, someone he would later describe as "a friend, yes, not a close friend".

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Varadkar said he had not followed "best practice" and that he regretted not having provided the document to NAGP in a more formal way.

"It was a document that I shared on a confidential basis with the president of the NAGP, an organisation that represented hundreds, if not thousands, of GPs. I wanted to get them on board, or at least that they would not oppose it and to demonstrate to it that there was nothing in it that had not publicly been announced," Varadkar told the Dail on November 3, where he apologised and took questions on the matter.

In the days leading up to that Dail statement, Fine Gael ministerial colleagues defended Varadkar across the airwaves. One talking point circulated by the Fine Gael press office was that what Varadkar had done was in the public interest - a defence somewhat controversially repeated by incoming justice minister Heather Humphreys a week ago.

On November 6, three days after Varadkar's Dail statement, the woman who made the Garda complaint received a response from the office of the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, John O'Driscoll, to say that the matter was "receiving attention at this office" and that Garda personnel would be in touch.

The following week, Bowes and Smith also filed a Garda complaint. Assistant Commissioner O'Driscoll responded personally to Smith on November 13, saying that he had initiated an examination of the matter with a view to establishing if a breach of the Official Secrets Act, the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act or Data Protection legislation had occurred. This would be undertaken by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

Bowes gave a lengthy statement to NBCI investigators in mid-December at the Village offices on Ormond Quay and later handed in his phone for examination at Rathfarnham Garda Station. The device contained copies of messages showing the contact between Varadkar and O Tuathail.

In January, NBCI detectives spoke with Simon Harris (health minister at the time of the GP contract negotiations), and in recent weeks have also spoken with several officials in the Department of Health. Department of Higher Education secretary-general Jim Breslin is among those being spoken to by gardai. He was the top civil servant in the department when the GP contract negotiations were taking place.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on either Harris's or Breslin's part.

Following those interviews with civil servants in the Department of Health, detectives satisfied themselves the document at the centre of the case was confidential in nature and, within the last two weeks, upgraded their inquiry to a formal investigation.

Investigators have yet to speak to either Varadkar or O Tuathail, both of whom say they will co-operate fully with gardai. Phone records of both men can be accessed as part of the probe.

Varadkar is considered the main person of interest and will be spoken to last, under Garda caution, once all the material gathered by detectives can be put to him.

Varadkar is understood to be frustrated by the slow pace of the investigation and the attention it is receiving in the media, which present uncomfortable headlines for him, his party and the Government.

"His legal advice is that he has committed no offence and looks forward to the matter being concluded," a spokesman for the Tanaiste said.

Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act makes it a criminal offence for an Irish official to use "confidential information obtained in the course of his or her office, employment, position or business for the purpose of corruptly obtaining a gift, consideration or advantage for himself or herself or for any other person".

One experienced senior counsel, speaking privately, believes Varadkar's actions do not meet the definition of corruption as set out in the Act. Other legal experts see it differently.

Some of those involved in the case have highlighted the NAGP's threat to campaign against Fine Gael in February 2019 - three months before the local and European elections and two months before the confidential document was passed to O Tuathail - unless they were included in pay negotiations with the IMO on a new GP contract.

Ultimately it will be for the DPP to decide if there is a prosecutable case.

"I think we have to rely on the guards to do their job. There is a lot of conspiratorial rubbish about this," Bowes said.

"I firmly believe they will do their job, their job is to deliver their evidence to the DPP. If it has been deemed that there is nothing illegal done, I would accept that entirely."

Gardai are acutely aware of the political sensitivities of the case.

"At the same time it's not going to influence the investigation. The investigators are going to do their work and go through the process as they would any other investigation," a source with knowledge of the probe said.

Within Fine Gael there is concern over the preliminary Garda inquiry being upgraded to a full criminal investigation, but not anything to indicate Varadkar is at risk. "No one wants the f**king leader being investigated under the criminal justice system. But people would be amazed if he is charged," said one Fine Gael minister.

A second Fine Gael minister said: "If you think about it, bar the gardai being cautious, there is no change in the basic information that was available 10 weeks ago - and as long as that remains the case, there is no hassle for Varadkar."

But it is unclear what new evidence, if any, gardai may have uncovered - and there is a recognition within Fine Gael that everything changes if the Tanaiste is charged with corruption offences.

"If he is charged, it's curtains," the first Fine Gael minister said.

"The reality is that he can't be Tanaiste or Fine Gael leader if he is charged."

Three senior Fine Gael TDs privately claimed last week that Simon Harris - dubbed "the minister of eternal happiness and goodness" by one colleague - has been "agitating" over the political ramifications of the ongoing investigation.

But the Higher Education Minister, who is known to harbour leadership ambitions, would deny this - and was one of the few out defending Varadkar in the media last week.

The Tanaiste has had the support of senior Coalition colleagues - but that did not stop two Fianna Fail backbenchers saying he should step aside while the investigation is carried out.

Others in Fianna Fail are more supportive.

"I remain of the opinion that his intentions were sound but he made a mistake in giving out the document. He has recognised that, apologised, and the Dail voted confidence in him following his detailing of circumstances surrounding its leaking," said Barry Cowen, the former agriculture minister.

"There is due process in the Garda investigation. It will draw conclusions and decide if there is a case to be answered or not. Nothing should be said or done to prejudice that process. Therefore I expect in the meantime that he should be allowed to get on with his job."

Taoiseach Micheal Martin sacked Cowen from the Cabinet last July after the Fianna Fail minister refused to answer Dail questions about a four-year-old drink-driving conviction. Cowen's refusal was prompted by a desire to allow due process, including a Garda Ombudsman investigation, to take place.

Some in Fianna Fail wonder why the Taoiseach is now affording Varadkar leniency, when he did not do the same for Cowen.

"There is a double standard. Barry was in the position he was in - he made his statement, there was a process taking place," said one Fianna Fail minister. "Most of the angst in Fianna Fail is nothing to do with Leo, it's about Micheal."

Fianna Fail TDs who have queried the matter with the Taoiseach or his advisers have been told that Cowen refused to answer Dail questions after being asked to do so by Martin. By contrast, the Tanaiste took questions from the Opposition on November 3.

A second Fianna Fail minister described the Garda probe as a "crock of shit" and believes it will amount to little.

A third Fianna Fail minister could barely contain their glee over Varadkar being investigated by gardai, while acknowledging the realpolitik.

"We f**king love to see him squirming," said the minister.

"Like the banks, he's too big to fail at the moment. It does knock the shine off him the longer it goes on. For now, it's OK - but if it goes to the DPP, that will escalate it again."

Therein lies the problem for Varadkar and the Coalition. The ongoing Garda investigation presents further opportunities for media stories and attention to be focused on an incident the Tanaiste would rather forget about. It presents an open goal for Sinn Fein and others to lambast the insider culture that has become toxic in Irish public life.

"This was a political stroke, pure and simple," Mary Lou McDonald said last week. "It was an abuse of power by the then Taoiseach designed to give advantage to a friend. This was about doing favours for insiders.

"Politically this cannot be tolerated."

While his Government colleagues and fellow Fine Gael members are prepared to tolerate it for now, Varadkar knows his entire political career hinges on the outcome of the ongoing Garda investigation.
Land bank created for investors in agriculture development By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

The Government is rushing to set up a land bank for state-owned lands in an effort to attract investment for modern agriculture development and assist farmers to expand their cultivations.

This decision was taken at the agriculture subcommittee of the Presidential task force on economic revival and poverty eradication, the Agriculture Ministry said.

A new legislation will be introduced for the transfer of all state land to this land bank in order to disburse blocks of lands for development when and where necessary.

It is aimed at offering state lands to farmers and farmer organisations to expand cultivations or start agri farms with private sector investments in.

The land bank will also facilitate the process of providing lands for investors to implement mega agriculture projects right away, rather than having them to wait a long time for land acquisition.

Sri Lanka has limited land resources but demand for agricultural produce and the need of modern technology with current farming practices is growing, a senior official of the Ministry said.

At the agriculture subcommittee meeting, its chairman, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa emphasised the need of handing over unutilised lands owned by state institutions to traditional framers to continue and expand cultivations.

Investors should also be given land for modern agriculture development projects and making land available for economic activities is a beneficial move for farmer community, he added.

The Ministry has recommended 16 crops which could be grown locally including chilli, cowpea, green gram, black gram, peanuts, maize, turmeric, potato with the aim of becoming self sufficiency in food production completely halting agri product imports.

According to the Finance Ministry, special agriculture projects are being implemented with funding from international institutions.

Under the World Bank assistance, a sum of Rs. 10.8 billion has been allocated for agriculture modernisation projects in 12 districts and 48 farm clusters.

Another sum of Rs. 460 million has been set apart under a grant from the European Union for agricultural development projects.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has granted Rs. 17 billion for a smallholder agricultural partnership programme project where farmer clusters and private sector can jointly establish agricultural ventures.

Around 80 per cent of Sri Lankas land is owned by the Government and of that, about 30 per cent is forest cover.

In this context the proposed land bank will have to upgrade as the countrys digital land registry, economists said adding that it has to indicate forest cover on the comprehensive survey system.

It will increase Governments efficiency in releasing the land among farmers, and investments will start coming in, they pointed out.
A meteor in Santiago de Cuba that streaked across the night sky exploded, creating boom sounds as it entered the Earths atmosphere, residents and eyewitnesses reported. According to Cubas National Centre for Seismological Research (CENAIS), the event turned the sky into a shade of crimson, as the explosion sent shockwaves and lightning across the horizon.

Head of the National Seismological Service, Enrique Arango Arias, told Cubas official Cubadebate news agency, as cited by AP, that the phenomenon was observed by the residents of Moa, Sagua de Tanamo and Maisi. Service instruments "registered the expansive wave" from the meteor explosion, he additionally informed. Residents on social media reported white and crimson flickering lights which lit up everything in the night sky, simultaneously an explosion was heard and a fireball was observed on dashcams as the meteor disappeared into horizon.

If there is anybody out there who can explain wa jus happen, please do pic.twitter.com/xZgrcXQRQN  ms chin (@infinity_belle) March 20, 2021

Last month, several meteorites streaked across the sky in western Cuba during the broad daylight, a phenomenon which was also recorded by the observers in the Florida Keys, and from Vinales, a town in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, according to several local reports. The event created ripples among the astrophiles as it occurred at about 1:16  1:17 p.m. EST on Feb.1.

Residents of Vinales, Cuba reported seeing a long smoke trail in the sky, while some others claimed that they saw a meteor, in orange white colour that lit bright, appeared in the sky for at least 4 seconds. Astronomers of the Institute of Physics of the University of Antioquia later confirmed the meteors trajectory from south-southwest of Cuba to the north.

Meteor shakes buildings in UK, US

Similarly, 2 weeks ago, a meteor that whizzed past the atmosphere at 42,000 miles per hour, jolted the building structures across several counties in the United States and the UK. Observed at 7:47PM EST on March 10, the rock likely a fragment of an asteroid, built immense pressure at about 30 miles up shaking the residential buildings as it fragmented violently producing a pressure wave, NASA informed in a Facebook update, sharing the infrasound measurement.

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MONTREAL - Groups that help victims of domestic violence expressed concern Saturday about a recent spate of femicides in Quebec that they say could be a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

MONTREAL - Groups that help victims of domestic violence expressed concern Saturday about a recent spate of femicides in Quebec that they say could be a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocates have identified at least a half-dozen cases so far this year, an alarming number given Quebec usually counts about 12 such slayings each calendar year.

On Saturday, Montreal police confirmed two people found dead in a taxi cab in the northeastern borough of St-Leonard on Friday was a murder-suicide linked to conjugal violence.

Police said autopsies and more work needs to be done to fully understand the circumstances of the slaying. Investigators believe a 52-year-old man stabbed his 40-year-old spouse before taking his own life.

Those who work in the field said the situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sadly, I'd predicted in February when it started that we would see an increase in femicides in the context of conjugal violence. It was foreseeable," said Manon Monastesse of Quebec's Federation of Women's Shelters.

"During the pandemic, it has permitted for violent partners to have full control as everyone was confined," she said, adding that this coincided with fewer women seeking support from shelters.

Claudine Thibaudeau, a social worker with at SOS Violence conjugale, a bilingual referral and emergency helpline, said as perpetrators gained more control, some victims put off breakups.

She fears an escalation as workplaces begin to reopen, a fear that Monastesse echoed as abusers could lash out to reassert that control.

"We're very worried because it's only March," Monastesse said.

In December, Quebec announced an action plan to fight domestic violence, but advocates are asking the government to strengthen supports and accommodations like shelters for victims fleeing abuse.

Monastesse said another thing that works is having male allies speak out to send "a clear message that for them, violence against women is also unacceptable."

She said men are more likely to listen to other men, and if allies have women facing abuse in their entourage, to make it clear to abusers it's not acceptable.

Earlier this month, Premier Francois Legault spoke out against men after the slayings of two women in Ste-Sophie, in the Laurentians region northwest of Montreal.

"I want to talk to men, man to man, there is nothing masculine, there is nothing manly in being violent with a woman," Legault said. "On the contrary, I find it cowardly."

According to a report published this week by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability at the University of Guelph, 160 women and girls were killed by violence in Canada in 2020 and in 90 per cent of cases, it was a male accused.

But the report said understanding the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and stay-at-home orders of those numbers will require an assessment of long-term trends.

In another incident, Montreal police were investigating another suspected case of domestic violence Saturday in the Montreal borough of LaSalle that left a 29-year-old woman in hospital in critical condition.

Police say her 32-year-old boyfriend was arrested after police responded to a 911 call at about 6:50 a.m.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante condemned the two cases of gender-motivated violence in the past two days in her city.

"It has to stop. This violence against women is unacceptable," Plante wrote on Twitter.

Also Saturday, Isabelle Charest, Quebec's minister responsible for the status of women, reacted to the latest cases, calling the unacceptable, tragic and worrying, while urging women to seek help when needed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2021.

 with files from Michel Saba in Montreal.
Mixing religion and politics leading to rise of the 'nones,' scholars say

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The marrying of religion and politics among conservatives to create the well-known and powerful religious right that forms a voting bloc for the Republican Party has led some Americans to abandon their ties to the Christian faith and join the ranks of secularists, scholars argue in a new book.

Political scientists David E. Campbell and Geoffrey C. Layman of the University of Notre Dame and John C. Green of the University of Akron present their findings in their recent book, Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics, showing that the secular left has arisen in response to the religious right.

The researchers present evidence suggesting that many Americans have an allergic reaction to the mixture of religion and conservative politics, and many Democrats have been shown to drop their religious affiliation  if being religious means being Republican.

They contend that as the religious right grows, so does the secular population since the rise of the secular left follows the emergence of the religious right a generation ago. They argue that today, the religious right is the base of the Republican Party, and time will tell if the agenda of the secular left will become equally incorporated into the priorities of the Democratic Party.

With the religious imagery on display during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the researchers believe even more Americans could drop their religious affiliation.

Pew Research Center data, culled from telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, shows a 12-percentage-point decline in Americans who identify as Christians compared to a decade earlier.

The data indicates that only 65% of Americans currently identify as Christian, while those who identify as religiously unaffiliated swelled to 26%.

And while the decline is happening across multiple demographics, it is most pronounced among young adults.

The changes underway in the American religious landscape are broad-based," Pew researchers wrote at the time.

"The Christian share of the population is down, and religious nones have grown across multiple demographic groups: white people, black people and Hispanics; men and women; in all regions of the country; and among college graduates and those with lower levels of educational attainment."

Pew reported that religious "nones" are "growing faster among Democrats" but assured that the cohort is growing among Republicans as well.

According to Campbell and Layman, the rising tide of secularism in the U.S. means that some voters are on opposite sides of a religious-secular fault line fueling the flames of political polarization.

[A] secular-religious divide in politics also may illuminate why, above and beyond their ideological differences, ordinary Democrats and Republicans increasingly dislike and distrust the leaders and members of the other political camp  what political scientists have labeled affective polarization,'" the researchers wrote.

"Their very different worldviews may spur Secularists and Religionists to view each other with suspicion and perhaps even hostility, thus encouraging animosity and distrust between their political teams."

The scholars suggest that instead of becoming more polarized, secular and religious voters can focus on their common interests.

One of the takeaways of our book is that secular voters are values voters. The recent runoffs in Georgia perfectly demonstrate this, Layman said in a statement. Shared values are the grounds on which Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff meet. They come to the same conclusions from different starting points.

According to Campbell and Layman, however, focusing on religious and secular voters' common values will not be easy.
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Brussels, March 21 : A summit of European Union (EU) heads of state and government planned for later this week has been moved exclusively online as much of the continent faces a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of meeting in person Brussels, as originally planned, the leaders will meet via video conference, a spokesman for EU Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter on Sunday.

It will mark the first regular EU summit since mid-2020, reports dpa news agency.

Leaders usually meet every three months, though there has been a series of additional video conferences in between meetings in recent months to deal with the pandemic.

The pandemic will be high on the agenda at the summit planned for Thursday and Friday, as leaders try to hash out ways to reach a shared goal of speeding up vaccination campaigns.

Future ties with Russia and Turkey will also be discussed.
Nassau, March 21 : American rapper Nicki Minaj's mother, Carol Maraj, has filed a lawsuit against the man who was charged in connection with the death of the rapper's father, Robert Maraj in a hit-and-run accident in Long Island, New York, on February 12.

Robert Minaj was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to a report in Page Six, Carol filed a $150 million lawsuit in the state Supreme Court in Nassau County on Friday against Charles Polevich, 70, who was arrested by the Nassau County Police and later charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence.

In a statement posted on social media, her lawyer Ben Crump claimed that Charles was "not only irresponsible and negligent, but more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help." "(Charles) Polevich's behavior was criminal, cowardly, and immoral. We will hold him responsible for his reckless actions that led to Robert Maraj's death!" Ben added.
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Figuig, Maroc, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2021 ) :Moroccan farmers in an isolated oasis on the Algerian border are bearing the brunt of regional tensions after Algiers expelled them from date groves they have worked for generations.

The border between the arch-rivals has been closed since 1994, but Algeria had allowed some residents of the Moroccan frontier town of Figuig to cross into the date groves of Al-Arja, known to Algerians as the Laaroda oasis.

In recent days, Algeria has withdrawn that right, deploying soldiers to enforce the move.

"Everybody feels wronged," said Mohamed Jabbari, an unemployed 36-year-old who joined a protest in Figuig against the move.

"Agriculture is the only resource we have. There's no work here, no factories." On Thursday, some 4,000 people -- around half of Figuig's population -- attended an angry demonstration against Algeria's decision.

Morocco's regional authorities organised a meeting to "examine possible solutions to mitigate the impact" of a decision they said was "temporary".

The Figuig oasis, sitting on a caravan route on the edge of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert, was settled in ancient times.

Trade began to decline after the border was drawn in 1845, and diplomatic disputes between Algiers and Rabat soon turned Figuig into a dead end.

Before the border was drawn, the tight-knit Berber community had moved freely in the area.

Now, to reach relatives just a short distance over the sealed border, residents say they have to first take a plane to Algiers.

Algeria has justified the latest move by claiming farmers have failed to comply with regulations and that drug-trafficking gangs were operating in the area.

Figuig residents have strongly rejected those allegations.

"The expulsions are a political decision," said Mohamed El Jilali, head of a local association.
MUMBAI  India is racing to contain a second wave of the coronavirus, but its vaccination campaign is running into doubters like Akbar Mohamed Patel.

A resident of Mumbais densely populated slum area of Dharavi, Mr. Patel survived a severe bout of the coronavirus in May. The first wave prompted Mumbai officials to seal off his housing complex, confining thousands of people for nearly two months.

Still, the current campaign has been marred by a slow initial government rollout, as well as skepticism and apathy from people like Mr. Patel and his neighbors. On social media we come to know this is all a big game to make money, Mr. Patel said. Of the vaccine, he said, many things have been hidden.

The coronavirus, once seemingly in retreat, is again rippling across India. Confirmed infections have risen to about 31,600 daily from a low of about 9,800 in February. In a recent two-week period, deaths shot up 82 percent.
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan is a complex piece of legislation that will unleash a mammoth wave of money, a combination likely to raise questions among consumers and opportunities for fraudsters.

From overseas phone banks and domestic locations, scammers are ever-present these days. The calls and emails are unceasing, as they search for unwitting victims who will click on a link in a phishing email, or will believe the guy who calls and claims he's from Microsoft and needs remote access to their computers to save them from a dire threat.

The American Rescue Plan, and the $1,400 payments and child tax credits that come with it, provides a new opportunity for these unscrupulous entrepreneurs to exploit.

"Scammers are waiting in the wings to take advantage of consumers looking for help from the American Rescue Plan," the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs warned last week.

Some of the precautions urged by the agency may just seem like common sense, but scammers keep scamming because enough suckers fall for their ruses.

Among the tips:

No government agency is going to ask you to pay up-front fees to receive your stimulus payment. If someone contacts you saying they are from a government agency, hang up. Its a scam. Consumers should also beware of promises to get you the money now; there is no way to speed up when stimulus checks arrive.

Scammers often pose as government agencies to gain your trust. Fraudsters may try to get you to verify information like your bank account number, Social Security number or credit card information. Never give private information to someone who contacts you out-of-the-blue.

No legitimate business or agency will ask for unusual forms of payment, such as a gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer. Scammers like these forms of payment because they're difficult to trace.

Never open links in emails or texts from sources you dont know. Clicking on them could install malware or other dangerous programs on your computer or digital device.

To reach the SCDCA visit www.consumer.sc.gov or call 800-922-1594. The agency isn't the only one warning of scams during just the past week.

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"Scammers are out in full force right now as tax season, coupled with stimulus checks going out, have scams kicked into high gear!" said Chip Googe of the Mount Pleasant Police Department, on Twitter March 18.

Googe said a local woman received a call from someone who claimed to represent the Social Security Administration, saying her Social Security number and bank account were about to be frozen and that a warrant would be issued for her arrest. Unless, of course, she purchased Apple gift cards and provided the data needed to cash them in.

As implausible as that scenario sounds, that sort of thing happens regularly, and enough frightened or confused people fall for those scams that the bad guys continue, always searching for more victims.

Charles Francis of the Charleston Police Department, warned on March 18 that "several citizens have received telephone calls from someone identifying himself as a lieutenant with the Charleston Police Department in reference to a serious matter."

It wasn't, of course.

"This is a phone scam," Francis said.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesBY: SOO RIN KIM AND LIBBY CATHEY, ABC NEWS

(WASHINGTON)  As several Obama-era officials return to the White House under President Joe Biden, their reunion comes with fuller pockets and deeper ties to corporate interests, new financial disclosure reports show.

According to ABC News' analysis of the most recent disclosure reports, many of Biden's top White House officials, including Chief of Staff Ron Klain, Domestic Policy Council Director Susan Rice, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, and coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients, have substantially multiplied their wealth over the past few years.

Rice, who is among the wealthiest members of the Biden White House team, dramatically increased her wealth since her previous White House job during the Obama administration, reporting between $36 million and $149 million in various assets in her new disclosure filing released Saturday morning.

That's nearly three to four times the amount she reported back in 2009, when she joined the Obama administration as the ambassador to the United Nations. Back then she reported total wealth between $13.6 million and $40.4 million, and the figure didn't increase dramatically when she served as President Barack Obama's national security advisor during his second term.

In her most recent filing, Rice reported holding shares worth between $250,000 and $5 million in major corporations including Johnson & Johnson, Apple and Microsoft. She also had a significant amount of stock options in Netflix, where she served as a board member, and reported earning more than $300,000 from exercising Netflix stock options in the past year. In addition, she reported shares in several oil and gas industry companies, including $1 million to $5 million of holdings in the Canadian multinational natural gas distribution company Enbridge Inc.

Rice, who served as the president of her author and speaking business SERice LLC, earned roughly $620,000 from various corporate and academic speaking engagements in the past year, and $250,000 from book royalties, with her total income from the past year amounting to between $2 million and $6.7 million.

ABC News has not yet obtained Rice's ethics agreement, so it's not yet clear if she has or will divest from her assets in private companies or recuse herself from matters related to those companies -- except for her stock options in Netflix, which she said in her disclosure report that she'll be divesting. The White House did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

"These White House officials are experienced government leaders whose past private sector experience is part of a broad and diverse skill set they bring to government service," a White House spokesperson told ABC News in a statement. "They have returned to government because of their deep commitment to public service, their desire to help bring our nation out of this time of crisis, and their strong belief that government can work for the American people."

Klain, a longtime adviser to Biden, has also tripled his wealth since 2009, a comparison of his past and new disclosures shows. When he joined the Obama administration in 2009 as Biden's chief of staff, Klain reported owning between $1.4 million and $3.5 million in assets, and he now enters the Biden administration with between $4.4 million and $12.2 million in various assets.

Much of Klain's wealth comes from various assets related to his employment. In 2020 he received nearly $2 million in salary from the venture capital firm Revolution LLC, where he was executive vice president and general counsel, compared to $1 million he reported receiving in salary in his filing from early 2009.

Zients is the single wealthiest Biden administration official that had disclosed assets as of Saturday evening, surpassing Vanita Gupta, Biden's nominees for associate attorney general, in his total assets. The White House has not yet released all of the disclosures requested by ABC News.

Zients reported owning between $89.3 million and $442.8 million in assets, including various investment funds, real estate properties and cash shares. He has divested his shares in his private investment firm, Cranemere Group, as well as $1 million worth of shares in Facebook, where he has served as a board member.

He reported making between $10.4 million and $28 million in income in the past year, including his seven-figure salary from his investment firm, as well as other several seven-figure assets he has divested from.

His total wealth has more than doubled since he first joined the Obama White House as the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2009, when he reported assets between $45.2 million and $205.7 million.

In her disclosure report, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reported receiving a communications consulting fee from Zients in excess of $5,000 -- though the report has no further details on the transaction. Her assets have also grown significantly since her first White House job during the Obama administration. In 2009, Psaki had reported between $32,000 and $130,000 in assets and $125,000 in income, but in 2021 she reported her wealth had increased at least tenfold, to up to $1.5 million in assets with an annual income of roughly $647,742.

Much of her income from the past year came from Evergreen Consulting LLC, which she founded, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. She also worked as a CNN contributor and an adviser to WestExec, a consulting firm founded in 2017 by current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at which several Obama-era officials worked. In addition to the $5,000 Zients paid her, she was paid the same consulting fee by Lyft, among a handful of other companies.

Deese's wealth has also multiplied dramatically since 2009, when he took his first White House job as Obama's special assistant for economic policy. In 2015, just a few months into his role as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, Deese reported owning between $81,000 and $215,000 in assets -- but now, as a member of the Biden administration, he's reported between $2 million and $7.2 million in assets. Prior to joining the Biden administration, Deese made $2.3 million in salary from the investment firm BlackRock as the Global Head of Sustainable Investing, compared to the $175,000 in salary he received during his last year as Obama's deputy OMB director.

High-ranking government officials typically divest their financial interests in specific private companies that they may regulate, as required by ethics rules, or recuse themselves from matters that could affect their personal financial interests. Some of the Biden White House officials have indicated in their disclosure reports that they will divest from their corporate interests, but the full extent of their plans to avoid conflict of interest are not yet known because ABC News has not yet obtained their ethics agreements.

Jen O'Malley Dillon, the White House deputy chief of staff, was paid consulting fees by General Electric, Lyft, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Gates Ventures, among others, as clients of Precision Strategies, a marketing agency in which she was a founding partner.

She reported between $2.2 million to $4.7 million in assets on her disclosure form and more than $800,000 in income in the past year, which includes $426,067 deferred compensation and severance from Precision Strategies, on top of $50,000 in salary from the firm. She also made more than $110,000 as Beto O'Rourke's campaign manager before becoming Biden's campaign manager at a salary of over $190,000.

Jake Sullivan, Biden's current national security adviser, is another multimillionaire, reporting assets between $7.5 million and $27.5 million held with his spouse, Margaret Goodlander, a former law clerk to now-Attorney General Judge Merrick Garland. Much of his wealth comes from a long list of residential and commercial real estate properties scattered throughout Florida and New Hampshire, and he also reported holding five- to six-figure dollars' worth of shares in private companies including Abbott Labs, American Express, Facebook, FedEx, Google, Merck, Visa and Verizon.

Sullivan's salary from the consulting firm Macro Advisory Partners in the past year was $138,000, and his corporate consulting clients included Uber, LEGO, MasterCard and Standard Chartered Bank. He also held academic positions at Yale and Dartmouth.

In first lady Jill Biden's office, chief of staff Julissa Reynoso was a partner at the law firm of Winston & Strawn, where she made more than $1.5 million last year with a $150,000 bonus. She reported between $4.1 million and $14.8 million in assets, and made up to $1.9 million in total income in the past year, including income from rental properties in New York and Miami as well as commercial properties in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Henderson, North Carolina, among others. She also listed a vacant beachfront property in the Dominican Republic on her disclosure form.

The disclosures were provided by the White House to ABC News on Saturday.

ABC News' Justin Gomez contributed to this report.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will provide 33 per cent reservation for women in all state government jobs if voted to power, said Union Home Minister on Sunday while releasing the party's manifesto for high stakes election in West Bengal. Free education will also be provided to women from KG to PG if the party comes to power.

The manifesto for Bengal emphasised on women's safety, infra development, and healthcare. It promises every household in Bengal at least one job in the next five years and vows to implement Seventh Pay Commission in the state.

According to the manifesto, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will be extended to Bengal and Rs 18,000, will be transferred to 7.5 million farmers' bank accounts.

Three new AIIMS hospitals will be built in North Bengal, Jangalmahal and Sundarban.

"Locals don't have to travel to Kolkata to avail healthcare facilities, said

said the core of BJP's mainfesto is based on "Sonar Bangla" and the party will ensure violence free Bengal if voted to power. He said that CAA will be implemented in the first Cabinet and refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship. Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for 5 years.

The party manifesto promises a Common Eligibility Test for all state government jobs to keep a check on corruption.

To transform Kolkata into an international city, promised to set up a Kolkata Development Fund worth Rs 22,000 crore. 10 multistorey parking facilities will also be started. To ensure Kolkata becomes a UNESCO Heritage City, the party claims it will invest Rs 500 crore.

Addressing the event, Shah slammed Trinamool supremo Mamata for "politicising administration, criminalising politics and institutionalising corruption.

He said that his party would work towards building a safe Bengal, an "appeasement-free Bengal" and an infiltration-free state, if voted to power.

"We will bring back the Bengal that made the entire nation proud," he said.

"You have given time to Congress, over 30 years to Communists and ten years to Give us five years to build a Sonar Bangla," Shah said, urging the people to vote for the

Led by Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah, the has taken its election campaign several notches higher, stepping up attacks on opponents in the poll-bound state.

" runs on scams, while BJP governments run on schemes," said Prime Minister on Sunday at a poll rally in Bengal, in a sharp dig at Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.
Googles ChromeOS powers a sizeable portion of the worlds laptops available today, especially in the affordable device category and offers most of Googles services on a large screen. Google keeps adding new features to ChromeOS, and a new report suggests that the Live Transcribe function that recently came to its Chrome Browser could soon arrive on Chromebooks, along with support for five more languages.

Also read: Google Chrome gets powerful Live Transcribe accessibility feature for videos

Live Transscribe or Live Captions, is a useful feature that allows a device to automatically generate captions on a device for any media, including videos, music - even for calls. The feature was introduced on Googles Pixel devices as an exclusive and later made its way to Android devices from manufacturers like Samsung and OnePlus. We recently reported that Google had finally launched the feature on its Chrome browser.

While it seems logical that Google would also bring the same features to its ChromeOS that powers Chromebooks, it is no secret that Google has been working on bringing live captions for content for the operating system - Android Police had spotted it in February 2020 on Googles open-source Chromium browsers code review website, also known as Gerrit.

While Live Transcribe is still pretty limited in terms of supporting only English captions, this could soon change, according to a recent report. It looks like Google is now planning to add support for five more languages. Android Police spotted support for French, German, Italian Japanese and Spanish on the Live Caption settings.

Read more: Google Maps on Android finally gets dark mode

The Live Transcribe feature on ChromeOS looks like its Chrome counterpart on the desktop, according to the report but it has one major difference - the toggle for ChromeOS is located on the volume slider while Chrome on the desktop includes the toggle as part of the media player controls. At the moment, it is difficult to tell when the feature will eventually roll out to all users but given how it has already launched for Chrome for desktop, it could likely be released in the coming weeks.
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Lackawanna County Prison Warden Tim Betti wants to use inmate canteen funds on equipment capable of detecting drugs and explosive substances in mail and other materials.

The Itemiser 3 Enhanced desktop detection system would cost about $20,000 and be used predominantly to check legal mail coming into the jail, Betti said during a recent prison board meeting.

To help keep contraband out of the jail, most mail inmates receive is delivered in digital format on correctional-grade tablet computers available in cellblocks. The exception is legal mail, such as from attorneys and courts, that inmates still physically receive.

Betti said theres been an uptick in counterfeit legal mail coming into the jail, and high-quality fakes can be difficult to catch. The scanning equipment would help prison staff intercept any controlled substances in the counterfeit legal mail, he said.

If its a counterfeit and theyre just writing a love letter, thats one thing, but if they are sneaking in controlled substances ... this machine is going to pick it up, Betti said. It picks up everything, including spice, THC, cocaine, heroin. It gets all of that.

THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana. Spice, also known as K2 or synthetic marijuana, contains a synthetic version of THC. The prison has taken steps to mitigate the risk of those and other drugs from entering the facility. Besides eliminating most physical mail, prison officials used canteen funds  money from commissary sales at the jail  to purchase a body-scanning device in 2019. They also suspended contact visits, a source of contraband, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Narcotics contraband has caused problems and sickened guards at other Pennsylvania prisons in recent years. In 2018, more than two dozen corrections employees exposed to synthetic marijuana were sickened and some hospitalized, prompting a statewide prison lockdown. State Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said at the time the liquefied drug was thought to be coming into facilities soaked into the paper of letters or books.

The state Department of Corrections recently changed its mail-handling policies after two correctional officers at State Correctional Institution at Dallas were sickened and hospitalized from mail tainted with synthetic marijuana. That tainted mail was meant to appear as coming from the court system.

The prison board did not authorize use of canteen funds to purchase the scanning equipment last week, but could revisit the issue next month.

Responding to questions from District Attorney Mark Powell, Betti said hell have Deputy Warden of Security William Shanley contact the state corrections department for information on any technical support, calibration or maintenance the equipment may require. The department has been using the equipment for some time, Betti said.

The warden also explored whether the prison could purchase the equipment through the states COSTARS program without soliciting competitive bids, but said Friday that appears unlikely. Purchases and contracts over $21,300 require formal bidding, Controller Gary DiBileo said.

The canteen account ended February with a balance of about $600,109. It also owns two certificates of deposit totaling almost $147,278.
In art and words, nearly 1,000 members of the Bay Area's Asian American community and allies gathered in San Francisco's Chinatown today to mourn the eight victims of the recent Georgia mass shooting - where six of the victims were Asian American women - as well as the other victims of anti-Asian violence in the Bay Area and beyond.

The Portsmouth Square event, called "From the Bay to Atlanta: A Safe Space for Asian Americans to Grieve and Rage," was organized by a coalition of neighborhood groups, including the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) and the Community Coalition for Safety and Justice (CCSJ). Participants at the event wrote letters and created art to honor those who had suffered. Many held signs to protest the spike in anti-Asian violence that has escalated during the pandemic.

Organizers likened the event to the Qingming Festival, which takes place in a few weeks on April 4 this year. The Chinese holiday is a traditional time for people to mourn and celebrate the lives of those gone.

"Whether we are grandparents, workers, women, or young people, we all deserve safety and it is clear the current systems are not working," Shaw San Liu, executive director of the Chinese Progressive Association, said in a statement. "We need to fight racism, economic inequality and sexism/gender-based violence with effective community-based solutions if we are to achieve true safety for our communities."
Australias most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) has issued more evacuation orders following the worst flooding in decades (Mark Baker/AP)

Australias most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) has issued more evacuation orders following the worst flooding in decades.

The NSW State Emergency Services responded to 640 calls for help on Saturday night, including 66 for flood rescues.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that hundreds of people have been rescued from the waters.

Evacuation orders have been issued at multiple locations on the states mid north coast, which Ms Berejiklian said was experiencing a one-in-a-100-year event, and whilst we dont think things will worsen on the mid north coast, definitely conditions will continue, so the rainfall will continue across the parts that have already been affected.

Expand Close Parts of the NSW coast, including Port Stephens, have flood following sustained rain in recent days (Mark Baker) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Parts of the NSW coast, including Port Stephens, have flood following sustained rain in recent days (Mark Baker)

Ms Berejiklian also said that parts of Western Sydney are being hit by a one-in-50-year weather event, with some locations recording more than 11.8 inches (300 millimetres) of rain since Friday morning, breaking records.

The Warragamba dam, west of Sydney, started overflowing on Sunday and 13 evacuation centres have been opened across the state. More evacuations are expected as the bad weather is forecast to last into the middle of the week.

Local authorities are urging people not to drive through flooded areas as they could get easily swept away by the strong currents.
We learn young around here how to help each other out. Meanwhile, some residents in Penrith and Jamisontown were allowed to return home on Monday morning after an all-clear message was issued. The area included properties within the area bounded by the Nepean River, south of the Great Western Highway and west of Peach Tree Creek and in the immediate vicinity of Cables Wake Park. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Kirkup said Penrith and North Richmond, on the Hawkesbury-Nepean, have had their flood peak move through, while Windsor is yet to have their peak. However, heavy falls expected in the catchments in the region on Monday and Tuesday, including the Colo River, mean theres still a lot more to come downstream, so the flood levels will remain high for days.

Theres enough rainfall to come to have an impact, Ms Kirkup said. She said the two powerful weather systems comprised a coastal trough, which has caused heavy rainfall over the past five days, and an inland trough that is stretching across the continent and will feed rainfall across the western part of the state. The Nepean River breaching its banks on Sunday after days of heavy rain. Credit:Wolter Peeters Theyre going to make each others presence felt tonight and into tomorrow, she said. At this stage, were expecting their effect to be shortlived and over the water by Wednesday. While some wet weather may linger on the Far North Coast, conditions are likely to improve later in the week. But Ms Kirkup warned the impact of the rain on the landscape and water catchment system would take a while to recede.

Loading Ms Kirkup noted rainfall totals had reached 900 millimetres or higher in parts of northern NSW over the past week. They have had some cracking numbers, she said. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the flood situation was evolving and warned heavy rain was set to continue, with warnings in place across the state. She said about 15,000 people had been evacuated from homes on the North Coast and about 3000 in the Richmond Valley region. Ms Berejiklian said 19 evacuation orders had been issued, but warned there could be more to come.

We just ask everybody in those flat areas to please be cautious, please listen to the orders, please be ready if youve been asked to be on alert, she said. I dont know any time in our states history where weve had such extreme weather conditions in quick succession in the middle of a pandemic. I just want to say everybody across the state who is currently living in fear and anxiety ... some communities who were battered by the bushfires and are being battered by the floods, and deep drought prior to that: these are challenging times for NSW, but I think weve also demonstrated the capacity to be resilient. We are not out of the woods at all in the Hawkesbury. Ms Berejiklian said she was planning to fly over the Nepean-Hawkesbury region to inspect the conditions. A severe weather warning remains in place for much of the state.

Loading More than 200 schools are closed due to floods and storms. Several require maintenance and repair. A NSW Education spokesperson said the department continued to monitor the effects of the weather event and was working closely with emergency services to ensure school communities were safe. As of 7am, 207 public schools have been impacted, including 151 that will be closed today due to damage and the severe weather, the spokesperson said. We are assessing the extent of the damage, particularly on the Mid North Coast, and where possible have started the clean-up to ensure that schools can be returned to normal operations as soon as possible.

Loading Given the continuing bad weather, it may take some days to gain access to sites to assess the damage. Students affected by the flood emergency will be able to learn from home. Learning resources are available from the departments Learning from Home Hub during this emergency. Most of the Sydney Basin can expect the drenching to continue, with 85-150 millimetres forecast for Monday and Tuesday for the CBD and similar totals for Penrith and Campbelltown in the south. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government was standing ready to respond to any requests for assistance.
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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.
It was a simpler, sandier Perth and now thanks to some recently declassified Cold War-era satellite imagery we can now see just how much our city has changed over the past 60 years.

Perth-based digital atlas and mapping company Soar.Earth recently got its hands on a raft of remarkably high-quality declassified images of Perth taken by US spy satellites from 1966 to 1976.

The Burswood and Maylands peninsulas from the 1960s to present day. Credit:Soar.Earth

Soar founder Amir Farhand said the company had begun the meticulous process of scanning and geo-converting the images for different parts of the world and slowly loading them into their mapping platform, allowing users to look into the past at the Perth that was.

These images were taken in 1966 and 1976, although are black and white, have striking clarity at about 1m per pixel (to give you an idea, it wasnt until 2002 that commercial satellites offered that same resolution) so you can zoom in to see roads, houses, trees and in some cases cars, Mr Farhand said.
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CUNY Law School Dean Mary Lu Bilek is retiring as atonement for referring to herself as a 'slaveholder' during a personnel meeting in November

The dean of the City College of New York School of Law said she is retiring as atonement for referring to herself as a 'slaveholder' during a faculty meeting.

Mary Lu Bilek, 65, announced at the beginning of the year that she planned to step down in June, but now has she detailed the reason behind her departure, the New York Post reported.

Bilek said she dropped the 'slaveholder' reference at a personnel committee meeting in November as she took the blame for a hiring proposal some colleagues thought would have a 'disparate racial impact.'

The group was discussing an open position for associate dean at the time.

'In a misguided effort to draw an analogy to a model of reparations in order to place blame on myself, as Dean, for racial inequities at our school, I thoughtlessly referred to myself as the 'slaveholder' who should be held responsible,' Bilek wrote in an email sent Saturday to the college community.

The law school is part of the public university located in Long Island City

Bilek (pictured in 2016) had already announced plans to step down in June, but now has she detailed the reason behind her departure

'I realized it was wrong the minute I heard myself say it and couldn't believe the word had come out of my mouth,' Bilek said, adding that she apologized immediately at the meeting 'and have since apologized without reservation to the faculty.'

The school is part of the public university located in Long Island City area of New York City.

Bilek said her decision to step down stemmed from the remark.

She ultimately decided to retire 'because the work it would take to repair the trust necessary to lead the Law School is a burden I don't want to impose on the faculty or the community,' she wrote.

Bilek, a Harvard Law School graduate, joined the faculty in 1985 and was later named associate dean for academic affairs. She rose to dean in 2016.

Bilek urged CUNY to appoint an interim dean 'as quickly as possible so that I can step aside as Dean even sooner' than she planned to leave, she said in her letter.

CUNY School of Law did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The law school has exhibited a commitment to diversity, announcing in February 2019 that The National Jurist, a legal education news publication, had ranked the school at the top of its diversity 'honor roll.'

The school posted a quote from the magazine that noted, 'Nearly half of its students are minorities. More than one-third of its faculty is diverse.'
UK intelligence agencies are pushing for new curbs on local authorities use of Chinese smart cities technology over concerns Beijing could use it for espionage, surveillance or collection of sensitive data.

It is the second intervention by the security services against Chinese suppliers, following the governments surprise U-turn last summer banning the use of Huawei kit in 5G telecoms networks.

In the security, defence and diplomatic strategy published this week, Downing Street laid the groundwork for future restrictions, stating the UK would remain open to trade and investment from Beijing, but would also protect itself from deals that would have an adverse effect on prosperity and security.



Smart city technology  which has become a ubiquitous term for urban connectivity systems ranging from automated transport to traffic management, intelligent energy supply and CCTV  is widely deployed in Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Key suppliers include camera maker Hikvision, ecommerce group Alibaba, which supplies cloud services and software, and Huawei, which is involved in UK smart city projects as a supplier of hardware, software and telecoms equipment to companies such as BT.

Huawei, which has seen its kit banned in UK 5G telecoms networks, is involved in smart city projects in Britain  Leon Neal/Getty

Critics said Chinas approach to smart cities is driven by Beijings desire to keep its own citizens under surveillance. In some regions, for example, commuters are charged for their bus ride using facial recognition technology.

The National Cyber Security Centre  a branch of signals intelligence agency GCHQ  and MI5 have both raised concerns about the risks presented by this technology.

The agencies are keen on curbs, potentially through legislation, which would bar certain vendors from bidding or ban management contracts allowing companies to run an entire service on behalf of a local authority, according to several people with knowledge of the discussions.

One of the key threats is misuse of personal data. Because youve got all this population-scale data anonymised in different ways, theres a risk that someone could recombine them to identify . . . the types of people visiting particular buildings or accessing particular services, a security official said.

Lots of companies are offering not just products but services, so they supply the kit and they run the programme for you, the official added. Thats an aggregation of a lot of risk in a single place, so thats the sort of thing wed advise against.



There are wider concerns that Beijing could compel Chinese companies to hand over data gleaned from these contracts, which could then be used for espionage.

If the technology itself is insecure, and vulnerable to hackers, this would pose a different type of threat: information about movements of people around cities could assist in terrorist attack planning.

Many local authorities are pursuing safe smart city projects with UK companies, in areas such as AI-controlled road junctions and digitised parking systems.

But the potential scale of Chinese smart city procurement were highlighted last month, when freedom of information requests obtained by Reuters revealed that at least half of Londons boroughs have bought and deployed surveillance systems made by Chinese suppliers, including Hikvision. The company is one of the Chinese suppliers blacklisted by the US over Beijings repression of Uyghur Muslims in China.

A software engineer in Beijing works on a facial recognition programme that identifies people even when they wear a face mask  Thomas Peter/Reuters

Central government currently has no powers to prevent councils from signing up with a specific supplier. The NCSC and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure can advise local authorities about prospective projects, and the cyber security team in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also assessing how to provide guidance in this area.

Sam Markey, director of strategic analysis at Connected Places Catapult  a government-backed body that provides advice and research on urban innovation  said the resilience of smart city technology and the privacy of personal data gathered through these services was an increasingly pressing topic of discussion among both buyers and suppliers of this technology.

With local budgets tighter than ever in the wake of Covid-19, the benefits of connected places technologies to local authorities, public transport bodies, and property managers are real and obvious, he said, adding that smart city technologies have huge potential to deliver more personalised local services, drive down costs and reduce carbon emissions, if used safely.

Tom Tugendhat, chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee and a China hawk, welcomed the push for tighter controls but suggested government should go further in its clampdown on risky technologies. Data that shapes our lives isnt just about smart cities, he said. Payment systems, social media and many more services need protection, and that means asking the government to help.

The government said the security and resilience of 5G and other emerging technologies was a top priority, and that it was working with local authorities to provide robust guidance so they can seize the benefits of these technologies in a safe and secure way.

Alibaba, Huawei and Hikvision declined to comment.

Financial Times
The Prime Ministers fiancee Carrie Symonds was embroiled in a new row last night, accused of teaming up with Minister Zac Goldsmith to try to tie up farmers in red tape to protect the environment.

A leading member of the farming lobby claimed that the Prime Ministers fiancee was using her influence in Downing Street, and her friendship with Mr Goldsmith, to pack the Environment Bill with burdensome regulations cutting pollution and protecting livestock.

Ms Symonds has faced repeated claims that she has influenced Boris Johnsons stance on policy and recruitment of key staff, but a No 10 source dismissed claims that Ms Symonds plays any role in government.

Ms Symonds has faced repeated claims that she has influenced Boris Johnsons stance on policy and recruitment of key staff

Both Ms Symonds and Environment Minister Goldsmith (pictured) are passionate supporters of the environment and animal welfare

XR mass trespass plan is blatant anarchism By Valerie Eliott Extinction Rebellion is mobilising eco-activists for a mass trespass of the countryside  sparking fury from rural campaigners. The demo is being organised by XR North for Saturday April 24, the anniversary of the Kinder Scout trespass in Derbyshire in 1932, which pioneered the right to roam movement. XRs website warns activists taking part that aggravated trespass could bring a fine of up to 300 for a first offence. Claiming that much private land is criminally misused, it adds: Taxpayers give 3 billion a year to landowners and yet we are denied access to 92 per cent of the land in England. Tim Bonner, of the Countryside Alliance, called the action blatant anarchism. The Country, Land and Business Association, said it beggared belief that farmers who worked to produce food through the pandemic might face the threat of trespassers. XR North said it didnt want the demo to be confrontational. Advertisement

The claims were also denied by the Environment Department.

Both Ms Symonds and Environment Minister Goldsmith are passionate supporters of the environment and animal welfare.

But farmers are concerned that new polluter pays rules and other measures included in the Environment Bill passing through the Commons could add to their costs at a time when they are targeting post-Brexit markets.

They are also concerned about new gene-editing technologies which promise to protect crops and animals from pests and disease, cut carbon emissions and allow farmers to produce more food  but would threaten their export markets because of EU rules.

One farming lobby member said: All this stuff seems to be driven away from Defra [the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs], with a lot of the energy coming from the Zac-Carrie axis. There is merit in gene-editing, but it will be self-defeating if we lose market access.

The bigger danger comes from the Environment Bill  agriculture must remain competitive. Businesses will not remain competitive and market-driven if there is too much of a greenwash.

But a Defra source insisted that Mr Goldsmith in fact had little to do with farming policy on a day-to-day basis, and many of the provisions in the bill preceded his time as a Minister. The source added: Our three future agricultural schemes  the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery  will form the cornerstone of our future farm funding model by rewarding farmers and land managers for producing public goods like biodiversity, cleaner water, cleaner air and improved soil.

The landmark Environment Bill will include the polluter pays principle that those who cause pollution or damage to the environment should be responsible for mitigation or compensation.

However, the source added this idea is not something new, with the Environment Agency already taking action when companies and individuals damage the environment.

A Defra spokesman said: We are taking a new approach, to help our farmers produce healthy food for consumption at home and abroad and incentivise them to improve environmental outcomes.

Rather than the top-down rules and bureaucracy of the EU era, we are supporting the choices farmers make and are working with them to design these future policies, to ensure they are right for the farmers of today and tomorrow.
Those seeking peace and solitude away from any crowds this spring need only look to the east from Portland.

Drive across the Cascade Mountains, take the gravel roads and head to the dusty trailheads lined with sagebrush. There, in Oregons sprawling high desert, youll find not only ample room to breathe, but many strange and beautiful natural treasures as well.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many of us remain crowd-averse  a situation worsened by the increasing crowds at popular recreation areas. That makes the wide-open, sparsely populated high desert more attractive than ever.

Thats not to say there arent busy recreation areas in central and eastern Oregon. Smith Rock remains one of our most popular state parks. The Prineville Reservoir campground hosts hundreds of campers on warm weekends. And the Painted Hills are among Oregons busiest natural attractions.

But the open spaces of the high desert make it easy to find an area all to yourself, even if there are others at the trailhead. At worst, you can break off from the crowds to find shade beneath a juniper tree. At best, youll have miles and miles of open desert to yourself, to explore and discover in peace.

As always follow proper public health precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including wearing face masks in all indoor places and outdoor areas where you cant remain at least six feet from others. Be prepared for limited facilities in the desert, and carry extra water, emergency supplies and toiletries in case you need to relieve yourself outdoors.

Heres where to go in Oregons high desert this spring:

Lake Billy Chinook on a bright summer day at The Cove Palisades State Park in central Oregon's high desert.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

PLACES TO SEE

The Cove Palisades

The confluence of the Deschutes, Crooked and Metolius rivers  and the manmade lake they feed  is now known as The Cove Palisades State Park, a desert oasis that has become one of the best loved parks in Oregon. Get a view from the Tam-a-Lau Trail or the viewpoints along Southwest Mountain View Drive on the east side of the park. You can also join the crowds and take a boat out on Lake Billy Chinook.

A day-use fee of $5 is required at The Cove Palisades, or display of an annual Oregon State Parks pass. The Crooked River Campground is open, and other campsites will open in May. Cabins and group camps are unavailable.

John Day Fossil Beds

Home of the Painted Hills and several other natural attractions, the John Day Fossil Beds is an otherworldly place. The colorful desert hills contain rare fossils that paint a picture of a different landscape entirely: a prehistoric tropical paradise, where strange animals roamed the land. Separated into three different units, the park has enough for a full day, or several days of exploration.

All outdoor areas of the fossil beds are open this spring, though the Thomas Condon Paleontology and Visitor Center is temporarily closed.

Fort Rock

A volcanic wonder found south of Bend, Fort Rock is a volcanic wonder and an important historical site. The rock formation is whats known as a tuff ring, which rises magnificently above all else around it. Sagebrush sandals found in a neighboring cave were dated to 9,200 and 10,500 years old, providing some of the earliest evidence for human occupation in North America.

All trails are open this spring, but rock scrambling is currently not allowed to protect nesting falcons. Fort Rock Cave tours are canceled.

FORT ROCK: This desert crater is part volcanic wonder, part archeological mystery. (Jamie Hale/Staff)

Crack in the Ground is an ancient volcanic fissure near Christmas Valley in the high desert of central Oregon. An easy hiking trail leads through the fissure that measures more than two miles long and up to 70 feet deep.

PLACES TO EXPLORE

Christmas Valley

A remote and little explored region of central Oregon, Christmas Valley is chock-full of fascinating natural wonders. After a stop at Fort Rock, make your way to the ancient volcanic fissure known as Crack-in-the-Ground, then stop by Fossil Lake and the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes. Check out Glass Buttes and pick up some shards of obsidian on your way out.

The trails, campgrounds and day-use areas of Christmas Valley are open and free of charge. Theyre found down remote gravel roads that are sometimes unmarked, so bring maps and emergency supplies. Find more information for specific sites at blm.gov.

Deschutes River Trail

Several different trails are called the Deschutes River Trail that, if connected, would make an epic journey across central Oregon. Try the uppermost trail that runs along the river through the Newberry National Volcanic Monument south of Bend, or the lowermost trail near the confluence with the Columbia River east of The Dalles. Both trails are open to hiking and mountain biking, and are also popular with fishers and boaters.

Upriver trailheads in the Deschutes National Forest require a $5 parking fee or display of a federal lands pass. The lower trailhead at Deschutes River State Recreation Area is free.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a paradise for birders, with a sprawling desert wetland that hosts a multitude of wildlife. Take the self-guided auto tour or get out of the car for a few short hikes on refuge trails. In early spring, look for lesser sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans and sage grouse. The major songbird migration runs from late April to mid-May, with many species stopping over at the refuge.

Outdoor spaces at the refuge are open and free to visit. The visitor center, museum and nature story are all currently closed.

A pair of trumpeter swans at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in fall. (Barbara Wheeler Photography/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)LC- Barbara Wheeler Photography/

A sign directs hikers to the Badlands Rock Trail, with Badlands Rock in the distance at the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, east of Bend.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Oregon Badlands Wilderness

With volcanic rock formations, old-growth juniper trees and many miles of desert wilderness, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a perfect slice of Oregons high desert environment. The Flatiron Rock Trailhead is a great jumping-off point, found on the side of U.S. 20 about 13 miles east of Bend, which leads to several trails that are good for a day hike or overnight adventure.

The wilderness area is open and free of charge. Wilderness restrictions apply for all use, including restrictions on campfires and hunting.

Owyhee Canyonlands

The majestic Owyhee River runs 280 miles through three different states, but its most scenic stretch might well be along the eastern Oregon border in a region known as the Owyhee Canyonlands. Its a paradise for rafters, anglers and hikers, who can access the river at Lake Owyhee State Park, Leslie Gulch or other more remote areas.

Lake Owyhee State Park is open for day use and camping, though services may be limited due to the pandemic. Leslie Gulch and other areas are open and free to access. Make sure to have a full tank of gas, water and plenty of supplies. Malheur County is currently at extreme risk of the spread of COVID-19.

The Owyhee River flows through three states, but perhaps the most scenic stretch is found along Oregon's eastern border, an area known as the Owyhee Canyonlands.

Rustic cabins at Cottonwood Canyon State Park offer a nice overnight option at the remote park site along the John Day River.

PLACES TO STAY

Cottonwood Canyon

One of Oregons newest state parks, Cottonwood Canyon remains one of the least-visited park sites in the state, though its becoming more and more popular each year. Found along the John Day River outside of Wasco, its a beautiful place to hike, bike or fish, with easy trails running along either side of the river. The park is home to rustic cabins and primitive campsites for tents and RVS.

To make a reservation at Cottonwood Canyon visit oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 800-452-5687. The campground is open year-round and found off Oregon 206, about 15 miles south of Wasco.

Crane Hot Springs

A hot springs resort outside of Burns, Crane Hot Springs is a veritable high desert oasis. The resort is centered on a natural hot springs, with water pumped into a large soaking pool, as well as private baths. Lodging options run from tent and RV campsites to rooms and private tipis. Accommodations may be limited due to the pandemic, with capacity limits and social distancing required.

To make a reservation at Crane Hot Springs, visit TripAdvisor, cranehotsprings.com or call 541-493-2312. The resort is open year-round and is located at 59318 Oregon Route 78, about 25 miles east of Burns.

Summer Lake Hot Springs

Another hot springs oasis in eastern Oregon, Summer Lake Hot Springs bills itself as a healing retreat found near a shallow, seasonal lake by the same name. Small cabins, houses and campsites offer a variety of ways to stay, but the real attractions are the hot springs themselves. The bath house is currently closed, but outdoor soaking tubs are open.

To make a reservation at Summer Lake Hot Springs, visit TripAdvisor, summerlakehotsprings.com or call 541-943-3931. The resort is located at 41777 Highway 31, Paisley.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

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Prince William does not believe he is 'trapped' inside the system of the British monarchy and Prince Harry's suggestions that he is are 'way off the mark', a source close to the royal family has claimed.

Instead, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the throne behind his father, has 'accepted' his role and 'the path set for him', royal sources say.

'He is very much his grandmother's grandson in that respect of duty and service,' the source, who is close to both brothers, told the Sunday Times.

It comes after Prince Harry sensationally claimed his brother and his father, Prince Charles, are 'trapped' in the system of the British monarchy.

Prince Harry made the claim during he and wife Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this month.

Prince Harry's claims that his brother Prince William (pictured with wife Kate Middleton) is 'trapped' inside the system of the British monarchy are 'way off the mark', a source close to the royal family has reportedly said

It comes after Prince Harry (pictured with wife Meghan Markle and Prince William and Kate Middleton) sensationally claimed his brother and his father, Prince Charles, are 'trapped' in the system of the British monarchy

Prince Harry made the claim during he and wife Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey (pictured) earlier this month

The Duke of Sussex told the American chat show host: 'I myself was trapped. I didnt see a way out. I was trapped but I didnt know I was trapped.

Asked what he meant, Prince Harry replied: 'Trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are.

The line of succession to the British throne 1. The Prince of Wales 2. The Duke of Cambridge 3. Prince George of Cambridge 4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge 5. Prince Louis of Cambridge 6. The Duke of Sussex 7. Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor 8. The Duke of York 9. Princess Beatrice of York 10. Princess Eugenie of York 11. The Earl of Wessex 12. Viscount Severn 13. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 14. The Princess Royal 15. Mr. Peter Phillips 16. Miss Savannah Phillips 17. Miss Isla Phillips 18. Mrs. Michael Tindall Source: Royal.uk Advertisement

'My father and my brother, they are trapped. They dont get to leave.'

Prince Charles, the Queen's son, is next in line to the throne, while Prince William is second in the line of succession.

Prince William's first son, Prince George, is next in line, followed by his daughter Princess Charlotte and then his second son, Prince Louis.

Prince Harry, who would have been third in line to the throne before the birth of his brother's children, is now sixth in line to the throne. He and Meghan's son, Archie, is seventh in the line of succession.

It comes as reports have emerged that 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 business ventures.

The Duke of Cambridge's rift with his brother is said to have soured even further in early 2020 when the Sussexes 'blindsided' Her Majesty with a terse statement hitting back at the Palace last year.

William's allies have provided fresh insights amid the ongoing fall-out from Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism in the Royal family, and their revelation last week to US TV host Gayle King that peace talks with the prince and Charles had not been 'productive'.

The sources said that the episode that 'most upset' William was in March 2020 when 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 last year, crossed a line for William, who felt it a rebuke 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 - in a piece which interviews numerous allies and makes the second-in-line to the throne's feelings clear.

Describing the Sussexes' response, the royal source added to the paper that 'the content and that it is still online is staggering', while adding that the brothers 'did not part shores as friends' - despite going for a lengthy walk together at the Sandringham summit during which Harry agreed he would step back from Royal duties.

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.

Prince Charles, the Queen's son, is next in line to the throne, while Prince William is second in the line of succession

The friends also say that William was a peacemaker during the 'tensions' leading up to Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, during which the infamous incident in which Meghan claims Kate Middleton made her cry occurred. Differing accounts of that event say it was Kate who was the one in tears.

The source said: 'Every time there was a drama, or a member of staff on the verge of quitting, William would personally try and sort it out.' The Palace has also opened an inquiry into claims that Meghan bullied staff.

The coronavirus pandemic is said to have made William embrace his role in public life 'more than ever', and while supporting frontline health workers he has reflected on his time as an Air Ambulance pilot where he witnessed 'some very sad, dark moments on very traumatic jobs involving children'.

However he still believes in his grandmother's approach of taking a 'more passive role' as head of state and does not wish to 'meddle' in party politics.

But he was said to have been 'unhappy' at Boris Johnson putting the Queen in an 'unenviable' position over Brexit, a source told the Sunday Times.

The Prime Minister asked the Queen to prorogue Parliament in 2019 - which the Queen had no option but to do under he role as head of state.

But the move move was later declared unlawful and sparked an apology from Mr Johnson to the monarch.

The Mail On Sunday also today revealed that The Queen is to boost the Palace's diversity initiatives after Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism continue 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'.

And aides say the rift with Harry has brought William closer to his father, and William is said to have been responsible for stressing that the Royal Family take issues of race 'very seriously' in the statement responding to the Oprah interview.

The friend said: 'At Williams wedding there was a gag in one of the speeches that he was more like his father than hed ever admit, which made a lot of us laugh. As their respective destinies get closer, it weighs more heavily on them and strengthens the bond. The rift with Harry has also brought them closer.

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 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

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 rebuke to the Queen

Harry and Meghan's announcement early last year they planned to step down as senior royals plunged the Family into crisis talks at Sandringham.

Sources told the paper William and Harry went for a walk after the Sandringham Summit to cool tensions that had been mounting for some months.

After initially being hailed as the Fab Four set to broaden the monarchy's appeal to a younger generation, cracks had long started to appear in the Sussex-Cambridge dynamic.

Harry and Meghan uprooted from Kensington Palace to set up their own household at Frogmore Cottage, while reports started emerging of friction between the duchesses.

A year later and the Royal Family - and the brothers' relationship - has been rocked by a fresh saga following explosive claims during the Oprah Winfrey interview.

William is the only royal to have so far addressed the interview publicly, telling reporters he was due to speak with his brother and stressing 'we're very much not a racist family'.

But friends told The Sunday Times his 'head is all over the place' and he's still reeling from the couple's remarks.

Those close to him refute Harry's claim that William is 'trapped' within the institution of the monarchy, rubbishing it as 'way off the the mark'.

However while the situation is still 'raw', William is said to have resolved to repair the relationship with Harry 'in time'.

The gulf between him and his brother has brought him closer to Charles and his grandmother, The Queen, a source said.

Meanwhile a former Palace aide described how William 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 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

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'.

The Queen plans diversity drive: Royals will boost existing programmes as Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism are blamed for 'unproductive' peace talks with William and Charles

By Kate Mansey for the Mail on Sunday

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 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?'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

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

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.

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.
Today

Mostly cloudy and more humid with a few showers and thunderstorms, our best chance for rain this week. A few gusty t-storms are possible later in the day.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with a few showers or thunderstorms.

Tomorrow

Clouds, some sun, and a shower or thunderstorm or two still possible; humid.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York, N.Y., on March 8, 2021. (Seth Wenig/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Cuomo Threatened to Compare Official to Child Rapist: Leaked Audio

New Yorks governor in 2018 threatened to compare an official who endorsed a primary challenger to child rapists, according to newly released audio of the call.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, told then-Working Families Party head Bill Lipton: If you ever say, Well, hes better than a Republican again, then Im going to say, Youre better than a child rapist. How about that?

Cuomo was furious that the party had endorsed actress Cynthia Nixon, who was challenging him in the gubernatorial Democrat primary.

After Cuomo triumphed over Nixon, the party opted to back him against Republican nominee Marc Molinaro.

Lipton responded to the governor by saying: Governor, I apologize, but I got to clarify one thing. Youre 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.

Cuomo then said, I think youre better than a child rapist.

The call was released by The New York Times.

Lipton confirmed to the New York Post that it was authentic.

Cuomos office didnt return a request for comment, nor did the Working Families Party.

Rich Azzopardi, an adviser to Cuomo, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that the governor doesnt recall the discussion.

This three-year-old conversation happened after a very contentious political campaign where things were charged on all sides, he said in a statement. He doesnt remember it occurring, but from how it has been described, he was clearly being hyperbolic to illustrate the offensive nature of the WFPs own name-calling.

Cuomo is facing pressure to step down from over 100 state lawmakers, including many Democrats, because of twin scandals. Eight women have accused him of sexual harassment, including at least one current aide, and his administration for months shielded from the public and state legislators data about nursing home resident COVID-19 deaths.

Cuomo, in his third term, has refused to resign.
Some rumors accuse Apple of allowing the Russian government to pick random apps that they find worthy of promoting to the country's residents. On the other hand, some people might ask if the government-approved applications are safe. But, Russia hasn't released any confirmation yet if the government already selected the online services they want the residents to install.

Also Read: Apple Wants to Use a Special Metal Coating for Its Next-Gen iPhones; Claims This Could Solve Color Fading

According to Bloomberg's latest report, the giant tech company announced on Tuesday, Mar. 16, that it will allow the Russian government to promote the applications it wants the people to download.

Furthermore, The Verge previously reported that Apple would also release a new pre-install screen for the devices that the Russian residents will purchase in the future. This new feature will automatically advertise the government-approved applications.

Why Apple allowed Russia to do this

Back in 2019, Russia passed a law that requires manufacturers and other companies to pre-install the apps made by Russian companies. The government explained that this requirement applies to smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and smart televisions sold in the country.

On the other hand, a Russian source called Vedomosti explained that this law was expected to take effect previously in July 2020. However, the government delayed it and is expected to make the law active in April of this year.

The source added that the apps wouldn't be installed if the users don't want to use them.

The only thing that the government can do is promote them to the people.

What apps will be offered?

The Russian government is expected to promote various apps such as Yandex, Mail.ru, and Kaspersky Lab.

However, the government said that this could be an issue since some people might think they are in favor of specific online services. This is the reason why Russia wants to expand its list over time.

"The Ministry is not at all interested in seeing popular apps included in the mandatory pre-installation list take dominant positions," said an anonymous Russian official.

"If alternatives emerge on the market, prove interesting to users and gain popularity quickly, they will be included in this selection and also offered for pre-installation," added the government official.

For more news updates about Apple and its relationship with Russia and other countries, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Facebook Stock Bullish After Mark Zuckerberg Changes Opinion on Apple Privacy Plan

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Misogyny has many faces, all of them ugly. Like all women, I've encountered my fair share of knuckleheads, and like all women I've had to learn to deal with them and their casual, often unconscious, disrespect of my sex.

From the man who told me aged 15 that I was a 'frigid bitch' for not wanting him to put his hands on my breasts, to the American Vogue writer  one Hamish Bowles  who while smearing me with preposterous accusations of racism over the word 'niggling', chose to condense my entire career and existence into the phrase 'wife of', there are no shortage of chauvinists, driven by a sense of male entitlement, an innate sense of superiority and, more often than not, politics.

In 2017, Observer columnist and alleged comedian Stewart Lee wrote this about me: 'As a student, David Cameron is rumoured to have put his penis into a dead pig's mouth. To outdo him as an adult, in an act even more bizarre and obscene, Michael Gove put his penis into a Mail journalist.'

When I wrote last week that I felt Sarah's death had been hijacked by those with a certain political agenda, I found myself the subject of considerable abuse on social media, most of it, ironically, from women. But I stand by that assertion

As an example of misogyny, it's fair to say that's pretty impressive, all the more so since it appeared (and continues to appear  the full article is available on the Guardian website) in a publication that considers itself a model of feminist principles.

So men who hate women come in different guises, even  in this case  achingly politically correct comedians. But I've learnt that their behaviour, like racism and other forms of irrational loathing, is more to do with them than me.

It derives from a deep-seated sense of fear and insecurity. They are essentially inadequate, and so they self-aggrandise by demeaning others.

Most of them are harmless fools, easily defused with a sharp word or, in extremis, a kick in the shins. But there is a small element who are actually dangerous.

These are the kind who kill women such as Sarah Everard, whose death is a monstrous injustice and a tragedy that has touched us all. But they are not all men. Flowers are seen above at Clapham Common

Capable of translating their pathetic, deranged fantasies into reality. These are the ones we need protection against  the ones who rape, murder and abuse us. These are the criminal, and the criminally insane.

These are the kind who kill women such as Sarah Everard, whose death is a monstrous injustice and a tragedy that has touched us all.

But they are not all men. Which is why I am deeply uncomfortable with the notion  put forward last week in Parliament and supported by many women's groups and individuals for whom I have a great deal of respect but with whom I must, respectfully, disagree  of making misogyny a hate crime. It's not just that I don't believe it will deter those who hate women and wish to cause them harm.

It's that I think it turns what is essentially a question of individual criminality into a blanket vilification of the male sex, creating endless scope for the professionally offended, blowing admittedly crass but essentially harmless behaviour (wolf-whistles and the like) out of all proportion and burdening the authorities, who are struggling to contain real criminals, with even more bureaucracy and paperwork.

Men will feel even more threatened by us, and that will not achieve the desired effect. It will only amplify existing prejudice.

Much like the absurd idea put forward in the Lords  that there should be a 6pm curfew for men to allow women to walk the streets in safety  it would take us back to the Victorian notion of women as the weaker sex, incapable of looking after themselves

Men who already hate us will only hate us more because of it, and ultimately that will put more women's lives in danger. It will also fan the flames of a dangerous culture war between the sexes which, aside from a small number of radical feminists, no one wants.

When I wrote last week that I felt Sarah's death had been hijacked by those with a certain political agenda, I found myself the subject of considerable abuse on social media, most of it, ironically, from women.

But I stand by that assertion. Knee-jerk legislation is the absolute worst kind of legislation, driven not by sound, sensible principles, but by emotion and pitchforkery.

If there is to be a legislative response to the death of Sarah, it must be a properly considered one, not something forged in the agony and heat of the moment.

Sarah's friend from university, Helen Edwards, echoed this sentiment when she wrote: 'Her abduction and killing is not, in my opinion, a symptom of a sexist, dangerous society.

'When something awful like this happens, there is a rush to look for reasons and apportion blame.

If there is to be a legislative response to the death of Sarah, it must be a properly considered one, not something forged in the agony and heat of the moment

'If the suspect police officer in custody is eventually found guilty of her murder, then I will hold him alone responsible. I will not be blaming 'men' or 'the police' for the actions of one individual.'

Ms Edwards added that her friend 'knew many wonderful men' in her life, several of whom had played key roles in the efforts to find Sarah, and added: 'I don't think Sarah would have wanted them, or men in general, to be smeared with the same brush as her attacker. Most people, and indeed men, are good.'

If misogyny becomes a hate crime, that principle would be fundamentally undermined. Not only would it be the case that all men would find themselves cast as potential offenders, but all women would be characterised as potential victims. And this, perhaps more than any, is a notion I fundamentally reject.

For decades, women have fought to show the world that we are not the weaker sex. We have, rightly, demanded a seat at the table of men. We have become soldiers dodging bullets on the frontline, scientists, politicians, surgeons and more.

And we have done all this while still having babies and bringing up families and enduring the put-downs of those who would much rather we stayed at home and warmed their slippers.

To make misogyny a hate crime would be a reversion of this principle. Much like the absurd idea put forward in the Lords  that there should be a 6pm curfew for men to allow women to walk the streets in safety  it would take us back to the Victorian notion of women as the weaker sex, incapable of looking after themselves.

It would enshrine in law the wrongful and insidious assumption that we are not strong enough; that we require special protection from the uncontrollable urges of men.

None of which is true. As women, it is right that we come together in support of each other, to share our experiences and give each other the strength to counter abuse. But that does not mean indulging in misandry. That does not mean retreating into victimhood or giving in to misplaced paranoia.

What we need is more understanding between the sexes, not less. More subtlety and nuance, not less. Fewer blanket assertions and assumptions, not more.

Above all, let us not polarise and over-politicise the most vital relationship on the planet, the one that ultimately keeps our race alive  that between man and woman.

A crossbench peer has declared war on school uniforms, claiming they stifle children's self-expression and make it 'particularly easy' to identify the poorest children. In fact, the opposite is true. Remove school uniform and the better-off kids will start showing up in the latest status trainers and tracksuits, leaving the ones who can't afford such clobber (or whose parents simply don't want to pay 400 for a pair of glorified plimsolls) feeling exposed and inadequate. At least if everyone's wearing the same scratchy blazer or hideous burgundy V-neck, you're all in it together.

BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt found themselves in hot water after Stayt joked that Robert Jenrick's Union flag was 'not up to standard size' and 'just a little bit small'. Honestly: this is the BBC, not some sixth-form YouTube channel. Besides, hasn't anyone told them it's not the size of your flag that matters, it's how you wave it?

The PM's father, Stanley, has awarded his son a 'B+ or maybe A-' for his handling of the pandemic, saying he couldn't give him more because of the death toll. Fair enough. That said, unlike Stanley, at least Boris doesn't go around breaking his wife's nose, as revealed by The MoS last year. On that basis, Stanley would be lucky to get anything higher than an F.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
Australia's strict hotel quarantine program could be due for a shake up if global vaccination targets continue to be met.

Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy flagged allowing international arrivals to quarantine at home if they are completely vaccinated.

He said the government would also consider reducing the length of time a person is required to isolate if that have taken the shot.

The nation's current program - one of the strictest in the world - requires all international arrivals to undergo two weeks of mandatory quarantine in an assigned hotel in each of Australia's major cities.

Guests are subjected to at least two Covid tests during their stay and must go the entire fortnight without presenting any symptoms of the respiratory virus.

After more than 12 months of limited travel internationally, the scenario could change as early as next month

Australia's strict hotel quarantine program could be due for a shake up if global vaccination targets continue to be met

There have been multiple incidents of arrivals having to re-do their entire quarantine period if there is a Covid outbreak or if health authorities have concerns about potential exposure to the virus.

Dr Murphy said as the vaccination becomes more readily available, authorities will be able to reassess the health risks.

'We might think about reducing the length of quarantine or more home quarantine particularly for vaccinated people. Our risk tolerance will change over the second half of this year,' he told Sky News.

Any potential changes will be the result of increased vaccination efforts both in Australia and abroad.

Flights from New Zealand to Australia could be reality by mid-April as the two countries consider a Trans-Tasman bubble

Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy flagged allowing international arrivals to quarantine at home if they are completely vaccinated

Dr Murphy is also hopeful Australia's borders will slowly begin opening to international travellers from next year, and said any new hotel quarantine rules could potentially apply to them as well.

But he acknowledged it's almost impossible to say for certain as the pandemic still rages on.

'Nobody can predict what will happen with international borders but I'm hopeful good international travel will happen next year,' he said. 'But it's just too early to tell.'

'We are still on track to give everyone who wants it their first dose by the end of October and we're going to try and bring that forward as much as we can.'

New Zealand will likely be the first country that Australians will be able to travel to for a holiday, with a Trans-Tasman bubble in the works for mid-April.

The bubble would see quarantine-free travel within New Zealand and Australia, while each country reserved the right to immediately suspend travel if the safety of the wider community is deemed under threat.

Airports would also be divided into separate green zones and red zones.

'Green zones' would indicate free and open travel, while 'red zones' would be for those travellers coming from other parts of the world to transit or hotel quarantine, according to 9News.

Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Dan Tehan has also indicated Australia is in talks to create a travel corridor with Singapore.
Coinbase is paying the price for its earlier cryptocurrency trading practices. Coindesk and the Wall Street Journal say the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has fined Coinbase $6.5 million for allegedly providing misleading info about its trading volumes. The company's Coinbase Pro exchange ran two programs that sometimes traded Bitcoin and Litecoin with each other between 2015 and 2018, and included those trades in data it shared with outside services  making it look like there was more trading volume than there really was.

Coinbase also didn't disclose that it had more than one program or was trading through multiple accounts, the CFTC said. The exchange was liable for its actions, the commission added, as a former Coinbase worker abused the programs between August and September 2016 to buy and sell crypto in "wash trades" that artificially inflated activity.

The commission didn't accuse Coinbase of doing anything wrong, and suggested it was more careless than intentional.

CFTC Commissioner Dawn Stump was worried the decision implied her organization had more power to regulate crypto exchanges than it did, and stressed that Coinbase's activity was firmly in the past. The activity took place "several years ago," and the employee in question left years before the fine. Coinbase hadn't repeated this behavior since, Stump added.

The decision comes at a crucial moment for Coinbase and the industry as a whole. Interest in cryptocurrency has surged in recent months, and Coinbase could play a pivotal role in that spike as one of the best-known exchanges. The fine could eliminate some uncertainty and help Coinbase focus on its future, even if the move also highlights some of the uncertainty about regulations.
Horseracing trainer Rebecca Bastiman has passed away at the age of 40 after a long-term illness.

Bastiman, based in Yorkshire, masterminded more than 100 wins as a trainer, including two Nunthorpe Stakes victories for Borderlescott, after taking over the reins from her racing father Robin in 2015.

A statement on her Facebook page confirmed that she had passed away 'peacefully' and described her as a 'special, beautiful' person who had a 'dream life'.

Horseracing trainer Rebecca Bastiman has passed away aged 40 after a long-term illness

Bastiman (left) achieved over 100 wins as a trainer and rode three more as an amateur jockey

The statement read: 'It comes with extreme sadness and heartache that sadly Rebecca Bastiman has peacefully passed away after a long illness. Being a trainer was her dream, her life, her everything. She put 110 per cent into the love and care of her four-legged friends.

'Rebecca was a dedicated trainer and a hard worker. She was first on the yard and last to leave, she mucked out and rode out and loved the challenge of problem horses and sweetening them up.

'Rebecca will leave a hole in many people's hearts, but her legacy will go on and never be forgotten. The world has lost a special, beautiful person but the heavens have gained an angel.'

Bastiman (right) took over the trainer reins from her horseracing father Robin in 2015

Racing manager Alan Crombie said, as per the Racing Post: 'She was a lovely young woman. I know she's been poorly for a long time. This will be devastating for her family, they idolised her.

'She was one of those trainers who could get an old horse, a cast-off from another trainer, turn them around and make them successful. Hayadh would be a good example, he won the Thirsk Hunt Cup for her and numerous good races.

'She changed the regime around after taking over from her father and in the short time she trained, she had over 100 winners. She was such a talented girl, very hard-working and she lived for the sport.

'We spent many a day at the races enjoying her company. I hope she gets the acknowledgement she deserves.'

Bastiman's best year came in 2018 when she led 27 winners that led to 247,336 in prize money

Bastiman also rode three victories as an amateur jockey before working in the training side of the sport.

Her best year came in 2018 when she led 27 winners that led to 247,336 in prize money. Bastiman's most successful horse was 2019 Thirsk Cup winner Hayadh with five victories.

Her final full year in racing saw her mastermind 12 victories from 178 runners. In 2019, Bastiman suffered a life-threatening fall on the gallops which left her with a broken hand and arm, two cracked ribs, a fractured pelvis and dislocated shoulder.

Tributes have poured in from the horseracing community following the announcement of Bastiman's passing.

A statement on fellow trainer Julie Camacho's social media page read: 'We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Rebecca Bastiman's family and friends.

Members of the horseracing community paid tribute to Bastiman and her life on Twitter

'She is a big loss to the racing world and we are so sorry to hear of her passing.'

Trainer Adrian Nicholls tweeted: 'Extremely sad news thinking of her family at this very sad time.'

Meanwhile, jockey Paul Mulrennan tweeted: 'Very sad news to hear of the passing of Rebecca Bastiman a lovely lady who absolutely loved her horses myself and @acmulrennan send our sincere condolences to Beckys family, friends and all at GooseMoor Farm.'
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - The FBI Phoenix division and Phoenix Chapter FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association invite all interested Arizona high school juniors and seniors to apply to the FBI Phoenix Teen Academy. Classes will be held virtually every Thursday starting June 17, 2021 to July 8, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The FBI Teen Academy provides an opportunity for high school students to catch a behind-the-scenes look at the FBI. Upon completion of the course, students will foster a greater understanding of the FBIs mission and how we serve our citizens, community, and nation.

During the academy, students are given the opportunity to learn about how evidence and hazardous material are collected at crime scenes; hear from members of the FBI SWAT team; learn about hostage crisis negotiation; and meet FBI agents and other FBI personnel who support our overall missionto protect the people of the United States and defend our constitution.

The FBI offers many career paths including: Special Agent, Accounting, Nursing, Intelligence, and Administration. Any student with an interest in the FBI is encouraged to apply. This program is not exclusive to students interested in criminal justice.

This is a competitive program, and not all applicants will be selected. Student selection for the Teen Academy will be based on a quality application and essay. The application, release form, and a supporting essay must be received by the FBI Phoenix office by April 14, 2021. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted.

The FBI Phoenix and Tucson offices are considering hosting an on-site day where students, in accordance with CDC guidelines, will have an opportunity to see SWAT vehicles, and experience a demonstration by the Evidence Response Team. This in-person day is subject to CDC/DOJ guidelines.

Applications can be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for consideration.

For more information on the FBI Teen Academy and to apply, visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/phoenix/community-outreach.
Critics of the withdrawal from the pact have said it would put Turkey further out of step with the values of the European Union, which it remains a candidate to join. They argue the deal, and legislation approved in its wake, need to be implemented more stringently.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has withdrawn Turkey from an international treaty on preventing violence against women and removed the head of the Central Bank. Forty- five countries that are members of the Council of Europe have been signatories of the Istanbul Convention which had pledged to condemn any violence on the women. It has also recognized how violence on women over the centuries has been a product of the disparate relationship shared between men and women which has been defined by dominance in most cases.

The Council of Europe accord, forged in Istanbul, pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality. Turkey, which signed the accord in 2011, saw a rise in femicides last year. However, no reason was provided for the withdrawal, but officials in Erdogans ruling AK Party had said last year the government was considering pulling out amid a row over how to curb growing violence against women.

Family, Labour and Social Policies Minister Zehra Zumrut said on Twitter that, The guarantee of womens rights are the current regulations in our bylaws, primarily our Constitution. Our judicial system is dynamic and strong enough to implement new regulations as needed. He did not provide a reason for this move.

Also Read: Justin Trudeau denounces Canadian spy trial in China

Also Read: India is an important partner for Indo-Pacific dynamics: US Defense Secy Austin after talks with Rajnath Singh

Nevertheless, the Conservatives are hostile to the principle of gender equality in the Istanbul Convention and see it as promoting homosexuality, given its principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. They endorse womens role in the private sphere and this move will please the Conservatives.

Critics of the withdrawal from the pact have said it would put Turkey further out of step with the values of the European Union, which it remains a candidate to join. They argue the deal, and legislation approved in its wake, need to be implemented more stringently. Mr. Erdogan had floated the idea of withdrawing from the treaty, known as the Istanbul Convention, for more than a year as he courted conservative and nationalist followers to shore up his flagging popularity.

Womens groups immediately announced a protest rally on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Erdogan has steadily concentrated more authority into his own hands over his 18 years in power. His latest actions, overnight between Friday and Saturday, came amid a flurry of attacks on political opponents that seem intended to solidify his political base. It has been predicted that 2300 femicides have occurred in Turkey since 2010.

However, Erdogan has condemned violence against women, including saying this month that his government would work to eradicate violence against women. But critics argue that his government has not done enough to prevent femicides and domestic violence. Turkey does not keep official statistics on femicide. On the other hand, World Health Organization data has shown 38% of women in Turkey are subject to violence from a partner in their lifetime, compared to about 25% in Europe.

Also Read: Taiwanese Apple and Tesla contractor reduces their workforce by almost half in China
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Its about to pour federal cash again in New Mexico, and without oversight the chances of wasteful spending are sky high.

The $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress last March included $150 billion for state, local and tribal governments. The federal aid was restricted to direct pandemic-related costs in an effort to prevent state and local governments from back-filling chronically underfunded programs like their retirement accounts.

The state was able to give a reasonable accounting for how it spent the bulk of its $1 billion of CARES Act money. So was Bernalillo County. The city of Albuquerque spent $120 million of its $150 million of CARES Act money on the shifting of already budgeted employees into COVID-response roles, according to a December news release.

And here we go again.

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On March 11, President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. It includes $350 billion for state and local governments and gives them much more discretion  for good and bad choices  in how they spend funds.

New Mexico officials estimate the state will receive $1.62 billion in ARP funds. The state Public Education Department expects $979 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. State localities are expected to receive $703 million, with Bernalillo County getting $132 million and the city of Albuquerque receiving $113.5 million.

The state plans to use $600 million of its $1.62 billion to pay off debts to the states unemployment insurance fund. Thats a very worthwhile expenditure. The fund dried up last year when as many as 150,000 people were receiving benefits, forcing the state to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars from the feds to keep our fund solvent. Shoring up the state unemployment fund will ensure those benefits will continue to be available while helping to prevent a spike in payroll taxes for struggling businesses emerging from the pandemic.

PED says 90% of its $979 million in ARP money will be allocated to school districts and charter schools to safely reopen schools. Of the remaining 10%, half of it  or $48.9 million  will be earmarked for interventions to address learning loss, $9.8 million will be used for summer enrichment programs, and $9.8 million will go to after-school programs. If it actually gets to the students, that will be money well spent.

New Mexico will still have over $1 billion from the ARP for economic development grants, road improvements and other projects still to be determined. Thats a lot of discretionary spending that needs to be accounted for.

Where the last round went

The state received $1 billion from the CARES Act last spring.

The Governors Office says about $600 million of that was spent on COVID-19 expenses like testing and contact tracing and PPE, housing support, costs to help schools with remote learning, unemployment benefits, and payroll for public health and safety employees. The remainder of the funding went out in grants for rental and mortgage assistance, direct payments to low-income families and $100 million of small business grants. Those were all critical programs as the pandemic tightened its grip.

The state also gave $178 million to local governments for their COVID-19 expenses and for small business grants.

In Albuquerque, Mayor Tim Keller says the city used most of its CARES Act funding to shift employees across 20 departments into roles directly related to the pandemic. Community center employees went from hosting summer camps to providing essential workers with child care options, senior center employees went from leading social events in senior centers to setting up a network that distributed 750,000 meals and conducted thousands of wellness checks, and economic development staff shifted into managing more than $10 million in grants and other support programs to help small businesses stay afloat. Using city workers for direct COVID response also helped avoid mass layoffs or furloughs that risked further economic effects, city spokesman Matt Ross says. Positions remained intact due to alternate funding, but revenues took a huge hit. The city also used nearly $3.5 million of CARES Act money for testing, expanded shelter and health care for the homeless, $2.5 million for direct aid to low-income families, including those with undocumented immigrants who were ineligible for federal stimulus checks, $2.3 million to assist remote learning with Wi-Fi hot spots, nearly $1 million to prevent families from being evicted during the pandemic, and funding for youth programming, city-run vaccination sites, distributing PPE to small businesses, keeping buses running and creating programs such as grants for restaurants to transition to outdoor dining.

The city also spent $11 million for a small-business grant program, which offered grants up to $10,000 for businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees. Bernalillo County created a similar $5 million small-business grant program with CARES Act funding. Both programs were quickly utilized by our struggling small businesses.

The city spent all $150 million of its CARES Act money by years end. Bernalillo County had spent $29.8 million of its $31.8 million of CARES Act funding by Dec. 31, with the remainder encumbered for medical and public health expenses. Grants for small businesses, behavioral health services and housing supports consumed $9.39 million of the countys CARES Act funds.

Now, Albuquerque is slated to get another $113.5 million in federal aid through the ARP while Bernalillo County is slated to get about $132 million. Again, the new money comes with few restrictions and less oversight.

The city plans to use its ARP funding to extend programs like child care for essential workers, senior meals and well-being checks, and other programs that are important pieces of the part of the COVID response but in danger of ending without this additional funding. The countys plans are also being nailed down.

With the strings not just relaxed but removed, it will be tempting to use at least some of the money to backfill lost revenue. But federal one-time money on this scale enables communities to undertake once-in-a-lifetime projects directly tied to pandemic suffering, such as extending high-speed internet and clean water to more homes.

Our state, city and school leaders need to think big, and it appears Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham understands that, recently telling The Associated Press: This is exactly the investment that we have always deserved and that we need now more than ever.

The governor is right  and thats why the money must be spent wisely, and as much as possible for lasting improvements, with every dollar accounted for. To waste it without result would add economic insult to the pandemics economic injury.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Anushka Sharma has been MIA from public life since the birth of her baby girl, Vamika. She does keep updating her fans and followers with life as a new parent, but we havent seen much of her for the last couple of months. Virat is now back to work and playing a series against England in Ahmedabad and Anushka and Vamika joined daddy for the matches.

Snapped by a fan today, Anushka and Virat were seen at the Ahmedabad airport with baby Vamika in Anushkas arms. The actress was snapped in her signature ripped denims, a camisole and shrug along with her white sneakers and high ponytail.

Looking at the couple, you can only feel more adoration for them as they both balance work and personal life with the arrival of their little one.
I had trouble articulating my feelings to my friend, a Black-Puerto Rican woman born and raised in Manhattan. Finally, I landed on something tangible: Would non-Asian Americans care less about this because massage workers are part of a marginalized subset of the community? My friend, who had never been to one, affirmed my fears: Arent they all sex parlors?

In response, I described to her the yearlong sabbatical I took from journalism to help open a restaurant, where I also worked as a server, spending a good portion of my cash tips on different Asian masseuses to soothe my aching muscles each week. Their job, like mine, was very physically demanding, helping client after client. With my rudimentary Mandarin, I could only exchange a few words: My back hurts a lot. Thats fine. Thank you. When I spoke to them in Chinese, I could sometimes sense a softening. But ultimately we remained alien to each other. Who gives these women massages at the end of their shifts? I wondered. It is low-paying, grueling work done mostly by immigrant women, often middle-aged, who, in my experience, have never exhibited an inclination to play the temptress.

In Asia, massage is legal, normal and necessary. In America, its stained by sexism, imperialism and sex trafficking. Now Ive learned from news reports that trafficking in illicit parlors pervades thousands of locations around the country. The masseuses earn only a fraction of the service fee; most of their money comes through tips, which is used to pay off debt.

Im a Gen Xer originally from an upper-middle-class Southern California suburb, a veteran journalist trained to compartmentalize feelings from fact. Im also a Chinese-American woman long inured to being accosted, assaulted and attacked in public, often with racist and sexual overtones. People dont expect me, an Asian-American female, to be angry. They expect me to embody the cliches: submissive, quiet, inconsequential, dutiful, exotic object of fetishization.

The day after the shootings, Pim Techamuanvivit, a Thai restaurateur in San Francisco, tweeted, I can tell you the best way to see the insidious prejudice against Asians, especially Asian women, is to come spend a service with my Thai host, then come back the next night to see my white host working the same position. The tweet seemed to suggest a social experiment of sorts, one where only minorities know the result.
Elsa Pataky has revealed that along with her husband and children, she has relocated to Sydney after years of living in the coastal NSW town of Byron Bay.

The Spanish actress, 44, told The Sydney Morning Herald that there are downsides to moving from the laid-back seaside enclave to the big smoke.

She said: 'It's a whole new experience... I can't dress down as much as I do in Byron Bay  we hope to get back there on the weekends.'

Moves: Elsa Pataky has revealed that along with her husband and children, she has relocated to Sydney after years of living in the coastal NSW town of Byron Bay. The couple are pictured at their Byron Bay home

Elsa added at the couple's three children will be schooled in the city for the time being.

The actress went on to say that living in Australia has been the right decision for the previously LA-based family.

'Byron has been beautiful. We made the right decision in 2014 to leave LA and come to Australia  it's been great for the kids to be in nature, enjoy animals and go horse riding,' she said.

Moves: The Spanish actress says there are downsides to relocating from the laid-back seaside enclave to the big smoke. 'I can't dress down as much as I do in Byron Bay  we hope to get back there on the weekends,' she said

Love it! The actress added that living in Australia has been a blessing. 'Byron has been beautiful. We made the right decision in 2014 to leave LA and come to Australia  it's been great for the kids to be in nature, enjoy animals and go horse riding,' she said

Luckily the move to Sydney is only temporary, while Elsa shoots her new movie Interceptor and Chris, 37, works on Thor: Love and Thunder.

Chris and Elsa moved to Bryon Bay with their children, daughter India Rose, eight, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, seven, in 2014.

They live in the suburb of Broken Head, a 20-minute drive from central Byron, in a mega-mansion estimated to be worth $30million.

Wow! They live in the suburb of Broken Head, a 20-minute drive from central Byron, in a mega-mansion estimated to be worth $30million. Pictured: Ab Indigenous mural inside the home

Nice! The property features a 50-metre infinity pool (pictured), two bars and a gym complex including steam, sauna and massage rooms

They spent years renovating their home, which sits on 4.2 hectares of land, with the help of Sydney-based MCK Architects - but the development faced some resistance from locals, who compared it to a multi-storey car park or shopping centre.

The property features a 50-metre infinity pool, a large Indigenous mural, two bars and a gym complex including steam, sauna and massage rooms.

The home's 50-metre pool alone is estimated to have cost at least $400,000, and the enormous indoor mural could be worth as much as $100,000.
The Outlook is today's look ahead at the week's weather, its impact on the Berkshires and beyond. Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com.
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Thousands more homes could be flooded in the next two days as enough water spills out of the Warragamba Dam to fill Sydney Harbour every day.

Sydney's biggest water catchment is overflowing as heavy rain hits the city causing widespread flooding, cutting off roads and towns in low-lying areas.

The dam, which supplies water to more than 3.7 million people in Sydney and the lower Blue Mountains, is having its first significant overflow in 30 years.

Water spilling from the dam in Sydney's south-west began flowing into the Nepean-Hawkesbury River catchment, now on track to see flood levels even worse than the catastrophic 1961 disaster.

Rising floodwaters in Sydney's west and north-west are now higher than the disaster 60 years ago, where residents in low-lying areas were ordered to leave their homes on Sunday night before floodwaters peak.

Warragamba Dam (pictured on Sunday) has began overflowing at the rate of 450 gigalitres a day, which would almost fill most of Sydney Harbour

The Warragamba spillway is releasing water at the rapid rate of 450 gigalitres a day, almost enough to fill the size of Sydney Harbour which hold 500GL.

That rate could increase as inflows to the dam storage continue to rise.

Water NSW modelling suggests 1500GL of water will flow into Warragamba in coming days, about 75 per cent of the dams storage capacity.

Flow data up to Sunday morning indicates that half of the floodwaters in the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system downstream of the dam were from the dam.

Prone to rapid and deep flooding, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley is the highest single flood exposure in NSW, if not the nation, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

Residents in low-lying areas around the Hawkesbury River have until Monday morning to evacuate. Pictured are residents keeping a close eye on floodwaters at the new Windsor bridge

It has a series of natural chokepoints that create a 'bathtub effect', unlike most river valleys which usually widen as they approach the sea.

Narrow sandstone gorges between Sackville and Brooklyn in the Hawkesbury River create natural choke points.

'The floodwaters from the five major tributaries back up and rise rapidly, causing deep and widespread flooding across the floodplain,' a NSW Government fact sheet states.

'It is much like a bathtub with five taps turned on, but only one plug hole to let the water out.'

The catastrophic November 1961 floods occurred soon after Warragamba Dam was built, where the Hawkesbury River reached around 14.5m above normal river height at Windsor.

But the largest flood since European settlement was in June 1867 where the river reached 19m above normal river height.

Residents in parts of Penrith were forced to evacuate before the Nepean River reached its peak. Pictured is a submerged intersection on Penrith on Sunday

Warragamaba Dam (pictured) has experienced one of its biggest overflow spills in 30 years

Residents walk past a swollen river near Warragamba Dam in Sydney on Sunday after the city received a 110mm soaking within 24 hours

The latest dam spill occurred amid the NSW Government's controversial plans to raise the dam wall by at least 14m to 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.

Western Sydney University water expert Ian Wright said the rapid urbanisation of the area around the dam left surrounding residents on unsteady ground.

'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.

Flood expert Jamie Pittock is less concerned about the Warragamba Dam spilling as he is about tributary rivers downstream from it.

He was most concerned about Penrith, Richmond and Windsor, as the dam reached full capacity on Saturday.

'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.'
BROOKFIELD, Wis.  Senator Ron Johnson incited widespread outrage when he said recently that he would have been more afraid of the rioters who rampaged the Capitol on Jan. 6 had they been members of Black Lives Matter and antifa.

But his revealing and incendiary comment, which quickly prompted accusations of racism, came as no surprise to those who have followed Mr. Johnsons career in Washington or back home in Wisconsin. He has become the Republican Partys foremost amplifier of conspiracy theories and disinformation now that Donald Trump himself is banned from social media and largely avoiding appearances on cable television.

Mr. Johnson is an all-access purveyor of misinformation on serious issues such as the pandemic and the legitimacy of American democracy, as well as invoking the etymology of Greenland as a way to downplay the effects of climate change.

In recent months, Mr. Johnson has sown doubts about President Bidens victory, argued that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was not an armed insurrection, promoted discredited Covid-19 treatments, said he saw no need to get the coronavirus vaccine himself and claimed that the United States could have ended the pandemic a year ago with the development of a generic drug if the government had wanted that to happen.
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Bruce Willis was showered with loving tributes for his 66th birthday on Friday by his wife, Emma Heming Willis, and his ex-wife, Demi Moore, whom he divorced more than two decades ago.

And now, just two days on, the Die Hard star is feeling the love from Heming Willis once again as the couple celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary.

'Boy I sure do love this guy to the moon and back! Even though there's been times I would have loved to take him to the moon, drop him off, and come back solo!' the model, 42, joked in the caption of a photo showing the pair snuggled up to one another.

Sweet sentiments: Emma Heming Willis shared a loving tribute to her husband, Bruce Willis, to mark their 12th wedding anniversary on Sunday, March 21

In the photo, Heming Willis is looking adoringly up at her husband -- like she's whispering a sweet sentiment into his ear -- during their passionate embrace, while the legendary action star flashes his trademark smile.

'That's what 12 years of marriage looks like, right?' she continued in reference to the image and their road to 12 years of marriage.

'We've had our fair share of floating-on-air ups and disheartening downs. But he is my person. There's no one I would want to go through this crazy thing called marriage with than with him.'

She added, 'He's my family, he's given me the family (and more) I dreamed of and I love him to my core. Happy 12th anniversary my sweet,' along with the hashtags: #thickandthin #loveofmylife (photo @belathee).'

Family: The couples two daughter: Evelyn, eight, and Mabel, six, are also paying tribute to their parents on their anniversary by giving them a couple of letters addressed to 'mom and dad'

It appears the couple's two young daughters: Evelyn, eight, and Mabel, six, are also spreading the love by paying tribute to their parents on their big day.

Heming Willis posted a photo of three letters she received on her Instagram Story -- two of which were addressed to 'mom and dad,' while another was made out to 'darling Emma.'

'Celebrating a 12 year wedding anniversary today,' she captioned the snap.

Birthday boy: On Friday, Heming Willis , 42, posted a touching tribute to her husband on his 66th birthday with a photo of the couple sharing a sweet kiss

Two days earlier, Heming Willis posted a touching tribute to her husband on his 66th birthday with a photo of the couple sharing a sweet kiss.

'Happy Birthday to the greatest love of my life. This guy walked into my life has turned it upside and inside out every day since its exhausting,' she began in the caption.

'He's the greatest man I know and I thank my lucky stars for him every single day...'

Blended family: Willis' ex-wife, Demi Moore, also sent a sweet message to the Die Hard star

The Pulp Fiction actor's first wife, Moore, with whom he was married to for nearly 13 years and remain on good terms, sent her well wishes on his birthday.

'Happy birthday, BW! You are a one of a kind! So thankful to share these three beautiful girls and for our blended families,' she wrote.

Her photo featured the former couple in the front, standing on a fallen tree, with several other members of their blended family.

Willis and Moore were married in November 1987, but eventually announced their separation in June 1998. Their divorce would be finalized in October 2000.

Family matters: Willis and Heming Willis have two daughters: Evelyn, eight, and Mabel, six

Willis would find love again with Heming that culminated with their wedding in Turks and Caicos on March 21, 2009 -- where guests included his three daughters: Rumer, Scout and Tallulah that he shares with Moore, as well as Moore herself and her then husband, Ashton Kutcher.

The ceremony was not legally binding, so the couple wed again in a civil ceremony in Beverly Hills six days later.

In honor of their 10th anniversary, the pair renewed their vows in an intimate ceremony at the same place where they originally tied the knot in Turks and Caicos, according to E! News.
KABUL, Afghanistan  Civilians in Afghanistans capital live in constant fear of being killed in a targeted attack as the war with the Taliban and other extremist groups drags on. But at night, a different war is being fought  against criminals, and packs of stray dogs stalking the streets.

The shop owners in one Kabul neighborhood speak of a shadow government.

There are dogs and armed thieves who make peoples lives here hell, said Fahim Sultani, a local elder who works from the empty dusty hulk of the run-down Aryub Cinema in the northwest part of the city, which he has converted into a makeshift office.

As Afghanistans economy has been battered by the coronavirus, crime has flourished in Kabul. Just after the lockdown last year, the dogs on Mr. Sultani's street, and a handful of security guards, watched what has become a staple in the city: An ice cream vendor in front of the theater was shot at and robbed, he said.

The stray dogs roam throughout the city and are a strange and sad fixture of Kabul, known for snapping, snarling and attacking people passing by, mostly those just trying to eke out a living. By day, the animals rest, conserving their energy until twilight, when they, along with the criminals, command the streets.
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Minnesota students will once again be taking standardized tests this spring after a one-year hiatus.

But the logistics of administering the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, or MCAs, during the pandemic have raised new questions about the results and how they might be used. The tests must be given in person, presenting challenges for students who are still in distance learning. And if a large number of students opt out for health and safety reasons, the results could provide a less accurate snapshot of student proficiency.

Still, advocates of the tests say they offer a chance to identify the learning loss that students experienced over the last year, even without the direct comparison from 2020.

"The tests are meant to serve primarily as a systems check and to understand how students are doing overall," said Bobbie Burnham, an assistant commissioner with the Minnesota Department of Education. That's especially critical this year, she said, when learning has been so disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last spring, when the pandemic forced schools into distance learning, the federal government waived required standardized testing. This year, however, the Biden administration is once again mandating the tests, though states have additional flexibility.

The Minnesota Department of Education is considering applying for a federal accountability waiver, which, if granted, would mean that MCA results would not be used as a part of the equation to identify low-performing schools.

The state is also extending the timeline for testing, allowing schools to administer the tests until May 21.

The extra flexibility does not include remote options, however. The state Department of Education said it would be challenging to securely administer a remote test and results from in-person and remote tests couldn't be combined for a districtwide picture of student performance.

That means students in distance learning will still be expected to take the test inside a school building  or opt out altogether  and schools must provide transportation and meals for those days.

Story continues

Pandemic effect on dataEven before the pandemic, a growing number of Minnesota students were choosing to sit out the MCAs, due in part to parent concerns about the overtesting of students.

"Communication with families is more important than it ever has been with testing," said Michelle DeMers, the assessment coordinator for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district. The district has focused on asking parents about how this year has gone, particularly those with children in distance learning, and making sure information about the tests is available in multiple languages.

Leaders in Minneapolis schools are also focused on making sure parents understand the options, said Eric Moore, the district's senior accountability, research and equity officer. At a school board meeting in February, Moore said about 50% of families of English language learners in the district opted out of the Access test, which is designed to measure progress toward state standards for English language development.

In the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district, however, most families of English language learners who were enrolled in distance learning decided to bring their child to school for the Access test, DeMers said. She said that could be an indication of what distance learning families will decide for the MCA tests, though she expects more students to refuse the test compared with a pre-pandemic year.

In the South Washington County school district, fewer than 10% of the 2,800 students who've chosen to remain in distance learning plan to return to a school building to take the MCAs, said John Lindner, the district's director of research, evaluation and assessment.

"Because we have such a large number of students in distance learning, we really don't plan to use the MCA results for much this year because we would be missing so much data," Lindner said. Results won't be used for any high-stakes purpose, but rather as a broad look at how students are meeting grade-level requirements, he said.

About one-third of elementary and middle-school families who remained in distance learning in Wayzata schools have said they will opt their students out of the MCAs for COVID-19 related reasons, said Stacey Lackner, the director of research and evaluation for Wayzata schools.

That district has decided not to use the results for evaluating individual schools because of the learning model variations among students.

"The amount of live, in-person instruction differs between students even within the same school," Lackner said. But the results can show students and their parents the degree to which they learned grade-level standards, she said.

"We all understand that this is a different year and we need to look at our data differently," Lackner said. "That's actually an opportunity for us to say: 'How are we using the state test results and how should we be looking at them, even if we weren't in a pandemic?' "

Identifying student needsBurnham, with the Minnesota Department of Education, said that the state expects the data to be affected by the number of students who opt out of the test. However, she said, any information about student learning "is absolutely critical in a year where we know the educational experience has been disrupted."

Leaders of Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers union, oppose the test and say it takes away valuable in-person instruction time. President Denise Specht said while she supports the state pursuing the accountability waiver, the tests still add stress for students and teachers.

"We should be spending this time building relationships with students and figuring out what their needs are from a social, emotional and academic level," Specht said. "The MCAs just aren't meant to do that."

Paula Cole, the executive director of the nonprofit Educators for Excellence, said the discussion around standardized testing highlights the need for assessments that measure individual student growth. She said the MCAs will provide helpful data points for schools, "but we will need more than that to understand what a kid needs."

Many districts are planning to use other assessments and surveys to better understand the needs of their students and the learning experience over the past year.

"Would it have been easier for all of us to have another waiver and not do the [MCAs] this year? Of course," DeMers said. "It's a lot of work for everybody, but this is what we were told we needed to do."

Mara Klecker  612-673-4440
March 21, 2021

The MoA Week In Review - OT 2021-023

Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:

> [W]e do express our concern at the UKs decision to increase its nuclear weapons arsenal, which is contrary to its obligations under Article VI of the NPT. It could have a damaging impact on global stability and efforts to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons. At a time when nuclear weapon risks are higher than they have been since the Cold War, investments in disarmament and arms control is the best way to strengthen the stability and reduce nuclear danger. <

> Suffice to say, President Joe Biden had given an impression that his era would be different. He held out a raft of promises that diplomacy is back at the centre of US foreign policy. By doing so, Biden won enormous credit with world capitals. Yet, before the Biden presidency reaches the 100-day mark, the new administration is busy weaponising sanctions and acting like a bully on the world stage. <

Other issues:

Covid 19:

One year on and the CDC still does not understand aerosol transmission.

Censorship:

If your data is in the 'cloud' they have it:

Bitcoins Are Prosecution Futures:

Illegal Content and the Blockchain - Bruce Schneider

Use as open thread ...

Posted by b on March 21, 2021 at 13:12 UTC | Permalink

Comments

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The Equality Act aims to curb unjust discrimination of some groups by unjustly discriminating against other groups. It directly undermines the ability of individuals and organizations to contribute to the public square unless they withhold their convictions that would (if it is passed into law) would be considered discriminatory.

The above statement is adapted from a recent statement by the U.S. Bishops on the Equality Act. In our own state, Congressmen John Katko and Tom Reed both voted in favor of the Equality Act/H.R. 5 on Feb 25. If you did not realize this, please share your feedback with them. Please also contact the offices of Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to share your feedback with them, as the Senate will shortly vote on this unequal proposal. Equality is necessary and vital, but this act is an unequal intrusion on religious liberty and personal freedom.
British officials are drawing up contingency plans in case the government needs to step in to save Sanjeev Guptas Liberty Steel from collapse, amid fears that thousands of jobs in a critically important industry are at risk.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and other senior officials have been holding intensive discussions with the company in recent days, aiming to secure the future of the steelmaker, according to people familiar with the matter.

Several potential contingency plans are under consideration, including one that would involve the government running the company with state funds while a potential buyer is sought, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions havent been made public. No decisions have been made, the company remains solvent and hasnt asked for any specific help.

The future of Liberty Steel has been put in doubt by the unraveling of Greensill Capital, which is the biggest lender to Guptas GFG Alliance, of which Liberty is a part. GFG employs about 5,500 people at more than 30 sites in the U.K., including almost 3,000 at Liberty.

The government is closely monitoring developments around Liberty Steel and continues to engage closely with the company, the broader U.K. steel industry and trade unions," a government spokesperson said in a statement by email. Recognising that the pandemic has had a significant impact across the whole U.K. economy, including steel producers, our unprecedented package of support is available to the sector to protect jobs and ensure that producers have the right support during this challenging time."

A spokesman for GFG declined to comment.

Kwarteng recently said that while the government may be prepared to intervene, he cant anticipate or guarantee any forms of support. The company management is drawing up its own potential solutions.

Even so, ministers are clear that state funds may need to be deployed to secure a company thats strategically and politically important for Boris Johnsons government. In 2019, ministers stepped in to support British Steel using state funds to keep operations going at a cost of 600 million pounds. The Financial Times earlier reported that ministers were considering repeating this policy with Liberty.

One of the reasons ministers want Liberty to continue operations is to avoid shutting down the steel furnaces -- because restarting them is a long and expensive process.

The British aerospace industry has been concerned over potential exposure to any difficulties that would affect Liberty, which is one of its specialist suppliers. Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc said this month it had been exploring alternative longer-term options in case it needs to source steel from other suppliers.

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Los Angeles, March 21 : American actress Mandy Moore took to Instagram to celebrate the one-month anniversary of the birth of her son, August Harrison, who she shares with her husband Taylor Goldsmith.

She posted a video of her newly born baby on Saturday night. In the video, August could be seen lying on his stomach, away from the camera, as his 36-year-old mother cheers him on with a Roger Miller tune playing in the background.

"A little tummy time and some Roger Miller on his one month birthday. We (heart emoji) you, Gus!!!", she captioned the video.

Moore and Goldsmith welcomed their first child on February 20. Recently, Moore spoke about the experience of her first child birth.

"I was in my own head, doing my own thing. I could hear people--I could hear suggestions and sometimes agree with them. It was such an insular experience, which sounds silly that I guess I didn't really imagine it. I felt like it was going to be somewhat more participatory with other people, that I would see their faces and be awake and alert and like, listen to their suggestions," she had said.
Samsung built up the Galaxy A series as a popular line of premium mid-rangers. This week we saw three new additions, but to appreciate how far the series has come we need to look back to the beginning. We already examined the very beginning of the line, the Galaxy Alpha, which wanted to the sleek and stylish instead of a features before looks style flagship like the Galaxy S5.

We're not going to cover every single A-series phone, instead we'll try to check in on the more interesting models. We will see that they refined the Alpha formula - that was a bit more style over substance for most Samsung fans, so the company shifted the balance towards more value.

We see that in the Samsung Galaxy A7. At just 6.3mm thick, it was thinner than even the Alpha (6.7mm). Its metal frame and 5.5" 1080p Super AMOLED display made it stand out against run of the mill mid-rangers. In our review we described it as an affordable alternative to the Galaxy Note4 for those who had no need for a stylus. Getting compared to a Note means that the A7 really managed to sell its premium image.



Samsung Galaxy A7  Samsung Galaxy A8

However, it was the Galaxy A8 that was Samsung's thinnest smartphone up to that point - it measured only 5.9 mm thick. It had an expansive 5.7" Super AMOLED display, as large as the Galaxy Note of that year, yet its thin metal frame was quite light. It may have lacked an S Pen, but it was more affordable than the Galaxy Note5 and had a microSD slot, which the Note5 did not.

Yes, Samsung has been yanking then restoring the memory card slot on Notes for over 5 years now.

The following year added an extra step to the A-series ladder, the Galaxy A9 (2016). It was the biggest premium smartphone that Samsung had made up to that point - its massive 6.0" screen dwarfed even the Galaxy Note5 (5.7").

There was a Pro model, which upgraded the camera from 13MP to 16MP and the battery from 4,000 mAh to 5,000mAh. Both versions were powered by the Snapdragon 652, which was one of the first chipsets to feature the beefy Cortex-A72 CPU core.



Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)  Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (2016)

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) had to settle for reusing the Snapdragon 615 chipset of the 2015 model, though the versions in the Exynos got a different chip. We can spend several paragraphs detailing the differences between the 20nm Exynos 5430 Octa on the old phone and the 28nm Exynos 7580 Octa on the new model, but for the purposes of this article suffice it to say that it was not a straight upgrade.

Samsung had a target with the Galaxy A7 (2016) - a particularly popular group of 5.5" phones from Chinese brands that were eating into its market share. We think that explains most of its strangeness, it was built to a particular set of features.

The Galaxy A8 (2016) was a closer to a high-end device, however. It used the Exynos 7420, the flagship chipset of the Galaxy S6 from the year before. It had a large 5.7" Super AMOLED display like the original A8, though other than the chipset the upgrades were fairly minor.



Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)  Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016)

The following year Samsung shaved the top off the A-series - the Galaxy A7 (2017) was as high as it got. It had a 5.7" Super AMOLED display and an Exynos 7880 chipset. And while that might sound like an upgrade over the 7420, it is not. It had only Cortex-A53 cores, so this was not a suitable replacement for the A8 (2016).

This brings us to the 2018 series, which scored a couple of camera firsts. The Galaxy A9 (2018) was the first phone in the world with four cameras on the back: 24MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 10 MP 2x telephoto and 5MP depth sensor.

You can check out camera samples from our review. Image quality had issues, the main camera never quite delivered sharp images with well-balanced colors. Still, if you wanted a telephoto camera on a Samsung in 2018 your choices were a Galaxy S9+, a Note8 or an A9.

There was also the Galaxy A8s (which sold as A9 Pro in South Korea), but we'll skip this one over because of its limited availability. We will note that the A8s was Samsung's first phone with a punch hole selfie camera, which became a staple of the S series a few months later. Around this time there were a few China-only A-series phones, but we don't want to get off track.



Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)  Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018)  Samsung Galaxy A8s

The Galaxy A7 (2018) dropped the telephoto lens, but a triple camera on a mid-ranger was still fairly rare back then. Also, this one had an Exynos 7885 chipset - despite a model number that is only 5 points away from A7 (2017)'s chipset, this one packed a couple of high-performance Cortex-A73 cores and upgraded to next-generation Mali-G71 GPU. It was a chipset much more befitting a high end phone.

Next is one of the more unique entries of the Galaxy A series - the Galaxy A80 from early 2019. It is to date the only Samsung to use a flip up camera. The flip up mechanism was home to Samsung's first 48MP camera, which was joined by an 8MP ultrawide shooter and a 3D Time of Flight sensor.

The 6.7" Super AMOLED panel was dubbed a "New Infinity Display" by virtue of not having an irksome notch or punch hole. Also, this was one of the first Samsungs to support 25W fast charging (the battery had 3,700 mAh capacity).



Samsung Galaxy A80  Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

We can't finish our overview without mentioning the Galaxy A90 5G. It was the first A-phone with 5G connectivity, something the series is struggling with in 2021 (two of the three new A-phones this week were 4G). Also, this one was powered by the Snapdragon 855. Not bad for a mid-ranger, huh?

The A-series has produced some unique devices over the years, but also a few less impressive examples. We think that the 2018 and 2019 models is when the series found its footing by showing its experimental nature.

We know we rushed through half a decade of phone launches - this was just an overview. Some of these phones deserve a dedicated Flashback article, we certainly want to revisit the Galaxy A80 again (and we want to see a sequel even more). Which one is your favorite A-series phone?
Amroha : , March 21 (IANS) Taking a cue from Gurleen Chawla of Jhansi who found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat', more and more farmers in western Uttar Pradesh are giving up on farming of traditional crops and opting for strawberry farming.

These farmers are giving up on sugarcane farming, mainly because of delayed payments from sugar mills.

Prahlad Kumar and Shishupal are sugarcane farmers on the Amroha-Meerut border. They have been into sugarcane farming since generations but this year, both have decided to opt for strawberry farming.

"One of my relatives started strawberry farming in Muzaffarnagar on a one-bigha plot on an experimental basis last year. His crop was good and his income almost doubled. He has given us saplings and we are also going to start strawberry farming," said Shishupal.

A major problem that farmers in this region are facing is the lack of availability of strawberry saplings.

A group of farmers have purchased saplings from Himachal Pradesh at Rs 2 per plant.

"Seeing the increasing popularity of the fruit, several youths are now trying to start the business of getting saplings and selling them here from Mahabaleshwar and Himachal Pradesh. Some are already trying to arrange for the sale of strawberries in bigger cities. This means income for all -- farmers, sapling sellers and fruit buyers," he said.

An added boon for sugarcane farmers is the fact that strawberries can also be grown along with the traditional crops.

Strawberry is sown in December and gives fruits by March. Sugarcane can then be sown after March.

Besides, strawberry brings instant income while sugarcane farmers have to wait endlessly for sugar mills to clear their payments.
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Chennai, March 21 : The BJP on Sunday accused the previous Congress government under V. Narayanasamy of having cheated the people of Puducherry on the water and power supply rates, among other promises.

BJP lawmaker and Puducherry in charge Rajeev Chandrashekhar and state General Secretary Embalam R. Selvam told media persons that the Central government had allocated Rs 15,000 crore for Puducherry but the state government failed to transfer it to the people of the state.

The BJP, in its charge sheet against the Narayanasamy government, said that while its electoral promise was reduction in power tariffs, the rates were increased. In a similar vein, the water tariff rates were also increased instead of being reduced.

Chandrashekhar also said that the Narayanasamy government had promised 30 kg of rice and 5 kg of wheat for the people of Puduchery but failed to honour it.

The BJP leaders also alleged that the Special Component Funds meant for the SC community were not utilised properly and also accused of the government in not honouring the promise of 50 per cent government quota seats in medical and engineering and committing irregularities in admission.

The BJP, which is expecting to grab power in the UT, riding on its alliance with the AIADMK, the AINRC and the PMK, is on a high decibel campaign against the Congress-DMK combine.
Palmdale, CA (93550)

Today

Sunny skies with gusty winds developing later in the day. Hot. High near 100F. SW winds at 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 68F. SW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph.
Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said he has tested positive for coronavirus and urged people not to let their guard down.

Taking to Twitter, Thackeray said, "On having mild symptoms of COVID-19. I had myself tested and I am COVID-19 positive."

The guardian minister of Mumbai suburbs also requested people who came in contact with him to get themselves tested.

"I urge everyone to realise that it is extremely important not to let your guard down. Please follow COVID-19 protocols and stay safe," the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said.

With the detection of 3,062 cases on Friday, Mumbai reported its highest single-day spike ever.

The city has recorded 3,55,897 COVID-19 cases and 11,565 casualties so far.

Also Read: COVID trajectory rising in 8 states as India records over 40,000 new cases, highest in 111 days

Also Read: 20 states implement ease of doing business reforms; get nod to borrow additional Rs 39,521 cr
Mojo Vision could be the first manufacturer to release a smart contact lens. Some rumors claimed that it could be unveiled sooner than expected. However, the tech firm confirmed that the new technology could still take a few years before it is shipped to other parts of the world.

On the other hand, Mojo Vision claimed that its upcoming smart contact lens could have 14,000 pixels per inch. This feature will be integrated into a tiny display, which has the size of a sand grain. The company added that the display would beam directly into the fovea of the user's eyes.

Forbes explained that your fovea is the tiny part of your eye's center. It also has the greatest concentration of retinal cones, which are your natural photoreceptors. Here are other features and capabilities that could be offered by the upcoming smart contact lens to give you more idea.

Mojo Vision smart contact lens' possible features

The contact lens manufacturer said that its upcoming product could pack some features and other capabilities that are not available on the normal eye specs yet. One of these is the 70,000 pixels per half-millimeter display.

Also Read: Carl Pei's Nothing True Wireless Earbuds: Here's What to Expect From Concept 1

On the other hand, Mojo Vision said that it could integrate the following capabilities:

Computer vision

Augmented reality

Thin-film solid-state battery

High-end micro-LED display

Inertial measurement

Broadband radio for communications, sensors

However, the contact lens manufacturer didn't provide any specific method that would help integrate these features in a tiny contact lens. Experts and other analysts explained that if Mojo Vision wants to achieve a smart contact lens that has all these features, the need to develop an external compute pack.

Is it better than Apple's alleged AR eye specs?

Right now, it is hard to conclude whether Mojo Vision's upcoming product will be better than Apple's alleged AR eye specs since none of the companies have released their products yet for testing. However, Kuo, a popular Apple analyst, claimed that the company's alleged contact lens might not have independent computing power and storage.

On the other hand, MacRumors reported that some speculations also claimed that it could arrive in 2030, which is one advantage that the manufacturer could have against Mojo Vision.

For more news updates about Mojo Vision's smart contact lens and other upcoming AR eye specs, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Razer Enters Audio Eyewear with Anzu Smart Glasses: It's Not Just for Gamers

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The deranged sex addict who assassinated 9 people came at the perfect time to divert media attention from the border crisis and President Bidens accelerating physical and mental deterioration. The ridiculous assertion that by calling Covid 19 a China virus or the Wuhan virus President Trump has encouraged bias against Asian Americans finally had some purported victims  though there is no evidence that the shooter had any bias against people of Asian descent. Rather, he apparently blamed and shot sex workers, 6 of whom happened to be Asian, for his inability to stop paying women in massage parlor brothels for sex.

YouTube screengrab

Tracy Quan, a retired escort who has written novels about a call girl, called it a hate crime against sex workers and explained:

Despite my Asian background, I find his disavowal of racism strangely credible. Like a lot of people, Ive experienced bias and ethnic profiling, but Ive also been a sex worker, and I have encountered more prejudice, more name-calling, more fear, anger and hostility in connection with my sex work than regarding my race.

The propagandists at our major media and President Biden himself are not concerned about actual evidence in their fury to persuade Asian Americans to hate Trump and Republicans. They fear the growing realization among Asian American voters that it is progressives who behave toward them with racism. Progressives at major American universities explicitly discriminate against Asian applicants to prestige schools. Standardized tests like the SATs are being discarded because too many Asian kids work hard at their studies and excel. This has started to turn members of Americas fastest-growing ethnic minority against them.

Academic diligence, which many Asian immigrants embrace as the means of economic advancement, is now even being demonized as white supremacist thinking by the Black Vice President of the San Francisco school board.

A friend emailed yesterday:

I dont get this idea that if you criticize the conduct of a country such as China Youre out of bounds because lunatics will attack Chinese Americans. There are Americans from almost every nation on Earth. Are we to refrain from criticizing all other nations who have American citizens?

There is a trap here for leftists. Many Jew haters piously claim that they criticize Israel on grounds they apply to no other nation on earth, but claim they are not anti-Semites. And many progs demonize Trump supporters, while seeking to erase from memory the 2017 attempted mass assassination of the GOP caucus in the House of Representatives by James Hodgkinson, a Bernie bro and email correspondent with Senator Dick Durbin.

All this rational thought counts for nothing among progressives even at the supposedly elevated intellectual level of post-graduate education. William Jacobson, an adjunct professor of law at Cornell University writes of a shocking incident at the University of San Diego Law School, where a professor is being accused and denounced, even by the dean, for inciting bigotry merely for criticizing China.

U. San Diego Law Prof. Thomas Smith Harshly Criticized Chinese Govt, Now Faces False Claims Of Ethnic Bias In a personal blog post, Professor Thomas Smith used colorful language to attack the Chinese government over the coronavirus, but student activists falsely claim he disparaged Chinese people as an ethnic group, and Dean Robert Schapiro has denounced the professor, who now faces law school and university bias investigations. Thomas Smith, a corporate law professor at University of San Diego Law School since 1992, is the target of a malicious and dishonest smear campaign by students falsely claiming that in a blog post Prof. Smith disparaged the Chinese ethnic group. In fact, any plain reading of the post demonstrates that the criticisms were directed at the Chinese government, not at Chinese people as an ethnic group. Nonetheless, Dean Robert Schapiro disgracefully denounced Prof. Smith and an investigation has been launched by the law school and university into alleged violation of anti-bias rules.

I urge you to read the whole thing, and as you do, recall that law schools are supposed to teach students how to read texts and reason closely.

The recent debacle in Anchorage, where Chinese diplomats pantsed the American delegation to the bilateral hi-level meeting, was in part due to the self-sabotage of all these claims that Americans are racist towards Chinese people because of criticism of Chinas behavior in its spreading of Covid to the world.

The Biden administration, in other words, is sacrificing important diplomatic gains, turning them into losses, because of its eagerness to score bogus political points against Republicans and conservatives. This is disgraceful. On top of the disgrace of fanning the flames of racial hatred for political advantage.
A YOUNG Kilmallock man who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs is putting money in criminals pockets, said a judge.

Martin Ward, aged 25, of Deebert Park, Kilmallock pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis at the local court. Inspector Pat Brennan said gardai carried out a search under warrant of Mr Wards home on December 19, 2019.

Cannabis valued at 260 was recovered, said Insp Brennan, who added that Mr Ward has three previous convictions.

Kevin Power, solicitor for Mr Ward, said his client was in a very bad car accident in 2012. He suffered serious injuries. He effectively turned to cannabis as a painkiller. He hasnt come to the attention of gardai since this incident, said Mr Power.

Judge Patricia Harney said something led gardai to Mr Wards door that night.

He cant keep doing it. I cant give him carte blanche. He is funding the murder and rampages we are seeing on the streets, said Judge Harney. Mr Power said Mr Ward has stopped using cannabis.

He is putting money in criminals pockets. He cant continue to flagrantly break the law. If he comes before me again he is facing a prison sentence, said Judge Harney, who imposed a 150 fine.
Sanaa, March 21 : Yemen's Houthi militia have said three tear gas bombs fired by their riot forces caused the deadly fire at a migrant detention centre in Sanaa earlier this month that claimed the lives of at least 45 African migrants.

There were a total of 862 African migrants in the seven-ward migrant detention centre, and the incident took place on March 7 in Ward No. 1, which hosted 358 of the detained African migrants, according to the Houthi-controlled Interior Ministry's statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV on Saturday.

The Ministry said riot forces were called in to quash a riot a hunger strike staged by the detained African migrants.

"The riot forces then fired three tear gas bombs. One of them fell on a mattress that caused the fire and killed 45 African migrants," the Houthi-controlled authorities said, adding that they have arrested 11 soldiers of the riot forces for causing the accident.

Last week, the Houthi authorities said they buried 43 victims in a mass grave.

The International Organization of Migrants (IOM) has urged the Houthi authorities to allow its staff in Sanaa to access the centre and the hospitals to provide health assistance to the fire victims.

The Yemen government has accused the Houthi rebels of committing "a genocide against the African migrants in the seized Sanaa", calling for an international probe into the fatal fire in the detention centre.

According to the IOM, Yemen remains a transit country for tens of thousands of migrants traveling between the Horn of Africa and Saudi Arabia despite years of war.

The Organization estimated that the number of migrants arriving in Yemen fell from more than 138,000 in 2019 to just more than 37,500 in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014 when Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.
One year ago today, an article of mine at American Thinker became a flashpoint of mainstream media coverage and criticism. Before two weeks had passed, my article was referenced, including with links to it and me in four major articles at the Washington Post, two in the New York Times (one of them on page one  which I exposed as Fake News here), Politico, Vanity Fair, Buzzfeed, New York Magazine, and others. Many of these articles were syndicated and went around the world.

The reason for all this fuss was that I was the first one in the national media to challenge the media-driven image of Dr. Anthony Fauci as a sage and a savior, a man whose commands to shut down the nation must be obeyed. You see, I had studied Faucis handling of AIDS starting almost 40 years ago, and I knew how he operated, and that he was far from politically neutral. The constant media adoration at the start of the fifteen days to bend the curve got to me, and I titled my article: Anthony Fauci, the NIH's face of the coronavirus, is a Deep-State Hillary Clintonloving stooge.

In the first article that took me on in the Washington Post (March 26, 2020), national political reporter and former Rhodes Scholar Isaac Stanley-Becker confirmed the impact of my American Thinker item:

Chowkas piece has generated nearly 20,000 interactions on Facebook alone  more than the typical well performing story in the mainstream media.

That WaPo story was only the beginning, however. It was followed in quick succession by three more in Bezoss outlet and by two in the New York Times. Subsequent articles implied that I should be blamed for alleged threats to Dr. Fauci and his reported need for federal security to protect him and his family. Nothing that I wrote, needless to say, could have been construed as threatening or advocating that any violence be directed at Dr. Fauci or at anyone else, for that matter.

Because the Post, the Times, and the other publications that linked to and attacked yours truly are among the highest trafficked sites online, collectively they generated tens of thousands of reader comments  most of them hostile to American Thinker and me. The blowback was incredible and included threats of harm that arrived via Twitter and email.

The gist of my article was about how Fauci (and his colleagues in government and private industry, aka Big Pharma) was an enthusiastic advocate of throwing more federal money at the problem of AIDS. He oversaw a government war on HIV-AIDS that quickly and permanently ballooned into an unprecedented four decades-long boondoggle that has cost taxpayers more than $600 billion. That sum dwarfs the amount spent per death for other major maladies. The death toll from AIDS in the U.S. over four decades is about 700,000 people  or an average of roughly 16,000 deaths a year.

I later noted that, according to an NIH Funding document, the totals of federal research in 2019 spent on 292 diseases are listed along with the actual 2017 death toll (the last year available) from each of those conditions. The results are shocking.

Cancer $6.52 billion 680,869 deaths

Diabetes $1.09 billion 270,707 deaths

Heart Disease/Coronary Heart Disease $1.708 billion 1,762,929 deaths

HIV/AIDS $3.037 billion 7,803 deaths

In 2019, the government spent $3,982.80 in research for every death from AIDS. That same year, only $96.88 was spent for every death from heart disease. Thats 41 times as much funding per death for AIDS as for heart disease  the nations #1 killer.

Federal spending on diabetes research is even more out of whack. Only $40.63 was spent in research for each person who died from diabetes

Meanwhile, cancer, which has gotten only slightly more funding than HIV-AIDS during that entire period, has killed around 25 million Americans during that same time frame. The disproportionate spending per death is even more striking considering that the keys to fighting these other diseases were not as obvious as with AIDS: personal responsibility involving the practice of unsafe sex and sharing needles to inject illegal drugs.

In my article, I also unearthed emails (leaked in 2016 by Wikileaks) in which Fauci, in 2013, expressed his love for Hillary Rodham Clinton in several emails to her top aide after Hillary testified before Congress on Benghazi.

In the year since March 2020, Fauci has gone from being considered the sexiest man alive to someone more down to earth and of considerably lesser repute, at least among conservatives and thinking people. On Fox News, for example, Laura Ingraham regularly refers to Fauci now as Dr. Doom.

Faucis performance during the past year as the face of the governments Covid-19 pandemic has been typical of many other Democrat hacks: self-serving, highly political, inconsistent, and hypocritical, and infatuated with power.

Some highlights of Faucis science based advice should suffice.

Fauci is no neutral senior bureaucrat, though he has played one to Republican administrations.

His true political colors were shown when he shared the virtual stage on the hate-Trump Atlantic Festival with Hillary Clinton last September. After Biden was elected and inaugurated, Fauci was clearly happy to say in 2021 I work for Joe Biden, (who I not-so-secretly supported in his 2020 campaign.)

In my opinion, if one individual can be blamed for the defeat of Donald Trump in his re-election campaign, it is the sanctimonious but continually influential Dr. Anthony J. Fauci.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey CC BY-2.0 license

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who writes about politics, media, popular culture, and health care for American Thinker and other publications. He also appears in the media, including recently as a contributor to OANN, BBC World News, The Glazov Gang, and Fox News. Peter's website is http://peter.media. His YouTube channel is here. For updates on his work, follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka.
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A U.S. visit to Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin landed in Kabul on Sunday morning, becoming the first member of President Bidens cabinet to set foot in the country, which is home to Americas longest war.

The trip comes at a pivotal time: The U.S. is tentatively set to withdraw its forces from the country on May 1. Mr. Biden said in an interview last week that meeting the deadline would be tough. He has not announced any definite plans about the pullout.

Mr. Austins arrival in Kabul came on Nowruz, the Persian new year  a date on which the Islamic State in Afghanistan had pledged to carry out attacks. So the trip was intended to remain confidential until two hours after he left, but local reporters broke news of his visit after he met with the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani.

The stakes: A U.S. withdrawal could increase the risk of a takeover of the countrys key cities by the Taliban. Asked about the concerns Afghans might have over a pullout, Mr. Austin said: Weve done a lot to work with the Afghan security forces. And I dont want to speculate about what could happen or what could not happen going forward.
Last year was an unprecedented year for natural gas and liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) markets. Whereas natural gas demand declined by 3%, LNG demand proved to be more resilient and managed to grow 1%. Nevertheless, the LNG market was extremely volatile, with periods of extreme oversupply alternating with periods of extreme tightness during the year. According to global management consulting firm McKinsey, natural gas is set to become the strongest-growing fossil fuel, with demand expanding 0.9% per annum from 2020 to 2035. While that kind of growth is nothing to write home about, natural gas will be the only fossil fuel expected to grow beyond 2030, peaking in 2037 thanks to the strong clean energy momentum. From 2035 to 2050, demand is expected to decline modestly by 0.4% per annum due to hard-to-replace gas use in the chemical and industrial sectors as natural gas continues to replace coal in power generation.

Meanwhile, LNG is set for much stronger growth, with McKinsey predicting that domestic supply in key gas markets will be unable to keep up with demand growth. Global LNG demand is expected to grow 3.4% per annum to 2035, calling for some 100 million metric tons of additional capacity to meet both demand growth and replace decline from existing projects. LNG demand growth will slow markedly from 2035 to 2050 to just 0.5% per annum but still call for more than 200 million metric tons of new capacity by 2050.

That said, LNG markets are expected to be anything but calm, with leading LNG exports constantly jostling for market share. On one hand, Qatar will be looking to reassert its dominance against new LNG powerhouse, Australia, while the United States will be looking to close the gap with the market leaders.

Related: Oil Rig Count Jumps As WTI Moves Back Above $60



Major liquefied natural gas exporting countries in 2019 (in billion cubic meters)

Source: Statista

Here are the most dominant nations in the LNG market.

#1. Australia After years of playing second fiddle, Australia has finally managed to overtake Qatar as the biggest LNG exporter in the world.

In 2019, Australia shipped 77.5 million tonnes with an export value of $49 billion, an 11.4% Y/Y increase. Figures released by Australian energy consultancy EnergyQuest by the end of November showed that Australia's LNG exports were running 1.2 million tonnes ahead of 2019 figures and remained on course to hit a new high of 78 million tonnes.

Related: India Throws The Oil Tanker Industry A Lifeline



That's a million tonnes more than rival Qatar, which shipped 77 million tonnes in 2020.

The surge by Australia follows a succession of massive LNG projects that have kicked off production over the past decade, including projects by global operators such as Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX) as well as megaprojects by ASX-listed Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WPL) and Santos (ASX: STO).

Western Australia is the nation's dominant LNG export region, accounting for 57% of shipments.

#2. Qatar

While Qatar might have momentarily relinquished the top spot to Australia, it's probably only a matter of time before the Gulf Nation reclaims pole position.

Last month, Qatar Petroleum, the world's top LNG producer, announced that it's cranking up the pressure on its rivals with bold expansion plans aimed at boosting supplies over the coming decade.

Qatar has set a goal to boost LNG output by about 40% to 110 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2026, which it hopes to achieve in phase one of its expansion of North Field LNG, the largest single LNG project ever sanctioned. The company intends to follow this up with second phase expansion plans which will lift LNG capacity by 2027 to 126 mtpa. That's enough LNG to meet the import needs of both Japan and South Korea--the first and third biggest LNG importers in the world.

But this is not just idle bluster: Qatar boasts some of the lowest LNG production costs, especially at its Ras Laffan plant, something that helps it play the role of swing supplier to great effect with the ability to steer exports towards the most attractive markets thanks to its strategic location halfway between Europe and Asia.

#3. United States

Source:EIA

Source: EnergyInDepth

In the space of a few years, the United States has gone from being a net importer of LNG to a net exporter thanks to the shale boom. U.S. LNG exports have particularly exploded over the past five years, with EIA data showing that the U.S. exported 1,819,386 cubic feet of LNG in 2019, a far cry from just 16,255 cubic feet back in 2014. Related: Oil Sees Biggest Single-Day Loss Since April 2020



This trend showed no signs of slowing down even at the height of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Despite the unprecedented impact of Covid-19 on global economies, total U.S. exports of LNG continued to grow in 2020, averaging 6.6 Bcf/d for the year, according to EIA. For the whole year 2020, LNG exports closed out with a new record of 2.4 trillion cubic feet, a brisk 32% Y/Y growth clip, with LNG exported to 37 countries, a record number.

In sharp contrast, natural gas imports in 2020 dipped 7% to 2.6 trillion cubic feet, the lowest level since 1993.

Another interesting development: For the first time, Asia dethroned Europe as the top destination for U.S. LNG cargoes, taking in almost half of all exports.

U.S. exports to Asia increased 67% Y/Y to 3.1 Bcf/d, with China leading Asian countries in recording the largest increase, averaging 0.6 Bcf/d in 2020 as tariffs on LNG imports were lowered to 10% from 25%.

U.S. LNG exports to Europe averaged 2.5 Bcf/d, up 0.6 Bcf/d from 2019 levels. LNG exports to Turkey increased by 0.3 Bcf/d while exports to the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, and Lithuania grew by 0.1 Bcf/d each.

The U.S. also scored a crucial win after Turkey ditched Russia in favor of the United States as its primary LNG supplier, with experts pointing fingers at the political tussle between Ankara and the Kremlin in Syria and Libya as being to blame for the growing bad blood between Turkey and Russia.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Mar. 20Game summary

1-seed Michigan survived a late surge from 16-seed Texas Southern in round one of the NCAA tournament on Saturday afternoon and cruised to a 88-62 win behind double-digit scoring figures from all starters except Franz Wagner, who had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Mike Smith had a team-high 18 points, Hunter Dickinson scored 16 and foul out in the second half, and Brandon Johns Jr. and Eli Brooks each added 11 for the No.1-seed Michigan.

Michigan can earn a ticket to the Sweet 16 on Monday with a victory over No. 8 LSU, who knocked off St. Bonaventure in the first round, 76-61.

Michigan closes out Texas Southern in NCAA tournament opener

Quinton Brigham dunks in transition out of the break to cut Michigan's lead to 20, and Michael Weathers converts a 3-point play on the following possession to make it 69-52.

TSU begins to full-court press with just over six minutes to go in the game. Michigan breaks it and gets the ball to Hunter Dickinson inside, where he adds a bucket to give himself 14 points on the day.

TSU scores on its next two possessions to make it a 16-point game.

Media timeout: Michigan 73, Texas Southern 57 (4:01 2nd)

Karl Nicholas makes a pair of free throws, TSU gets a turnover and scores in transition, and all of a sudden, it's a 12-point game.

Karl Nicholas fouls out and Eli Brooks goes to the line, hitting both to snap the run and put Michigan up 14, which Weathers quickly reverses with a bucket on the other end.

Then it's Hunter Dickinson fouling out, as he gets a little fast and loose with his elbows while trying to work his way to the basket. The play is now being reviewed for a flagrant.

Dickinson is assessed a Flagrant 1, which gives Yahuza Rasas two big free throws: He misses both.

Franz Wagner drills a 3-pointer to give the Wolverines some breathing room with 1:52 to go. Smith's second-chance bucket puts the game away for good.

FINAL: Michigan 82, Texas Southern 66

Story continues

Michigan pulling away from Texas Southern in second half

John Walker scores on back-to-back possessions for Texas Southern and Yahuza Rasas adds a jumper to cut down the Michigan lead to 18.

Austin Davis hits a layup to stop the run, but Jordan Gilliam answers with a bucket in the paint. It's 57-39, Michigan.

Mike Smith finishes in transition to make it a 20-point lead for the Wolverines.

Media timeout: Michigan 59, Texas Southern 39 (11:43 2nd)

Michael Weathers converts a 3-point play after being fouled, then finishes on a layup.

Smith and TSU's John Jones trade 3-pointers, giving Texas Southern its first bucket from long distance today.

Austin Davis answers with a layup to push the lead back to 19. Terrance Williams scores inside and makes an and-1 free throw.

Media timeout: Michigan 69, Texas Southern 47 (7:53 2nd)

Michigan keeps momentum rolling in early stages of second half

Michigan gets a turnover on the opening possession as Eli Brooks knocks down another 3-pointer to open the half.

Yahuza Rasas and Brandon Johns trade layups, giving Michigan a 50-24 lead.

Texas Southern is still looking for its first 3-pointer of the game after Jordan Gilliam misses from way downtown as the shot clock expires.

Hunter Dickinson backs down his man, turns around, and knocks down a short jumper. John Walker answers with a nice look in the paint.

The Wolverines go back to Dickinson inside, and this time he draws a foul to make it 52-28 on a pair of free throws.

Justin Hopkins capitalizes on an and-1 free throw, but Michigan storms right back and gets it back with a Brandon Johns 3.

Media timeout: Michigan 55, Texas Southern 31 (15:08 2nd)

Michigan grabs 18-point lead before halftime vs. Texas Southern

Brandon Johns gets fouled out of the break and heads to the line. He makes one of two, making it a 36-20 lead for the Wolverines.

Mike Smith answers a Jordan Gilliam layup with a 3-pointer on the other end.

Terrance Williams in now for Michigan, and he gets a trip to the line pretty quickly, making one of two. Michael Weather scores in the paint to make it 40-24.

Smith gets to the hoop and lays in a bucket, leaving Texas Southern the chance at one last possession before halftime.

Tight defense from Eli Brooks forces an airball at the buzzer and sets a new season-low for first-half scoring for Texas Southern.

HALFTIME: Michigan 42, Texas Southern 24

Michigan weathers Texas Southern run, holds 35-20 lead

Quinton Brigham makes a layup out of the break to cut Michigan's lead to 15 before yet another timeout.

Media timeout: Michigan 29, Texas Southern 14 (7:04 1st)

Michael Weathers makes a pair of free throws and Jordan Gilliam finishes a second-chance opportunity, and Texas Southern has put together a nice little run to cut the Michigan to 11.

TSU then gets a stop and earns another trip to the free-throw line, as Weathers hits both to make it 29-20.

Hunter Dickinson stops the run with turnaround jumper. Mike Smith and Brandon Johns then get to the free-throw line on consecutive possessions, hitting four of four to give Michigan a 35-20 lead.

Media timeout: Michigan 35, Texas Southern 20 (3:42 2nd)

Zeb Jackson knocks down pair of 3's to help Michigan take huge lead

Franz Wagner hits a jump shot out of the break to extend Michigan's lead to 11, which Michael Weathers answers with a driving layup two possessions later.

Zeb Jackson knocks down a 3-pointer to push the Michigan lead back to 22-10.

A pair of Brandon Johns free throws, a layup by Hunter Dickinson and another 3 from Jackson have the Wolverines feeling good. They lead by 17.

Media timeout: Michigan 29, Texas Southern 12 (7:30 1st)

Michigan races out to early lead vs. Texas Southern

Michigan is off to a rolling start, opening up the game on a 7-0 run. Hunter Dickinson and Franz Wagner scored inside and Eli Brooks hit a 3-pointer to give the Wolverines an early lead.

Michael Weathers gets TSU on the board with buckets on back-to-back possessions, as Brooks hits a 3-pointer in between to make it 10-4, Michigan.

Karl Nicholas knocks down a jumper.

Media timeout: Michigan 10, Texas Southern 6 (15:47 1st)

Mike Smith makes a pull-up jumper out of the break. Franz Wagner hits a pair of free throws on the next possession to give Michigan a 14-6 lead.

Justin Hopkins matches that with a pair of free throws on the other end. Then it's Austin Davis for Michigan getting to the free-throw line, and he hits one of two.

John Walker went down hard while trying to go up to defend Davis, but appears to be okay.

Both teams go through a little bit of a scoring drought for the next couple of minutes, which is eventually broken up by a pair of free throws from Dickinson.

It's 17-8, Michigan.

Media timeout: Michigan 17, Texas Southern 8 (11:44 1st)

Pregame

Only one No. 1 seed  Virginia, in 2018  has been ousted by a No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

So, as it prepares to face Texas Southern on Saturday, history is on Michigan's side.

Momentum, however, isn't. The top-seeded Wolverines have lost three of their four games this season this month and enter this year's tournament without their second-leading scorer.

The Wolverines still boast highly decorated freshman center Hunter Dickinson, who leads them in scoring (14.2 points) and rebounding (7.6).

Michigan (20-4) faces a Texas Southern team (17-8) coming off a 60-52 victory over Mount St. Mary's in a First Four game and riding a 10-game winning streak.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Nolan Bianchi.

East Region

NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 16 TEXAS SOUTHERN  Tip-off: 3 p.m. Saturday, Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana  TV/radio: CBS/950  Records: Michigan 20-4, Texas Southern 17-8  Outlook: This is the first meeting between the two programs. ...Entering this year's NCAA Tournament, No. 1 seeds are 139-1 against No. 16 seeds. ...Texas Southern rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Mount St. Mary's, 60-52, in Thursday's play-in game. ...The Tigers have won 10 straight and 15 of their past 16 games. They rank No. 335 in the nation in 3-point shooting (28.2%) and last in made 3s per game (4.6).
The elite Green Berets have been deployed to help defeat Islamic State insurgents accused of beheading children as young as 11 in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers are to train Mozambican marines for the next two months to counter the rapidly escalating insurgency from ISIS-linked terrorist group al-Shabab.

It comes after the United States officially listed the group as a foreign terrorist organization last week because of its links to ISIS, who it pledged allegiance to in 2018 and who claimed its first attack in June 2019.

Mozambique, in southern Africa, represents the worrying spread of Islamic insurgency on the continent. Other nations facing ISIS-linked violence include Somalia, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Libya.

The deployment of the Green Berets is "to prevent the spread of terrorism and violent extremism," the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique's capital, said, The Times reported.

According to an Insider report last month, the Green Berets are called on to deploy worldwide, build lasting relationships with local groups friendly towards the United States, and then teach those groups how to kill effectively. The SF soldiers then begin going on missions with the locals and fight side-by-side.

The situation in the northernmost province of Cabo Delgado, which began in 2017, became even more urgent last year, with up to 3,500 fighters regularly engaging with the military to capture key towns.

At least 2,000 civilians have been killed, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and 670,000 have been displaced, Save the Children added. Around a million people are also in need of food aid, the UN estimated.

'They took my eldest son and beheaded him'

Children as young as 11 years old have been executed, according to Save the Children, that has spoken to displaced families that have described horrific executions by the Islamic insurgents.

One mother, Elsa, 28, whose name has been changed, told Save the Children: "That night our village was attacked and houses were burned. When it all started, I was at home with my four children.

"We tried to escape to the woods, but they took my eldest son and beheaded him. We couldn't do anything because we would be killed too."

Impoverished Mozambique, in southern Africa, had been relying on foreign mercenaries, mainly from South Africa, who have also been accused of human rights abuses.

An Amnesty International report found that both sides committed war crimes, with government forces responsible for abuses against civilians, something it has denied.

Cabo Delgado has a population of 2.3 million, most of whom are Muslim, and is one of the poorest provinces in Mozambique with high illiteracy and unemployment rates, according to the BBC.

Al-Shabab, not to be confused with the Somalian al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group of a similar name, means The Youth in Arabic.

It has found ready recruits among the unemployed young people from the area, al-Jazeera reported.

Although a ruby deposit and gas field were discovered in Cabo Delgado in 2009 and 2010, creating dreams of a better life for locals, these were soon undermined by violence and extreme flooding, the BBC noted.

More from Business Insider:
SpaceX has reportedly completed the stacking of its super heavy rocket booster, which will be used to propel the Starship spacecraft into the Earths orbit. According to TechCrunch, the super heavy booster is about 220 feet tall, excluding the Starship rocket on top, which itself is around 160 feet tall. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday had posted the picture of the first super heavy booster on Twitter.

First Super Heavy Booster pic.twitter.com/0K5QPsEbbt  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2021

According to the report, the super heavy booster will undergo a series of tests before being used alongside the Starship rocket. The super heavy booster will be tested for leakage in its fuel tank, to check if it can handle the pressurization and extreme temperatures caused prior to the launch. The booster will be given a go-ahead if it manages to keep all the inflammable materials stable during the test run.

Starship development

SpaceX is currently preparing for the launch of the SN11 Starship rocket as images of the American space companys employees testing the legs of the rocket went viral on social media recently. SpaceX has made significant progress in its development of the Starship rocket. The company was able to successfully launch the flight on its first try last year, but on all three occasions, they failed to land the rocket properly. Earlier this month, the SN10 Starship rocket exploded while trying to land back after a successful altitude test.

The first two prototypes of the Starship rocket were launched in December 2020 and February 2021. The SN8 rocket, which was tested on December 9 last year, took off as expected and reached an altitude of 7.8 miles. However, the engines failed to slow the rocket down after it flipped and started descending towards Earth for landing, which caused SN8 to explode. The SN9 took off on February 2 this year and was again looking good until the flip came and it failed to correct its angle and speed, exploding upon landing.
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By Josef Joffe





HAMBURG  The harsh sentence handed down to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was found guilty of influence peddling, confirms anew an ancient truth of politics. Even in the world's most firmly entrenched democracies, corruption remains a curse.



Power always gets you more power. It works its magic better than greasing palms with money. The strong don't need to wave their purse. Five hundred years before the verdict against Sarkozy, Machiavelli famously declared in his Discourses that "Gold alone does not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold." In other words, clout beats cash.



So, power is the hardest currency in politics, creating temptations that cannot be exorcized, but must be contained and controlled. This is why democracies have devised intricate checks and balances, above all, an independent judiciary  something despots don't need to worry about. The three-year prison term given to Sarkozy, from 2007 to 2012 the mightiest person in France, shows that the French system is working as designed.



The signal sent by the Parisian court could not have come at a better time. Everywhere, darkness is supposedly descending on democracy. The COVID-19 pandemic is said to undermine the separation of powers everywhere, tilting the balance toward a grasping executive, which threatens freedom in the name of safety. Aren't lockdowns the first step into servitude?



Moreover, authoritarianism is rampant in Eastern Europe, and strongmen are ruling from Budapest to Beijing and Brasilia. Even in the United States, the world's oldest democracy, former President Donald Trump spent four years attacking (and stacking) the judiciary and incited a violent insurrection at the Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress.



Against this backdrop, the verdict against Sarkozy, which he will appeal, spells out a reassuring message in troubled times. Chief financial prosecutor Jean-Francois Bohnert highlighted the symbolic significance of a case involving "a former president of the Republic who was once the guarantor of an independent judiciary." As the court wrote in its ruling, Sarkozy had "used his status as former president ... to reward a magistrate who had served his personal interests."



Sarkozy is not the first French president or senior official to face the bench. Jacques Chirac, president from 1995 to 2007, was convicted in 2011 for misusing public funds when he was mayor of Paris. Francois Fillon, Sarkozy's former prime minister, was sentenced last June to five years in prison (three suspended) for embezzlement.



Christine Lagarde, now head of the European Central Bank, was convicted on charges of "negligence with public money" while she was France's finance minister under Sarkozy. Jerome Cahuzac, the budget minister under President Francois Hollande, was sentenced in 2016 to three years in prison for tax fraud.



Now, the frequency of such crimes  and not only in France  suggests a depressing pattern: the progressive erosion of public trust across the Western world. These incidents heighten suspicions that politicians use their muscle to benefit themselves or their parties; hence an endless string of campaign finance scandals shaking one democracy after another.



Actually, their citizens should take heart. This side of neo-authoritarian Hungary and Poland, the democratic ship of state is not sinking, but plowing ahead, no matter how strong the headwinds. The rule of law and the separation of powers, enshrined in every Western constitution, remain strong, even in perilous times when economic and health catastrophes torment the soul and strengthen the grip of the all-providing state.



In fact, electorates have become more sensitive to misdeeds in high places. It is a plausible assumption that during the French Fourth Republic (1946-58), let alone during the Third (1870-1940), former heads of government would not have been given a three-year prison term. "Transparency" and "accountability" are the new battle cries in the democratic arena.



Just consider Italy, known as the land of arrangiarsi  making do, wiggling through. And yet, Silvio Berlusconi, a three-time prime minister, has been indicted dozens of times. Finally, in 2012, he was sentenced to four years for tax evasion. Better late than never.



And then there's Trump, Berlusconi's heir as the world's populist-in-chief, who tried to cow and outflank the judiciary and Congress. Yet, when democracy was on the line, as it was in the months after the 2020 presidential election, even his own appointees to the Supreme Court ruled against him. The occupation of the Capitol by his loyalists on January 6 briefly delayed but did not disrupt Congress in confirming the election of Joe Biden as president. The institutions proved mightier than the mob.



From France to America, democratic countries are affirming the fundamental principle of government by law, not by men (and women). That is the message of our time that should reassure the Cassandras who believe that despotism is on a roll. Some may carp that Sarkozy, if his appeal is rejected, will have to serve only one year, and then in the comfort of his home, guarded only by an electronic bracelet.



Yet the larger moral of this drama of crime and punishment is the supremacy of the law, which goes back to the English Magna Carta of 1215. Its 63 clauses boil down to a single commandment: No ruler stands above the law.





Josef Joffe, a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, serves on the editorial council of the German weekly Die Zeit. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).




Whether the governor should walk away from Albany right now or see the pandemic through and forego running for a fourth term  or whether he ought to remain in politics for the next 40 years  are questions subject to a broad manner of opinion. But whether some of his actions constituted sexual harassment, under laws he himself has championed, should not be a matter of viewpoint.

At least a half-dozen women have now come forward accusing Governor Cuomo of inappropriate conduct, from unwanted sexual advances to unsolicited kisses and touching. He has denied most of these allegations, pleading with New Yorkers to await the outcome of investigations before determining his guilt or innocence. But in the case of Charlotte Bennett, he has left key aspects of the narrative unchallenged.

A former aide, Ms. Bennett, who is 25, claimed that late last spring, Mr. Cuomo asked about her intimate life  whether she remained monogamous in her relationships, had ever had sex with older men  and offered that he was open to relationships with women in their 20s. I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, she told my colleague Jesse McKinley last month, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared.

Addressing the issue, the governor said that he never made advances toward Ms. Bennett and did not ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate. Later, in a more extensive statement, he said he had a habit of teasing people about their personal lives, and that he now understood that his interactions may have been insensitive. He said he realized that his comments, given his position, made others feel in ways I never intended.

As it happens, intent is not always or especially relevant in these cases; the law allows for words alone to be problematic. It may not matter, for instance, whether your remarks are aimed at getting an assistant to share a hotel room with you. What counts is that you told her about the hot time you had at Breakers in Palm Beach with someone who looks just like her, and that the disclosure left her unsettled and intimidated. At the end of this past week, an employee of the governors office named Alysa McGrath talked about feeling objectified by governor  about how he ogled her and told her she was beautiful in Italian and how she didnt like it. A lawyer for the governor wrote off the behavior, calling it unremarkable and old-fashioned.

As a service to employers, New York States Labor Department supplies a sample training video on harassment meant to convey the bare minimum of what should be offered. In it, the labor commissioner, Roberta Reardon, explains that sexual harassment falls essentially under two large umbrellas, one in the form of quid quo pro exchanges (If you want that new job, you really ought to consider coming over for strip steak), the other in the creation of what has long been known as a hostile work environment.
The sales of alcohol in shops and off-licences have "sky-rocketed" during the pandemic due to the closure of pubs and restaurants, with off-trade purchases recording almost a 100pc increase in the middle of last summer.

New data supplied by Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), compiled by Nielsen and Kantar, shows a marked increase in people drinking at home. June showed the most significant increase - with a 93pc increase in trade compared with the same month the year before.

July showed a 78pc increase, while November and December reported an increase in sales of just 33pc and 37pc respectively, as pubs and restaurants were temporarily opened during this period.

In January, off-sales of alcohol were up 57pc from the previous year, according to the data.

"The data indicates a massive surge in alcohol use in the home. The high sales in alcohol are notable in January, when traditionally a lot of people embark on 'dry' January. Clearly not very popular this year," said Eunan McKinney of AAI.

"While a third of venues that sell alcohol have been closed for most of the past 12 months - pubs and restaurants - what we are seeing is a significant and worrying increase in people drinking at home. What we are seeing is that people's temporary lifestyle - drinking at home - is becoming a permanent habit."

Because of the ongoing closure of pubs and restaurants, "people are realising the purchasing power of the euro" and "this could become a real problem for the vintners when they do reopen".

Mr McKinney added: "The pubs could have a real problem here. People have gotten used to being able to buy three, four or even five bottles of beer for the same price as a pint."

From a societal point of view, the massive increase in people drinking at home is also having addiction consequences and impacting at-risk children.

"If you drink in a pub, at least it's measured. You have to go home at a certain time and you only have a certain amount of disposable income. In the home, it's a different situation. The bar is always open, so to speak," said Mr McKinney. "Alcohol abuse at home because of the pandemic is now turning into a chronic problem. Before Covid, there were 200,000 children identified as living in homes with problem alcohol use. Undoubtedly that situation has gotten far worse."

AAI supports the introduction of minimum unit pricing on alcohol. This is a targeted measure, which seeks to stop the strongest cheapest alcohol being sold at low prices in supermarkets and shops.

It emerged last week that closure of pubs and restaurants due to Covid-19 restrictions led to a 6.6pc fall in the amount of alcohol consumed per capita last year.

Figures released by Revenue show that these closures contributed to a 17.3pc decline in beer consumption in 2020, compared with 2019.

Cider was also hit hard by the closures, with an 11.4pc decline compared with the previous year.

However, spirits held their value and the popularity of wine showed a marked increase. Spirit consumption increased marginally, by 0.7pc, while the amount of wine consumed in 2020 increased by 12pc.

Overall, the total volume of alcohol consumed in 2020 fell by 5.1pc.

Drinks Ireland, which represents Irish alcoholic drink producers and suppliers, said this increase in wine sales reflects the general trend of most wine sales being driven by the off-licence trade.

Patricia Callan, director of Drinks Ireland, said when contacted that it had been a "devastating year" for alcohol producers.

"Off-sales in supermarkets and off-licences might be good but the real value for alcohol producers is in the on-trade, as in pubs and restaurants. The reopening of the on-trade needs to be a priority. From a business perspective, we need to be given a roadmap in terms of reopening," she said.

Ms Callan added that while wine sales are thriving in supermarkets and off-licences, there has been a "disproportionally impactful" reduction in sales affecting small Irish brewers of beer and cider, which rely on draught sales in pubs and restaurants.

"Beer and cider manufacturers in Ireland are heavily reliant on the draught sector in pubs and restaurants, which are gone. The Government needs to do more to assist them right now."
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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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Los Angeles, March 21 : Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto, who plays the role of Joker--the character from DC Comics-- in the DC cinematic universe, feels his character was "more evolved" in the recently released film, 'Zack Snyder's Justice League'.

The 49-year-old actor reprised the role of the iconic villaina"from the Batman comics-- for the four-hour long version of 'Justice League' by filmmaker Zack Snyder and feels Joker evolved from the time Leto played the role for the first time in David Ayer's Suicide Squad, in 2016, including Joker's looks.

"I think it's an evolution, there's some years apart (between the two). When you work with different directors they bring out different things in you," he said on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", as reported by femalefirst.co.uk.

Jared had previously revealed that he loved working with Snyder on the project, describing the filmmaker as "madman" and a "warrior".
LEXINGTON  When undercover state law enforcement left Smoke Os 2 vape and smoke shop in Lexington with several packages labeled hemp flower in hand in February, it would kick off just the latest round of questions in South Carolina over whats legal and what is not when it comes to hemp products.

The hemp industry in South Carolina and elsewhere has faced a barrage of challenges from state and federal law enforcement since the 2018 federal Farm Bill made cultivating of the crop legal and the Palmetto State adopted a hemp growing program.

Shops selling hemp derivatives were raided around the state in the summer of 2019 after a state attorney generals opinion left confusion over the legality of what constituted unprocessed hemp flower. That same year, a Dorchester County hemp farmer was arrested and had his crop destroyed after he switched which of his fields he was growing the plant in without a permit change.

The latest items in question are products containing Delta-8-THC.

Delta-8 is just one of at least 144 known cannabinoids that comes from the cannabis plant. It is only slightly different from Delta-9, the outlawed ingredient in marijuana that produces a high. Under federal law, Delta-8-THC from hemp is not explicitly declared illegal, but it is not the same as some of the more mainstream CBD products sold in grocery stores.

Proponents say it helps with pain, inflammation and nausea. A close cousin to marijuana, it is also touted for a smoother, less anxious psychoactive experience.

But in a trial-like hearing held earlier this month by Lexington Town Council  that resulted in pulling the business license of Smoke Os 2  State Law Enforcement Division investigators testified their lab has no way of differentiating between Delta-8 and Delta-9.

Until you can differentiate with testing how do you disprove anything? Benjamin Stitley, the store owners attorney, asked during the meeting.

Stitley said there are many retailers selling the product now, including several in the city of Columbia.

In fact, Delta-8 sales have exploded nationwide and is considered the fastest growing segment of products derived from hemp, Ian Laird, chief financial officer of New Leaf Data Services, which tracks the hemp and cannabis markets, told the New York Times. He estimated consumer sales of at least $10 million, adding, Delta 8 has really come out of nowhere over the past year.

Some in the industry believe the products have become a new cash cow for some vape shops seeking a different revenue source after federal regulations by the Trump Administration stamped out flavored vaping.

The Lexington smoke shop was ultimately not subject to the raids that had many South Carolina retailers hastily pulling hemp flower from their shelves more than a year ago. The store came to state law enforcements attention after local police caught a student at River Bluff High School with the product, labeled Blue Dream, in his vehicle. He told them he bought it from the store located near Walmart on Sunset Boulevard.

Police would conduct several undercover buys in February of multiple hemp flower products, as well as smoking pipes and masks used for inhaling smoke.

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Testing of the flower would come back with a THC content higher than 1 percent, putting it above the legal limit of .3 percent.

The employee who sold the products now faces two charges of distributing a controlled substance.

The problem, Stitely said, is that it is Delta-8-THC, not its illegal sister substance Delta-9 that the SLED testing picked up.

I think SLED is in a tough place to prosecute, he said.

Data on the number of recent enforcement actions related to hemp products statewide was not immediately available from SLED.

Stitely expects these types of legal issues to keep cropping up as entrepreneurs in the hemp product industry continue to walk the line of what is legal. His ultimate recommendation to retailers is buyer beware.

"Retailers should always obtain third party laboratory verification of cannabinoid profile so they may confirm with an officer that the product they sell is legal under state and federal law," recommends Emily McSherry, founder of Cannabis Forward, an advocacy group whose aim is cannabis education. "There has been some talk about Delta-8-THC products not being legal but, again, as long as it contains .3 percent THC or less, it is legal."

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency has taken aim at Delta-8 extracted from CBD oil, arguing it is a synthetic drug and therefore illegal. This new rule proposed by the DEA is being challenged in court by the Hemp Industries Association.

Mused Alsaidi, owner of Smoke O's in Lexington and other vape shop locations in the state, said he had the products tested by a third party lab to show it contained Delta-8, not Delta-9-THC, before putting it on his shelves.

Ultimately, it wasn't the hemp flower that lost him his business license.

The town of Lexington highly regulates smoke shops, and it was Alsaidi's selling of pipes and other smoking devices that got him into trouble. He had been told before receiving his business license that he would not be allowed to sell those items.

Stitely said Alsidi had "invested a lot to build up storefront" and thought the town could have let him off with a warning.

"Ultimately that was not the avenue they took," Stitely said.
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The main drag of the typically picturesque tourist town of Byron Bay has been reduced to a mini river following flash flooding as NSW braces for another day of wild weather.

Torrential rain for more than a week has caused flooding in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores regions.

Locals were seen wading through floodwater on Byron Bay's main street on Sunday morning to get to their cars, while others braved the wet weather to dine out for lunch.

Horizon Drive and Westland Drive in West Ballina - a half hour drive south of Byron Bay - have been affected by flooding, with locals advised to drive with caution.

Locals were seen wading through floodwater on Byron Bay's main street on Sunday morning to get to their cars

Byron Bay, which is typically overrun this time of year with holidaymakers, recorded 18mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on Sunday

Some Byron Bay locals and tourists braved the wet weather for their morning coffee run on Sunday

Torrential rain for more than a week has caused flooding in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores regions

Byron Bay, which is typically overrun this time of year with holidaymakers, recorded 18mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on Sunday.

Further south, parts of Port Macquarie, Taree and nearby towns have also flooded in what Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday labelled a 'one-in-100-year event' for the region.

'This will be a deep-seated, extreme weather event ... It's not going to be an easy week for us,' she told reporters.

'None of us are out of the woods while the storm front is moving south. The rain may not stop until Thursday or Friday. I hope those predictions are wrong.'

The State Emergency Service has advised Picton residents in the Warragamba Dam catchment to get ready to leave when instructed to do so.

For NSW residents not in immediate danger, the premier urged them to restrict their movements and heed all warnings.

Nine evacuation are centres open in NSW - seven on the mid-north coast and two in the Hunter region.

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.

There are multiple flood warnings for rivers including the Nepean, Hawkesbury and Colo.

Major flooding is possible at North Richmond, Windsor and Sackville, from late Saturday, the SES said.

There are concerns for communities along the Georges River, an urban river in the city's south, and on the Hawkesbury/Nepean river system to the north and west of Sydney.

'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 told reporters.

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

This entire street near the Paterson river in Hinton, in the NSW Hunter region, is underwater

Port Macquarie is now almost underwater as the Mid North Coast town is lashed with torrential rain

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.

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.

The 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, and several nearby towns, have flooded and further south, Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago.
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has given us a lesson this week on how pollies invest  or plan for the next generation at least. The Northern NSW-based MP has purchased a line of Angus cattle as an investment for his son Sebastian, who despite not yet turning three surely has the biggest investment portfolio of any parliamentary tot.

Barnaby Joyce has been investing in beef for his son, Sebastian. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare

Sebastian is older brother to Thomas and the beneficiary of the whopping $150,000 fee Sevens Sunday Night paid Joyce and his partner and one-time adviser Vikki Campion for their tell-all on their romance  and his birth  in May 2018.

At the time, Joyce and Campion were unapologetic about taking the cash to set up a trust account for the then six-week-old. Since then, Joyce has been proactive managing the trust on his sons behalf.

Sebastian is doing a lot better than I ever did, Joyce told CBD. We bought into Afterpay when nobody had ever heard of them, and then theres Bougainville Copper which is doing well. Other shareholdings include the Australian Agricultural Company, 5G Network Limited, BHP, pharmaceutical giant CSL and banks including NAB and Macquarie. In other words, the type of portfolio likely to pique the interest of the Coalitions other very enthusiastic share investors, Tim Wilson and Dave Sharma. Joyce himself receives no distributions, which is a shame given the latest cattle investment. The price of beef has risen to record highs since he first purchased the steers for fattening on his property in Baradine, west of Tamworth.
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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to the United States arrived in Moscow on Sunday for discussions on how to address sliding U.S.-Russia relations after U.S. President Joe Biden said he thought Vladimir Putin was a killer, the TASS news agency reported.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday it was recalling its ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, for urgent talks after Biden said in an ABC interview he thought President Putin was a killer who would "pay a price" for alleged U.S. election meddling - an accusation that Moscow denies.

Putin responded to Biden by citing a Russian children's playground chant that "he who said it, did it", and offered to hold live online talks with the U.S. president, a proposal Biden has not so far taken up.

The Russian embassy in Washington's social media accounts posted a picture of Antonov in the early hours of Sunday morning at a U.S. airport, with an Aeroflot plane idling on the runway.

"Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on rectifying Russia-U.S. relations," the embassy said.

Both countries have said they will only cooperate when it is in their national interest to do so.

State TV's First Channel said Antonov told reporters before boarding his plane that there a was a lot of work for the Russian foreign ministry and others to do, but that he had no doubt that keeping lines of communication open was in the interests of the American people.

The channel then read out what it said were excerpts of letters sent to Antonov by Americans before his departure, apologising for Biden's comments about Putin.

TASS said a plane carrying Antonov had touched down at Moscow's Sheremtyevo airport on Sunday morning.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Pravin Char)
ATLANTA (AP)  Mothers, grandmothers and a brother. They loved to cook, dance, sing and travel. They worked long hours, sometimes in settings their children little understood. These are the eight people killed by gunfire at three Atlanta-area massage businesses. Seven of the slain were women, and six of them were of Asian descent. Police charged a 21-year-old white man with the killings, saying he was solely responsible for the deadliest U.S. mass shooting since 2019. In the days since the shooting, fuller pictures of almost all the victims have emerged. The exception is 44-year-old Daoyou Feng, an employee at Youngs Asian Massage near Woodstock about whom little is known.

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Sunday should have seen 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue buying groceries and cooking Korean food for her family. Instead those relatives are mourning her death Tuesday at the Aromatherapy Spa in Atlanta.

"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved mother, and words cannot adequately describe our grief, her sons said in a statement released by attorney BJay Pak.

Yue immigrated from South Korea to the United States, and was married for a time to Mac Peterson of Columbus, who once served at the Army's Fort Benning in that Georgia city.

Mom was an amazing woman who loved to introduce our family and friends to her home-cooked Korean food and Korean karaoke, said Rob Peterson, one of Yues sons, who described her as an amazing woman in a fundraising appeal. Will miss joining mom on her weekly Sunday routine to the grocery store and traditional Korean dinner. She was always kind-hearted and willing to help everyone she encountered.

Yue was a licensed massage therapist in Georgia who owned a home in the suburb of Peachtree Corners. Relatives reached there declined comment.



A granddaughter lauds Suncha Kim's love and mourns that she won't be able to watch her children and grandchildren live the life she never got to live.

The 69-year-old Kim was one of three women killed at the Gold Spa in Atlanta.

Story continues

Regina Song wrote that her grandmother was born in Seoul and came to the United States speaking little English, working multiple jobs to provide for her husband, son and daughter.

This took immense courage and my grandmother was a fighter, Song wrote.

Family members told The Washington Post that Kim was a Catholic and naturalized American citizen who volunteered her time and helped raised money for various causes. Relatives said Kim won the Presidents Volunteer Service Award for her efforts to help feed the homeless in the Washington, D.C., area.

"She was pure hearted and the most selfless woman I knew," her granddaughter wrote. She represented everything I wanted to be as a woman, without an ounce of hate or bitterness in her heart.

"She never forgot to call me once a week to say Stay strong in life... when youre happy, Im happy.



Soon Chung Park had spent much of her life in New York and northern New Jersey before moving to Atlanta, son-in-law Scott Lee told The New York Times and The Washington Post.

In Atlanta, the 74-year-old Park settled in a corridor that included Korean businesses in the Gwinnett County suburb of Duluth. Though she had family members in the New York area, she made a new life here, with 38-year-old Gwangho Lee telling The Daily Beast that he accepted Park's marriage proposal after the two met in 2017.

Park was the day manager at the Gold Spa, cooking for employees. Lee, a ride-hailing service driver, told The Daily Beast he was already on the way to Gold Spa when he got texts about an apparent robbery, and tried to resuscitate Park while a police officer stood by after he arrived.

She was described as unusually youthful-looking for her age, fit and active, a former dancer and hard a worker,

She just liked to work, Scott Lee told The New York Times. "It wasnt for the money. She just wanted a little bit of work for her life.

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Hyun Jung Grant loved disco and club music, often strutting or moonwalking while doing household chores and jamming with her sons to tunes blasting in the car.

The single mother found ways to enjoy herself despite working almost every day to support two sons, said the older son, 22-year-old Randy Park.

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 where his mother worked. 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.

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 didnt care what she did for work.

She loved me and my brother enough to work for us, to dedicate her whole life, he said. Thats enough.



An entrepreneur who built multiple businesses after arriving in the United States knowing little about the country, Xiaojie Emily Tan is remembered for being devoted to her work and her family.

The 49-year-old owned Youngs Asian Massage near Woodstock, where she was shot dead two days short of her 50th birthday. She leaves a daughter who is a recent University of Georgia graduate, Jami Webb. Tan had been married twice, first to Michael Webb, who she met in her native city of Nanning, according to USA Today. Later, she married Jason Wang. She also owned Wang's Feet and Body Massage in Kennesaw when she died.

She worked a lot, and she was the kind of lady that she wanted to depend on herself, Wang told The Washington Post. Tan had earlier worked in and owned a nail salon.

Tan frequently visited her mother and other relatives in China.

Shed always say, we family, Michael Webb told USA Today. Even when we got divorced, shed say that: We family. Because thats how she was.

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Paul Andre Michels owned a business installing security systems, a trade he learned after moving to the Atlanta area more than 25 years ago.

Hed been talking about switching to a new line of work, but never got the chance. He was fatally shot at Youngs Asian Massage on Tuesday along with three others.

From what I understand, he was at the spa that day doing some work for them, said Michels younger brother, John Michels of Commerce, Michigan.

Paul Michels also might have been talking with the spas owner about how the business operates, his brother said, because he had been thinking about opening a spa himself.

His age caught up to him. You get to a point where you get tired of climbing up and down ladders, John Michels said. He was actually looking to start his own massage spa. Thats what he was talking about last year.

Paul Michels grew up in Detroit in a large family where he was the seventh of nine children. His brother John was No. 8.

Though they were born 2 1/2 years apart, he was basically my twin, John Michels said. Both enlisted in the Army after high school, with Paul joining the infantry.

A few years after leaving the military, Paul followed his brother to the Atlanta area in 1995 for a job installing phones and security systems. He also met his wife, Bonnie, and they were married more than 20 years.

He was a good, hard-working man who would do what he could do to help people, John Michels said. Hed loan you money if you needed it sometimes. You never went away from his place hungry.

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The day before she was killed, Delaina Ashley Yaun dropped by Rita Barron's boutique to say hello and show photos of her 8-month-old daughter.

"She told me, 'Im happy. I want another baby,' said Barron, who had gotten to know the 33-year-old Yaun from eating at the Waffle House where the new mother worked.

Yaun and her new husband returned Tuesday to the shopping center where Gabby's Boutique is located, only this time they headed next door to Youngs Asian Massage. They had planned it as a day for Yaun to relax while a relative watched their baby girl.

Barron and her husband, Alejandro Acosta, heard gunshots from inside the boutique and later noticed that a bullet had gone through the wall. She called 911, and after police arrived Acosta watched them bring people out of the business, some bleeding and wounded. Among those who walked out was Yaun's husband, unhurt but distraught. His wife had been killed. "As you can imagine, hes totally destroyed, without strength, doesnt want to talk with anybody, said Acosta, who added that he had spoken twice with Yaun's husband since the shootings.

Family members said Yaun and her husband were first-time customers at Youngs, eager for a chance to unwind.

Theyre innocent. They did nothing wrong, Yauns weeping mother, Margaret Rushing, told WAGA-TV. I just dont understand why he took my daughter.
The temperature finally got to 50 degrees on Saturday afternoon, the first day of Spring, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and the Mach Three gelding J M Mandamin was the first horse to post a local 1:50 mile this season in taking the $14,000 fast-class pacing feature.

Driver Joe Bongiorno, teaming yet again with sister/trainer Jennifer Bongiorno, moved the razor-sharp performer from third early, went around early leader Ollies Z Tam, and set fractions of :27.1, :55, and 1:22.1. Trente Deo came first-over just past the half, but J M Mandamin proved equal to his challenge and to that of newcomer Paternity Suit A, who came roaring from far back late to get second. The winner took a new lifetime mark with his 1:50 victory, and his immediate future appears very bright for owner Robert Weinstein.

In a $14,400 contest for developing younger pacers, the American Ideal gelding Levine went right to the lead, yielded to favoured Ehrmantraut and stacked that rival, then made good use of the Pocono Pike to overhaul that rival and take a new mark of 1:51.1, gaining into a last half of :54.4. Megan Scran conditions the talented four-year-old for driver/owner Scott Zeron.

As is usual on Saturday at Pocono, there were many claiming handicap events for the top-priced horses, with the fastest of these miles seeing Wagon Master equal his mark and Proven Desire take a new record with identical times of 1:50.4. As is also usual on Saturday at Pocono, the claiming box proved a popular place to visit, with 17 horses changing hands for $365,000. In the first fourteen cards of the year, 208 claims have resulted in $3,774,375 of transactions.

Jason Bartlett was the winningest horseman on the card, with four driving triumphs. The Bongiornos, Team J&J, posted a triple for the second straight Saturday; joining them were Darren Taneyhill (with three different drivers) in the training column and George Napolitano Jr. among the sulky set.

(PHHA / Pocono)
Burma Myanmar Casualty Count Continues to Climb in Face of Regimes Brutality

One was killed and at least six were injured during a crackdown on an anti-coup protest in Aung Pin Lae, Mandalays Chanmyatharzi Township on March 21. / The Irrawaddy

As the forces of Myanmars military regime continued their brutal attacks on protesters across the country, more casualties were reported Sunday, with at least three deaths and several people wounded.

Sunday morning, a frontline protester, Ko Min Min Zaw, in his 20s, died on the spot in Monywa of Sagaing region when he was shot in the head by the regimes forces while preparing street barricades for a protest. At least two others were hit during the shooting, and one of them is in critical condition.

In a separate incident Sunday afternoon, three people were severely wounded by gunfire and one of them is in critical condition, according to a local news outlet.

In a confrontation with locals in Aung Pin Lae, Mandalays Chanmyatharzi Township, junta forces fired live rounds wounding at least six people severely. Sunday evening, another man was killed after being shot in the head by soldiers and police.

A young ethnic Chin woman died during a raid on the office of We Love Yangon in Yangons Mingalar Taungnyunt Township about noon Sunday. Regime forces violently broke into the office of the countrys well-known charity, searched the premises and seized objects that had been donated. Locals assumed the victim fell from a 5th floor ledge while hiding from security forces after hearing gunshots. The Irrawaddy has been unable confirm details of the incident.

In Taunggyi, Shan State, soldiers and police raided a quarter about noon, opening fire with rubber bullets. One person was arrested and about eight people in the quarter were injured.

Three members of the Yangon-based Thukha Kari humanitarian charity, including its chairwoman, were also detained by the juntas security forces in Hlaing Thayar Township on Sunday morning.

The regimes forces continued raids into residences and arrests Sunday night in many locations.

At least 241 people have been killed by the juntas forces in the 49 days since the Feb. 1 coup was launched.

You may also like these stories:

Remembering Two Deaths that Changed the Course of Myanmars History

Police Kill Three as Myanmar Protesters Launch Night Demonstrations Against Regime

Myanmar Military Regime Sues The Irrawaddy
The DUP has hit out at a controversial bisexual comedian for repeatedly branding Arlene Foster a closeted "butch lesbian" in a new BBC stand-up special.

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The party leader and first minister was accused of being in denial of her sexuality during a stand-up special featuring Fern Brady aired on BBC One last week.

Funnywoman Brady (34) was slammed by viewers and the DUP in 2018 for saying during a comedy show Mrs Foster looked like "a butch lesbian masquerading as a straight woman in charge of the DUP".

Expand Close First Minster Arlene Foster / Facebook

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Despite the outrage, the Beeb aired Brady's new hour-long comedy special, Power & Chaos, last week - and the star revelled in trying to wind the DUP up again.

The West Lothian native uses it to repeat and expand on her lesbian attack on Mrs Foster, and says the DUP is a party that hates "women and gay people".

The comic ranted in her new stand-up show her agent warned her she could be kneecapped by the DUP for making jokes about Mrs Foster.

She justified her initial 2018 outburst by saying in her special she was speaking from experience as she is bisexual.

Brady said: "Dead exciting to have a scandal as a comedian, and mine started because I was doing some material about a political party called the DUP.

"Some of you know who they are - if you don't, they're these Northern Irish Christian politicians. They hate women and gay people, even though their leader is a stone butch lesbian who doesn't realise she's gay yet. Her name is Arlene Foster.

"I did some material about Arlene Foster saying she was a homophobe because she was secretly gay, and I then performed it on a little known channel called BBC One.

"The BBC One lawyers checked it, I thought I was fine, and then the programme came out two days later, and I was made aware of a newspaper story with the headline, 'The DUP demand an apology from the BBC over comedian's gay jibes' - then there was an unflattering picture of me.

"I was very excited, but my agent got on the phone straight away: 'Don't get into an argument with these politicians, they're not messing about, they'll shoot your knees off - stay off Twitter, stay off the internet for one day'.

"I was like, 'Okay, daddy, I'll be good'. In my head, I'm like, 'I haven't felt this alive in years.'"

Sources close to the DUP said in 2018 the BBC's decision to broadcast Brady's "offensive onslaught" was disgraceful and warranted an immediate apology.

Expand Close DUP MLA Christopher Stalford Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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DUP MLA Christopher Stalford yesterday told Sunday Life: "Not all comedians will repeat the same material so often, but the content says more about her than it does about Arlene Foster."

The BBC said: "This is an acquired stand-up comedy performance, broadcast as part of the BBC's Festival of Funny season, which showcased a range of content with different comedic styles and in Power & Chaos, Fern, who has an established brand of humour, expresses her own opinions on a range of topics and experience."
ASIOs Director-General Mike Burgess has announced that ASIO isnt going to use words connected with Islam when talking about Islamist terrorism nor use the words right-wing extremist. He says ASIO is conscious that the names and labels used are important because words can be very powerful in how they frame an issue and how they make people think about issues.

ASIO will now use the terms religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated violent extremism.

ASIO chief Mike Burgess. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

This shift in terminology by our internal security service is a mistake. The fact is that terrorists operating against Western targets claim their acts are inspired, and in many cases required, by Islam. Believers in Islamist ideology, a philosophy and program of action which emerges out of one interpretation of Islam, are a small minority of Muslims. But we dont want any of them to turn fiery rhetoric into bloody action.

Its very disappointing that ASIO is dancing around this issue. They should absolutely call Islamist terrorism and right-wing terrorism for what it is. Pretending that the public dont understand that the inspiration for Islamist terrorism is jihadist teaching is insulting their intelligence. They also know that the vast majority of Muslims in Australia reject extremism.
Highlights of China's science news

Xinhua) 09:33, March 21, 2021

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are the highlights of China's science news from the past week:

REFRACTING TELESCOPE

Chinese scientists are working to set up the world's largest refracting telescope in Tibet Autonomous Region for observing stars and planets. Construction for the telescope has already started in the regional capital of Lhasa.

The 1-meter refractor will be mounted on a planned regional planetarium, which is likely to start construction this year and emerge as the world's highest astronomical observatory upon completion. Scientists will use the refractor to carry out sky surveys, including monitoring near-Earth asteroids.

CHINESE COVID-19 DRUG CANDIDATE

A Chinese COVID-19 drug candidate is undergoing clinical trials in the United States after receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Researchers commenced phase-1 clinical trials for the drug, coded DC402234, at a clinical research center of New Jersey-based Frontage Laboratories, Inc., the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said.

COVID-19 VACCINE FOR EMERGENCY USE

China has approved the emergency use of a self-developed recombinant protein subunit vaccine against COVID-19, its main developer, the Institute of Microbiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Researchers have been holding phase-3 trials of the vaccine (CHO Cells) since November 2020 in China, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Ecuador and Indonesia, planning to enroll up to 29,000 adults.

SPACE-BRED RICE

About 1,500 rice seeds have sprouted and grown leaves in the greenhouse of the National Engineering Research Center of Plant Space Breeding of South China Agricultural University, after returning from a space journey.

These rice seeds traveled more than 760,000 kilometers to the moon last November and returned to Earth on Dec. 17 after 23 days of flight aboard China's Chang'e 5 lunar probe.

ION IMPLANTERS

A subsidiary of China Electronic Technology Group Corporation has developed full series of homegrown ion implanters for chipmakers, the CETC said in Beijing on Wednesday.

The ion implanters are all made in China and can provide a one-stop service for global chipmakers.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain this morning with thunderstorms by evening. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has warned the Federal Government against conspiring to assassinate the Benue State Governor, Samuel Or...





Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has warned the Federal Government against conspiring to assassinate the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

It was gathered that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia attacked Governor Ortom in his farm along Gboko-Makurdi road on Saturday afternoon.

Ortom while briefing journalists at the Benue Peoples House after the incident said he was inspecting his farm when the militia attacked.

Reacting, in a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant to the governor on Media, the Rivers Governor warned that a civil war may emerge if anything happens to his Benue State counterpart.

According to him, the Federal Government must be held responsible if Ortom is killed.


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In a recent interview with RadioTimes, Baskin revealed that she felt misled and betrayed by her portrayal in Tiger King, which is why she told the showrunners to lose her number. While Baskin has shut down the idea of returning for a possible second season, she has continued to advocate for big cats and capitalize on her newfound star status. Last September, she performed on three episodes of Dancing With the Stars, which significantly boosted the network series ratings from last season. Additionally, Baskin has become one of Cameos most prolific earners, where she is currently charging $299 for a customized video message.
Kalyn Holl originally moved to Fairbanks to get some mushing experience. Like so many Alaskans before her, she got here  and she stayed, making it home. Alena Naiden/News-Miner
Jules Robinson has thrown her support behind Married At First Sight Australia's new sexologist, Alessandra Rampolla.

In a post shared to Instagram Stories on Sunday, Jules, 38, asked her fans to vote on what they thought of the expert, 46.

She also shared her own opinion, writing: 'I have to say, this woman is such a breath of fresh air to MAFS.'

That's the tea! Jules Robinson (pictured) has thrown her support behind Married At First Sight Australia's new sexologist, Alessandra Rampolla. In a post shared to Instagram Stories on Sunday, Jules, 38, asked her fans to vote on what they thought of the expert, 46

'I love everything she says and she adds so much value with her insights,' Jules, who appeared on the 2019 season of the show, added.

It comes after Alessandra revealed her top tips for a happy relationship.

The Puerto Rican sexologist told Nine that the most important thing is not sex - but friendship.

She also shared her own opinion, writing: 'I have to say, this woman is such a breath of fresh air to MAFS'

Love her: 'I love everything she says and she adds so much value with her insights,' Jules, who appeared on the 2019 season of the show, added. Alessandra is pictured

'Your partner needs to be your best friend who you also want to get it on with. If that part isn't there they stay in the friend zone,' she revealed.

Alessandra added that 'bad sex' is the often the biggest reason that couples fall apart.

'It becomes the number one problem for that relationship. It's the reason for many couples to disintegrate,' she said.

Pals: It comes after Alessandra revealed her top tips for a happy relationship. The Puerto Rican sexologist old Nine that the most important thing is not sex - but friendship

Like many relationship experts, Alessandra says that communication is key to a great relationship.

'So many couples have broken up just because they don't find how to better express themselves and communicate themselves sexually,' she added.

The sexologist, who has appeared on several television shows to offer her expertise, joined the cast this year, replacing psychologist Dr Trisha Stratford.
Well before COVID-19 devastated nursing homes in Pennsylvania and nationally, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Scranton and Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of the Lehigh Valley reached across the aisle to press nursing home reform.

The senators conducted a study in 2019 that found widespread neglect and abuse in long-term-care centers that had been placed under the Department of Health and Human Services Special Focus Facility program. And, for the first time, they revealed the names of the low-performing nursing homes that qualified for federal supervision.

Since then, COVID-19 has been a catastrophe for nursing homes and magnifying glass on many of the problems that previously had been revealed by Toomey and Casey.

According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, COVID-19 has killed more than 178,000 residents and staff members of long-term-care facilities over the past year. According to the state Department of Health, COVID-19 has sickened more than more than 68,000 nursing home residents and more than 13,000 employees in Pennsylvania  a combined 12,821 of whom have died. Nationally, Pennsylvania has the fourth-highest number of nursing home deaths due to COVID-19.

Casey and Toomey have introduced the Nursing Home Modernization Reform Act of 2021, which focuses on the poorest-performing nursing homes. The Special Focus Facility program provides for additional inspections and oversight of troubled facilities, but the program accommodates only 88 at any given time.

The bill would expand the program to handle all nursing homes that qualify. It also would increase educational resources for noncompliant nursing homes and create an independent advisory council to recommend ways to improve the quality of nursing home care.

COVID-19 has made a definitive case that this bipartisan bill is needed. The Senate quickly should pass it.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies, New Jersey has the highest rate of COVID-19-related nursing home deaths in the country. The nursing home death toll is around 8,000 and still rising, albeit slower than at the peak of the pandemic. 124 of every 1,000 nursing home residents died. Our neighbors in New York and Pennsylvania were 34th and 14th respectively. New Jerseys appalling numbers are indicative of a massive failure somewhere in our senior care system. Its time for the governor and the Democratic party to stop stalling and launch an investigation into what went wrong.

The ruling party has said all the right things about supporting an investigation while still delaying it. Senate President Steve Sweeney said he supports an investigation but only when the time is right. When exactly that will be is a mystery but something tells me its after the gubernatorial election.

Nobody is accusing Murphy of covering up nursing home deaths like Cuomo, so Im not exactly sure what theyre afraid of. COVID-19 has devastated nursing home residents nationwide and the numbers are already public information. We lead the country, so there was clearly a catastrophic failure somewhere in the system whether it be for-profit providers, state regulations or otherwise we need to figure out why so many died so it can never happen again.

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Khadi "Mujib Jackets" will be the centre of attraction during Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s 2-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. It is important to note here that the Mujib jacket is also an immensely popular outfit in Bangladesh.

What is the Mujib jacket?

The specially designed Mujib jackets have been made of high-quality handcrafted Khadi fabric. The black Mujib Jackets have been designed with 6 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 the 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.

Khadi Mujib jackets to add sheen during PM Modi's visit to Bangladesh

A Khadi Mujib jacket is a sleeve-less and high-neck coat with a front closure. This attire is widely worn in Bangladesh. As PM Modi is all set to visit Bangladesh on March 26, these customised Khadi Mujib jackets will be the key attire of dignitaries during Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic visit to Bangladesh. These, much like the iconic Nehru jacket, were the preferred attire of Bangladesh's first President Sheikh Mjibur Rahman and are immensely popular across the country even today.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has supplied 100 such custom-designed "Mujib Jackets" to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. The Mujib jacket is set to gain a wider fan following as the two Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina come together for 'Mujib Borsho', which is the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invited PM Modi to join the celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence and 50 years of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations. It should be noted here that the Indian Prime Minister has always been vocal about the Khadi fabric and its heritage. Therefore, by choosing to wear Khadi fabric to an event of India's diplomatic importance, PM Modi has once against pushed for the 'vocal for local' call.
Canadian Pacific Railway announced Sunday that it was acquiring Kansas City Southern for about $25 billion to create the first freight rail network connecting the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

The continental partnership will have impacts on CP's existing U.S. headquarters in downtown Minneapolis at Canadian Pacific Plaza, said CEO Keith Creel, but he said changes won't be immediate or reflective of Target's recent decision to cut one-third of its office space at its downtown headquarters.

"Our history in Minnesota runs deep," Creel said in an interview Sunday. That role will not be diminished, it just doesn't have the title of U.S. headquarters."

Kansas City will be designated as the new U.S. headquarters for Canadian Pacific Kansas City, or CPKC, the combined entity Creel will continue serving as CEO. Calgary will be the global headquarters while Mexico City and Monterrey will remain Mexico headquarters.

It was unknown initially how CP employment numbers in the Twin Cities would be affected by the merger, though the companies boast future job creation with the new enterprise.

Creel said about 200 employees work downtown  about half as many as were working there in 2012 when the skyscraper was officially renamed Canadian Pacific Plaza, previously One Financial Plaza, after the railroad moved from its longtime home, the Soo Line Building.

An additional 500 CP employees work at the yard in St. Paul  the single largest yard in the entire CP network  and several other locations throughout the Twin Cities.

"Our dependence upon and reliance on the importance of the Twin Cities will increase and actually we don't expect any kind of job rationalization," Creel said.

Some downtown employees will transition to Kansas City, he said, but not until the deal is approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board sometime in 2022. He said employees running the dispatch operation center downtown are unionized and so there will be negotiations before implementing any changes.

Story continues

"There's going to be an opportunity for them to be employed in and work in Minnesota," he said, adding that might mean changing job assignments. But Creel again said that it's too soon to know how this will shake out and doesn't want people to be concerned at a moment he described as historic and transformational.

"Their anxiety should not be high. Their optimism should be high given the opportunity this represents for our company becoming stronger in Minnesota and in the Twin Cities," Creel said.

A single integrated rail system continentwide will "offer unprecedented reach," CP said Sunday, and an improved system for shippers in grain, automotive and energy.

CP states that rail is more fuel efficient than trucking, and this network will result in fewer trucks on the road. One train is the equivalent of 300 trucks, so this shift is expected to reduce emissions and traffic while improving overall safety.

The two railroads have been the best performing in revenue growth the past three years, Creel said, adding that the company is projected to generate $8.7 billion in total revenue with nearly 20,000 employees.

In total, the merged railroads will be operating 20,000 miles of rail to integrate supply chains in a more sustainable way with science-based pledges that Creel and Kansas City Southern CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer say are in line with the Paris Agreement.

"Customers, labor growth, and shareholders will all benefit from the inherent strengths of this combination, including attractive synergies and complementary routes," Ottensmeyer said.

With the merger announcement, the company hosted an investor conference call Sunday going over shares valued at $275 per share at Kansas City Southern.

Kim Hyatt  612-673-4751
Miami: Miami Beach has declared a state of emergency in its entertainment district due to an influx of young holidaymakers who have inundated the city.

All restaurants, bars and businesses will be required to close by 8pm and a curfew will be imposed for 72 hours.

Despite the coronavirus, spring breakers - pictured last week - have returned to Miami. Credit:Miami Herald

As we hit the peak - at the peak of spring break, we are quite simply overwhelmed in the entertainment district, Miami Beach interim city manager Raul Aguila said at a press conference on Saturday, US time. Folks, this is not an easy decision to make, we are doing that to protect the public health and safety.

The decision, Aguila said, is necessary to protect residents and spring breakers alike.
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Many observers and analysts have already commented on the fact that the first high-level visitor to India from the Biden administration in the United States happens to be US defence secretary Lloyd Austin. Keeping the defence and security relationship in focus serves both the Biden administration and the Narendra Modi government well at a time when the worlds two biggest democracies are arguing about human rights and trade. Their shared concerns about China help bridge the differences on other fronts.

The same purpose of focusing on the security relationship and their shared views on the Chinese threat in Asia could have been achieved if US national security adviser Jake Sullivan had been the first visitor, but defence secretaries also double up as arms salesmen. Defence sales have remained at the centre of the bilateral relationship ever since George W. Bushs defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee signed the New Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship in 2005, defining the transactional underpinning to a strategic relationship.

China has for long been a factor in relations between India and the United States. What keeps changing is the equation in this geopolitical menage a trois. Even at a time when their bilateral relations were otherwise prickly and the United States and India were described as estranged democracies, American military support to India when China attacked it in 1962 kept the relationship going. There was a brief interregnum, at the time of the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, when the US Navy entered the Bay of Bengal as an act of solidarity with Pakistan and in consultation with China.

When Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee wrote a letter to President Bill Clinton mentioning China as a factor in Indias decision to conduct the Shakti nuclear tests in 1998, President Clinton promptly leaked the letter to Beijing, thus ingratiating himself with the Chinese leadership. China was then a major market and destination for US investment. US business interests drove its strategic policy and President Clinton was beholden to American business lobbies that were still enjoying their honeymoon years with China.

While President George W. Bush signalled a reset on China and affirmed Indias nuclear status, President Barack Obama resumed Americas flirtatious relationship with China. President Joe Biden has now made it clear that he will stay with the course set by his predecessor Donald Trump of seeking to contain China. The New Cold War is here.

There are, however, two dimensions to the emerging US-China Cold War. First, trade and investment policies. Second, Indo-Pacific security. India has differences with both China and the United States on trade and investment issues. Not surprisingly, therefore, President Biden chose to send his defence secretary as his first emissary to India. Mr Austins visit has thus given both governments the opportunity to say nice things to each other within days after Indias external affairs minister and the US secretary of state were able to participate in a gathering of friends called the Quad. When the conversation shifts to trade, investments and human rights, the two nations will have to come to terms with the fact that both are strained if not estranged democracies, dealing with domestic challenges that have become dividers rather than bridges in their relationship.

The apologists for both governments have argued that it is just as well that the focus in the bilateral relationship is currently on defence and security and not on trade and investment, because that is where there is greater agreement. The question remains, though, whether the two governments would be able to narrow down their differences on trade, investment and human rights in the extra time they have bought for their partnership by first focusing on China, the Indo-Pacific region and defence matters.

Consider the fact that even during the tenure of President Donald Trump, a self-confessed friend of India and hailed as such by the Narendra Modi government, the United States was not prepared to address Indias concerns on trade and investment-related issues, even if it was quite happy to refrain from comments on human rights issues. Can one expect the Biden administration to be more accommodative than Mr Trump and his administration?

The question will be answered when the recently confirmed US trade representative Katherine Tai engages her Indian counterpart, commerce minister Piyush Goyal. During the Senate confirmation hearings last week, Ms Tai did not reveal her mind on India. Even when references were made to India by several senators, Ms Tai chose to remain silent, except to say that she understood the fact that US should view relations with India in a wider context. It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will define its trade policies within that wider context. It is useful to note that unlike some of President Bidens Indian American nominees, the Taiwanese American Ms Tai sailed through the Senate confirmation proceedings with both Democrats and Republicans confirming her appointment.

How the US defines its economic policy towards India is far more important than how it defines its defence and security policy. I say this for two reasons. First, consider the legacy of its post-war global leadership. The US has been a factor for good in the economic revitalisation of Europe and East Asia during the Cold War. As a defence partner, its legacy has been less impressive. Its economic support in the period between 1950 and 1980 helped Western European and the East Asian economies. Its military interventions in Asia and Latin American failed to improve the defences of its allies.

Second, for India, China is as much a defence and security threat as it has been an economic challenge. In fact, after the recent border standoff, it can be asserted that while India may have the military capability to deal with a Chinese threat, it does not as yet have the economic and human capital capability to deal with Chinas economic challenge. Hence, securing US support for Indias economic rise is as important for India as strengthening its defence capabilities. It is the unveiling of US policy beyond defence and the security of the Indo-Pacific region that one is keenly awaiting.
Surveillance camera footage submitted to a US court indicates that one of the two men who were arrested on suspicion of helping former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn escape from Japan met with his daughter at a Tokyo hotel on the day of the escape.

Tokyo prosecutors have arrested 60-year-old former US Green Beret Michael Taylor and his 28-year-old son Peter Taylor on March 2. They are suspected helping Ghosn flee to Lebanon in December 2019.

The footage shows Peter Taylor receiving baggage from Ghosn's daughter, Maya, in the parking lot of a luxury Tokyo hotel.

He is believed to have then gone to a room in the hotel, where he joined Ghosn and Michael Taylor. Ghosn is believed to have changed clothes, then traveled with the men to Osaka by Shinkansen bullet train, leaving the country by private jet from Kansai Airport.

Sources say the Taylors have admitted charges, and told prosecutors they were asked to help by Ghosn's wife Carole, who faces an arrest warrant for perjury.

Prosecutors suspect Ghosn's family members were involved in his escape. Prosecutors are believed to be set to indict the Taylors when their period of detention expires on Monday.

A spokesperson for Ghosn's family lawyer told NHK that he cannot comment on whether a family member made contact with the younger Taylor.
Editors Note: This is the first in a series about the anniversary of the border closure.

A year after the border first closed due to the pandemic, there are no plans in place for safely reopening the border.

Local officials and citizens have voiced concerns about the continued closure and the announcement this week that Mexico will impose travel restrictions on U.S. citizens for the first time.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said the continued closures are not benefiting the local border economies despite the significant decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths seen in the area.

Without disrespect to Mexico, Mexico doesnt tell us when we reopen our border even though we do try to have mutual agreements with them, but that is something that the U.S. needs to decide, Cuellar said. They are getting 2.5 million vaccines from us, our cases have gone down, and so I am hoping that we can start on our side making that decision ourselves without disrespect to Mexico and see if we can safely open this back up.

Although Mexico announced its new restrictions would be similar to the ones by the U.S. by restricting non-essential activities at the borders, it has been vague about what the restrictions put into effect Friday will entail.

American citizens who live in the country or travel to Nuevo Laredo via the land bridges have not reported any incidents.

I was wondering what they would ask me on the other side, but I was not questioned or anything when I crossed in my car, said Jose Montoya, an American citizen in Nuevo Laredo who works in the U.S. The only thing I saw is there are sanitary control filters once you cross that are returning back any vehicles that have the corresponding license plates that should not be out of the country. Other than that, everything is normal as usual.

Cuellar said he is not sure what the new measures will be but that they would only affect land ports and not other ports of entry. He said this is problematic as it shows the country is favoring people who come into the country to spend large amounts of money at tourist locations but not those who regularly travel between borders.

I do not know what they have in mind, but I can tell you that places where Americans go spend a lot of money they are welcoming those people in places like Cancun, Acapulco, Tulum, and theyve got people coming down as these Americans are spending money, Cuellar said. What I am going to try to see is when we will allow the Mexicans to come over and shop, which I believe will be more of a decision by us as they have said that they want to open up soon, but it will take at least 30 days.

Cuellar has long supported a phase-by-phase reopening of the border by establishing a plan where people crossing must take rapid COVID-19 tests. Under such a plan, Mexican citizens who test positive would return to their country to quarantine, while American citizens and permanent residents would be allowed to enter back into the country under a quarantine plan to ensure infections are minimized. Though Cuellar has had the plan for months, it never gained traction under the past presidential administration, and discussions with the current administration on the plan have not happened yet.

Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz also said he hopes the border fully opens soon as the closure his significantly impacted the economy.

I am not certain, but if it has not been the longest closure then arguably I would think it has been the most costly to our city, our state and national economies, Saenz said.

As cases decline and vaccination efforts increase on both sides of the border, many people are voicing support for opening the border.

I think it's ruining our economy and its time to open it up with precaution, local business owner Veronica Valdez said. It doesnt make sense how illegals are entering through the river and are received with open arms. And yet, Mexican tourists or Mexicans with visas are not allowed. They have done everything the right way but cant cross the border.

Saenz believes it is ironic the border is open for several people and not for all trying to come in the right way.

That is truly the irony, however, I am cognizant that this nation has asylum laws that allow some undocumented people to claim such right, if indeed they are successful to qualify and prevail, Saenz said.

Some people pointed to the ability to travel via air or water as a reason to open the land ports.

People are still arriving in San Antonio, McAllen, Miami and revitalizing economies, Papillon Rosa said. With proper precautions we should also open the borders.

Others simply expressed hope for life returning to normal so people such as business owners can begin rebounding from the difficult year.

Lets hope and pray that once the majority get the vaccine, the store employees locally and customers from Mexico feel more at ease to come and buy goods here, Alberto Omar Perez said. Our great city of Laredo needs the people from Mexico. Our economy depends on them.

Perez said he feels sad going through downtown and even the local malls and seeing how they are slowly dying. He hopes the reopening happens before it is too late for many businesses that are on the brink of failure.

It is sad to see the entire mall shutting down, Perez said. Its beginning to look like a ghost town. But again, it is all about feeling safe and making sure it is safe to go out once again. May God bless us all.

While the timeline for opening the border remains unknown, Saenz said the city is ready to welcome back people from Nuevo Laredo. He said they are more than just economic assets and that there are many family members who have not seen each other for over a year.

As always, we will receive them with open arms, Saenz said. They are our neighbors and very much part of our families. They contribute greatly to our social-cultural activities and business vitality. We are a binational region at the border, and our livelihoods at many levels are very dependent on this symbiotic and respectful relationship.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) presides over a meeting about immigration with Republican and Democrat members of Congress in the Cabinet Room at the White House January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The ex-wife of a Trump Organization executive says she is cooperating with a New York investigation into Donald Trumps business.

Jennifer Weisselberg says she has spoken to the Manhattan district attorneys office multiple times and that they asked her about apartments she and her ex-husband lived in rent-free.

Ms Weisselberg is a former ballet dancer who was married to Barry, the son of Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.

She told CNN that she had been asked about the compensation and gifts that I received from the ex-presidents Trump Organization.

Prosecutors may be interested in whether the appropriate taxes were paid on the apartments, people familiar with the matter told the news organisation.

The Manhattan district attorney is conducting a criminal probe into the finances of the Trump Organization.

Read more:

Ms Weisselberg, who was married to her her husband for 14 years before they divorced in 2018, says she has also met with lawyers for the office of New York attorney general Letitia James, which is running a civil investigation.

For me, when the government calls you, its your civic duty and theres nothing wrong with telling the truth. It wasnt really a choice; they called me, said Ms Weisselberg.

Im happy to be as honest and transparent and just be forthcoming because I dont have anything to hide.

Barry Weisselberg worked for the Trump Organization for over a decade and was involved in managing two skating rinks and a carousel in Central Park, according to CNN.

Prosecutors are reportedly looking into whether Mr Trumps business misled lenders and insurers about the value of some properties, the legality of tax deductions and consulting fees among other issues.

Story continues

They are also investigating a loan taken on a Chicago building and the reimbursement of payments made by former lawyer Michael Cohen.

The Trump Organization has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and a spokesperson for Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance declined comment.

Ms Weisselberg says that she was given use of a Central Park South apartment by Donald and Melania Trump on the day of her bridal shower, and was allowed to pick fixtures and fittings as it was being renovated.

She says that she loved in the apartment from 2005 to 2013 and that the couple only ever paid $400 per month for utilities and costs.
Dear God,

Its me.

Broken and confused.

Shattered in pieces

My oil has now stained the streets of the city.

I have spilt some in Flatbush,

And over in Harlem

Dear God,

Its me.

Tired and abused

Their words are like daggers

Jamming at my heart

Pushing me away

Away into the pits of darkness, pits of no return.

Dear God,

Its me.

Depressed and Far away

But where can I go from your presence?

You know when I sit and when I rise.

You know my thoughts and my future

My days are ordained by you

Dear God,

Its me.

Your broken and confused,

Tired and abused,

Depressed and lost

Child.

Search me Oh God,

Known my thoughts I pray

If there are wicked ways in me,

Lead me back to you.

Dear God,

Its me.

Im coming back to you.

Ashea West.

In 2016 I wrote the poem seen above and I couldnt help but think of Queen Esther as I re-read it (partly because March is Womens month).

Queen Esther

Esther was considered as one of the most beautiful women ever seen, not just on the outside but also within. But Esther didnt have an easy life. She was an orphan and was taken in by her cousin Mordecai where she was raised in a Jewish culture and was taught to fear God. Fast-forward to when Esther became of age and was put in the running to become King Xerxes wife and the new Queen. When she appeared before the King, he was taken aback by her beauty and decided to make her queen. Just like that, the little orphan girl was now in charge at the palace.

But God had other plans for Esther and her newfound position. Shortly after that, Haman - who worked for the King- became upset that Mordecai would not bow down to him and devised a plan to kill Mordecai and all the Jews. Because of his decision to stay faithful to God, the whole Jewish race was about to be wiped out. But Mordecai remembered someone who was in a position to effect change. Mordecai remembered that his cousin Esther, a Jew, was now Queen and was specially liked by the king.

A time like this

Mordecai asked Esther to speak to the King to get the decree to kill all the Jews lifted. However, Esther knew that if the king did not summon her and she entered his chamber, she could be put to death. Mordecai reminded her that it might have just been Gods doing for her to be in the palace, in this position for such a time like this.

There are times we are placed in positions based on our qualifications, or networking or just pure favor, but we need to remember that in all this God is still working. You are where you are now, so that when God needs to raise up an advocate for his people, you can intercede on their behalf.

Esthers Prayer

Esther knew that this task could not be done without God. She was about to put her life on the line for her nation and she needed the courage and the strength. So, Esther called a fast, she did what she knew best to do. She poured out her heart to God for favor and for strength. There are times we might be tasked with things that we cant handle by ourselves but thats the time we need to run to God. Like Esther we need to pour out our heart to him. Let God know how you feel and what you need to keep going on. This becomes easier if we believe that God has placed us in our positions, because if he did, no one can remove us from that position.

I always turn to pen and paper (at times my laptop) to express myself to God. I know that God cares for me and that he is the one that is directing my path, so like Esther I chose to be bold and pour out my feelings to God. I let God know that without him, I cant tackle the world. Because the truth is, God has placed each of us to be lights, and intercessors for those we meet. As this year continues, dont forget to connect with God and then reach out to those around you. Whether you are broken and confused, or feeling insignificant, remember for such a time like this, you were created! Be bold woman of God!
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

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We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that Yerevan had purchased Russian Su-30SM fighters without missiles back in May 2020, months before the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sputnik reports.

"Yes, we bought the fighter, it was delivered in May [2020] and yes, we did not have time to buy the missiles before the war [in Karabakh]. Would you buy planes so that we could buy missiles? Why did the 26-year-old state [Armenia] not have fighters?" Pashinyan said at a Saturday meeting with residents of the country's Aragatsotn region.

Former Chief of Armenia's army General Staff Movses Hakobyan said in November that the fighters were without missiles intended for them, as Russia prohibits the sale of missiles for the Su-30SM to other countries. The Armenian authorities remained silent about this matter until recently.
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Pointing to over 1,000 arrests in one of the nations top party spots, Miami Beach officials warned Sunday that the unruly spring break crowd gathering by the thousands, fighting in the streets, destroying restaurant property and refusing to wear masks has become a serious threat to public safety.

During a last-minute meeting Sunday, city officials voted to extend a highly unusual 8 p.m. curfew for another week along famed South Beach, with the possibility of extending it well into April if needed, and stressed this isnt the typical spring break crowd. They said its not college students, but adults looking to let loose in one of the few states fully open during the pandemic.

Law enforcement officers from at least four other agencies, along with SWAT teams, were added to help contain the raucous crowds, but it wasnt enough. After days of partying, including several confrontations with police, Miami Beach officials enacted a highly unorthodox curfew Saturday from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., forcing restaurants to stop outdoor seating entirely during the three-day emergency period, and encouraging local businesses to voluntarily shut down.

More than half of the more than 1,000 arrests were from out of state, said City Manager Raul Aguila, adding many are coming to engage in lawlessness and an anything goes party attitude. He also noted that the crowds werent eating at restaurants or patronizing businesses generating badly needed tourism dollars, but merely congregating by the thousands in the street.

Officers in bullet proof vests dispersed pepper spray balls Saturday night into a defiant, but mostly non-violent crowd, refusing to submit to the curfew that had only been enacted four hours earlier. Some people responded by jumping on top of cars, twerking and throwing money into the air.

A military style vehicle was seen rolling down the palm-tree lined Ocean Drive as outnumbered Miami Beach police officers struggled to disperse the raucous crowds Saturday. Tourists were urged to stay inside their hotels and pedestrians or vehicles were not allowed to enter the restricted area after 8 p.m.

Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements initially became concerned Monday when the crowds seemed larger than normal on what is typically a quieter day. A group of vehicles blocked the street and basically had an impromptu street party, he said. By Thursday, the crowds were growing, fights were breaking out, setting off dangerous stampedes of people fleeing for safety.

We couldnt go on any longer, Chief Clements said during Sundays meeting, defending the citys curfew. I think this was the right decision.

By Friday night, police said the partying was out of control. One restaurant was turned upside down in the melee, chairs were used as weapons, and broken glass covered the floor.

Next door, the iconic bar, the Clevelander South Beach, announced it was temporarily suspending all food and beverage operations until at least March 24 after crowds crammed Ocean Drive, breaking out into street fights.

After gunshots were fired, a young woman cut her leg so badly in a stampede that she was transported to the hospital where they initially thought she had been shot, police said.

How many more things are we going to allow to occur before we step in, said Chief Clements.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said he has trouble sleeping at night, worried about the out-of-control parties.

When hundreds of people are running through the streets panicked, you realize thats not something that a police force can control, he said during a commission meeting Sunday.

Local officials have struggled to enforce COVID ordinances. Florida has no statewide mask rules, limits on capacity or other such restrictions, courtesy of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis pro-business stance.

I think there are very few places that have been open as our state have been open, said Gelber. Were in the middle of a pandemic. The virus is still very present in our community. We have 1,000 infections a day on most days.

One commissioner asked whether a toll could be levied on non-residents to discourage visitors. Several said it was time for a new marketing campaign to help rebrand South Beachs as a party city, pointing to the small handful of arrests in nearby Fort Lauderdale over spring break.

Local officials and businesses have struggled to balance courting tourists to boost the economy while doing so safely amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Local residents complained they spent three to four hours in traffic after bridges were closed during the curfew and some restaurants asked for permission to continue food delivery after the curfew.

Miami tourism officials say billions of dollars were lost when the pandemic first erupted last year, canceling spring break and forcing beach closures across the Sunshine State. The citys tourism arm just spent $5 million on its biggest national advertising campaign in 20 years.

At the same time, local officials banned alcohol from the beach, along with all alcohol sales after 10 p.m. in an effort to curb partying. The city even sent cellphone text messages to tourists warning, Vacation Responsibly or Be Arrested.

I just feel like its really not fair, tourist Heather Price told NBC 6. People paid a lot of money to come all the way out here, just to not be able to do the activities they wanted to.

Kelli Kennedy of The Associated Press wrote this story.
PM Garibashvili urges all sides to come to the agreement as soon as possible

By Veronika Malinboym

In a concluding statement following his visit to Brussels, Georgias Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili urged all sides to come to an agreement as soon as possible and resolve the ongoing political crisis in the country:I would like to once again call for all sides to come to an agreement within the framework of the constructive dialogue in order to help the country return to normal political life, and in order to start focusing on the serious challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic issues, unemployment, occupation of Georgias territories and so on. Especially since the security in the region is currently under a threat.I hope that within the next few days, the constructive part of the opposition bloc will come to a sensible decision. On our side, we can once again reinstate our readiness to continue the constructive dialogue and come to an agreement as soon as possible.PM Garibashvili also stated that the ongoing political crisis is completely 'artificial' as the top EU officials reaffirmed Georgias 2020 parliamentary elections were free and competitive and the demands of the Georgian opposition parties for repeat elections have no grounds.I would like to once again summarize our visit to Brussels. As you all know, it has been a very successful visit, we held meetings with both the EU and NATO. We have discussed all the reforms, as well as the progress that we have achieved together. I must also note, that both these reforms and this progress are fully recognized and praised in Brussels.PM Garibashvili also noted that during one of the meetings with NATO, Georgia was praised for the progress that it has achieved over the past few years in the defence and the security sectors:We have managed to once again summarize the progress achieved over the past few years in the defence and security sectors. We would like to once again thank everyone who contributed to this progress, Georgian prime minister stated.


Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Photographs of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were missing in the ceremony, presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad, to lay the foundation stone of development projects in Katihar district on Sunday, evoking protests from JD-U leaders. Prasad and Health Minister Mangal Pandey went to Katihar for laying the foundation stone of two hospitals worth Rs 49 crore in Katihar and Purnea districts. During the event, there were photographs of the two BJP leaders as chief guests on the posters, but those of Nitish Kumar was missing. Katihar Deputy Mayor Suraj Rai and other JD-U leaders protested, shouting slogans against the Deputy CM, Health Minister and BJP for conspiring against Nitish Kumar. Rai eventually walked out from the event, leaving BJP leaders in shock. After the event, Rai told media persons that Nitish Kumar is heading NDA in Bihar and "all development projects in Bihar are due to him". "BJP trying to take credit for government projects. Hence, its leaders deliberately removed photograph of Nitish Kumar from the posters of the event," he said. The BJP, however, rejected the allegations of sidelining the Chief Minister. Prasad said: "It could be a lapse of the district administration. We are working under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. He is our leader and PM Narendra Modi is our guide."




Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 00:02:00|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Sunday expressed optimism that the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine will significantly reduce infections in the country.

The Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said in a release that countries that have rolled the vaccine in the southern African region have seen a reduction in new cases, noting that attaining good vaccine coverage was essential for immunity as evidenced in countries administering the vaccine.

He further commended experts under the Zambia Immunization Technical Advisory Group for their input and guidance in the country's planned vaccine acquisition and deployment, stressing that the information provided has been crucial on the decision to be taken by the Cabinet.

According to him, the country has continued to record reductions in positivity rates despite an increase in the testing capacity.

Meanwhile, the country recorded 176 new cases in the last 24 hours out of 4,764 tests done. This brings the cumulative cases to 86,449 while 148 patients were discharged during the same period, bringing the total recoveries to 83,258.

One person died in the last 24 hours, bringing the total deaths to 1,179. Enditem
Since this morning, Detectives @NYPDHateCrimes have been investigating the following: On March 20, 2021 at 8:55 AM, at 196 Allen St, a 66-year-old Asian male was approached by a male who yelled at him and then struck him in the face. See pics. Call or DM @NYPDTips with any info. pic.twitter.com/3dXYni2BEq  NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) March 21, 2021

Cops are looking for a suspect who punched a 66-year-old Asian man in the face in an incident that occurred Saturday morning on Allen Street, just below East Houston Street. They are investigating the attack as a hate crime. Its the latest in a string of attacks on people of Asian descent and comes as the Asian community copes with the aftershocks of the Atlanta shootings. The victim said his attacker started yelling at him, calling him Chinese several times and then struck him with a closed fist.

The victim was experiencing swelling and bruising on the left side of his face but declined medical attention, according to Channel 7.

The attack happened at about 9 a.m. Police are searching for a male suspect about 57, 30 to 40 years old, wearing a brown jacket grey hoodie and black pants. They believe he is homeless.After the attack, the suspect took off eastbound on Stanton Street.

If you have info about this crime, please call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-8477 or for Spanish, 888-577-4782. You can also submit tips online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
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An Australian mum has revealed her simple trick to organise the chargers beside the bedside table, but not everyone deems it to be a safe solution.

Carolina, from Perth, shared a video on TikTok demonstrating how to execute the easy hack, which has since gone viral and received more than 127,000 views.

In the short video Carolina removed the drawers, pulled the power board through the back and inserted the drawers back into place.

But while the tip neatly arranged the space, some TikTok users were concerned about whether placing the electrical appliances in a drawer would become a fire hazard.

Scroll down for video

The bedside table was originally cluttered with cords connected to a charging board, but the trick quickly fixed this problem

While the hack hides the cables inside the top drawer and makes the bedside table look neater, many voted against following the advice.

'Isn't this a fire hazard? Plug and appliances get hot during charging and use,' one person wrote.

'Um peopleplease don't do this, it's a fire hazard,' another confirmed.

'As a property manager, I have seen many fire incidents due to electrical shortages, close contact with flammable materials. This is a fire hazard,' a third added.

According to Fire and Rescue NSW, problems with power boards can arise from dislodged placement, poor placement, inadequate ventilation and overuse.

While the hack hides the cables inside the top drawer and makes the bedside table look neater, many voted against following the advice

The fire department recommends only using power boards with built-in safety switches, placing the boards in an open area and regularly checking the plugs are firmly fixed.

As an alternative to Carolina's idea, the power boards can be placed beside the bedside table on the floor or hooked onto the side if it's not close to the bed.

The best way to prevent electrical fires is to unplug all cords that aren't being used or turn off the electricity via the power switch.
Women in Borno State , who had lost their dignity and marriages because of Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF), are being rehabilitated and helped to return to their husbands, officials have said.

Hundreds of women in the state suffer from VVF, an ailment that has to do with uncontrolled discharge of urine due to the damage of the urinary tract in women.

Medical experts describe fistula or VVF as an abnormal extension track, extending between the bladder (vesica) and vagina, which often allows the continuous, uncontrolled and involuntary discharge of urine into the vagina vault.

Medical experts say early marriage and obstructed labour are the most common causes of VVF.

Women and girls with this ailment are often abandoned by their husbands and isolated from the community due to the smell and associated shame of the urine leakage.

To reverse this trend that left thousands of females in depressed condition and trauma, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) had in collaboration with the Borno State ministry of health embarked on a massive repair programme for women and girls with leaking bladder.

The states Director of Medical Emergencies and Humanitarian Response, Babashehu Mohammed, told journalists the fistula repair programme started in 2018 when the UNFP collaborated with the state under a programme funded by the government of Japan.

Mr Babashehu revealed this at the flag-off of a two-week Pool Fistula campaign organised in collaboration with the UNFP.

Over 100 women from various parts of Borno State and the northeast, in general, have been targeted to undergo surgical operations that lead to the repair of their ruptured urinary system.

He said the Korean International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) funded the programme, under the coordination of UNFPA.

This programme is aimed at fostering resilience and provision of basic medical service among women and girls in the state, he said.

The programme was also designed to increase access to comprehensive medical and child health care among others, the director said.

Commendation

The high point of the event was the visit and official flag-off of the programme by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon.

Mr Kallon commended the efforts of the UNFPA and officials of the Borno State ministry of health for the repairs and rehabilitation of women with Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF).

Speaking at the ward where some 27 VVF survivors were recovering, Mr Kallon said the repair would also add impetus to the resettlement of internally displaced persons and restore hope to the women.

What we are trying to do is to bring back hope to these women. We are not leaving them behind. We are trying to make them members of the society, Mr Kallon said.

I hope that at the end of the day, we can make them an integral part of society with this kind of support.

He added that Nigeria alone accounts for over 150,000 fistula patients based on currently available statistics.

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The campaign being launched today is very critical especially as it increases access to productive health services, ante-natal services, deliverieries and post-natal services, optic or family planning, child harmful traditional practices.

The medical director of the Borno State Specialist Hospital, Laraba Hassan, said the new surgical ward and theatre where the VVF patients were being treated was built by the KOICA through the facilitation of the UNFPA.

She said one of the successes recorded in the repair and restoration of VVF survivors dignity is the reunification of some of the women with their husbands who had earlier abandoned or divorced them.

One of the survivors, a 27-year-old woman, whose name is being protected to safeguard her dignity, said I am happy that I can now live the normal life that I am used to before this ailment came to me. I am also happy that my former husband has agreed to take me back. I thank the UN people and the doctors here in the hospital for being so kind to us.
IF YOU need evidence that the Democratic administration in Washington is hostile to the Granite State, look no further than its disposition toward our states lawsuit against Massachusetts over the Bay States bad faith policy of imposing its income tax on New Hampshire telecommuters who bot
Kris Wiley is the director of the Roseburg Public Library. She can be reached at kwiley@cityofroseburg.org or 541-492-7051.
New Delhi, March 21 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday transferred the fourth and final instalment of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, providing Rs 5,600 crore in total into the bank accounts of more than 19 lakh farmers in the state.

On Sunday, Bhagel digitally transferred Rs 1,104.27 crore as the fourth instalment of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana at a programme held at the Chief Minister's residence office in Raipur.

During the programme, a total of Rs 7.55 crore was also transferred into the accounts of the cattle rearers as the 15th and 16th instalments of the Godhan Nyay Yojana.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi, through a virtual message, congratulated Bhagel and his government for fulfilling the promise of providing Rs 5,600 crore to the farmers of Chhattisgarh.

"Today we have fulfilled the promise of providing Rs 5,600 crore to the farmers of Chhattisgarh. At a time when the Central government has brought the three farm laws which are against the interests of the farmers, I am happy that the Chhattisgarh government has taken up the path of helping the farmers, small businessmen, youth and poor people in the state," Rahul Gandhi said.

During his address, the Chief Minister said that after coming to power, his government had promised that the farmers would get the right price for their produce. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, 19 lakh farmers of Chhattisgarh were provided an amount of 5,627 crore as agricultural input assistance, he said.

"Today I am satisfied that we have fulfilled the promise made to the farmers. We have proved that we do not make false promises but fulfil them, he added.

Bhagel said the farmers were paid Rs 4,500 crore in three instalments under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana till now.

The Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana was implemented from May 21, 2020, which is also celebrated as the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to provide agricultural input assistance to the farmers and to increase production and productivity of major crops in the state.

Under the scheme, farmers cultivating paddy in the 2019 Kharif season were paid instalments directly into their bank accounts at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre on the basis of the acreage obtained through the cooperative society.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, a total of 18.38 lakh farmers, including 9.54 lakh marginal farmers, 5.6 lakh small farmers and 3.21 lakh large farmers, have been paid Rs 4,500 crore in three instalments as input assistance and 4,777 certified seed growers have been paid Rs 23.62 crore in three instalments. As much as Rs 4523.62 crore was paid to a total of 18.43 lakh farmers in three instalments.

The Chief Minister also transferred Rs 3.75 crore as the 15th instalment of the Godhan Nyaya Yojana and Rs 3.8 crore as the 16th instalment into the accounts of the cattle rearers. Till now, Rs 80.42 crore has been paid to the cattle rearers under the Godhan Nyay Yojana.
Claims and counter claims over alleged abduction, torture of journalist View(s):

CCD to record statements from former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and son Chathura over the incident

Man at the centre of the controversy Sujeewa Gamage, attached to Siyarata, news website says he will reveal all in court

A journalist who ran a pro-United National Party (UNP) website claims that he was abducted, assaulted, and released only after a microchip was seized from him.

However, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) which probed his complaint has declared that his assertions are false. They now want to file charges against him.

The man at the centre of the controversy is 62-year-old Sujeewa Gamage, who is attached to Siyarata, a news website.

Police also want to record statements from former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and his son Chathura over the incident. Mr Gamage is known to have worked from Chathura Senaratnes office as well.

The Senaratne duo are due to visit the CCD office tomorrow to give their statements.

Mr Gamages story is that he was abducted as he was making his way to the Mirigama train station and that he was thereafter questioned and tortured by his abductors, who were allegedly looking for a microchip he had in his possession that contained some vital information. His complaint stated that the abductors eventually took him in a van and dropped him off at Maligawatte.

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr Harsha De Silva were among those who condemned the alleged abduction after it was reported. The Free Media Movement (FMM) too issued a statement condemning the alleged abduction as a serious threat to the safety and security of journalists.

Mr Gamages claims have now been contradicted by the CCD which says it has uncovered CCTV footage from March 10, the day of the alleged abduction, which showed Mr Gamage getting down from the train at the Dematagoda train station and walking away, contradicting his claim that he had been abducted on the way to the Mirigama train station.

Police released the CCTV footage to the media this week. Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana also told the media that Mr Gamages torture injuries were self-inflicted.

The journalist was produced in court and released on bail. He held his own press conference on Friday where he disputed the Police Spokesmans version of events, though he admitted to having visited Chathura Senaratnes office in Thimbirigasyaya on the day of the alleged abduction and also meeting with Rajitha Senaratne.

Mr Gamage claimed the confession he allegedly signed after his interrogation by the CCD was signed under duress. He refused to reveal what was in the microchip his alleged abductors were looking for or who he believes his abductors were. I will reveal everything in court, he assured.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 02:28:53|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Morocco announced on Saturday 444 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the North African country to 491,463.

The death toll rose to 8,763 with eight new fatalities during the last 24 hours, while 411 people are in intensive care units.

The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 percent while the recovery rate is 97.4 percent.

Meanwhile, 4,264,168 people have received so far the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, and 2,423,380 people have received the second dose.

The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Enditem
Nagpur, March 21 : Alleging a rampant corruption racket involving transfers of police personnel under the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said no action was taken on report on these malpractices submitted to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"The letter by Param Bir Singh (ex-Mumbai Commissioner of Police) is not the first. There is huge corruption in police transfers, there are brokers around and money is changing hands," he claimed.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said that former Director General of Police Subodh Jaiswal had submitted a report on the alleged bribery rackets for favourable transfers in the police force wherein Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's name reportedly cropped up.

"Jaiswal had submitted the report to both the CM and Home Minister. He had used proper channels, tapped phones with court permission. He forwarded it through the then Commissioner of State Intelligence Department, Rashmi Shukla. But no action was taken on it, though later the CM had sent it to Deshmukh," he claimed.

Both Jaiswal and Shukla were later given Central postings as Director General, Central Industrial Security Force and Additional Director General, Central Reserve Police Force, respectively.

Fadnavis also rejected Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar's contention that neither Thackeray nor Deshmukh was concerned with the reinstatement of arrested-suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze which was done at the level of the then Mumbai Police chief.

His media briefing came amid growing pressure for Home Minister Deshmukh's resignation after Singh's sensational letter claiming the minister had asked Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars, hotels and hookah parlours.

Fadnavis reiterated his demand for a Central or a court-monitored investigation and wanted that Deshmukh must quit or be sacked as no fair probe would be possible if he continues in office.

Meanwhile, BJP workers, leaders and legislators staged protests and demonstrations outside Deshmukh's home in Nagpur and Mumbai after which police detained several of the protestors, including Mumbai party chief Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and MLA Atul Bhatkalkar.
People may need to wear face coverings and social distance for several years until we return to normality, a leading epidemiologist has predicted.



Mary Ramsay, the head of immunization at Public Health England, said basic measures could be in place until other countries successfully roll out jabs.



She also said a return of big spectator events required careful monitoring and clear instructions about staying safe.



The defence secretary has not ruled out the foreign holiday ban being extended.



Ben Wallace told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that booking a break abroad now would be "premature" and "potentially risky".



The UK set another record for the number of coronavirus vaccine doses given in a single day on Saturday, with 873,784 jabs.



Dr Ramsay said restrictions such as face coverings in crowded places and social distancing had become accepted by many and still allowed the economy to function.



She said "people have got used to those lower-level restrictions now, and people can live with them, and the economy can still go on with those less severe restrictions in place".



"So I think certainly for a few years, at least until other parts of the world are as well vaccinated as we are, and the numbers have come down everywhere, that is when we may be able to go very gradually back to a more normal situation," she added.



Warning it was "very important that we do not relax too quickly", Dr Ramsay said any circulating virus would inevitably pick on those who are vulnerable.



"We have to look very carefully before any of these restrictions are lifted," she said.



Prof Chris Whitty, the UK government's chief medical adviser, told MPs earlier this month that it was hoped "simple interventions like washing hands, face masks where appropriate, test-and-trace, and above all vaccines" would keep the virus controlled beyond the summer.



Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, has also said face masks could be needed in certain situations if the number of infections rises in the winter, but that it was possible people will naturally behave in a way that promotes social distancing.



A group of government scientific advisers said last month that "maintaining a baseline of policies which reduce transmission" will be necessary for some time to come.



Those experts said these could include continuing test-and-trace, self-isolation, and public messaging that encourages "voluntary actions to reduce risks".

Source: BBC









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"I'll keep in communication with our board of education, with our staff and with our community, and we will get our kids back into school four, five days a week as soon as we possibly can," he said.

Southern Cayuga Central School District Superintendent Patrick Jensen said in an email to The Citizen Friday he is thankful "research has proven what we have long suspected, schools are one of the safest places a person could be." He added that the district is awaiting further guidance from the state health department.

"Over the next two weeks, Southern Cayuga CSD will review bus routes, staffing, and daily schedules to prepare for a major step towards resuming normal operations," Jensen said. "Our immediate goal will be to return all UPK-6 grade students to in-person instruction every day. "

In light of the revised guidelines, state Sen. Pam Helming called upon state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker in a statement Friday, saying "it is time for you to put our students first. Update the state's guidance and help our schools reopen. I am also hopeful this will lead to relaxing restrictions in other areas, including for music and the arts."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 18:07:40|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Carrie Lam, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said on Saturday that she was confident that Hong Kong will thrive and soar higher with the full support of the central authorities.

Lam made this remark at the Hong Kong Session of China Development Forum 2021, themed "The Development of Hong Kong in the Next Five Years", held online on Saturday evening.

Lam said that her confidence in Hong Kong and its future development is grounded in two major decisions made by the National People's Congress (NPC), the enactment of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR in June 2020 and the decision to improve the HKSAR's electoral system to implement "patriots administering Hong Kong" adopted recently.

"These two important decisions by the highest organ of state power have put Hong Kong back on its right track, that is, fully and faithfully upholding 'one country, two systems', safeguarding national security and ensuring Hong Kong's stability and prosperity," she said.

Lam said that her confidence is further boosted by the support given by the central government to Hong Kong as embedded in the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (the 14th Five Year Plan) approved by the NPC recently.

Noting that the 14th Five-Year Plan reaffirms support for Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international financial center and strengthen its role as a global offshore Renminbi business hub, an international asset management center and a risk management center, Lam highlighted that Hong Kong's strengths in innovation and technology development was recognized in the national plan.

She elaborated on the achievements of Hong Kong as an international financial center and an innovation and technology hub and stated that many initiatives put in place by the HKSAR government, many with the support of the central government, will further boost their development down the road.

Pointing out that Hong Kong's future lies in integration with the mainland economy, while maintaining her uniqueness under "one country, two systems", Lam said that Hong Kong will proactively become a participant in domestic circulation and a facilitator in international circulation amidst the "dual circulation" development strategy of the country.

The forum was hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council and organized by the China Development Research Foundation annually since 2000. This year's forum was held both online and onsite at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing from March 20 to 22. The Hong Kong Session was held for the first time and attended by over 30 invited global business leaders. Enditem
Diplomacy sans foreign policy and diplomats By Gamini Weerakoon Doublespeak View(s): View(s):

Perhaps, the need for effective diplomacy has never been felt before by Sri Lanka as of today.

There are three crucial challenges: Human rights allegations made at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council; a strategic policy to meet calls of world powers and those in the region in their quests in Indian Ocean and the soaring debt crisis.

At Geneva, it appears that the Sri Lanka delegation has not been able to even make a dent on the biased report of the UNHRC chief Michelle Bachelet, despite claims that it is biased and is based not on real evidence but hearsay. The intransigent core group comprising western nations and their subservient allies led by Britain have adopted Bachelets statement en masse and would be the main resolution presented against this country. Sri Lankas attempt this year, lacking evidence to quash allegations or provide diplomatic alternatives and lacking sufficient supporters in the council, has been like the Charge of the Light Brigade through enemy ranks.

In the words of Lord Tennyson;

Theirs is not to reason why

Theirs but to do and die

Could our delegation lacking diplomats of international stature or an acceptable coherent strategy be blamed?

The issue has dragged on for well over a decade but has Sri Lanka had a consistent policy on allegations made, through periods of successive governments?

The origin of this rot goes right back to 1983 when anti-Tamil riots broke out and Tamils fled the country by their thousands to the West and to India.

Our neighbour who built up a disorganised band of racist rebels into a formidable separatist terrorist fighting force, prevented their elimination by the Sri Lankan forces in 1987 with an invasion by a Peace Keeping Force. Our friendly neighbour should be held answerable to our status quo at Geneva.

Furthermore, New Delhi, for many years, has led the diplomatic offensive together with the Tamil Diaspora against Sri Lanka, having it condemned in international fora for human rights violations. Today, the Tamil Diaspora has control of both major political parties in Britain and indications are that they will swing the new Biden Administration of the United States too against Lanka.

But what action did successive governments in power after 1983 take to salvage our image as a democratic peace-loving nation? The instrument that should have been deployed is diplomacy through our Foreign Ministry.

Instead, the Foreign Ministry was abused as an instrument for parochial matters  collection of funds for leaders in power and their party by appointments of businessmen who did not have the foggiest notion about foreign relations but boosted their egos strutting about as ambassadors. Real estate dealers, dubious business dealers formed a significant part of our diplomatic corps while professional diplomats took a back seat. Then came the sons and daughters of politicians without even basic qualifications who wanted to be diplomats in our embassies in Western capitals. The behaviour and political record of their fathers, their educational qualifications and unsavoury reputations should per se have been factors for disqualification of the progeny but we are told that this practice is not yet eliminated.

Political stooging with dependable loyalty to those who matter are prime qualifications in todays politics.

The only time where professionalism came into play was under Chandrika Bandaranaike with Lakshman Kadirgamar as foreign minister. Kadirgamar set about building a professional diplomatic cadre by recruiting qualified young professionals with knowledge of foreign languages and an aptitude for foreign affairs. But the unfortunate demise of Lakshman Kadirgamar ended all that.

To meet the tremendous international challenges that crop up before a nation, a foreign service obviously cannot be built in a year or two. It takes decades and is built up around legendary diplomats.

An outstanding example of that is the Soviet Unions legendary diplomat Andrei Gromyko who became the foreign minister in 1957 and retired in 1988 as Chairman of the Presidium of the Soviet Union in 1988.

From the 1980s till recent times, Sri Lanka has had many retired internationally recognised diplomats who could have been made use of but the accent was on this way that way brokers and real estate dealers. Should these moneybags and the progeny of political stooges continue to be the backbone of Sri Lankan diplomacy?

(The writer is a former editor of The Sunday Island, The Island and a former consultant editor

of the Sunday Leader)
It hasnt really gotten better as much as we would have hoped at this point, said Dave Lewis, the president of SnailWorks, a company that tracks commercial mail and has found that delivery now takes four to five days, after years of averaging 3.5. It just seems that the Postal Service just hasnt come to grips with this and hasnt been able to dig themselves out of it yet from the problems they had in December.

The delays are compounding problems at a venerable American institution already teetering under widening financial losses, polarizing leadership and questions about what the Biden administration will  or even can  do to right the ship. And they may be a precursor of even worse delays to come as the Postal Service reaches a potential inflection point: The agency cannot fix its finances without addressing its service problems, and it cannot address its service problems without fixing its finances.

Already the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, is completing a soon-to-be-released plan to stabilize the agencys finances over 10 years that is expected to prioritize reliability and cost effectiveness over speed. In part, that could mean people like Mr. Pietri no longer find their Christmas gifts lost in transit, but it almost certainly would slow the delivery of some mail even further.

Mr. DeJoys report is expected to propose eliminating the use of planes for the first-class mail service to transport letters and other flat mail in the contiguous United States, according to someone familiar with the planning. It is also expected to propose lengthening the agencys standard delivery time for first-class mail, which includes many envelopes and lightweight packages, from within three days to within five days.

Among other ideas under consideration: shuttering processing facilities and reducing some post office hours. Mr. DeJoy told lawmakers last month that price increases would also be part of the strategy. The plan is part of a concerted effort by the agency to shift its resources to shipping packages, which have become a growing share of its business as traditional mail volumes have declined.
Beijing, March 21 : China and the US have decided to establish a joint working group on climate change, according to a statement by the Chinese delegation which took part in high-level talks in Anchorage, Alaska.

In a statement on Saturday, the delegation said that both countries are committed to enhancing communication and cooperation on the issue, Xinhua news agency reported.

The high-level strategic dialogue marked the first face-to-face talks between the two sides since American President Joe Biden took office in January.

The two-day dialogue were also the first high-level contact between the two countries after their heads of state spoke on the phone on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan from the US side, while the Chinese side was represented by member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

After the meeting ended on Friday, Yang said that although the dialogue was candid, constructive and helpful, some important differences still remained between the two sides.

Ahead of the meeting with the Chinese diplomats, Biden's spokeswoman Jen Psaki had said the focus would be on "having a frank discussion, raising issues where we have concerns, and of course, looking for ways and places where we can work together".

Under former President Donald Trump's administration, ties between China and the US reached their lowest level since diplomatic relations were established in 1979.

It had levied tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods, to which Beijing also responded with duties of its own.

In January 2020, the countries reached a phase one agreement on trade that called for increased Chinese purchases of US goods and greater access to the Chinese financial market.

However, bilateral tensions again increased in the months since, amid the coronavirus pandemic after the Trump administration directly blamed China for the global crisis.
Government has lauded Parliament for approving the 2021 budget statement and economic policy document.



Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who was speaking at the Ministers press briefing in Accra on Sunday March 21, 2021 said government is grateful to the legislature for expediting the approval of the economic policy document to pave way for government to embark on its policies and programmes for the year.



The executive branch of government is grateful to Parliament for the approval of the 2021 economic policy document last Friday March 19. The economic policy for 2021 seeks to engineer first of all a recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and then secondly an accelerated rebound to growth and expansion of the Ghanaian economy starting from this year 2021. In particular, it seeks to reduce our deficit which is escalated from the 4.8 that we brought it to by 2019 to 11% plus because of Covid and related matters.



The first part of this recovery programme seeks to bring it back on the part to sustainability over the next four years to about 9% this year, 7% in 2022, 5% by 2023 and under 5% by 2024 and this is critical to restore debt sustainability and to restore strong micro foundations to propel the medium term and in the future growth agenda that we are looking for, he added.



Parliament last Friday passed the budget statement and economic policy for the 2021 fiscal year. The budget, christened won ya wo hie seeks to rebound an economy that has been dealt a blow by the coronavirus pandemic through programmes such as the Ghana Cares Obaatanpa.



This the Minister called on all stakeholders to support government in its recovery programmes and policies to rebound the economy and get it back to its previous state. He stressed that for government to be able to succeed in its plan to recover the economy it needs adequate support from all stakeholders.

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WASHINGTON  A Senate committee grilled federal officials about the shortage of vaccines to protect Americans against a pandemic virus. Two months later, the U.S. public had lost interest in the virus, and millions of vaccines were sitting in warehouses  although poor countries still needed them.

This happened during the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic. One official on the hot seat was Dr. Nicole Lurie, who was in charge of preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services. Today, shes a senior adviser at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is helping to vaccinate the world against COVID-19. And shes worried about history repeating itself.

Lurie told Congress back then that vaccine production was unpredictable. In any case, the swine flu virus turned out to be relatively tame, but the experience holds a lesson for today, she said: Pandemics shift directions quickly, so its best to be prepared for threats and opportunities  anywhere in the world.

in particular, Lurie and others are urging the Biden administration to make plans for getting surplus U.S. COVID-19 vaccine supplies overseas once Americans are vaccinated. They note that the administration has secured at least 700 million doses of vaccines  more than enough to fully vaccinate every adult and child in the U.S.  by the end of July. The current focus must be the United States, which has had more COVID-19 cases and deaths than any other country. But in the longer term, global immunization will be crucial.

We need to take care of the problem everywhere to be able to take care of it anywhere, said Dr. Mark Feinberg, president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, a remark echoed in a petition circulated by leading U.S. scholars. Even if we get high-level vaccine coverage here, well still be vulnerable to imported variants that are less responsive to the first-generation vaccines. Its going to be an ongoing problem.

Vaccine experts and activists give the Biden administration high marks for reengaging with the World Health Organization and its global partners. They also understand that the United States has to take care of itself first.

Until we have enough for Philadelphia, I dont see them wanting to give vaccine away, said Feinberg, who is 64, lives in Philadelphia and had yet to be vaccinated as of March 18. We have a long way to go.

In the coming months, however, many believe the Biden administration should at least partially pivot to a global approach. The Trump administration wisely spread its risk on vaccine development, spending $14 billion on contracts with eight different companies. Five now have vaccines authorized for use in the United States or overseas.

Now that there are five vaccines that work, the hedging is looking a lot more like hoarding, said Tom Hart, North American executive director of One, a global anti-poverty group. You dont need more than one or two inoculations to become immune. As soon as you become immune, you need to share.

Biden is committed in principle to sharing vaccine doses with the world. On Day One, the administration issued a national security memorandum calling on the secretaries of state and HHS to promptly deliver Biden a framework for donating surplus vaccines, once there is sufficient supply in the United States, to countries in need.

In a largely symbolic move, the administration on Thursday said it planned to provide 1.5 million doses of vaccine to Canada and 2.5 million to Mexico. The donation would come from a cache of vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, which has yet to apply for its use in the United States.

The administration also has promised other countries cash for vaccines. It pledged $4 billion to the COVAX facility, the coordinating group that aims to distribute 2 billion covid vaccines to low-income and middle-income countries by the end of the year. Half of that money has been paid out.

The administration is also helping to expand vaccine manufacturing in the developing world  a key objective to protect these countries against COVID-19, as well as routine childhood diseases and future pandemics.

Biden and the leaders of India, Australia and Japan just signed an agreement that calls on the U.S. International Development Finance Corp., which supports projects in poorer countries, to help Biological E., an Indian pharmaceutical company, produce 1 billion covid vaccine doses by the end of 2022. Johnson & Johnson, Novavax and AstraZeneca have partnered with several Indian manufacturers over the past year in unusually cooperative arrangements.

But donating vaccine would be the quickest way to help  and here the picture is murkier. The administration hasnt said when or how it will determine there is a sufficient supply of U.S. vaccine to be shared.

Federal officials are working on the framework for future donations, an HHS official said.

Our primary focus is to vaccinate Americans first. However, the U.S. will not be completely safe until the entire world is safe, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week that Biden wants to be overprepared and oversupplied, with extra doses that could be used for booster shots. Thats a fuzzy goal, however, since its unclear when or whether or what type of booster shots could be needed.

Its also not clear whether vaccine donations would all go through COVAX, which decides where to send them, or would be given out bilaterally to allies like Mexico.

This is a shame, said Hart, of One, because vaccine sharing could have a big payoff in building goodwill. China and Russia, which already have donated or sold their vaccines in Africa, the Mideast and Latin America, are increasing their spheres of influence through vaccine diplomacy, he said. People dont soon forget when you saved their lives and the lives of their families.

Now is the time to think about these issues, Lurie said. During the swine flu pandemic, tens of millions of unused U.S. influenza vaccines were held in warehouses for months, awaiting shipment overseas, because of cumbersome rules imposed by the U.S., the World Health Organization and overseas governments.

There were 68 steps that no one knew about, Lurie recalled. My favorite was the fumigation certificate required for the wood pallet for exporting doses to the Philippines.

Merck faced similar problems when it tried to ship its Ebola vaccine to West Africa during the 2014-16 epidemic there. Commercial and trade rules, Food and Drug Administration regulations and other red tape make shipping an unlicensed vaccine out of the country very complex, said Feinberg, who was then a senior Merck scientist. It took a lot of jumping through hoops to even send the vaccine to Guinea or Liberia or Sierra Leone.

The donations to Canada and Mexico would apparently come from 30 million doses that AstraZeneca has reportedly warehoused in Ohio while the company prepares to submit data to the FDA for authorization of the vaccine. The U.S. could put those doses to good use by exporting them if they are not going to be used here, Lurie said. That would be a fine alternative to having the vaccine just sitting in a warehouse.

However, several countries have suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while European drug regulators study reports that the vaccine might cause blood clots. Exporting U.S.-made supplies of this vaccine now would be a mistake, Feinberg said, because it could undermine confidence with the perception that the U.S. was offloading a vaccine the FDA hadnt deemed worthy.

The administration has been thoughtful in addressing the key issues, he said. In the long term and maybe even the short term, that may be better than a one-time donation of doses.

--

Arthur Allen of Kaiser Health News wrote this story.

(c)2021 Kaiser Health News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

--

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
Church of England may impose black, minority ethnic quota for clergy

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The Church of England may institute a quota on black and minority ethnic clergy within its ranks as well as institute anti-racism training, according to a report leaked Saturday.

The Spectator obtained a copy of a report set to be turned into the Archbishops Council next week by the Church of Englands anti-racism task force, which was established after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologized for the denominations racist past last year.

The British magazine reports that the title of the document, slated to be released to the public on April 22, is From Lament to Action: Report of the Archbishops Anti-Racism Taskforce.

The report recommends a quota for black and minority ethnic clergy, revamping education in schools run by the denomination and dealing with controversial statues and monuments.

The task force was formed last year after Welby called for statues and memorials in churches and cathedrals linked to the slave trade to be brought down. The call came in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in the United States following George Floyd's death.

Of the 42 diocesan bishops across the country, only one is from a black or minority ethnic background. That person is Guli Francis-Dehqani, the bishop of Chelmsford.

In 2012, 96% of the Church of England senior staff  bishops, archdeacons and cathedral clergy  were white British. That figure dropped down to nearly 94% in 2019, according to The Telegraph.

The task force has suggested that at least one UK minority ethnic clergy (is) elected from each region. Additionally, all shortlists for clergy recruitment should include "at least one appointable UK minority ethnic candidate."

The task force reportedly calls for programme cohorts to have a minimum of 30% UKME participation to build up pipeline supply. The report also states that the denomination will develop an online module for anti-racist learning programme.

The task force recommends that church-affiliated primary and secondary schools develop a broad RE curriculum with specific reference to the promotion of racial justice. The report encourages schools to celebrate Black History Month.

The reforms will be funded and overseen by a proposed Racial Justice Unit, which will have a five-year fixed-term.

The draft document recommends that church officials acknowledge, repent and take decisive action to address the (CoEs) shameful history and legacy, referring to the Churchs involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

Church Officials should also deal with any part of the church building that may cause pain or offence to ensure spaces are welcoming spaces for all.

The BLM movement and in particular the dumping of the Colston statue in Bristol docks shed new light and brought needed urgency to the C of Es consideration of its own contested heritage, the report is quoted as saying.

Last June, Welby told BBC Radio 4 that the controversial statues need to be put in context.

Some will have to come down. Some names will have to change, he added. The church, goodness me, you just go round Canterbury Cathedral, and there are monuments everywhere or Westminster Abbey. We are looking at all that, and some will have to come down.

The Times (of London) reported at the time that many Church of England dioceses were conducting audits to document who is memorialized in the denominations 16,000 churches and 42 cathedrals after leaders showed their willingness to alter or remove some monuments.

But if only the sinless can be remembered, were only going to have memorials to Christ, a London priest, who was not named, told The Times in response to Welbys comments.

We have bucket-loads of saints, martyrs, heroes and heroines, buildings acquired and built with dubious money, but no one is unblemished, all have sinned, the Rev. Andy Bawtree, a vicar at River Parish Church near Dover, was quoted as saying. So where do you stop?
Eagle-eyed plane-spotters will have noticed the odd private jet flying out of Dublin and heading in the direction of the Caribbean in recent times.

The rest of us can only dream but it seems as if former national carrier Aer Lingus may also be mulling the potential for more general passenger traffic to the Caribbean once we are freed from the travel lockdown.

According to a report on industry website Travel Trade Gazette, Aer Lingus is in discussions to launch services from Manchester and Dublin to Antigua. It quoted from Antiguas Daily Observer in which the islands tourism minister Charles Fernandez said that the airline had approached him in February.

Aer Lingus contacted us and they want to fly to the Caribbean, so they will be offering a flight  Dublin, Manchester, Antigua. Of course, this is important for us because it will open up the northern part of England, the minister is reported to have said.

Aer Lingus is looking to hire at least 120 staff for the new Manchester base. Staff in Dublin have had little to be cheerful about in recent times, not least because of the swingeing pay cuts they have endured.

They have heard precious little of comfort from Irish ministers but the words of Fernandez will be some tiny comfort.

With tumbleweed a more likely sight than commercial jets at Dublin, many Aer Lingus staff will no doubt have at least contemplated a move to Manchester.

But the Antiguan ministers mention of Dublin in dispatches suggests that there may be life in the old DUB yet.

Pernod Ricard hints at Jameson cocktail plan

Ann Mukherjee, the North America boss of Irish Distillers owner Pernod Ricard, clearly has a taste for innovation.

During a recent conference call for Pernod Ricard, Mukherjee said the company was beginning to think of its flavour strategy for Jameson whiskey. She hinted at cocktail-inspired variations of Jameson, sharing its Cold Brew variation as an example.

And I think thats the way were approaching our flavour strategy, which is to say, start with the brand, start with the type of spirit it is and what makes sense for a long-term flavour strategy, and thats what youre going to see from Jameson moving forward, she said.

In response to Ergo, Irish Distillers said it is confident of the future growth potential for our brands and will continue to deliver quality, innovation-led products.

Fintech Wise hires former Tralinline CEO, Gilmartin

London-based digital payments fintech Wise, formerly known as Transferwise, has appointed two new director designates to its board to help with the firms next stage of growth.

One of them is former Trainline CEO, Dublin-born Clare Gilmartin, who moved to an advisory role with the travel tech firm in October. Wise co-founder and CEO Kristo Kaarmanna said in a blog that Gilmartins experience would help as Wise scales its operations.

He added the hirings would help create a more inclusive work environment and more diverse and inclusive products.

This article was amended on March 22, 2021.
Kolkata (West Bengal): IndiGo on Saturday said it has handed over a passenger to security on arrival at Kolkata airport for not wearing a face mask despite repeated requests made by the crew on board.

The passenger on IndiGo's 6E938 Bengaluru-Kolkata flight on Saturday refused to wear a mask despite repeated warnings from the flight crew, the officials said.

Earlier this week, AirAsia India offloaded two passengers from its Goa-Mumbai flight and IndiGo handed over two flyers to security officials for not following the COVID-19 rules.

On Tuesday, four passengers on board Alliance Air's Jammu-Delhi flight were deboarded for not wearing masks properly inside the flight even after repeated warnings by the cabin crew.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had last Saturday asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear masks "properly" despite repeated warnings.

Face masks have been made mandatory in public spaces after the COVID-19 outbreak in March last year.

A total of 40,953 new coronavirus cases and 23,653 recoveries were reported, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday.

With the addition of fresh infections, the total cases in the country reached 1,15,55,284, including 2,88,394 active cases, 1,11,07,332 recoveries and 1,59,558 deaths.

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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
South Carolina is closing in on 8,000 total COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, as vaccination efforts across the state continue to grow.

On March 21, Palmetto Palace held a rural vaccination clinic on Wadmalaw Island where they partnered with Roper St. Francis Hospital in distributing hundreds of vaccines to minorities, rural residents and those most in need.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 654 confirmed, 405 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 459,417 confirmed, 82,165 probable.

Percent positive: 4.3 percent.

New deaths reported: 35 confirmed, 8 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 7,953 confirmed, 1,054 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 68.39 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

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (110), Charleston County (48) and Horry County (48) saw the highest totals.

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What about tri-county?

Charleston County had 48 new cases March 20, while Berkeley had 12 and Dorchester had 16.

Deaths

Twenty of the new confirmed deaths reported were people age 35 to 64 and 15 were patients age 65 and older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 542 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 21, 133 were in the ICU and 66 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," Dr. Jane Kelly, assistant state epidemiologist at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, 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.
The Irish Cancer Society is urging people in Longford to get behind a very different Daffodil Day this year, as street sales and events are not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions.



Though the flagship fundraiser is unable to go ahead in its traditional way involving street sales of fresh daffodils or daffodil pins, and community events, there are many ways for people to get involved with this years Daffodil Day, on Friday March 26, supported by Boots Ireland. Log on to www.cancer.ie for ways to get involved and to shop online.



Around 267 people in Longford will receive a cancer diagnosis each year and this Daffodil Day is an important chance to raise funds for services and research and to send people affected by cancer a message of support.

There are many ways for communities to get involved with Daffodil Day, by hosting virtual fundraisers and collections, purchasing items from the Daffodil Day online shop, or making donations. Donations can be made directly to a specific Just Giving Page for Longford by clicking on http://www.just giving.com/ daffodil-day-longford



Throughout the pandemic, the Irish Cancer Society has provided vital services and support to cancer patients and their families across Longford. Services like Night Nursing, the Freephone Support Line: 1800 200 700 and Volunteer Driver service are available because of the vital funds raised on Daffodil Day.



Rosemary Simmons, fundraising lead at the Irish Cancer Society, said: The people of Longford have always been generous in their support of Daffodil Day, but this year more than ever, we need your help.



"Although we cannot take to the streets to sell Daffodils, or host coffee mornings with friends, there are still meaningful ways for communities to raise funds this year.



Because of the additional anxieties a cancer diagnosis during Covid-19 brings, cancer patients need your support more than ever before. Please get involved with Daffodil Day, to ensure nobody in Longford has to go through cancer alone.



The local Daffodil Day coordinator for Longford, Marie Farrell acknowledges the support of the people in Longford in previous years and urges people to continue to support Daffodil Day this year by donating on http://www.just giving.com/daffodil-day-longford



If you have concerns or questions about cancer, or to learn more about support services available in your area, contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone:1800 200 700.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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The delays in deliveries of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have been hugely disappointing, EU financial services commissioner Mairead McGuinness said today.

Ms McGuinness also added that there must be a global focus on the production and supply of vaccinations.

European citizens are growing angry and upset that the vaccine rollout is not happening as rapidly as we had anticipated, she said in an interview on BBC's Andrew Marr programme.

Both the UK and the EU have separate contracts with AstraZeneca, and Ms McGuinness said its her understanding that theyve been supplying the UK with vaccines, but not the trading bloc.

We are supplying the UK with other vaccines, she said. So I think this is about openness and transparency and addressing citizens concerns. It is about nothing else.

Read More

This idea of wars and nationalism, I really want to stress to take that off the table. Europe has been international in its approach on vaccines.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has previously threatened to stop exporting vaccines to the UK. In response to this, Pfizer has warned the EU that they should back down from such threats, saying they depend on the UK heavily for some of the vaccines vital ingredients.

UK defence secretary Ben Wallace similarly warned that this may be counterproductive.

The one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacture is that it is collaborative, he told Sky News.

They would undermine not only their own citizens' chances of having a proper vaccine programme, but also many other countries around the world with the reputational damage for the EU which they would find very hard to change over the short-term.

Ms McGuinness defended the EU, saying again the EUs decisions as of late have nothing to do with vaccine nationalism. Moreover, she discussed the EUs shaky response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Frankly none of us have had a great Covid, she told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme.

I think all of us should put our hands up and say we were not prepared for this global pandemic, we did not do our best at the beginning but we are doing our best now to protect our citizens. That is exactly where Europe is focused on.

That the world has literally stopped turning. And all the things we took for granted like a meal out, summer holidays, seeing family have been destroyed because of an invisible virus. And we were not ready for it, globally not just in Europe.
A supporter of religious and political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) carries a sign against a gang rape that occurred along a highway, and to condemn the violence against women and girls, during a demonstration in Karachi, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2020. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters, File)

Two Men Sentenced to Death for Pakistan Gang Rape: Prosecutors

LAHORETwo men were sentenced to death on Saturday for gang-raping a woman on the side of a highway in Pakistan last year, an attack that triggered nationwide protests and calls for tougher laws.

The men, Abid Malhi and Shafqat Hussain, were convicted of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism offenses, according to a written order released by the judge in the eastern city of Lahore.

The woman was raped at the side of a highway in the eastern province of Punjab after her car ran out of fuel while she was driving her two children in September.

Protesters took to the streets saying Pakistan needed to bring in legal reforms and do more to protect women and children after a series of high-profile cases.

Fewer than 3 percent of sexual assault or rape cases result in a conviction in Pakistan, according to the Karachi-based group War Against Rape.

In December, Pakistan introduced a new rape law, creating special courts in a bid to speed up prosecutions, and setting up a national sex offender registry.

The two condemned men were also sentenced to life imprisonment, fined, and had property confiscated, Rauf Wattoo, a public prosecutor involved in the case, told Reuters.

The survivor had identified the convicts twice during the identification parade in jail and while recording her statement in front of the judge, another prosecutor, Waqar Bhatti, said.

Rights campaigners have called for an end to a culture that they say regularly blames victims of sexual assault. After the rape in September, one senior police official publicly questioned why the woman had been driving alone at night with her children.

By Mubasher Bukhari
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Mar. 21COLLIERVILLE, Tenn.  The Tulane Green Wave bottled up Shakira Austin early but couldn't keep up the pace.

The Ole Miss center got going and finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Rebels to a 72-61 win in the second round of the WNIT in a Memphis Region game at Collierville High School Saturday night.

The Rebels also got 15 points and five rebounds from Donnetta Johnson.

The win moves Ole Miss (13-11) into a third-round game Monday night at 7 against Colorado.

Ole Miss trailed 36-34 at halftime but outscored Tulane 18-14 in the third quarter.

The Rebels took the lead for good with Madison Scott's three-point play with an assist from Jacorriah Bracey with 4 minutes, 27 seconds left.

That made the score 61-58, and Ole Miss closed with an 11-3 run.
By Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING (Reuters) - The trial of Canadian Michael Kovrig, who has been held in China for more than two years on espionage charges, wrapped up in a closed Beijing courtroom on Monday with the verdict to be announced at an unspecified later date, according to state media.

China arrested Kovrig, a former diplomat, and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor in December 2018, soon after Canadian police detained Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies, on a U.S. warrant.

Beijing insists the detentions are not linked to the detention of Meng, who remains under house arrest in Vancouver as she fights extradition to the United States. Beijing has repeatedly called on Ottawa to release her.

She has been fighting the extradition request, and those hearings are expected to wrap up in May in the British Columbia Supreme Court.

The Kovrig trial came just days after the United States raised concerns over the cases at tense talks with China in Alaska. On Monday, Canadian and other diplomats were denied access to the hearing.

William Klein, charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in China, told reporters outside the courthouse as he stood beside his Canadian counterpart that the United States would treat the cases of the two men "as if they were American citizens."

Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said "the eyes of the world are on these cases" and thanked international partners for their support.

In a show of solidarity, 28 diplomats from 26 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Netherlands and Czech Republic, turned up outside the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court on Monday, where there was a heavy police presence.

"We are deeply troubled by the total lack of transparency surrounding these hearings and we continue to work towards an immediate end to their arbitrary detention," Garneau said in a statement.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also tweeted his support for Kovrig's release.

Story continues

China's state media outlet CCTV reported that Kovrig and his lawyer were in court and that the verdict, like the one for Spavor, who was tried on Friday, would be announced at a later date.

"We've requested access to Michael Kovrig's hearing repeatedly but that access is being denied" for national security reasons, Jim Nickel, charge d'affaires of the Canadian embassy in China, told reporters outside the Beijing court. "Now we see that the court process itself is not transparent. We're very troubled by this."

Nickel said Canada would protest the lack of access to China's foreign ministry.

'SOLIDARITY'

"We are here to show solidarity. Arbitrary detention is not the way," a diplomat told Reuters, declining to be named as she was not authorized to speak on the record about the trial.

The Canadian side had assembled a group of diplomats to "point fingers" and was "wantonly interfering in China's judicial sovereignty", said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

Some diplomats took off their face masks as they posed for a group photo outside the court, with each shouting out which country they represented to help reporters identify them.

On Friday, Spavor, a businessman, also stood trial in a closed courtroom in the northeastern city of Dandong.

Separately on Monday, the European Union imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, to which Beijing responded with its own sanctions on Europeans.

Canada, the United States and the U.K. imposed similar sanctions later in the day, with Canada saying there was mounting evidence of "systemic, state-led human rights violations" in Xinjiang.

Amid the wave of diplomatic activity, observers have said the likely convictions of the two men could ultimately facilitate an agreement in which they are released and sent back to Canada.

Chinese courts have a conviction rate of over 99%.

"Michael and Michael Spavor are innocent Canadians caught up in a bigger geopolitical dispute," Kovrig's wife, Vina Nadjibulla, told Reuters.

"Their detention is profoundly unjust and our focus must remain on securing their freedom."

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian, Gabriel Crossley and Tony Munroe in Beijing, Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; writing by Se Young Lee; Editing by Gerry Doyle, Nick Macfie and Giles Elgood)
The appalling cost of a year of draconian Covid restrictions and lockdowns is laid bare today.

On the eve of the anniversary of Boris Johnson's original 'stay at home' order, in-depth analysis by the Mail shows the sheer extent of the economic, social, educational and healthcare damage.

Pandemic measures are costing 500million a day in lost output, while adding 1billion a day to the national debt. And a feared EU blockade on vaccines could derail the phased plan to end the lockdown.

Pandemic measures are costing 500million a day in lost output, while adding 1billion a day to the national debt

Brussels commissioner Mairead McGuinness yesterday confirmed such a ban would be 'on the table' at an EU summit on Thursday. Experts say a total embargo could set back the UK vaccination programme by two months.

As MPs, business leaders and campaigners last night urged Mr Johnson to rule out using lockdowns in any future health crisis:

A record 844,285 Covid jabs were administered on Saturday;

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace claimed a vaccine export ban would damage the EU's international reputation;

Amid signs of a third wave of the virus in Europe, he warned it was premature to book foreign holidays;

The NHS announced trials of tests to detect dangerous mutations of the virus;

A government scientist said social distancing should stay until everyone had been vaccinated;

More than half of Germans and almost two thirds of the French say they will not take the AstraZeneca jab amid scare stories about its efficiency;

The daily coronavirus death toll rose by 33 yesterday, taking the weekly average down by more than a third.

Today's lockdown audit illustrates the crippling impact that 12 months of curbs have had on swathes of the economy, with pubs and restaurants losing an estimated 1.7billion a week, and some 15,000 shops expected to never reopen.

Pubs and restaurants are losing an estimated 1.7billion a week, and some 15,000 shops are expected to never reopen

The grim Covid death toll, which yesterday hit 126,155, is well known. But today's analysis also reveals the dire impact of the past year on the nation's health. The NHS waiting list has soared to a record high of nearly 4.6million, with 300,000 waiting more than a year for treatment.

On cancer, 44,000 fewer patients started treatment last year and there were 4.4million fewer life-saving diagnostic tests. An extra 6,000 people died of heart disease and stroke. Mental health services saw a 27,000 rise in individuals seeking support, while child eating disorders doubled.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the current, and third, lockdown had to be the last.

'We must plan and make changes now to avoid this ever happening again,' he said. 'The cost has been far too high.

A feared EU blockade on vaccines could derail the phased plan to end the lockdown

'The damage to the economy has been, and continues to be, enormous. But there have also been huge consequences for people's health and mental health. We cannot allow ourselves to get caught out like this again.'

A fellow Conservative, Sir Charles Walker, said ministers should have adopted a different approach to shielding the vulnerable.

Sir Charles, vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee for backbench Tories, said: 'We cannot afford to let it happen again  the first lockdown should have been the last. We have had a situation where people have not wanted to ask the question about the wider impact because they know they would not like the answer. But whether you look at the economy, mental health or education, the damage has been massive and unsustainable.'

Former Cabinet minister Esther McVey also urged the PM to accelerate the exit from lockdown to limit further damage.

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, said: 'It is crucial that this lockdown is the last one.

'Businesses cannot afford to keep going through a process of opening and then closing after only a few weeks or months.

Government sources pointed out that the Prime Minister had designed a 'cautious' route out of lockdown in the hope it would be 'irreversible'

'The full impact of this lockdown will not be known until the summer, but we can be sure that many will have lost their jobs, which is why the Prime Minister must consign lockdowns to history.'

Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, said: 'Our children have borne the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have made so many sacrifices  adapting to home-learning, missing friends and relatives, not being able to do so many of the things children love to do. Their lives have been disrupted and many have struggled.'

Government sources pointed out that the Prime Minister had designed a 'cautious' route out of lockdown in the hope it would be 'irreversible'.

Mr Wallace said yesterday: 'None of us want to have lots of draconian measures but this is an unprecedented global pandemic which has cost tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, of lives around the world.'

The lethal fallout: A year of Covid pandemic curbs will leave 'lasting scars' on the NHS... as these patients reveal the adverse effect lockdowns had on them

By Shaun Wooller, Xantha Leatham and Kamal Sultan for the Daily Mail

Charmayne Oakey has suffered excruciating pain for more than a year after knee replacement surgery was delayed

An unprecedented audit of the effect of the pandemic has exposed the devastating impact on non-Covid care.

Almost a year on from the day we first locked down, analysis by a string of charities reveals the toll on patients with cancer, heart disease, arthritis and dementia.

NHS bosses last night admitted the disruption is eye-wateringly clear and will leave lasting scars.

Thousands of preventable deaths have already occurred, with many more likely to follow, and others will be left disabled or in crippling pain as a result of the past year.

Hospitals cancelled swathes of non-urgent operations to focus on coronavirus, while GPs switched to phone and video consultations. Screening programmes for deadly diseases such as breast cancer were put on hold.

In addition, many ill people delayed seeking help after ministers told the public to stay at home to protect the NHS.

The Mails audit of the Covid consequences paints a grim picture, with England recording the largest annual fall in life expectancy since the Second World War.

Waiting lists have already climbed to record highs  and are expected to get worse as more people come forward after the current lockdown ends.

Patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks for treatment after an NHS referral  but more than 300,000 have been waiting for over a year.

Health chiefs warn the backlog will take years to clear, with think-tanks predicting a decade of disruption after a crisis that has undone years of progress.

Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: The job facing surgeons and the teams they work with is huge. It will take years rather than months to catch up.

The widow of a man who died last year after his cancer treatment was delayed due to the pandemic believes his life was unfairly cut short. Malachy Watkins, 73, was first diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2018 and after six weeks of chemotherapy doctors told him the tumour had shrunk. After a check-up last February, he found out the tumour was growing again but his treatment was postponed for three months

The number of face-to-face GP consultations fell by almost 80million. Millions also missed out on cancer checks, while tens of thousands missed out on dementia care. Many others missed heart operations, diabetes checks, rehabilitation for asthma and lung disease and stroke treatment  leaving many with disabilities that could have been avoided.

Measures intended to combat coronavirus have also played havoc with the nations mental health, with friends and families forced apart and many workers left in limbo  or worse.

The number of adults suffering depression doubled during lockdown, as did the number of urgent referrals for children with eating disorders. In addition, the number of dental checks was cut in half.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said the impact of the pandemic on non-Covid patients has been profound.

She added: Some have stayed away from the NHS, but it has been more common for people to try to access care but find it is not available.

The result for many is long waits in pain and discomfort, prolonged uncertainty and anxiety, worse outcomes from operations when they are eventually performed, and in some cases people dying from what would otherwise have been treatable illness.

Patients needing non-urgent hip and knee replacements have consistently seen some of the longest waits. Tracey Loftis of the charity Versus Arthritis said: Thousands of people are enduring long waits with no end date in sight. We have heard from people who have lost jobs, are unable to care for relatives and are seeking help for depression because of the debilitating pain they are in.

Danny Mortimer  chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS organisations  said: The disruption of the pandemic is eye-wateringly clear and it will take many years before the system can return to any sense of normality. The pandemic will leave lasting scars on the NHS after the immediate threat subsides.

An NHS spokesman said: Since the beginning of the pandemic the NHS has urged people to come forward if theyre concerned for their health and has offered care to everyone who needs it.

I was lucky my cancer was found

Emma Gibson was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer last October after her initial screening was postponed for five months

Emma Gibson was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer last October after her initial screening was postponed for five months.

The 25-year-old, who works in marketing, believes she could have had a routine procedure to remove pre-cancerous cells if her March appointment had not been moved due to the pandemic.

She was left frustrated by the lack of urgency from doctors when she tried to find out when her screening would be.

She said: I called three times to try to find out when my smear test would happen but each time I was told to call back again in a couple of months.

Miss Gibson, of Wigan, finally had a smear test at her GP surgery in August and had a procedure called Lletz  large loop excision of the transformation zone  a month later to remove abnormal cells.

She was called to the Thomas Linacre Centre in Wigan for more testing and was told she had stage 1 cervical cancer.

It was a big shock. I never thought that at 25 I would hear that I have cancer, Miss Gibson said. We then went into the second lockdown and it was very scary because I heard that hospitals were cancelling appointments.

In November she had another Lletz procedure and later that month heard she was cancer free. She said: I am one of the lucky ones because there are so many people who have missed out on tests and surgery because of the pandemic.

Daily pain is off the scale

Charmayne Oakey has suffered excruciating pain for more than a year after knee replacement surgery was delayed.

The grandmother from Oxfordshire, who had severe osteoarthritis in her knee, was told in February that she could have the procedure at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford within a few months.

But her appointments were changed to telephone consultations at the start of lockdown and she was told it was no longer possible to set a date for her surgery due to the pandemic.

After eight more months of pain and immobility, Mrs Oakey was warned that she might have to wait another year for her knee replacement surgery because of the backlog in the NHS.

She said: It is affecting every aspect of my ability and it is putting my life on hold. The pain is off the scale and there is no date in sight.

I have severe osteoarthritis in my knee, its bone on bone and theres no cartilage there.

Its absolutely heart-wrenching and I have no idea where I stand.

She has been asked to call back when the current lockdown ends to find out when she can have the procedure.

I understand Covid is a killer but surely they can keep a hospital in a safe area open so important surgeries can go ahead, Mrs Oakey said.

I live in pain every day and there are times when it really gets to me.

I cannot play with any of my grandchildren and it drains me mentally, not being able to do things that I normally could.

Some days I think I cant go on. Ive had to just sit down in the supermarket and cry.

Mrs Oakey, 47, was made redundant last October and she is worried she may not get another job because of her current condition.

She said: Im out of work, quite stressed out about money... How do I tell a prospective employer I am going to need surgery and time off to recover, but I have no idea when?

Husbands life was cut short

The widow of a man who died last year after his cancer treatment was delayed due to the pandemic believes his life was unfairly cut short.

Malachy Watkins, 73, was first diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2018 and after six weeks of chemotherapy doctors told him the tumour had shrunk.

After a check-up last February, he found out the tumour was growing again but his treatment was postponed for three months.

The grandfather from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, started chemotherapy and immunotherapy at Lister Hospital in the town in May but died on September 25.

He began to have heart problems as a result of the treatment and fluid had built up in his lungs so doctors said it had to stop.

Sheila Watkins, 72, his wife of 53 years, said: I feel angry and its so wrong that people are being forced to wait for treatment. We could have had longer together if his treatment started earlier and the quality of his life may have been better.

His life was cut short, but the hospital is not going to admit that. They left us in limbo.

Mr and Mrs Watkins met as teenagers and got married in 1967. Their son Craig, 43, said: If the treatment was started then [last February] I think he would still be with us now. Both their children were not allowed to see their father until Mr Watkinss final moments.

Nick Carver, of the NHS trust which runs Lister Hospital, said: We offer sincere condolences to Mr Watkinss loved ones at this incredibly sad time.

The crushing price of lockdown Cancer treatment The number of patients referred to cancer specialists and starting treatment has nose-dived. Experts fear many have delayed care or been unable to access it, and will be diagnosed when their tumours are too advanced to cure. Cancer Research UK estimates three million fewer people than normal had a cancer screening from March to September as programmes were effectively paused. Almost 44,000 fewer started treatment for the disease in the UK from April 2020 to January 2021 compared with the same period a year earlier. There were 4.4 million fewer diagnostic tests in England between March and January and 400,000 fewer urgent suspected cancer referrals. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: For the first time in decades, this country is faced with the prospect of cancer survival going backwards. Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said the pandemic has had an enormous impact with screening, tests and treatment delayed as a direct result. Prostate Cancer UK said 8,600 fewer men started treatment from April to January. Angela Culhane, the charitys chief executive, said: Many more men could be diagnosed when it is too late for them to be cured. Heart attacks and strokes Deaths caused by heart attacks and strokes rocketed during the lockdown as operations were cancelled and care was delayed. There have been more than 6,000 more deaths than usual from heart diseases and strokes during the pandemic and experts warn the numbers could be just the tip of the iceberg as the true toll of lockdown may not be known for years. At least 12,000 fewer heart operations than expected took place in England in the year to November 2020, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) says, while prescriptions for statins and blood thinners fell by 25 per cent. Other treatments, such as fitting stents, have been impacted too, with 100,000 fewer last year than in 2019. The Institute for Public Policy Research found 23,000 cases of heart failure and up to 90,000 coronary heart disease cases have been missed.The institute estimates the disruption will lead to an extra 12,000 avoidable heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the BHF, said: Were now left with a ticking timebomb of unmet early detection and treatment. Mental health Bereavement, forced separation from loved ones and financial woes have all hit the nations mental health. The number of adults suffering with depression doubled during lockdown, with one in five affected last summer. And emergency referrals to NHS mental health services hit record highs in June and July. One in six children and teenagers are now thought to have a mental health disorder, up from one in nine three years ago. And the number of urgent referrals for children with eating disorders doubled last year. There were almost 1.4million patients in contact with NHS mental health services in December last year  an increase of 27,000 from a year earlier. Dr Trudi Seneviratne, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: Social isolation, loneliness, stress and anxiety, domestic abuse, bereavement, financial difficulties, unemployment and Covid-19 infection are all factors. Mental health charity Sane said that at some points during the pandemic almost a third of its callers were suicidal. Waiting lists The numbers accessing non-Covid care plummeted and waiting lists hit a record high as the NHS reorganised to focus on coronavirus. Many struggled to see their GP in person or saw operations cancelled. Others delayed seeking care out of fear of catching the virus or after hearing ministers repeatedly tell them to stay at home to protect the NHS. Experts fear thousands may have died or suffered long-term harm as a result and warn the backlog will take years to clear. There were 32million fewer GP appointments in 2020 than in 2019, with 79.4million fewer in-person consultations. Attendances at A&E fell from 25.64million to 18.77million, with data suggesting even those with life-threatening conditions stayed away. Family doctors made 5.9million fewer referrals for elective treatment last year  a fall of a third. Planned operations fell by 56 per cent from March to May compared with the same period the previous year. Waiting lists climbed to a high of 4.59million, this is forecast to surge to ten million as lockdown eases. Dementia Coronavirus has dealt a cruel blow to dementia patients and those waiting for a diagnosis. Those living with the disease rely on regular contact with loved ones to put them at ease but over the last year have often been separated by lockdown laws. Dementia diagnosis rates have also fallen with around 43,000 people potentially having missed out on a diagnosis over the past year, denying them access to specialist care and treatments. The rate in England has fallen from 67 per cent before the pandemic to just 61 per cent now. Alzheimers charities also say GP dementia assessments fell by 13,000 a month during the pandemic, while referrals to memory clinics fell by 1,000 a month. Meanwhile researchers have discovered an increase in the use of antipsychotic medication among those with memory loss. Increased use of the drugs, which can have serious side-effects, suggests more people are suffering distress. One in four adults who have died from coronavirus had dementia. But there has also been an increase in non-Covid related deaths among dementia patients. Deaths in private homes from dementia and Alzheimers are 75 per cent higher in England than the five-year average. Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimers Research UK, said: People affected by dementia have been hit especially hard by Covid-19 and the drop in the diagnosis and referral rates means the pandemic will continue to have knock-on effects for years to come. Advertisement

The 521m-a-DAY hit to our economy: That's the cost of lockdown to British businesses, with one in four firms closed and over 6m workers put on furlough

By Hugo Duncan and Mark Shapland for the Daily Mail

Each day of lockdown is costing the economy more than 500million, according to research for the Daily Mail.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research found that output is 521million a day lower than it was before the pandemic.

One in four businesses remains closed and six million workers are on furlough. As well as a collapse in output, the Government is borrowing almost 1billion a day to pay for measures including the furlough scheme and tax breaks for struggling businesses.

MPs, business leaders and economists said the success of the vaccine programme meant Covid restrictions should be lifted more quickly.

Each day of lockdown is costing the economy more than 500million, according to research for the Daily Mail. Restaurants are now closed until after Easter (file photo)

'Of course we should open, we've been locked down for months,' said Lord Rose, chairman of Ocado and former chief executive of Marks & Spencer. 'The economy is going to hell in a handcart. We've spent billions on furlough and on other schemes. How are we going to pay it back?

'Everything has ground to a halt. Companies have spent millions getting ready for this and working out social distancing.

'The Government is terrified of its own shadow. It's time to move on.'

Marketing guru Sir Martin Sorrell, who leads advertising group S4 Capital, said: 'The economy could open up earlier but on a prudent, phased basis, given we've made such good progress through being careful and getting vaccinated. We don't want a lockdown return as we've seen in Italy or Germany.'

The Centre for Economics and Business Research found that output is 521million a day lower than it was before the pandemic

The economy contracted by 9.9 per cent last year  the biggest reverse since the Great Frost of 1709.

With the country back in lockdown, output is expected to contract by another 4 per cent in the first three months of this year.

Unemployment is forecast to hit 6.5 per cent by Christmas  leaving 2.2million out of work, 900,000 more than at the end of 2019.

The total bill for dealing with Covid is expected to hit 407billion as the cost of furlough, higher benefits payments and grants for companies and the self-employed mount.

The collapse in economic activity has also hit tax receipts as incomes, profits, spending and investment dwindle. The Government is on course to borrow a record 355billion in 2020-21 and another 235billion in 2021-22 to cover the cost of higher spending and lower taxes.

This will push UK debt to a peak of 109.7 per cent of national income  the highest level since the aftermath of the Second World War.

But the Bank of England's chief economist, Andy Haldane, predicts Britain will bounce back like a 'coiled spring' once lockdown ends.

Writing in the Mail last month, he said that by the end of June households will have amassed an 'accidental savings' war chest of 250billion. 'Having been bottled in for a year, most people are desperate to get their lives, including their social lives, back,' he said.

But the Bank of England's chief economist, Andy Haldane, predicts Britain will bounce back like a 'coiled spring' once lockdown ends

Kay Neufeld, head of forecasting at the CEBR, said: 'One year on, Covid-19 continues to cost the UK economy 521million per day.

'The majority of these costs are concentrated in a number of sectors including hospitality, entertainment, retail and education. Any economic recovery is dependent on getting the virus under control.

'If the vaccination campaign continues at the current pace and we stay on top of any new variants, we will be able to safely open up the economy, raising output by as much as 512million per day.'

Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: 'By promising to ease the lockdown on the basis of 'data not dates' and then insisting that the dates cannot be brought forward, Boris Johnson has created a one-way ratchet that will become unsustainable as the weeks drag on.

'Every extra day of lockdown produces diminishing returns at exponential cost. We should not be tied to obsolete models. If the situation continues to improve between now and Easter, there will be a strong case for bringing the roadmap forward by four weeks.'

Conservative MP Steve Baker said: 'Ideally we would have hospitality open at Easter.'

Pubs and restaurants' devastating 86bn hole

By Tom Witherow and Archie Mitchell for The Daily Mail

The pandemic was like 'an asteroid that hit the earth' for the hospitality industry with pubs and restaurants missing out on 86 billion  or 1.7billion per week  of sales.

Chains were forced to cull thousands of outlets and hundreds of thousands of staff with a total of 11,900 licensed premises shutting their doors since December 2019 and 660,000 jobs disappearing.

Those that have survived can open outdoor areas from April 12 but must wait until May 17 before doing so indoors.

The pandemic was like 'an asteroid that hit the earth' for the hospitality industry with pubs and restaurants missing out on 86 billion  or 1.7billion per week  of sales. Pictured: The Moon Under Water Pub in London remains closed due to the lockdown

Less than a fifth of restaurant chains have outdoor seating, meaning many will be unable to reopen, while pubs have said that just 17 per cent of pubs' capacity will open outdoors next month.

The industry has been given a glimmer of hope as economists predict customer will unleash 180billion of cash saved in lockdown in a hoped-for repeat of the 'Roaring 20s'.

Bookings have also boomed with some restaurant chains reporting 1,000 bookings ahead of the reopening in April  despite the fact premises will not be restrictions-free until June 21.

We've lost 90,000 Landlords Phil and Leanne Docherty's pub has lost 90,000 in the pandemic. The couple, who have owned the Green Man in Ropsley, Lincolnshire, for five years, said losses started to mount in the autumn as they were faced with mammoth National Insurance (NI) and pension bills. Mr Docherty, 40, said: 'The initial Government support was encouraging. But as we got into autumn there was more onus on the employer. We had a 2,000 grant in March but our NI bill alone cost 3,500 a month.' Landlords Phil and Leanne Docherty's pub has lost 90,000 in the pandemic Mrs Docherty, 39, said next month's partial reopening brings huge uncertainty as they expect many of their elderly customers are unlikely to return until the summer. She said: 'It's hard to know what the uptake will be with the public when they know they have to be sat outside.' Advertisement

Bosses are demanding ministers use the vaccine rollout success to allow pubs, bars and restaurants to reopen indoors alongside 'non-essential' shops on April 12.

Tim Martin, chairman of Wetherspoon, which has 875 pubs, said yesterday: 'The future of the industry, and the UK economy, depends on a consistent set of sensible policies, and the ending of lockdowns and tier systems, which have created economic and social mayhem and colossal debts, with no apparent health benefits.'

A string of household names have been forced to close outlets in the pandemic. Frankie & Benny's shut 120 restaurants and Pizza Express 67.

Wetherpoon's chairman Tim Martin (above) said the future of the industry depended on a 'consistent set of sensible policies'

Restaurant chain Carluccio's was one of the first chains to collapse into administration, in March last year, before it was rescued, though it was forced to shed 1,000 jobs to survive.

Mark Jones, its chief executive at the time, told the BBC yesterday: 'This [the pandemic] was the restaurant industry's asteroid that hit the earth and sped up the evolution of the high street.

'If you went into the pandemic in a weakened position without cash reserves it was going to be very difficult to survive.'

15,000 shops gone for ever

By Tom Witherow for The Daily Mail

More than 15,000 shops have shut for good in the last year as rolling lockdowns devastated high streets.

Businesses were left with zero revenue overnight and have now been shut for close to seven months of the last year, irreversibly changing the make-up of town and city centres.

The enforced closures have felled some of the high street's best known names including Topshop, Laura Ashley and Debenhams.

Shops missed out on 22billion of sales since March 23 last year, forcing them to lay off 185,447 shop floor staff.

The enforced closures have felled some of the high street's best known names including Topshop, Laura Ashley and Debenhams

Bosses also shut 15,187 stores permanently, equivalent to 42 per day, according to the figures from the Centre for Retail Research.

The figures include 23,055 staff who have lost their jobs in 2021 in the most recent lockdown, and 1,369 stores which have closed their doors.

Yesterday business leaders demanded the Prime Minister accelerate the reopening plans and 'consign lockdowns to history'.

It comes after a PwC report found that 'the real impact of the pandemic is yet to be felt' on the high street as thousands of businesses struggle.

We sold our fashion chain after 39 years Steve Cochrane, the founder of one of the North East's best-known independent fashion chains, has been forced to sell his business after 39 years because of lockdown. The 61-year-old founded Psyche in Middlesbrough in 1982, lovingly building the business to two large stores and two websites. But repeated lockdowns forced him to take the 'heartbreaking' decision to sell the business to the company behind House of Fraser, saving jobs and allowing its stores and online shops to continue trading. Steve Cochrane (pictured with wife Alex), the founder of one of the North East's best-known independent fashion chains, has been forced to sell his business after 39 years because of lockdown The father-of-three, who ran the business with the help of his wife Alex, 40, initially made deals with suppliers and landlords and took out Government-backed business interruption loans but this, he said, was just 'debt to pay off debt'. He put his hopes in a 'make-or-break' Christmas only to see the North East return to Tier Three restrictions in November, before the lockdown in December. Advertisement

Women, who make up most of the shop floor workforce, and poorer communities that rely more on retail have been hit hardest.

The troubles on the high street have forced dozens of brands including Oasis, Cath Kidston and TM Lewin to go online-only, and this week Thorntons became the latest victim of lockdown as bosses announced the closure of all 61 directly managed stores, putting 603 jobs at risk.

The closures have helped to push vacancy rates to record highs of 13.7 per cent, raising fears the pandemic has created yet more 'ghost towns'.

Tom Ironside, of the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Government should remain flexible and allow non-essential retail to reopen as soon as the data suggests it is safe to do so. Any delays to the Prime Minister's roadmap will undoubtedly result in more store closures and job losses.'

Julian Dunkerton, of Superdry, said: 'We can see the end now, people miss shopping and I'm confident that people will be coming back to the high street once they're allowed to.'

John Lewis has shut eight department stores, and is expected to close eight more before the end of lockdown, Argos shut 420 stand-alone shops and Carphone Warehouse shut 530 stores

Thousands of the shop closures have come from Britain's best known businesses. John Lewis has shut eight department stores, and is expected to close eight more before the end of lockdown, Argos shut 420 stand-alone shops and Carphone Warehouse shut 530 stores.

Marks & Spencer and John Lewis are even in the process of converting part of their stores on London's Oxford Street, the UK's shopping capital, into offices because they can not justify the space.

Smaller towns have also been hit hard by the pandemic, as key tenants in shopping areas were forced to give up their keys. Topshop owner Arcadia and Debenhams went bust within 24 hours of each other leaving 600 large, hard-to-fill stores empty.

It is feared shoppers may no longer want to head into town now that their destination shops sit empty, permanently damaging the whole business ecosystem. Businesses on larger high streets and in shopping centres have suffered most, especially in major cities, where they rely on footfall from tourists and commuters to justify paying higher rents.

Lockdown has also rapidly accelerated shoppers' move online, pushing the proportion of money spent on the web to a record 35 per cent in January, according to the Office for National Statistics.
State health officials worked last week to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates of Minnesotans of color, amid the disclosure that they are being inoculated at half the pace as people who are white.

This is just the latest example of the fight against discrimination in the provision of health care in Minnesota. And it's something that leaders of insurance companies and hospital systems have given more attention and resources to in recent years.

Data show much higher levels of infant mortality, as well as asthma, obesity and diabetes among people of color in the state.

In 2015, Dr. Ed Ehlinger, who was then Minnesota's health commissioner, warned leaders to stop "admiring the problem."

A 2018 study by the University of Minnesota found that the annual price of racial inequity is 766 lives that are lost due to preventable maladies. It found that more than 1,000 Minnesotans are out of work because their health care is worse than it should be.

The death of George Floyd in police hands last summer thrust even more attention on racial inequality in Minnesota. And yet a poll this winter for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota found 42% of Minnesotans say racism is not a significant problem. However, 80% of Black, American Indian, Latinx and Asian Pacific Islanders in that poll said it is.

Dr. Craig Samitt, the chief executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, had one word for that: "Sobering."

"We call on [white-owned] business and individuals  to shift from a 'none-of-my-business' mind-set and instead make racism and its impact on health everyone's business," Samitt said.

There's anecdotal and quantified evidence, including initiatives from Blue Cross, that business is responding.

Vayong Moua, director of racial and health equity at Blue Cross, immigrated as a toddler to Eau Claire, Wis., in 1976 with his Hmong family from Laos. Southeast Asians, albeit welcomed by many, struggled with education, employment opportunity and racism. Some Americans forget how the Hmong fought alongside U.S. troops in the Vietnam War.

Story continues

Moua remembers being taunted with slurs.

"My parents and other people of color helped to strengthen the equity capacity of the city and public health," Moua said. "Racism is everywhere. There also were good, well-intended, empathetic people. "

Moua, 45, a St. Olaf College graduate, worked on the Blue Cross-Minnesota lawsuit against the tobacco industry that resulted in a landmark 1998 settlement. Big Tobacco conspired for years to addict teens and target minorities, even the executives knew of the deadly costs to smokers, those around them and society.

"Racial equity cannot rely on enlightenment alone," Moua said. "We must go after behavior and systems. It's about power and prioritization. It can't be contingent on just empathy and education.

"We all pay the price for racism and health inequities. If you want healthy people and a talented workforce and to prevent these costs, commit and it will be good for the overall common good. There's economic reason and moral imperative."

Blue Cross and partners want us to test our knowledge and presumptions. Racism is more subtle and permeable than we may think. At the bluecrossmn.com/healthequity website, you will find myth-busting facts and insights into historic elevation of white culture in education, media and business; often to the exclusion of others.

Diversity and inclusion should be enriching, interesting and rewarding. We all have benefited from a half-century of opening jobs and the economy, albeit grudgingly and sometimes unfairly, to women and people of color. The economy, in business, art, sport, medicine and manufacturing also grew, thanks to them.

There was employment growth in technology, health care, building trades and business management, markedly between 2010 and 2019. Still, racial gaps in education, income and homeownership persist.

White executives at companies such as SPS Commerce and Ryan Cos. have been enlightened recently by Yohuru Williams, who leads the University of St. Thomas Racial Justice Initiative.

Bill Green, a professor of Augsburg University, where 40% of graduating classes are minorities, is a lawyer and acclaimed author on post-Civil War discrimination in Minnesota. Pillsbury House Theatre presents compelling productions about interpersonal racial interaction and understandings. It's good to test our awareness.

The discrimination that began in slavery descended through the decades since 1865 in the form of Jim Crow laws, mortgage redlining, voter suppression and other oppressive forms.

Economists find inclusion drives growth. By 2035, 25% of Minnesotans will be people of color.

We all do better when we all do better.

Neal St. Anthony has been a Star Tribune business columnist and reporter since 1984. Reach him at nstanthony@startribune.com.
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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









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Jason Stanfill, 44, traveled March 18 from Broken Arrow to receive his COVID-19 vaccine at the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center in Tahlequah. The CN is making it easier for the public to access the COVID-19 vaccine at tribal health centers throughout the 14-county reservation by broadening vaccine distribution to all those in and outside the reservation.
Former Crimewatch editor Lady Angela Neuberger, whose husband Baron David Neuberger ruled on the case of Britain's exit of the EU, 'simply did not see' another car she pulled out in front of

An ex-Crimewatch editor and titled wife of a former Supreme Court judge caused a crash on a country road - leaving a motorist badly injured - through careless driving, a court heard.

Lady Angela Neuberger, whose husband Baron David Neuberger ruled on the case of Britain's exit of the EU, 'simply did not see' another car as she pulled out of a side road near Bridport in Dorset.

The 74-yer-old's Mercedes collided into the Smart car, in a crash which left the female driver trapped inside the vehicle.

The victim suffered injuries to her abdomen, wrist, knee cap, as well as bruising, and said she thought she was going to die in the hours afterwards.

Police and fire crews turned up at the scene of the crash to find Lady Neuberger reporting a broken toe.

Now Lady Neuberger has been fined 615 by magistrates and been given six points on her licence after admitting to driving without due care and attention.

At the time of the crash, on June 29 last year, Lady Neuberger was driving her C-class Mercedes near her home when she emerged from a side road onto the B3157 between Burton Bradstock and West Bay.

Despite looking both ways she pulled out in front of the Smart car, causing the crash.

Helen Diffey, prosecuting, told Weymouth Magistrates' Court how police were called along with firefighters, ambulance crews and an air ambulance.

She said: 'The victim was medically trapped and nurses came to her and treated her for severe neck pain. The defendant was meanwhile out of her vehicle and complained of a broken toe.'

Photos of the crash scene show the wrecked Smart car with its roof having been cut off by firemen to get to the victim.

Photos of the crash scene show the wrecked Smart car with its roof having been cut off by firemen to get to the victim

In a police interview, Lady Neuberger told officers she had been driving infrequently at the time due to the prior national lockdown. Pictured: Firefighters at the scene of the crash

Who is Lady Nueberger? Angela Holdsworth, known as Lady Neuberger is a TV producer and used to be an editor of Crimewatch. Her husband is Baron David Neuberger, who served as President of the Supreme Court of the UK from 2012 to 2017. The top-ranking judge ruled on the case of Britain's exit from the EU. In 2007, he succeeded Baron Nicholls of Birkenhead as Lord of Appeal in Ordinary - one of the 'Law Lords' who sit in the House of Lords. His position mean the was elevated to Baron Neuberger of Abbotsbury. His wife Angela became Lady Neuberger as a result. The couple have three children together, all of whom are solicitors. In 2016 Lady Neuberger tweeted that Brexit was 'mad and bad' at the time her husband was to decide on the case brought by Gina Miller that the UK had to have Parliament's consent before triggering Article 50. Along with her work on Crimewatch, Lady Neuberger has been involved in a number of television series, including the BBC 2 show, Out of the Dolls House and Chanel 4's 'The People's Duchess - a documentary about the life of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Lady Neuberger has also written books, including one based on the Out of the Doll's House. Advertisement

In a police interview, Lady Neuberger told officers she had been driving infrequently at the time due to the prior national lockdown.

The driver of the Smart car wrote in a statement how she required two operations following the crash and was undergoing extensive recovery programmes.

She said: 'I cannot say June 29 took away my life but for the first 18 hours, I thought I was going to die four times.'

She added she was 'trapped in my own home for six weeks' due to her limited mobility and 'doesn't know when she will drive again'.

She also spoke of the crash's impact on her mental health.

Lady Neuberger pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

Kevin Hill, mitigating, said his client 'simply did not see the other car' and claimed she had checked both directions before pulling out.

Referring to Lady Neuberger's own experiences of driving in the area, Mr Hill explained her main focus was looking to her left as she was aware motorcyclists may travel around a 'notorious' bend.

He said: 'In short, she simply did not see the other car involved. She pulled out of that road and she did not see the other car.

'She cannot express exactly why that is because she simply did not see it but as she said in police interview, she has a theory with some understanding of how she caused this terrible accident.

'She would have been looking up the hill and there is a shadowy area of the road. The other car was dark in colour as it was grey.

'She looked right, she knew she looked right. She thought she had a clear view looking up the hill.

'She believes she must have looked over or across the car and simply did not see the car.'

Mr Hill added that Lady Neuberger accepted she was 'firmly at fault' and profoundly apologised for her actions.

Kevin Hill, mitigating, said his client 'simply did not see the other car' and claimed she had checked both directions before pulling out. Pictured: Police, firefighters and paramedics at the scene

He said: 'She has wanted to contact the victim and express her remorse and regret but has been advised not to do so due to this case.'

Mr Hill noted Lady Neuberger has 'contributed greatly to the local community' in many roles, as well as holding a number of 'significant roles'.

Magistrates described it as a 'nasty accident' and endorsed Neuberger's driving licence with six penalty points.

She was also ordered to pay a 615 fine, 110 in court costs and 62 victim surcharge.
Mississippi has reported a case of the South African variant of COVID-19, also called B.1.351, and its in Harrison County, the Biloxi Sun Herald reports.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs called the development a strong reminder that we are not remotely out of this.

State epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said the health department has no evidence that the person with the South African variant in Harrison County had recently traveled outside of the state. Byers said the department is continuing to contact trace and monitor the persons close contacts for possible transmission.

+7 COVID's misery, once centered in New Orleans, has quietly shifted to north Louisiana One year into the coronavirus pandemic that filled up hospital beds, stopped fans from filling the stands at Saints games and altered almost e

Dobbs said he doesnt see reason for Harrison County residents to be more anxious about the variant than other Mississippians.

If we found one, theres probably multiple, he said. It could be anywhere. Its probably an indicator it exists in larger amounts elsewhere.

There is some decreased effectiveness of the vaccine with the South African variant, Dobbs said, though all vaccines still have been shown to provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. The variant has shown greater resistance to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but evidence shows Moderna and Pfizer are still effective against it.

Dobbs called it a potentially more dangerous variant, and emphasized how important it is to get vaccinated now, and still take simple measures like wearing a mask and avoiding large, indoor social gatherings.

The South African variant is up to 50% more transmissible than the original strain, according to the CDC, but there is no indication that it causes more serious illness and higher death rates.

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The CDC reports that 180 cases of the B.1.351 variant have been identified in 26 states or territories.

Most of Mississippis neighboring states have not reported a case of the South African variant. Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama have not detected the strain, while Tennessee has reported one case.

Mississippi reported its first case of the United Kingdom variant, B.1.1.7, on Feb. 15. That variant is up to 50% more transmissible than the original virus and is thought to be responsible for Europes latest spike in cases and deaths.

A recent study found that the U.K. variant is likely around 64% more lethal than the original coronavirus.

On Friday, the CDCs national listing of variant cases showed nine U.K. cases in Mississippi. At the press conference, Byers said the state has seen 10 cases.

A total of 5,567 U.K. cases have been reported in the U.S.

Byers said recently the state is only testing 75 coronavirus samples per week for variants, but the health department hopes to increase capacity soon.

Read more stories from the Biloxi Sun Herald.
He lives 15,000 kilometres away in the United States, but David Nelson was so moved by the tragic story of a young Jewish mans 1946 death in Melbourne that he organised a gravestone for him.

In soft rain on Sunday at Fawkner cemetery, in Melbournes north, 11 people attended the consecration of the monument to Kurt Kriszhaber, which is engraved with the Star of David.

Dunera Association president Ron Reichwald places a stone on Kurt Kriszhabers new tombstone in Fawkner cemetery, after Michael Cohen (left) said prayers. Credit:Penny Stephens

Teacher and lay cantor Michael Cohen recited psalms, then said in English and sang in Hebrew the Memorial Prayer, asking God to grant Mr Kriszhaber proper repose under the sheltering wings of your presence.

Mr Nelson, who watched by live stream from Florida, has spent three years pursuing the recognition Mr Kriszhaber did not receive upon his death.
Australian-made vials of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine are set to be released within days after the national medicine regulator approved domestic production.

Late on Sunday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration gave its blessing for pharmaceutical giant CSL to manufacture the AstraZeneca vaccine at its two Melbourne sites in Broadmeadows and Parkville.

The approval does not extend to use, however, with the regulator still needing to review batch documents and test to ensure they meet manufacturing standards.

But it said that was 'imminent', paving the way for domestically produced batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be shipped out 'in the next few days'.

Australian-made vials of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine are set to be released within days (Melbourne woman gets the jab at the Austin Hospital)

'Today's approval is a critical and very exciting milestone in Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic,' the TGA said on Sunday.

CSL has been charged with manufacturing 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab as part of an agreement struck with the federal government.

'These will form the mainstay of Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program over the coming months, and complement imported vaccine supplies,' the TGA said.

The announcement coincides with the next stage of Australia's vaccine rollout, which is facing further disruptions as heavy rain and flooding blocks roads in NSW.

The 'phase 1b' rollout - for people aged more than 70, Indigenous Australians over 55, those with a medical condition or disability, and workers deemed high risk - starts on Monday.

Throughout the coming week, more than 1000 general practices in cities and country towns across Australia will start administrating the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the aim to inoculate six million people.

Pharmaceutical giant CSL will manufacture the Astrazenaca jab at two Melbourne sites

'Obviously we won't be able to vaccinate all six million people (on Monday), or over the coming week, so please be patient,' Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.

'At the moment, some general practices will only receive 50 doses a week and they will be prioritising their most elderly and most unwell patients.'

Authorities expect CSL to quickly ramp up production to a million doses a week once final approval is granted, Professor Kidd added.

In the meantime, the rollout of 'phase 1a' is expected to continue for another six to eight weeks until all people in that group have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Prof Kidd also reminded people to have their annual flu shot, which will become available over the coming month.

But importantly he said it is recommended there is a 14-day gap between having the COVID vaccine and the influenza vaccine.

There were just four COVID-19 overseas acquired cases recorded in Australia on Sunday, two in NSW and two in Queensland.
(Natural News) Cruise line Virgin Voyages will now require all crew members and passengers on its ships to get the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. The company established by business magnate Richard Branson said it is committed to fully vaccinated cruises, adding that vaccination and testing is the future of travel. The decision by Virgin Voyages makes it among the first cruise lines to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations as a pre-requisite for travel.

Virgin Voyages CEO Tim McAlpin said that theres a huge pent-up demand for travel and the company would soon be ready to welcome passengers aboard to address this demand. He added that the adults-only aspect of the cruise line allows [it] to offer a highly controlled, safe environment for everyone on board. According to McAlpin, Virgin Voyages is uniquely set up to do this with testing and vaccine travel requirements.

The vaccine requirement came amid the postponement of the lines maiden voyage. Branson told Business Insider back in February 2019 interview that Virgin Voyages was officially open for business. He added that tickets for its maiden trip originally scheduled in April 2020 were already on sale. Unfortunately, the pandemic delayed the original date. The companys first ship Scarlet Lady will now make its maiden voyage in July 2021, one year and three months from its original launch.

McAlpin also remarked that Virgin Voyages is really encouraged by the vaccine rollout plans of the Biden administration. According to a March 11 fact sheet released by the White House, the government will make the vaccine available to all American adults by May 1. President Joe Biden remarked four days later that 100 million shots in peoples arms will have been completed within the next 10 days. Meaning, the administrations initial goal of 100 million vaccinations within Bidens first 100 days will be reached with plenty of time to spare.

The no jab, no travel policy had been foretold earlier

Virgin Voyages mandatory vaccination policy aligned with a projection that COVID-19 immunization will be a prerequisite for travel.

According to a Feb. 11 National File report, CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg predicted that both domestic and international travel will return by the summer of 2021. The journalist also mentioned that vaccine passports would be an important pre-requisite before people can travel to different countries. Presenting proof of COVID-19 vaccination is going to be the new standard in travel, he said.

[The vaccine passport] will be required. The real question is what technology will be available to create a universally acceptable and  readable document that cant be forged, Greenberg said. He added that initial versions of the vaccine passport will be physical in nature, with digital versions being the long-term goal.

The travel editor continued: [Authorities will] be asking for [the vaccine passport] at your point of departure and point of entry. Greenberg gave examples of additional places where vaccine verification will be a standard procedure, namely airline ticket counters, passport control lanes and Customs and Border Protection embarkation points.

Greenberg estimated that vaccine passport checks would become a standard part of protocol for cruise lines and some air carriers by July 2021  coinciding with Virgin Voyages maiden trip.

But prior to Greenbergs remarks, a number of airlines have insinuated that passengers who plan to travel need to get the COVID-19 jab first. Australian flag carrier Qantas said it plans to require international travelers to get immunized against the Wuhan coronavirus. During a November 2020 interview in the Australian news program A Current Affair, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said vaccination will become a necessity for passengers entering and leaving Australia.

We are looking at changing our terms and conditions to say, for international travelers, that we will ask people to have a vaccination before they can get on the aircraft, he said. Joyce added that compulsory vaccination will likely be a common thing for international travelers, a thought his colleagues in other airlines worldwide shared.

Irish budget airline Ryanair also implied making vaccination a requirement before flying in its Jab & Go! advertisements. The air carrier included the tagline in its promotion, inviting travelers to book flights for the summer season.

However, Ryanairs campaign contradicts an earlier statement by its CEO Eddie Wilson. The head of the budget carrier said it was not planning on making vaccinations for COVID-19 a requirement for passengers. Wilson said that the jabs are not really relevant for short haul and European travel. Comparing Ryanairs policy to that of Qantas, he said: With Qantas, [its] a long haul operator  vaccines in that context are really for long-haul [flights].

Visit MedicalTyranny.com to read more about COVID-19 vaccination being mandatory for air travel.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

TheEpochTimes.com 2

BusinessInsider.com

WhiteHouse.gov 1

WhiteHouse.gov 2

NationalFile.com

RT.com

Summit.news
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WADMALAW ISLAND  Healthcare workers eagerly took their stations as hundreds of cars idled outside of the St. James Bethel AME Church on March 21. Volunteers stood ready to direct traffic for a much-needed mass COVID-19 vaccination event tailored to one of Charleston County's more rural communities.

The majority of the residents on Wadmalaw Island, a small community of about 3,000 people near Johns Island, are Black, according to census data. So, with 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine in hand, Dr. Youlando Gibbs said she saw the vaccination event as crucial.

Gibbs, CEO and founder of the Palmetto Palace, a nonprofit organization which takes a health clinic that's based out of a bus to underserved communities, said much good can be done with mass vaccination events outside of major cities like Charleston, Columbia and Mount Pleasant.

"The disparities that exist make it essential for us to deliberately and purposely partner with these churches in rural areas to go out and find people where they are," Gibbs said, who worked with Roper St. Francis to distribute the vaccines.

The vaccination event brings a much-needed shot of hope to Wadmalaw Island residents, especially as the coronavirus continues to disproportionately take its toll on minority populations. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that African Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly three times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to White patients.

Health officials and doctors are still trying to overcome decades worth of mistrust that has formed between some Black Americans and public health agencies following historic examples of mistreatments and abuse.

Jennifer Sterret, a clinical pharmacist with Roper St. Francis who has been assisting with vaccination efforts, said it's important to recognize the past and try to build a better future by providing access to care and information in rural parts of the state.

"They have reason to be skeptical with that long history," Sterret said. "It means a lot for us to build trust with the African American community."

In December, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control released a formal vaccine plan states they want to engage critical, vulnerable and potentially underserved populations to achieve high vaccine acceptance through a strategic communications campaign delivered by trusted influencers.

This involved promoting online videos featuring Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, Columbia Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin and South Carolina music artist Darius Rucker encouraging people to adhere to safety guidelines.

But it also meant partnering with community leaders, like Dr. Gibbs, and churches, like St. St. James Bethel AME, to reach South Carolina's Black residents.

Rev. William R. Jones, the pastor at St. James, said he encouraged his parishioners to come to the event and got the vaccine himself.

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"I've already got both of my shots as an example to my parishioners," Jones said. "Even though there are some people are reluctant, I think some of that feeling is disappearing."

Vaccines were prioritized for those with prior appointments. But then the clinic was opened to residents who lived in Wadmalaw or to anyone who made it in line. Rows of cars stretched down Rosebank Road as South Carolinians waited to get their dose.

Marsha McCoy, a kindergarten teacher from West Ashley, said she was excited for her second dose so she could "go dancing and hear live music."

Others like Emily Campbell, a 73-year-old Wadmalaw Island resident, said she was looking forward to Sunday dinners and a Fourth of July celebration with her family. But she was also anxious and hopes to ease back into life.

"I had been worrying about getting it for three months, but it didn't even hurt," she said. "I can't wait for the second one. I'm still going to be leery though, because I want to stay safe."

Leroy McGill, a Wadmalaw native who lives on Johns Island now, said getting the first shot was a "sigh of relief."

Dr. Gibbs said she was able to breathe a sigh of relief, too, when the vaccines they brought that day were all out.

However, the Department of Health and Environmental Control has provided Palmetto Palace with 2,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and 100 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to use for a variety of community events.

So, for Dr. Gibbs, the work is far from over.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 04:10:34|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- International cooperation is the key in response to common challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, officials and experts said Saturday during an online medical forum hosted by the Athens-based Global Doctors' Hippocratic Institute.

Under the theme "Hippocrates unites the five continents", participants from 15 countries exchanged views on the legacy of ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (5th century BC), who is considered to be the father of western medicine, as well as his philosophy and lessons that could be useful today.

They also discussed the need for closer collaboration between Western and Eastern medicine.

"In the unthinkable today of the COVID-19 pandemic, we considered our duty in the Hippocratic Institute to share the rare comparative knowledge of antiquity and today, through the most valid scientific data, as a message of optimism for humanity's victory over the pandemic," said George Patoulis, president of the institute as well as head of the Athens Medical Association and Governor of Attica region, in his welcome speech.

Cypriot Minister of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth Prodromos Prodromou noted in his speech that "The recent pandemic gave humanity the opportunity to reconsider on the values of community, solidarity and fellowship."

"He (Hippocrates) was the one who laid the foundations for rational interpretation on people's illnesses. He grasped the conception of holistic health, physical and mental. His ethical approach in medicine has been a significant aspect of his work and inheritance," he said.

Delivering a speech on Chinese medicine in antiquity in relation to Hippocratic Medicine, Prof. Peng Daiyin, president of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, said that Chinese doctors such as Bian Que, who lived in the same period and laid the foundation of the traditional Chinese medicine, held common medical ideals and approaches.

For example, they also separated medicine from witchcraft and superstition, they all used herbal medicine to treat patients and they all regarded the life and health of patients as the soul of medicine, he explained.

In the course of centuries, Chinese medicine and Western medicine formed distinct characteristics which increased diversity of medicine in the world and this diversity will have a far-reaching impact on the cause of human health in the future, Peng said.

The Chinese professor also called for the strengthening of cooperation in medical areas in order to face ever growing medical challenges. Enditem
ISTANBUL (AP)  Turkish police on Sunday detained a prominent pro-Kurdish party politician who was staging a days-long protest in parliament. He was released after questioning several hours later.

Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, from the Peoples Democratic Party, or HDP, refused to leave parliament after he was stripped of his status and immunity as lawmaker on Wednesday. The party said around 100 police officers entered parliament to detain him. Video of his detention showed police officers dragging him away.

The party, which is in the throes of a government crackdown, said Gergerlioglu was detained as he was performing his ablutions for morning prayers.

The police insisted on detaining him, and took him away in his pajamas and slippers, the HDP said in a statement. Gergerlioglu's son tweeted a picture of them together after his release Sunday afternoon.

A statement by the prosecutors office, quoted by official Anadolu news agency, said Gergerlioglu was detained for not leaving parliament despite losing his status as lawmaker and for slogans chanted by some people during a protest in parliament Wednesday praising the jailed leader of a Kurdish militant group.

Gergerlioglu, the former head of an Islamist human rights association, has exposed several human rights violations in Turkey, including alleged illegal strip-searches of detainees by police. He trained and worked as a pulmonologist but was fired through an emergency decree. He advocated for the tens of thousands of other civil servants who were purged in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt.

Gergerlioglu was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to two years and six months in prison for spreading terrorist propaganda after he retweeted a 2016 news article about a call for peace by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. An appeals court confirmed the conviction, saying he was owning and legitimizing the PKK by sharing the link, which included a photograph of armed fighters.

Story continues

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, Europe and the United States. It has led an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people. A fragile cease-fire and peace talks collapsed in the summer of 2015.

Supreme Court prosecutors have also filed an indictment at the Constitutional Court for the HDPs closure this week and are seeking a five-year ban on 687 members participation in politics. It is the latest crackdown on the party, which has seen its former leaders, lawmakers and thousands of activists arrested.

HDP is the second-largest opposition party in parliament, elected with more than 5.8 million votes in 2018.

The Turkish president's nationalist ally, Devlet Bahceli, had called on the assembly's speaker to remove Gergerlioglu from the building in a series of tweets Saturday, describing him as a separatist.

The Grand Turkish National Assembly is not the dorms of separatists or the place where fugitives can take refuge. The dagger in the great Turkish nation's heart cannot be allowed to nest or tolerated ... Laying out a bed in parliament is a dark stain on democracy, he wrote in one tweet.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has turned to the nationalists to cement his power as president and with a combined majority in parliament.
A once-in-a-century storm event has delayed the next phase of the Covid-19 rollout in New South Wales.

Thousands of residents in regional towns and parts of greater Sydney will not be receiving the vaccine when phase 1b begins on Monday.

More than six million people across the country were scheduled to begin receiving the vaccine.

Though flash flooding and torrential rain has forced the closure of several roads and supply routes in New South Wales.

Thousands of residents in regional towns and parts of greater Sydney will not be receiving the vaccine when phase 1b begins on Monday

A once-in-a-century storm event has delayed the next phase of the Covid-19 rollout in New South Wales

Though flash flooding and torrential rain has forced the closure of several roads and supply routes in New South Wales

The Department of Health warned the rollout could be delayed by several days, with regional towns hit the hardest.

'Vaccine delivery is being affected in Sydney and across multiple regional NSW locations,' a spokesperson said.

'The Department of Health is working directly with GPs on these issues and we ask for the public's patience with these unforeseen supply delays.'

The Department of Health will provide updates on Monday.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the government was working with freight suppliers to get the doses out as soon as possible.

'Clearly there will be expected disruptions for many freight and logistics movements as a result of these floods and vaccines are not exempt from that,' he told Sky News.

'We're working with freight and distribution companies that are getting the vaccine from point A to point B to understand how that will be impacted.'

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the government was working with freight suppliers to get the doses out as soon as possible

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

Daily Mail Australia contacted the Department of Health for comment.

Flash flooding and heavy rain has battered the east coast with residents evacuated from their homes along northern New South Wales and Greater Sydney.

An evacuation order has been issued for Picton in southwest Sydney after the Warragamba dam started spilling over on Saturday afternoon, causing river levels to rise along 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.

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 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.'

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.
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Home-share hosts in the Blue Mountains are still reeling from the cost to their businesses of a slump in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Summer bushfires.

Airbnb hosts Gabriela Domicelj and her husband Derrick Young say they have lost about $88,000 in revenue from about 40 cancellations since the pandemic began last March. It followed a $40,000 revenue hit during the bushfires over the 2019-20 summer.

Airbnb hosts Gabriela Domicelj and Derek Young. Credit:Rhett Wyman

The biggest impact on the accommodation business is the uncertainty of cash flow. This puts more challenge on the business, Mr Young said.

The couple run a 3.6-hectare private retreat in Katoomba.
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.
James McCarthy is the co-founder of Flipdish, the food ordering app used by Yamamori

Popular Japanese restaurant Yamamori has had such success with its new delivery and takeaway service that it plans to open a new separate premises dedicated to running the operation once its three restaurants are allowed to reopen.

Yamamori owner Graham Ryan told the Sunday Independent that the delivery service it had set up in conjunction with Irish online food ordering platform Flipdish had grown into much more than a stop gap and would keep it running even when it is allowed to open its doors again in the months to come.

Once things reopen we're not sure that well have enough capacity to do take away and run a restaurant in the same venue. So at the moment, we're considering actually opening up a standalone shop that would serve the online business, said Ryan.

We had our best five day period since the pandemic began last week with over 400 orders, although that compares to the 5,000 we would have served each week at our three restaurants and club before the pandemic, he said.

Like many other Irish restaurant owners, Ryan went to Flipdish to get the new delivery service off the ground.

Flipdish told the Sunday Independent this week that it has doubled its Irish customer numbers during the pandemic. In February 2020 Flipdish had 560 hotel and restaurants as customers in Ireland and that number had risen to 1,152 by February 2021.

The Irish firm operates in 15 countries and has seen rapid growth globally due to the pandemic. In March 2020 before the pandemic hit, about 180,000 food orders per month were going through Flipdishs branded apps and websites across its 15 markets. By May this was up to 400,000 and has continued to grow.

A survey carried out by Flipdish amongst 2,500 members of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, found that 57pc of restaurants indicated they would not have survived the first year of the pandemic without offering delivery or takeaway services.

Two thirds of those who moved to a delivery model said that it allowed them to earn up to 20pc of revenue compared to their income before the pandemic.

We got the takeaway going pretty quickly after the first lockdown. From when we closed our doors to when we started shipping food out the door it was about two and a half weeks, said Ryan.

We had only done collection before but it was a very minimal part of our business and wed never given it any focus.

Ryan said that the move online had been challenging initially but the restaurant chain had managed to do it in a very quick turnaround this time last year.

We already put a lot of love into our website but we had to price everything, work on our packaging, find drivers and make a safe environment for our staff to work in. It was challenging but we got there.

Yamamori had 160 staff pre-pandemic and its takeaway service is now run by just 12.
UWC Lends a Helping Hand

It has now been over a year, and 5 Star Marine together with Sutai Muay Thai continue to support vulnerable communities in and around Phuket, Phang Nga and Surrounding Islands. To date, they have exceeded over 150,000 ife bag donations, (each one containing enough staple supplies to feed a family of 5 for around 4 days). The fleet of 5 Star Marine speedboats have enabled access to some of the most at-risk areas, and allowed the charity efforts to go further afield, reaching impoverished smaller villages and islands as well as focusing efforts across Phuket itself.

Community

By Advertorial

Sunday 21 March 2021, 10:00AM

However, they have now been able to warmly welcome more helping hands from students and teachers at UWC Thailand International School. 5 Star Marine recently put out a plea, not for donations, but for more hands-on deck for practical volunteering. So, when UWC proposed that they could help out and make this charity effort part of their community and Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs), this offer was gratefully received.

Packing and delivering over 2,000 life bags each and every week is a huge undertaking, and one that 5 Star Marine has dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to already. Now thankfully though, they have more willing volunteers, as students and teachers help out weekly both on and off campus.

This assistance sits in synergy with UWCs mission  We view the understanding of our minds, our bodies, and our emotions as a key life skill; fostering the development of our students by tending to both intrapersonal awareness and interpersonal sensitivity in order to create a positive and international school culture. Our aim is to cultivate genuine happiness. In an increasingly interdependent world, we treat others and the planet with respect, kindness and consideration, helping even in the smallest of ways.

UWC gives their students the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom, and encourages them to take full advantage of projects offered. They believe that by trying out new interests, students have a chance to explore their talents, meet new people, develop new skills and discover what they are passionate about. This type of mindset is in perfect harmony for the new collaboration with 5 Star Marine and their donation drive.

The school will be providing a 20+ strong team of students and teachers each Saturday to assist with the community packing at Sutai Muay Thai in Surin. As a true community effort, additional school parents and children of all age ranges will be getting involved also. These sorts of activities are a vital part of student life and learning; providing an opportunity to bring students, staff, and parents, (as well as the wider community), together.

In addition to the off-campus efforts, there will be a weekly group of students (up to around 50), who will aim to pack 1,000 life bags each time for this worthy initiative. As part of UWCs Extra

Curricular Activities, there are now 2 dedicated students taking on the responsibility for coordinating the Saturday off-site packing; including organising the participants, mini buses and time-frames. This also forms part of their co-curriculum program which all students are encouraged to take part in.

In true UWC style, the school has launched a competition inviting all students to challenge the packing process and in particular to look at how to reduce plastic usage, re-use or recycle elements of the current food packing practices. This ties in cohesively with the learning outcomes around their Ethics of our Choices and Actions by looking at the types of plastic we use versus the human need, and encourages students to question and improve this process.

5 Star Marine are grateful for the hands-on deck they so needed, and the response from UWC has been a perfect fit to help with these donation efforts. They continue to take the safety of all school and other volunteers, beneficiaries and staff as of paramount importance, with all donation activities being overseen by public health officers and local arbiters; adhering to screening, sanitising and queuing with social distancing guidelines.

By Joanna Matlub
It is as hard to understand a technological revolution while it is happening as to know what a hurricane will do while the winds are still gaining speed. Through the emergence of technologies now regarded as basic elements of modernity  electric power, the arrival of automobiles and airplanes and the internet  people have tried, with hit-and-miss success, to assess their future impact.

The most persistent and touching error has been the ever-dashed hope that, as machines are able to do more work, human beings will be freed to do less, and will have more time for culture and contemplation. The greatest imaginative challenge seems to be foreseeing which changes will arrive sooner than expected (computers outplaying chess grandmasters), and which will be surprisingly slow (flying cars). The tech-world saying is that people chronically overestimate what can do in a year, and underestimate what it can do in a decade and beyond.

Depending on how you count, the AI revolution began about 60 years ago, dating to the dawn of the computer age, or has just barely begun. Its implications range from utilities routinised into daily life (like real-time updates on traffic flow), to ominous steps toward 1984-style perpetual-surveillance states (like Chinas facial recognition system).

Looking back, its easy to recognise the damage done by waiting too long to face important choices about  or leaving those choices to whatever a private interest might find profitable. These go from the role of the automobile in creating Americas sprawl-suburb landscape to the role of and other companies in fostering the disinformation society.

Genius Makers and Futureproof, both by experienced reporters now at The New York Times, are part of a rapidly growing literature attempting to make sense of the AI hurricane we are living through.

Genius Makers is about the people who have built the AI world  scientists, engineers, linguists, gamers  more than about the technology itself, or its good and bad effects. The fundamental technical debates and discoveries on which AI is based are a background to the individual profiles and corporate-drama scenes Cade Metz presents. The longest running, most consequential debate is between proponents of two approaches to increasing computerised intelligence, which can be oversimplified as thinking like a person versus thinking like a machine.

The first boils down to using neural networks  computer circuits  that are designed to conduct endless trial-and-error experiments and improve their accuracy as they match their conclusions against real-world data. The second boils down to equipping a computer with detailed sets of rules  rules of syntax and semantics for language translation, rules of syndrome-pattern for medical diagnoses. Much of Mr Metzs story runs from excitement for neural networks in the early 1960s, to an A.I. winter in the 1970s, when that eras computers proved too limited to do the job, to a recent revival of a neural-network approach toward deep learning.





GENIUS MAKERS: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World Author: Cade Metz Publisher: Dutton Price: $28; Pages: 384

Mr Metz tells the story of more than a dozen of the worlds AI pioneers, of whom two come across most vividly. One is Geoffrey Hinton, an English-born computer scientist now in his mid-70s, who is introduced in the prologue as The Man Who Didnt Sit Down. Because of a back condition, Hinton finds it excruciating to sit in a chair  and he has not done so since 2005. This means, among other things, that he cannot take commercial airplane flights. In one crucial scene of Mr Metzs tale he is placed on a makeshift bed on the floor of a Gulfstream, and then strapped down for the flight across the Atlantic to an AI meeting in London.



Book cover of FUTUREPROOF: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation

The other most prominent figure in Mr Metzs book is Demis Hassabis, who grew up in London and is now in his mid-40s. He is a former chess prodigy and electronic-games entrepreneur and designer who founded a company called DeepMind, now a leading force in the quest for the grail of AGI, or artificial general intelligence.

Superintelligence was possible and he believed it could be dangerous, but he also believed it was still many years away, Mr Metz writes. We need to use the downtime, when things are calm, to prepare for when things get serious in the decades to come, he said. The time we have now is valuable, and we need to make use of it.





FUTUREPROOF: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation Author: Kevin Roose Publisher: Random House Price: $27; Pages: 256

Making use of that time is the entire theme of Futureproof. Kevin Rooses book has two sections: The Machines, about the surprising potential and equally surprising limits of automated intelligence, and The Rules, which offers nine maxims for how people and organisations can best respond.

In the books first section, Mr Roose lays out distinctions between jobs and industries in which AI is likely to dominate, and those where it still disappoints. Computers are unmatchable in speed and complexity within known boundaries  the rules of chess, even the way points an airplane must follow through the sky. But the more fluid the setting, the greater the difficulties. Most AI is built to solve a single problem, and fails when you ask it to do something else, he writes. And so far, AI has fared poorly at what is called transfer learning  using information gained while solving one problem to do something else.

Technologys effects are driven by technology itself, but even more by human choice. Mr Roose warns against treating technological change as a disembodied natural force that simply happens to us, like gravity or thermodynamics. Instead we all should realise that none of this is predetermined.  Regulators, not robots, decide what limits to place on emerging technologies like facial recognition and targeted digital advertising. The message from both of these is that the sky is not falling  but it could. There is time to make a choice.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 20:58:50|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry on Sunday stressed the need for the northern state of Uttarakhand to adopt stringent measures to control spread of the COVID-19 pandemic during the annual Kumbh Mela fair.

"Federal health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to chief secretary (of) Uttarakhand strongly highlighting the concerns raised by the high-level central team in its visit to Uttarakhand and about the need for stringent measures to control the spread of COVID-19 during Kumbh Mela," a government spokesman said.

A high-level team sent by the federal government visited Uttarakhand earlier this week to review the medical and public health measures undertaken by the local government over the ongoing Kumbh Mela fair in Haridwar city.

"The federal health secretary has also observed that currently, more than 12 states have shown a surge in COVID 19 cases during past few weeks and pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela could also be from these states," the spokesman said.

The health secretary noted that the federal government team reported COVID-19 infections were recorded in 10 to 20 pilgrims and 10 to 20 local residents on a daily basis.

"This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh," the spokesman said.

The Uttarakhand state was also informed that the number of daily testings conducted in Haridwar was not enough considering the inflow of visitors, according to the spokesman. Enditem
Lausanne, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2021 ) :Leo pulls on a shiny, silver suit and places the helmet gingerly over his head before marching with the other budding astronauts towards their spaceship.

"Going to Mars is really my dream," the eight-year-old said, jumping excitedly from foot to foot.

While the world has been riveted by the escapades of NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, a group of Swiss Primary school children has been eagerly preparing their own mission to the red planet.

Some of Switzerland's top space experts, including the country's only astronaut, Claude Nicollier, evaluated the detailed mission plan the children had developed over nine months.

And on March 8, they gave it the all-clear for lift-off.

The children "exploded with joy" when they heard, their teacher at the Vivalys private school near Lausanne, Sebastien Roussel, told AFP.

"It was like watching the NASA engineers' ecstatic reaction when Perseverance touched down." This week, they finally blasted off.

Their rocket is actually a bus, with images of astronauts astride a spaceship heading towards a bright red sphere covering the windows, flanked by the message: "Mission Vivalys. Direction Mars".

- Space station - Their destination? A Mars space station conveniently situated a bus-ride away in a secluded wooded area on the outskirts of Lausanne in western Switzerland.

Here, the 16 eight- and nine-year-olds will spend three days carrying out experiments similar to some conducted by actual astronauts, including attempting to grow plants to sustain them on the long journey.

And while the idyllic, snow-sprinkled surroundings are far less hostile than the windswept, dusty surface of Mars, the children wear suits and helmets whenever they step outside.

Inside the base, with his helmet -- actually a face-covering scuba-diving mask -- under his arm, Leo says this "analogue mission to Mars" made him all the more eager to see the real thing.

"But I don't want to land where Perseverance landed. It's radioactive there and very cold," he said.

In a bid to simulate a true space mission, all the children's meals consist of freeze-dried space food.

Initial plans for them to sleep on site were meanwhile scrapped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Our biggest concern is not bringing the virus to Mars," Olivier Delamadeleine, head of the Educalis group that runs the school, told AFP.

The mission fits with the school's general approach aimed at deepening the students' learning through "real life" experiences, he said.

During the months of preparation, the children participated in workshops on astronomy and rocket engineering hosted by students at the neighbouring EPFL -- among the most prestigious technical universities in Europe.

- A motivation 'win' - The mission required them to use mathematics to calculate the distance to Mars, and they have also sharpened their language skills, learning how to spell the Names of the planets.

Roussel said the mission was "a win" for a teacher seeking to motivate his students.

The first experiment the team embarks upon after arriving at the space station is launching home-made paper rockets into space.

The children get to work rolling sheets of paper into tubes, before adding pointed paper tips and fins.

Ewan, the project's appointed leader, recommends using a lot of tape.

"We are going to pump air into them, so it is important to close them tightly," the youngster explains.

He pulls on his mask and heads out to help secure the launch site with safety cones and tape.

When the other children arrive, he helps Roussel place one rocket on a large metal contraption attached to a pump.

When they flip a red lever on the valve, the paper rocket flies as high as the treetops amid wild applause.

- Exploding rockets - After all the rockets have been launched, the children have a debrief Zoom session with Jonas Morfin, known as "Jupiter Jonas", at EPFL's Space Innovation unit.

Lined up in front of the camera, they detail the problems some rockets ran into, and he provides pointers on how to improve the structures for the next launch.

"Maybe reinforce the next one with more tape?" Morfin tells a girl whose rocket exploded in mid-air.

The preparation for the mission, and especially the Zoom conversation earlier this month with Nicollier, has left some children dreaming about becoming astronauts themselves.

"That's what I have in mind," Leo said. "Now I want to be a scientist or an astronaut." Perseverance's images from Mars have also left some children eager to see humans walk on the red planet.

"It's possible for robots," said Nina, one of two children named mission leaders.

"I think it will be possible for us too, soon."
VIJAYAWADA: State Election Commissioner (SEC) N. Ramesh Kumar on Saturday moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a CBI probe into leaking of a series of privileged communication between him and Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan.

A single-judge bench headed by Justice R. Raghunandan Rao heard the petition on the same day. However, the justice recused himself from the case saying he knew Ramesh Kumar in person and could not thus take up hearing of the SECs case.

In his petition, the commissioner pointed out that his communications to the Governor from January to March this year on several issues had got leaked, including to the media. This, he contended, is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 19 and 243 K of the Constitution of India.

Ramesh Kumar made union home secretary, AP chief secretary, Governors principal secretary, CBI, panchayat raj minister P. Ramachandra Reddy, municipal administration minister Botsa Satyanarayana and others respondents in the case.

The commissioner recounted that he had sent to the Governor a series of communications pertaining to issue of notifications for conduct of polls to both rural and urban local bodies, their deferment due to prevalence of Covid-19, subsequent resumption of election process, completion of polls to gram panchayats and urban local bodies, apart from comments of two ministers for making adverse remarks against him (Ramesh Kumar).

He said that such letters between the State Election Commissioner and Governor are part of privileged communications. Their leakage had severely hampered the functioning of the two constitutional bodies. The issue, thus, had to be dealt with an iron fist, he maintained.

Recusing himself, Justice Raghunandan Rao directed that the court registry take case to the notice of Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami for deciding on hearing of the case.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  Cash aid for displaced workers amid stricter lockdown rules? The government is unlikely to provide assistance, with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque saying Filipinos can still go to work as the "economy remains open."

In a virtual briefing on Sunday, Roque said the government would not implement an "economic lockdown" since many industries would still be allowed to operate in Mega Manila despite placing the area under a stricter general community quarantine from March 22 to April 4.

READ: Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal revert to GCQ until April 4 as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

"Hindi po 'yan hard lockdown, kasi bukas ang ekonomiya. But it is a restriction of movement, kasi iniiwasan natin na kumalat pa 'yung new variants na nasa Metro Manila at karatig na probinsiya," he said.

[Translation: It's not a hard lockdown, because the economy is open. But it is a restriction of movement because we are avoiding the spread of new variants present in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.]

"Bukas pa rin ang ekonomiya kaya pwede pa rin magtrabaho," Roque added.

[Translation: The economy is still open, so people can still work]

RELATED: No more SAP cash aid for 2021, Palace says

Citing Resolution No. 104 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Roque said establishments that are temporarily suspended during the period include driving schools, traditional cinemas and video- and interactive-game arcades, libraries, archives, museums, and cultural centers.

Social events at accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism will be limited, as well as tourist attractions, except if they are open-air.

All food establishments in GCQ areas will only be allowed to offer delivery, take-out and outdoor dining services. Outdoor or distanced al fresco dining though will only be permitted at 50% capacity.

Roque said the government is encouraging the private sector to embrace a work-from-home scheme or impose a 30% to 50% operational capacity.

The stricter quarantine controls are meant to lessen the spread of the COVID-19.

READ: PH reports 7,757 new COVID-19 cases as death toll nears 13,000
US Rep Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York who was accused last week of rubbing a female lobbyist's back and unhooking her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that he will not run for reelection next year.

Reed, 49, said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis occurred 'at a time in my life in which I was struggling'.

He said he entered treatment that year and realized he was 'powerless over alcohol'.

Reed apologized to his wife and children, and to Davis, and said he planned 'to dedicate my time and attention to making amends for my past actions'.

Reed, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, had been among the members of Congress calling for the resignation of Democratic Gov Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations.

In late February, Reed said he was seriously considering running for governor against Cuomo should the Democrat seek a fourth term next year.

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US Rep Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York who was accused last week of rubbing a female lobbyist's back and unhooking her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that he will not run for reelection next year

Reed, 49, said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis (pictured) occurred 'at a time in my life in which I was struggling'

Reed said in his statement Sunday that he would not seek any elected office in 2022.

Commenting on the allegations against Cuomo last month, Reed had said: 'These incidents of sexual harassment and pattern of abuse are abhorrent and have absolutely no place in our society, let alone the highest rungs of government.'

The announcement came two days after The Washington Post reported the allegations from Davis, who was 25 and a lobbyist for insurer Aflac when she said Reed, seated next to her at a Minneapolis bar, unhooked her bra from outside her blouse and moved his hand to her thigh.

At the time, Davis texted a friend and co-worker that 'a drunk congressman is rubbing my back'.

'HELP HELP,' she texted, before the person seated on her other side responded to her request by pulling Reed out of the restaurant, according to her account, published Friday.

Reed, elected to Congress in 2010, declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press. In a statement released by his office on Friday, he said, 'This account of my actions is not accurate.'

'In reflection, my personal depiction of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry, and I take full responsibility,' the statement reads.

Davis, now a 29-year-old second lieutenant in the US Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, contacted The Post through a tip line February 11, the newspaper said.

Davis said she is speaking out as she thinks about the kind of platoon leader she wants to be after graduating from field artillery school later this month.

'I need to always act in good conscience and set the right example for the soldiers I will lead, including younger females,' she said. 'I hope it will allow people who have endured similar experiences to feel confident enough to say something.'

Reed has been among the members of Congress calling for the resignation of Democratic Gov Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations

Her story was corroborated by the friend whom Davis texted from the restaurant, Jessica Strieter Elting, who runs Aflac's political affairs team in Washington, DC.

Strieter Elting told The Post that Davis was shaken by the encounter.

'I felt horrible for her, being in that position while trying to do her job,' said Strieter Elting.

Davis also reported the incident, at the time, to her supervisor at the company, then-vice president and counsel Brad Knox.

Knox said he recalled Davis telling him that Reed had been drinking and had undone an article of her clothing.

He said she declined when he asked if she wanted to file a complaint with the House Ethics Committee.

Reed is a former mayor of Corning, New York. In Congress, he co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus, whose 24 Republican and 24 Democratic members meet weekly on issues.

In response to the #MeToo movement, Reed said sexual harassment training was a basic requirement in his office, and that he had taken it.

He also backed bipartisan legislation in 2018 requiring lawmakers to be personally liable for settlements resulting from harassment.
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The collision of two powerful weather systems over the east coast of NSW on Monday night may see more evacuations as western Sydney residents were forced to flee to higher ground on Sunday when floodwaters inundated their neighbourhoods.

The State Emergency Service ordered about 1000 residents from western Penrith, Jamisontown and Mulgoa to pack up and leave or face being trapped by rising floodwaters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned up to 4000 people could be displaced in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley over the next few days.

Residents of several western Sydney suburbs were forced to evacuate on Sunday. Credit:Nick Moir, Dean Sewell

Almost 140 schools have closed, roads and bridges have been cut off, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been delayed in parts of Sydney and NSW because of the extreme weather, and supplies to supermarkets have also been impeded.
The Alliance of North American Chinese Physicians (ANACP), The Society of Chinese American Physician Entrepreneurs (SCAPE) and The Chinese American Society of Anesthesiology (CASA) would like to extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families of the horrific shooting occurred in Atlanta. While the investigation is ongoing, the outrage and fear resulted from this tragedy and the spike in crimes against Asian community cannot be ignored.

We cannot remain silent, and we must use our platforms and voices to condemn and fight against all hate crimes, whether its based on race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, or physical characteristics, etc. As Asian Americans and healthcare providers, the importance of the diversity, equality, and health of the community cannot be understated. It has a direct impact on both our individual and social well-being.

Cases of anti-Asian hate crimes are prominently reported in bigger cities such as San Francisco and New York; however, it is important that we do not allow the underrepresented cities and communities to go unnoticed. We, as an Asian community, will take a stand in solidarity to support each other against racism and hate crimes. We must continue our efforts and mission to achieve racial equality.



Sincerely,

ANACP, SCAPE and CASA


In his March 11 address about the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden condemned the spike of vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans. Its wrong, its un-American, and it must stop, he said.

Hes wrong  this is America. Racism  violent and nonviolent, conscious and unconscious  against Black, brown and Asian people happens every day, all day in America.

Of the 7,314 federal hate crime incidents identified in 2019, 58 percent were motivated by race, ethnicity, ancestry or bias. More than half the offenders were white. The numbers include the 23 killings and 23 attempted murders by a white man in 2019 at an El Paso Walmart, also labeled domestic terrorism.

During last summers nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a white officer, people again questioned if this is America.

Those words  also the title of Childish Gambinos haunting music video from 2018  were often posted with images of the deadly mayhem of the Jan. 6 insurrection that included a noose.

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn invoked those words in an ABC News interview: Everybody wants to say it was about politics, but it was a large number of people in that crowd that were racists. ... The quote thats been used in the impeachment trial, Is this America? Thats what I said to my friend, Is this America?

Dunn knows this is America.

We have witnessed how former President Donald Trump and his supporters have downplayed COVID-19, which is killing people of color at higher rates.

We have seen thousands of immigrants fleeing violence juxtaposed with politicians doing all they can to keep them out of America.

We heard Atlanta authorities say Thursday they had not determined race as a motive for the shootings by a 21-year-old white man on Tuesday that killed eight people, including six Asian women. But the shooting occurred against the backdrop of racial animus against Asians. Stop AAPI Hate has identified about 3,800 incidents over the last year.

Last Sunday, I joined others in outrage after I saw images of racist vandalism at Mike Nguyens Noodle Tree restaurant near the University of Texas at San Antonio. Nguyen believes the acts were the result of people angry after watching his CNN interview in which he vowed to require masks after COVID-19 mandates were lifted by the governor.

Nguyen, who is also battling lymphoma, reflected on what he called ignorance and racism: Anti-maskers talk about their freedoms, but they try to take others freedoms. After online death threats increased, Nguyen closed his dining room Thursday. He said he would pay for off-duty police presence at least through the weekend.

Candelario Alvarez, an 18-year veteran of the Marines, made the drive to Noodle Tree from Kirby with his wife, Nina, and their children, ages 12, 17 and 19.

He is trying to earn a living just like the rest of us, he said outside the restaurant after a waitress said they were sold out.

The Lopez family, who drove from near Sea World, reflected before their meal. I go to great lengths to teach my daughter that everybody has something that makes them special and beautiful, and everyone is worthy of love, Nicole Lopez said through tears.

Her daughter, Emma Grace Lopez, 8, who idolizes Vice President Kamala Harris, was eager to share: I feel like white people shouldnt judge people just because of the color of their skin.

While we need to learn more about the backgrounds and motives of the vandals, the incident reflects the deep racial divides so pronounced during the previous administration  and still present. Alvarez and Lopez separately blamed former President Donald Trumps racist rhetoric and actions.

All of this started with one man who held a high power  Trump. People listened to him as he said words like China virus. He fed them with nonsense and they believe it, Alvarez said.

One of the most important ways of reforming our countrys racism is education. Parents are the first and most important teachers. Children need to see the modeling and open communication about race that Alvarez and Lopez give their children.

We cant be in denial of Americas grim history and current reality. Policy, laws and justice are beginning to make change, but more must be done.

We must find a common ground as Americans and humans  and we need to teach our children to do the same, for a better America, not this America.

Nancy.Preyor-Johnson@express-news.net
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has launched a new e-learning platform for national trade facilitation committees (NTFCs), allowing it to continue building their capacity to keep trade flowing during the Covid-19 pandemic.



In many countries, in-person learning is still either unsafe or impossible as pandemic-induced lockdowns and restrictions remain in place.



In the absence of face-to-face instruction, the platform provides a safe and effective alternative to the classroom, offering a convenient way for busy professionals to gain knowledge on trade facilitation matters.



"The platform is another concrete illustration of how UNCTAD is leveraging digital technologies to support developing countries in their efforts to keep trade flowing despite the Covid-19 pandemic, said Shamika N Sirimanne, UNCTADs director of technology and logistics.



She added: While the pandemic has forced many countries to stop or limit face-to-face interactions, NTFCs will be able to continue their role in facilitating trade for development, thanks to the capacity-building and coordination provided through the platform."



The platform currently hosts nine modules on issues related to trade facilitation. Each module includes a series of short videos, quizzes, a digital handout, further reading material and a final examination.



The course is delivered through a blended approach: weekly webinars with UNCTAD experts allow students to discuss in depth the content of each module and ask any questions.



At the end of the course, successful participants receive a certificate of completion. The content of the platform is constantly being updated and will soon contain new courses.



Over 400 participants from Botswana, Cambodia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the first beneficiaries to use the platform.



UNCTAD developed the platform with financial support from the United Kingdom. Course material will soon be available in French, Portuguese and Spanish.



The platform nurtures interaction and cooperation. Users can easily set up their profiles and within each national course, and NTFC members can interact with each other and stay connected between meetings.



Learners can discuss issues, ideas, suggestions and share experiences with each other. Their conversations can take place within a traditional online course or through group discussions and personal messages. Instructors can intervene to direct, enrich or moderate discussions as needed.



The platform allows members of NTFCs and their secretariats to learn through multi-layered networking and interactivity. It provides an agile, dynamic and effective way to learn, with learners receiving all the support they need to complete the course.



It also serves as a social platform for NTFC members from around the world. For instance, if a representative one countrys trade ministry would like to know how peers in other NTFCs are implementing some reforms, he or she could simply pose a question on the platforms social network and get answers in real time.



The social learning aspect will boost knowledge sharing among NTFCs. It will also deepen the impact of learned content, as learning is more fruitful when it happens within an interconnected social network.  TradeArabia News Service
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Rama Rao had while campaigning for the Legislative Council elections had extended his solidarity with the agitating VSP workers. (Photo: Facebook @TRSparty)

HYDERABAD: TRS working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao stated that he would shortly lead a team of his Cabinet colleagues to Visakhapatnam to support the ongoing agitation against the privatisation of Vizag Steel Plant (VSP).

Rama Rao gave this assurance to AP TD legislator Ganta Srinivasa Rao when the latter met him at his chambers in the Assembly here on Saturday.

Rama Rao had while campaigning for the Legislative Council elections had extended his solidarity with the agitating VSP workers. Srinivasa Rao had tendered his resignation from his Visakhapatnam (North) Assembly seat on February 6 in support of the agitation. However, it is still pending with the AP Assembly speaker.

In an informal chat with media persons after the meeting, Srinivasa Rao said he had met Rama Rao to thank him for extending his support to the agitation by the steel plants joint action committee.

"He has assured that he will lead a team to Visakhapatnam to study the issue and take part in the agitation," Srinivasa Rao said. Both leaders reportedly also discussed the latest political situation in Andhra Pradesh.

Srinivasa Rao vowed to mobilise the support of political parties that are against the VSP privatisation.

Rama Rao's proposed visit to Vizag also assumes political significance. His support was received well by AP-natives residing in Hyderabad, who constitute a major chunk of graduate voters besides employees of central public sector units like BHEL, BDL, and ECIL.

The victory of TRS candidate Surabhi Vani Devi from this seat indicates that Rama Rao's support to the VSP agitation has worked wonders as the party had never won the seat earlier.
Several death threats have been levelled against Tanaiste Leo Varadkar in recent weeks, leading to him now requiring round-the-clock armed garda protection, the Sunday Independent can reveal.

Senior sources say the deaths threats are being taken "extremely seriously" and gardai are "responding appropriately" in terms of providing protection to Mr Varadkar.

It is the responsibility of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) to provide armed protection in the form of a full-time SDU driver to the Tanaiste of the day.

However, due to a slew of recent threats, including some of a homophobic nature, Mr Varadkar now warrants a full-time close protection detail from the SDU, it is understood. This entails a 24/7 armed garda detail, separate to his garda driver.

For security reasons, this newspaper cannot report specifics on the exact nature of the Tanaiste's level of protection.

It is understood the recent death threats he received were "particularly nasty" and came from a number of different individuals. Some people who made the threats have been identified as having the potential to attempt to cause the Tanaiste physical harm, according to sources.

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Some of those involved are believed to be far-right extremists, who hold homophobic views as well as being anti-lockdown and anti-facemask advocates.

But not all of the death threats are from the far-right, a source added, and while many of the threats have been made online, this is "not the only way" the threats have been issued.

One security source explained: "For obvious reasons, not much can be divulged as this is a security issue of national importance. But it is fair to say gardai do not ramp up any member of Government's armed security to this level unless there is good reason. This is being taken extremely seriously."

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin is also protected by a close protection detail from the SDU. But this paper understands that the Tanaiste's level of protection is currently "higher" than the Taoiseach's because of the threat level against him.

While is it not unusual for members of Government to receive threats, each is evaluated on its own merits to determine whether it is credible.

"A full evaluation of every threat received is carried out. Some of the threats against the Tanaiste are coming from people who are already on Garda radar because of their involvement in extremism linked to some of the recent anti-lockdown protests," added a source.

A spokesman for the Tanaiste declined to comment when contacted about the death threats, saying: "Security arrangements for all ministers is a matter for An Garda Siochana."

A spokesman for Garda Headquarters said it could not comment on the security arrangements for VIPs, which includes members of Government.

SDU bodyguards are also tasked with protecting President Michael D Higgins, with an armed team accompanying him on official visits around Ireland and internationally. The Justice Minister, Chief Justice of Ireland and Director of Public Prosecutions are also provided with a full-time armed SDU driver.

All Government ministers and former presidents and taoisigh are provided with armed protection and transport when their security is deemed under threat, otherwise it is reserved for official State occasions.

Ambassadors and high-ranking foreign diplomats in Ireland are also given varying levels of protection by the SDU when their safety or security is deemed "at risk". Foreign diplomatic embassies and residences are also protected by the unit, including that of the United States, United Kingdom and Israel.

Separately, a number of threats of violence have been made by loyalist paramilitaries against Mr Varadkar, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney as the Brexit fallout intensifies. One senior UDA member told this newspaper that "nobody is off limits".

Loyalists have threatened to launch "an incendiary campaign and sending letter bombs to Irish politicians" if the Northern Ireland protocol isn't scrapped.

"If Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar don't get rid of the protocol, they will face the wrath of loyalism," said one loyalist.

Another convicted terrorist has warned that loyalists are incensed by the Irish Sea Border and are blaming the Irish Government.

Described as the "new enemies of Ulster", loyalists have also warned that if the politicians ignore them, "the more that fury will grow".

Last week Mr Varadkar's home address was scrawled across a wall - weeks after a death threat appeared elsewhere in Belfast, while Mr Coveney's home address was also painted on to a brick wall.

A senior PSNI source said the organisation has been sharing information with gardai on the intimidation and threats directed at Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney.

"We take this very seriously. We have statutory obligations that when something like that goes up, we have to share the information with our partners. In respect of the graffiti about Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney, we have already spoken to the guards."

The police officer said they will be monitoring the threat level against the politicians and reporting to their colleagues in the south. Other PSNI sources also describe loyalist threats as "bluster."

The Loyalist Communities Council - which represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando - wrote to British prime minister Boris Johnson earlier this month to withdraw its support for the Good Friday Agreement, which effectively ended the Troubles in 1998. David Campbell, who chairs the group, says the "blame" for deepening tensions should be placed on Dublin.

"Varadkar and Coveney, in our view, were malicious and mischievous in misrepresenting the Brexit agreement to the European Union as completely one-sided," he says.

He claims the island is now "approaching a very dangerous situation". "Dangerous in that unless it is dealt with politically, politics will be deemed ineffective and people will therefore look to other means to demonstrate."

When contacted about the threats, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said he would not be commenting.
Patna, March 21 : Photographs of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were missing in the ceremony, presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad, to lay the foundation stone of development projects in Katihar district on Sunday, evoking protests from JD-U leaders.

Prasad and Health Minister Mangal Pandey went to Katihar for laying the foundation stone of two hospitals worth Rs 49 crore in Katihar and Purnea districts. During the event, there were photographs of the two BJP leaders as chief guests on the posters, but those of Nitish Kumar was missing.

Katihar Deputy Mayor Suraj Rai and other JD-U leaders protested, shouting slogans against the Deputy CM, Health Minister and BJP for conspiring against Nitish Kumar. Rai eventually walked out from the event, leaving BJP leaders in shock.

After the event, Rai told media persons that Nitish Kumar is heading NDA in Bihar and "all development projects in Bihar are due to him".

"BJP trying to take credit for government projects. Hence, its leaders deliberately removed photograph of Nitish Kumar from the posters of the event," he said.

The BJP, however, rejected the allegations of sidelining the Chief Minister.

Prasad said: "It could be a lapse of the district administration. We are working under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. He is our leader and PM Narendra Modi is our guide."
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
Imperial Valley News Center

Former Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Role in Bribery and Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

Charlotte, North Carolina - A North Carolina man pleaded guilty Friday to smuggling drugs and other contraband into Caledonia Correctional Institution in exchange for bribe payments.

According to court documents, Kenneth Farr, 47, of Rocky Mount, worked as a correctional officer at Caledonia Correctional Institution, a state prison in Halifax County. On at least six occasions in 2018, Farr used his position to smuggle contraband, including marijuana, tobacco, and what he believed to be oxycodone pills, to inmates in the prison. In exchange for smuggling the contraband, Farr received payments ranging from $300 to $500 in cash or via a mobile application and pocketed at least $2,200 from inmates and their associates.

Farr pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of unlawful activity. He is scheduled to be sentenced in mid-June and faces a maximum of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells of the FBIs Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, with significant assistance from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Trial Attorneys Rebecca M. Schuman and Lauren E. Britsch of the Criminal Divisions Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
CARACAS (Reuters) - A tract of a gas pipeline in eastern Venezuela suffered an explosion on Saturday afternoon, according to a report from state oil company PDVSA seen by Reuters, an incident the country's oil minister blamed on an attack.

The explosion at the 36-inch pipeline providing natural gas to the Pigap II gas reinjection plant in northern Monagas state prompted PDVSA to temporarily shut the plant in order to halt the flames and evaluate the damages to the pipeline, according to the report.

Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami in a brief statement on state television late on Saturday called the incident a "terrorist attack," without providing details about who was responsible or about the impact on the plant and pipeline.

OPEC-member Venezuela is home to massive crude and natural gas reserves but has seen output tumble to decades-low levels in recent years amid a nationwide economic collapse that has reduced PDVSA's cash flow and led to an exodus of qualified personnel.

Officials have in the past blamed explosions at pipelines and refineries, as well as blackouts and other infrastructure failings, on attacks aimed at sabotaging the country's economy. Critics say the incidents are due to chronic lack of maintenance, underinvestment and mismanagement.

(Reporting by Mayela Armas and Deisy Buitrago; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
A Royal Caribbean cruise is docked at a port in Havana, Cuba, on May 6, 2019. (Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images)

Royal Caribbean to Accept Only Vaccinated Passengers on Next Caribbean Cruise

Passengers who travel aboard Royal Caribbean International and its subsidiary, Celebrity Cruises, will have to be vaccinated for the CCP virus when cruises resume in June, officials said.

Royal Caribbean will provide cruises to the Bahamas and Mexico in June, the company said.

Travelers looking ahead to their summer vacations can book their roundtrip cruise as soon as Wednesday, March 24 and set sail starting June 12. The new itineraries departing through August, which will sail with vaccinated crew, will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the cruise operator said in a statement.

Passengers who are under the age of 18 have to test negative for the CCP virus, the release added.

The vaccines are clearly a game-changer for all of us, and with the number of vaccinations and their impact growing rapidly, we believe starting with cruises for vaccinated adult guests and crew is the right choice, Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean, stated. As we move forward, we expect this requirement and other measures will inevitably evolve over time.

Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Royal Caribbean, also announced it will restart cruises in June that leave from St. Maarten.

It isnt clear if the company will expand the vaccination requirement for future cruises.

The announcement comes as some companies and elected officials have posited COVID-19 vaccine passports for air travel or other services. Some Republicans and civil liberties proponents have raised red flags about such measures, saying they would essentially create separate classes of citizens.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair recently stated that the world is moving in this direction, adding that he couldnt see another way of this, in reference to so-called immunity passports.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week said that vaccine passports would be a terrible idea for his state.

We are definitely not going to require anything from the states perspective. That is totally off the table, DeSantis, a Republican, told reporters on March 18. If I have businesses that want to do that in Florida, I think that thats more than just a private decision.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to use a CCP virus vaccine passport system due to how vaccines are being rolled out and distributed worldwide. And meanwhile, CCP mouthpiece the Global Times suggested earlier in March that the Chinese regime should build an international vaccine passport system.

Chinese experts noted on Tuesday that China can help by sharing its experience with and provide technical support to the WHO to organize the issue, the Global Times wrote. China is the most experienced country in using a health code system in the world, while the WHO is the most proper organizer for the matter to ensure independence, fairness, and data security.
Nation left mopping up after bad climate policy Heavy rain along the Mid North Coast is causing havoc (No respite for days: wild weather continues across NSW, smh.com.au, March 21). Roads are blocked by landslides and rainwater rapids sweep away sections of road. Ferries stop working due to rising waters and flooding in the suburbs stops traffic. Households and businesses are impacted. All this from an extra 1.4 degrees of global warming across Australia caused by burning fossil fuels and destroying forests. A warmer atmosphere holds more water and we are heading for 4.4 degrees by late this century under current policies. Yet federal and state governments continue to push their hardest to open new coal mines, fund new gas and oil projects and give the OK to more land clearing and logging. And people vote for them. What a crazy democracy we live in. Harry Creamer, Port Macquarie Climate scientists have been warning for years that climate change would bring not only hotter weather but also more severe and protracted weather events. During the past 18 months there have been record breaking cyclones in the Pacific and Mediterranean, unprecedented snow falls in Madrid and Texas, horrendous bushfires raging for months in Australia and now massive flooding up and down the east coast. The situation will only get worse unless the underlying issues driving climate change are addressed. Australia is the envy of the world for the way in which we have dealt with COVID-19. If only we could demonstrate the same leadership with regard to climate change, we could make such a difference. Margaret McDonald, Northbridge

Fire, flood, pestilence and (mouse) plague. Whats next, famine? At least now I feel I can finally take the bucket out of the shower recess. Sue Jay, Drummoyne Considering the number of one in 50 or one in 100 year weather events that our political leaders have referred to in recent times I must be several centuries older than I thought I was. Peter Montgomery, Erskineville Snorkels will need to be at the ready for future visitors if the flooding near the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum proposed site is anything to go by. Deb McPherson, Gerringong Time to rethink this hair-brained move to Parramatta. If only the people who made this ludicrous decision would have listened to the locals who have excellent knowledge of this site. Ruth Dickman Pymble Maybe the Premier should move the Maritime Museum to Parramatta. John Swanton, Coogee

The certifiable madness of project approvals If a private citizen like Maryam Behrouz discovers that the private certifier of her apartment allowed unqualified subcontractors to sign off on a building project with costly defects, how is it that the builder can still require her to settle her $625,500 purchase (Stark choice: lose savings, or buy flawed flat, March 20)? This defies common sense and needs immediate attention from our legislators to prevent others from losing their savings to developers who use dodgy private certifiers. Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge Can anyone give an explanation as to why any private certifier who passes faulty building work is not immediately stripped of their certificate or why any company which produces faulty work is not 100 per cent liable for fixing the work or for full deposits to be repaid? Jane Waddy, Boronia Park Pull the plug on diesel Why are we so slow to move with the times when we pride ourselves on our ability to innovate (Minister plugs electric ferries as network on greener route, March 20-21)? This is not a new thing worldwide. There are converted old ferries working in Washington state across the Pacific, as well as in Scandinavia. One from Hamlets castle in Helsingor now ferries more than 7 million people a year to Sweden and is a converted double-ended vessel built in 1991. Austal of Perth already offers new electric fast ferries. The Save Manly Ferries group has a report that shows that all the Sydney ferry fleet could be battery-powered within 10 years.

Why do we commit ourselves to 20 more years of diesel fumes and pollution with the Emerald Class vessels when we should move immediately to clean electric-powered vessels? Evelyn Shervington, Manly Commission a commissioner Before establishing a royal commission on veterans suicide I suggest we have a royal commission to determine why we need so many royal commissions (Coalition MPs willing to cross floor for royal commission on veterans suicide, March 19 ). We could then have another to explain why royal commission findings are generally ignored. Meanwhile, we could have a discussion about the consequences of expecting young men to go and kill on our behalf and then return to live quietly with their experiences. Andrew Roberts, Kambah (ACT) Prejudice hurts Although Im not of Asian background I empathise with Saimi Jeong (Spare me the warm and fuzzies on Harmony Day: lets discuss racism, March 20-21). As a child of divorced parents in the 1950s, I encountered attitudes of children, no doubt introduced by their parents, akin to racism. All through primary school, there were classmates who were not allowed to play with me; I was never invited to a classmates birthday party; and my mother, who had to work to support us, was absent from concerts and other school celebrations.

Racial discrimination is still alive and well in Australia but children of divorced and single parents are now accepted as normal. The anxiety and rage felt by those who are subjected to racism as experienced by Saimi Jeong is well understood by those whose childhoods suffered from different prejudices. Christine Tiley, Albany Creek (Qld)

Seidlers eyesores Harry Seidler may well have designed some buildings worthy of heritage listing but the City of Sydney Council is spot-on in classifying the five examples of his work as detracting from the heritage precincts (Citys cluster of Seidler building not old enough to escape razing, March 20-21). They would not be out of place lining a boulevard in North Koreas Pyongyang. And dont get me started on his other masterpiece, Blues Point Tower. Stephen Simpson, Curl Curl Heritage value? You have to be joking. I have always thought Harry Seidler-designed buildings were just plain ugly, especially Blues Point Tower. Now Im absolutely convinced of it. I think city councillors have a responsibility to the public to pick up their act and have designs that will last for years. But Seidlers certainly dont. Ill happily help to pull them down. Neil Feller, Potts Point Central tenet: develop

Probably not is the short answer (Cant Cannon-Brookes save Central from the cowboys?, March 20-21). More to the point, why should he or any other private entity take on the added responsibility of being a city designer. Despite the best efforts of the City of Sydney team, public land in state ownership will increasingly become designated as of state significance. That is, city planning by mutual agreement with big developers and relevant state authorities. Business as usual streamlined. Maximum dollar extracted for the states consolidated revenue with minimum responsibility to providing and maintaining quality public space. Too easy. Smart corporate thinking in the absence of poor public custodianship. Sydneys motto for the 21st century. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why Not appy, Gladys Access to the Berejiklian governments $500 million voucher scheme (Voucher scheme access for all by end of March, March 20-21) is via the NSW Service app only. However, not everyone has a smartphone, and I have friends with older smartphones that cannot accept the app. Does no one in authority realise this? Helen Scanlon, Northbridge The Murdochracy Heartening to see Lachlan Murdoch and his wife returning to Australia on their private plane and self-isolating at an undisclosed location (Murdochs slip quietly back as boss gets ready to party, March 20-21). They are much too important to isolate at a five-star hotel for two weeks. Thats only for the rest of us plebs. Trevor Sheridan, Charmhaven

Jab: rhymes with stab I agree the referral to Mr Speaker has become extremely annoying but I have another annoyance. If I am not offered an injection or an inoculation, I most certainly will refuse a jab (Letters, March 20-21). I expect more gentleness than a jab implies. Thelma Frost, Mudgee Power to all women Its not just bankers who were biased towards women (Letters, March 19). In the late 1970s my girlfriend and I headed up Parramatta Road to buy a second-hand car. We found one we liked, but the salesman refused to sell it to us because it had a V6 engine, which he considered too powerful for a woman to drive. We took our business elsewhere and bought a car from another dealer  one with a V6 engine. Alicia Dawson, Balmain In 1984, I wanted to lay-by a sewing machine at the Waltons department store. I was told by the cashier that, as a married woman, I would not be able to lay-by without my husbands permission. I asked what would happen had I been single. To my astonishment, the response was Oh, that would be okay. Single woman can lay-by. Kerry Ryan, Rozelle
POTTSVILLE  Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael OPake and the Schuylkill County detectives are asking the public to help them locate a man who failed to appear in court as required earlier this month.

Detectives said Chad Perkins, 43, failed to appear at the Schuylkill County Courthouse on March 2 for status conference court.

The original charges against Perkins are criminal trespass and theft, two felony offenses.

Perkins is described as being white, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 210 pounds.

He has a last known address of 703 N. Second St. in Minersville, detectives said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Perkins or any other fugitive in Schuylkill County is asked to call the district attorneys office at 570-628-1350 or Schuylkill County Tip Line at 570-624-3988.

Information can also be sent by email to dadd@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

In addition, detectives said anyone who may see or come in contact with Perkins should call the Schuylkill County 911 Center or their local police department immediately.

All information received will remain confidential.

A list of Schuylkill County bench warrants is available on the Schuylkill County website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us.
Cap. Andre Jenkins, center  seen here with Charleston Police Capt. Jack Weiss and Chief Luther Reynolds at a 2019 press conference  asked SLED to expedite a DNA test in an attempted sexual assault case earlier this month. The request led to the arrest of a suspect police may never have found otherwise. File/Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
As more children return to school on Monday, for many the first lesson they will learn is how to take a home Covid test.

And while teachers were taken totally by surprise by the programme of Covid testing to be rolled out across all schools, they had expressed concerns testing pupils for a virus, rather than for their knowledge of Maths or English, would be another new part of their jobs.

But while the Department of Education has said that teachers themselves will not have to carry out the tests, the onus is now placed on the pupils themselves, and parents, to administer the tests at home.

Here we look at everything you need to know about Covid testing in schools:

What will the programme look like?

The programme of rapid testing in schools will be rolled out in three phases.

In phase 1, from March 22, all staff in post-primary schools and all pupils in Years 12 -14 will be invited to familiarise themselves with twice weekly self-testing kits. Phase 2, after the Easter break, will expand the programme to include all staff in primary schools

The third phase will add nursery, pre-school and, at least initially, pre-school education providers participating in the Pre-School Education Programme.

Department of Education advice said that the LFD test was not 100% perfect but the speed and convenience of LFD tests means they are very successful in identifying asymptomatic individuals.

A small proportion of people may receive a false positive result but in NI anyone testing positive must immediately book a PCR test to confirm the result.

It is also possible to get a false negative if an individual is in the early stages of infection, the Department said.

This is why everyone will be tested regularly so that no cases will be missed.

Expand Close A lateral flow immunoassay diagnostic device (Ben Birchall/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A lateral flow immunoassay diagnostic device (Ben Birchall/PA)

The LFD programme aims for two tests to be carried out before Easter, and one prior to return to school as an additional mitigation to reduce asymptomatic cases in school.

Individuals who receive a positive result from an LFD test will have to isolate along with members of their households from the time of their positive LFD result.

A confirmation PCR test will be required for everyone who tests positive on LFD.

If the PCR test result is negative, the individual and their household can leave isolation and no further action is required.

If the PCR test result is positive the individual and their household and all other close contacts must complete a full ten days of self-isolation.

Is it compulsory?

No. Consent forms will have to be signed and initially that is where the responsibility of teachers ends. Whether pupils take the test is left up to individual families.

Pupils in Years 12-14 and staff in post primary schools will be offered the tests twice weekly from next week, and teaching union the NASUWT said that schools have not been given the time necessary to ensure the delivery of a competent testing system that will be robust and effective.

After the Easter holidays, all staff in primary and pre-schools will also be offered regular testing and the Department of Education plans to make the tests available for all pupils at a later date.

The Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests, which give a result in 30 minutes, will be offered to the oldest pupils and staff in post primary schools.

Read More

Unions say that no guidance has been issued and training will consist of a webinar for principals (scheduled for Friday) followed up by a series of frequently asked questions.

School leaders have now been told they will have to issue consent forms and record who has received kits, but tests will not be taken in school.

Once pupils have received kits you should arrange a demonstration for them of how to use the kit the first time, a document issued by the PHA and the Education Authority said on Thursday night.

The pupils then take their kit home to conduct their first test.

Schools were only notified last Monday, March 15, that they would organise testing for staff and pupils in Years 12-14 from their return to school on Monday March 22.

What are the teaching unions saying about it?

The last minute rushing through of the testing procedure has angered teaching unions.

The Department of Education must work with unions and schools on a sensible timescale for the roll out of testing which is backed with the necessary practical and financial support, said NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach.

We all want pupils and school staff to be as safe as possible in school but an unplanned, uncoordinated and unworkable approach to mass testing without the provision of adequate resources and additional trained personnel risks undermining, rather than enhancing Covid safety.

Expand Close Nasuwts Dr Patrick Roach. (Nasuwt/PA) PA / Facebook

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The Unions Northern Secretary, Justin McCamphill, said it was shocking that the Department of Education are expecting school staff to supervise the administration of these tests with almost no notice.

Neither the Department nor the Education Authority can explain if risk assessments have been carried out while it is evident that little or no consideration has been given to the workload of school leaders, he said.

In the absence of adequate guidance, proper consultation with unions or evidence of adherence to Health and Safety Regulations no teacher or school leader should either demonstrate the safe use of these tests or supervise pupils while they take the test.

Unless a teacher has a specific contractual term to the contrary, schools must not expect teachers to carry out or supervise the tests. Teachers and principals in grant aided schools in Northern cannot be instructed to undertake medical procedures.

What role will the teachers take in the programme now?

Teachers will not now carry out the tests, but there has to be a supervisory role. What happens when the tests are introduced at a later date for the youngest pupils, as the authorities have indicated, might be a different matter.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in Northern Ireland said teachers had no idea the testing programme would be rolled out before the announcement and had not been consulted about what would be expected.

Teachers do not want to see a return to a revolving door of schools opening and then having to close again, said Robert Wilson, Regional Officer.

The announcement that all pupils in Years 12 to 14 will face lateral flow tests on their return to the classroom has come as a total surprise to school leaders and comes on the back of a pilot scheme, the success of which they know very little about.

Schools have not been consulted about testing and communication on this matter from the Education Minister has been woefully poor and extremely short on detail. Teachers have been given precious little time to make arrangements for a major logistical operation they had not been previously warned about and have no experience of organising.

Unlike schools in England, which were given weeks to prepare for testing, their counterparts in Northern Ireland now have days to learn how to become medical professionals and act as an authority to their pupils on how to use lateral flow tests, he added.

Testing may ultimately help our pupils to safely return to the classroom but we are concerned that rushing it may create more problems than it solves.

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Whatsapp Northern Ireland Education Minister Peter Weir (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Education Minister, Peter Weir, admitted he had read some reports concerning the effectiveness of the lateral-flow test and the possibility of false positives.

No test is completely accurate, but studies indicate a very high degree of effectiveness at detecting those who are infectious, he said.

When infection levels are low in the community, a positive LFD test indicates that the individual may have Covid, he added.

The Northern Ireland Teachers Council (NITC) said that while the organisation supports the further mitigation, there are concerns about assisting students to take the test in a classroom/school environment.

NITC remain keen to engage with the Department to discuss what support will be needed for the roll-out of lateral flow testing in schools to be successful  but in a way that does not compromise safety in school  or add to the already unacceptably high workload demands on school leaders, NITC said.

Any member who comes under any unreasonable pressure with regard to any aspect of LFD testing is advised to contact their union immediately.

NITC added: The Education Authority has indicated that additional resourcing to cover the administrative burden will be assured if recorded under Covid costs.

The role of teachers is purely to facilitate familiarisation of the LFD test and the teaching unions advise that testing is safest carried out at home for privacy and to ensure no potential positive cases come into school.

School staff cannot be compelled to supervise or support pupils to conduct self-testing in schools, they added.

What has the Education Minister said?

Education Minister Peter Weir said the testing will provide a significant level of reassurance to education settings.

All settings will be reminded of the need for stringent adherence to good practice and additional signage will be provided to all schools to encourage people to comply with public health messaging, he said.

While it is for each family to decide if they wish for their child to participate in the testing, it will be of benefit to all those in schools for us to be able to break the chain of transmission of the virus by identifying all those who may be asymptomatic.

Read More

The first batch of tests were scheduled to be delivered to post-primary schools this week, meaning all post-primaries will have enough tests to conduct at least one supervised test in school, and for pupils to be able to conduct a test at home before they return after the Easter break.

Jacquie White, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers Union, said there are still too many unknown for teachers to be convinced of the long term sustainably of Covid-safe environments.

The Lateral Flow Testing is as yet an unknown and while the Minister admits it will be challenging I think that is an understatement, she added.

This is even before one considers the efficacy of the test which wont detect asymptomatic carriers of Covid and is also known to give false positives.
An Arctic walrus has been spotted off the coast of South Wales six days after the same creature was seen in Ireland.

The RSPCA was called out to check on the welfare of the walrus, which had appeared on the Pembrokeshire coastline.

It was first seen at the bottom of a cliff near Broad Haven South beach, before it disappeared back into the sea.

The walrus was confirmed to be the same animal that had been spotted on March 15 on rocks in County Kerry, Ireland.

'It seems this Arctic walrus has swum over to Wales and was resting on rocks when I went to check on him,' Ellie West, an animal rescue officer, said.

'He was resting and, although appearing slightly underweight, thankfully he wasn't displaying any signs of sickness or injury.

An Arctic walrus has been spotted off the coast of South Wales six days after the same creature was seen in Ireland

The RSPCA was called out on Friday to check on the welfare of the walrus, which had appeared on the Pembrokeshire coastline

The walrus was first sighted in Ireland on Monday, before it was seen off the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales

'This is an incredibly rare sighting and these big, beautiful animals never usually venture so far south.

'This juvenile walrus has likely travelled down this way in search of food,' West said.

The walrus seemed to be in a generally good condition, although it appeared to have a few scrapes, and was seen swimming well.

Geoff Edmond, RSPCA national wildlife coordinator called Friday 'a landmark day for the RSPCA's wildlife team.'

'While we've been rescuing animals and responding to welfare calls for almost 200 years, I believe this is our first ever walrus call,' he said.

The walrus seemed to be in a generally good condition, although it appeared to have a few scrapes, and was seen swimming well. Geoff Edmond, RSPCA national wildlife coordinator called Friday 'a landmark day for the RSPCA's wildlife team'

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group tweeted on Sunday that the walrus had been identified as the same creature seen in Ireland on Monday thanks to the white markings on its left flipper as well as the length of its tusks

'I will certainly never forget this day, West said. 'In fact it's still sinking in that I've been monitoring a walrus on the Pembrokeshire coast, it's been absolutely amazing.'

West cautioned members of the public who might spot the walrus to keep their distance and not to approach the animal, which 'needs to rest and conserve his energy.'

'We're pleased he seems well but, if anyone spots him in this area or elsewhere and has concerns about his welfare, we'd ask them to call our emergency hotline on 0300 1234 999.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group tweeted on Sunday that the walrus had been identified as the same creature seen in Ireland on Monday thanks to the white markings on its left flipper as well as the length of its tusks.

The sighting was the first time one of the animals had been seen in Ireland since 2004.

The enormous animal was captured on video as it floundered on the rocks of Valentia Island, County Kerry.

The animal was captured on video as it floundered on the rocks of Valentia Island, County Kerry, yesterday

Observers said the two-metre long animal looked visibly exhausted, however in its tweet on Sunday the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said this did not seem to be the case as it had travelled 450km in 6 days to reach Wales.

It is possible the walrus, which is thought to be a young adult, arrived in Ireland after falling asleep on an iceberg that drifted south across the Atlantic from Greenland, one expert believes.

What are Arctic walruses? Adult walruses can weigh up to 1,900 kg (4,000 lbs). The vast animals are longer than 2 metres (6.5ft) and can reach 3.6m (12 ft) long. They are a vulnerable species and have long tusks which they use to find food, often scallops. Tusks are often used in fights between the animals. Both the males and female have tusks. They are related to sea lions and seals, but are far more vast. They are find in the wild in the northern parts of the world, specifically around the North Pole, northern Russia and Greenland. Advertisement

Dr Peter Richardson, head of ocean recovery at the Marine Conservation Society, told MailOnline: 'It's very unusual for one of these walruses to be this far south.

'It's a long way from home but it seems like a fit, fat, young walrus which may be capable of making it home.

'They are known to travel vast distances but it's so unusual [for one to be this far south] that it's hard to say how it will be.'

He added that there are plenty of molluscs for the walrus to feed on in the area it was spotted.

Arctic walruses normally live around the North Pole, northern Russia and Greenland. The nearest population to the UK and Ireland lives in the waters of Greenland and Svalbard.

Tom Arnbom, a senior advisor to WWF on the Arctic, told the BBC the walrus may have ventured outside his normal home to look for new breeding grounds.

He explained: 'Often it is adolescent animals that venture on long trips to find new areas to breed.

'Sooner or later they have to come to the shallows, i.e. less than 100-200 metres depth, to feed on mussels or clams. They eat up to several thousand clams a day.

'It is lost while it is far from any friends, but I am not afraid that it will die

The Irish Whale and Dolphin group (IWDG) estimated the walrus to be a young adult but it is not possible to determine the gender as both males and females have tusks.

Its tusks are only around 12 inches long, and a fully grown adult's tusks can reach up to 40 inches long.

The IWDG wrote on social media that this was only the third validated sighting of a walrus in Ireland since 1999.

It said: 'The National Biodiversity Data Centre has 11 walrus records but the Natural History Museum suggest this number may be as high as 20 going back over several centuries. Either way, walrus sightings here are extremely rare.

'Previous walrus sightings validated by IWDG are from April 3, 1999, near Old Head, Clew Bay, Co Mayo, and October 5, 2004, from Mulranny, also in Clew Bay.

'In mid-February, a walrus was photographed off the Danish coast and comparisons of images leave open the possibility that they may be the same individual.'

The walrus was spotted by Alan Houlihan and his five-year-old daughter Muireann (pictured). Mr Houlihan captured footage of the animal on his phone

The walrus was spotted in Ireland by Alan Houlihan and his five-year-old daughter Muireann. Houlihan captured footage of the animal on his phone.

Other video was shared online and the animal's presence was reported to the authorities.

Houlihan told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland that he and his daughter were adventuring down by the beach when Muireann spotted something in the water.

Video was shared online which was taken by local woman Ashley Quigley and the animal was also reported to the authorities. Exactly how the animal arrived in Ireland remains unknown but experts say the two-metre long, cow-sized beast looked visibly exhausted

Mr Houlihan told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland that he and his daughter were adventuring down by the beach when Muireann spotted something in the water

'I thought it was a seal at first and we went down to the water to investigate and I took out the phone and started recording,' he said.

'Next thing it was a walrus! And he breached out of the water and gave us a little show on the rocks  Muireann thought he was just having fun. It was just amazing.

'At first I didn't [know it was a walrus] but within seconds I knew it was a walrus. It's just the sheer size of it, it's the size of a cow or a bull. I hadn't seen anything like it before, in Ireland anyway.'

An Arctic walrus has been spotted on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, the first time one of the animals has been seen in the country since 2004

Kevin Flannery, director of Dingle Oceanworld, told the Irish Independent: 'He's from the Arctic. I'd say what happened is he fell asleep on an iceberg and drifted off and then he was gone too far, out into the mid-Atlantic or somewhere like that down off Greenland possibly.'

Flannery said the best thing for the walrus was rest and peace to regain energy ahead of a return north to his native land, a trip of hundreds of miles.

Houlihan said he returned to the area later in the day but the walrus had disappeared.

Speaking on RTE he said he hoped the walrus was off eating scallops and recuperating.

And Muireann has suggested two possible names for the walrus  Isabelle if it's a girl, and Cian if it's a boy.

'She went home last night and she was drawing pictures of walruses. It was so adorable,' added Houlihan.

'We are in lockdown so the kids have gone back to school today for the first time, so it made things a bit easier for them to go back in today with a news story.'
New Delhi:

Temporary workers of Tata Motors, Jamshedpur plant, are on agitation for the consecutive day on Thursday to force in their demands for payments of wage according to revised wages.

The agitation has impacted the production of commercial vehicles.

Temporary workers on agitation have claimed that the production from Tata Motors Jamshedpur unit produces around 300 commercial vehicle per day in three shifts. The production has been impacted.

The workers on agitation are staging a sit-in at the main entrance gate of the plant since Tuesday afternoon.

The temporary workers are demanding payment of wages in accordance with the new three-year wage agreement signed with the permanent workers union last month.

The issue between the management and temporary workers over the payment of revised wages has not been resolved. Due to the agitation the productions have been affected, said a temporary worker not willing to named said.

Tata Motors spokesperson in a statement said, It is important to note that the production continues and the company will take necessary remedial measures to make up for any potential delays.

The statement added, These are internal matters between the workmen and the company and will be resolved as the company is in constant dialogue with the agitating workers.

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One of Governor Cuomo's sexual harassment accusers spoke at a rally in New York City on Saturday, demanding his impeachment.

Lindsey Boylan is the first woman to accuse the governor of sexual harassment. She first spoke up about the allegations back in December. Boylan is a former Deputy Secretary for Economic Development under Governor Cuomo. She unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler for Congress in last year's democratic primary, and is now one of six candidates running for Manhattan Burough President.

Boylan says the governor suggested playing strip poker on a state plane, and that he kissed her on the lips as she was leaving a one-one-one meeting in his office. Cuomo says both stories are false.

Lindsey Boylan said "When we don't hold our leaders accountable, we allow them to continue their abuse and impunity. The only way we can hold this governor accountable is to impeach him. The assembly must act swiftly." Boylan also said, "New Yorkers deserve a transparent and honest impeachment process. Not a sham investigation led by people with ties to Governor Cuomo. I will continue to speak truth to power and I know you will, too, everyone here will. We all will."

Governor Cuomo has insisted that he's never made inappropriate advances or inappropriately touched anyone and has said on a number of occasions he will not resign.
New Delhi:

NASAs Cassini spacecraft is inching closer to embrace death. On September 15, the USD 3.26 billion spacecraft will finally be destroyed as it will crash into Saturns atmosphere making an end to its 13 years of journey in the orbit around the ringed-planet. Cassini has made a number of revelations about Saturn and its moon.

Why is NASA killing its baby?

NASA has decided to safely dispose off Cassini in Saturns atmosphere fearing it could someday collide with one of the moons Enceladus and Titan and may possibly contaminate future studies of habitability and potential life on these celestial bodies. Both Enceladus and Titan were reported to be home to habitable or atleast "prebiotic  environments.

What all NASA Cassini probe will do during its last seven days of journey:

September 9, Saturday: Cassini spacecraft will make last 22 flybys between Saturn and its rings when it will be just above 1680 kilometres the cloud tops of the planet.

Sept 11, Monday: Cassini will pass by the largest moon of Saturn, Titan, for the last time. The gravitational influence of Titan will slightly slow down the spacecraft as it speeds fast even as the probe will be 119,049 kilometres away. A few days later, Cassini will dive in too deep to survive the friction and heating instead of passing through the outermost fringes of Saturns atmosphere.

Sept 14, Thursday: Cassini, which has been sending back pictures, will take last images of moons Titan and Enceladus. It will also capture the hexagon-shaped jet stream around the planet's north pole, and features in the rings.

5:45 pm EDT: Cassinis antenna will turn towards the Earth. The spacecraft will then beam back final images and data.

Sept 15, Friday; 4:37 am EDT: The final plunge will start and during this phase, Cassini will begin sending real time data. It will roll itself for optimal sampling of the atmosphere.

7:53 a.m. EDT: The spacecraft will step into the atmosphere of Saturn. After making an entry, the thrusters would be firing at 10% capability to maintain directional stability. Till this time, it will be sending the data.

7:54 am EDT: Cassinis thrusters will be at their full capacity and the communication link to Earth will break and at this moment the spacecraft will say goodbye to Earth.

Launched in 1997, Cassini took seven years to reach Saturn. "The end of Cassini's mission will be a poignant moment, but a fitting and very necessary completion of an astonishing journey," said Earl Maize, Cassini project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"The Grand Finale represents the culmination of a seven-year plan to use the spacecrafts remaining resources in the most scientifically productive way possible. By safely disposing of the spacecraft in Saturn's atmosphere, we avoid any possibility Cassini could impact one of Saturn's moons somewhere down the road, keeping them pristine for future exploration."

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Detectives arrested a man accused of killing another man during a shootout early Friday morning outside a Northeast Albuquerque apartment complex.

Manuel Vargas, 24, is charged with an open count of murder in the death of 39-year-old Dominic Lueras. It is unclear if Vargas has an attorney.

Court records show Vargas is on conditions of release in a separate case and not allowed to possess a firearm.

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According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court:

Police responded around 1:30 a.m. to reports of a shooting at the Sun Pointe Park Apartments near Montgomery and Carlisle.

Callers reported hearing gunfire, a woman screaming and seeing a man on the ground in the parking lot. Officers found Lueras with a gunshot wound to the chest. He died at the scene.

Lueras girlfriend told police a neighbor had shot Lueras and ran inside a nearby apartment. Police detained several people from that apartment, including Vargas.

Security camera video shows the two men get into an argument before Vargas gets out of his vehicle with a gun, sets it on his trunk and takes off his shirt.

In the video, Lueras walks up and points a gun at Vargas before Vargas takes his gun off the trunk and shoots Lueras multiple times.

The girlfriend said she and Lueras were parking at the complex when Vargas pulled next to them and started a verbal confrontation with Lueras.

She told police the two men met in the parking lot and started shooting as she hid behind the vehicle. The girlfriend said after the shooting stopped she pulled out her handgun and shot at Vargas as he ran away.

A woman inside the apartment said she heard gunfire before a panicked and paranoid Vargas ran inside and told her not to open the door. Vargas declined to speak with police and said he was asleep when the incident occurred.
Last week he was put on blast by fellow groom Patrick after referring to his 'wife' Belinda Vickers as 'frigid'.

And on Sunday night's episode of Married at First Sight, James Susler was scolded by sexologist Alessandra Rampolla for the same infraction - and fans were loving it.

MAFS fans swarmed to Twitter to heap praise on the Puerto Rican TV personality, with one fan writing, 'I am loving Alessandra!! Get him.'

Dressed down: On Sunday night's Married at First Sight, James Susler [L] was scolded by sex expert Alessandra Rampolla [R] for calling Belinda Vickers 'frigid' - and fans were loving it

The sexologist told James that calling Belinda 'frigid' was 'very poor choice of word'.

'It's so outdated, is so archaic, it's so prejudicial,' continued Alessandra.

'It reeks of sexism and misogyny, and the fact that you even came to that word I think is very telling.'

One Twitter user noted that James - who had professed his love for Rampolla a week earlier- looked annoyed as the expert chastised him.

Hurt: Last week James was put on blast by fellow groom Patrick [R] for demeaning his wife Belinda, [L]

Here for it: MAFS fans swarmed to Twitter to heap praise on the Puerto Rican TV personality, with one fan writing, 'I am loving Alessandra!! Get him.'

'Don't think James is in love with Alessandro anymore #douchebag,' wrote one user.

Another agreed wholeheartedly with Rampolla, writing 'Both frigid and sl*t should be removed from the English language - theyre both offensive'.

While another tweeted, 'Alessandra bringing more to the table than the other experts did in all seven seasons'.

What a difference a week makes: One Twitter user noted that James - who had professed his love for Rampolla a week earlier - looked annoyed as the expert chastised him

Meanwhile, Joanne Todd and James Susler's troubled 'marriage' came to an explosive end during Sunday night's commitment ceremony.

After a turbulent past few weeks on the experiment, the Melbourne based mother-of-three, 39, and the luxury car dealer decided to leave the experiment.

While sitting on the couch alongside his wife, James claimed he went all out to make his 'marriage' work.

But wife Joanne said that nothing was further from the truth, 'You're full of sh*t. Please stop your sh*t,' she urged.

Over: Meanwhile, Joanne Todd [pictured] and James Susler's troubled 'marriage' came to an explosive end during Sunday night's commitment ceremony
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White House Officials, Republicans Blame Each Other for Surge in Illegal Immigration

Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that migrants should not come to the Southern Border, although he placed the blame for the current influx of illegal immigration on the prior administration.

Why is it especially challenging and difficult now, because the entire system under United States law that has been in place throughout administrations of both parties was dismantled in its entirety by the Trump administration, he told ABC News on Sunday morning. So we are rebuilding the system as we address the needs of vulnerable children who arrive at our borders.

Mayorkas, in echoing comments made by other administration officials including President Joe Biden, said the border is not open.

Now is not the time to come, Mayorkas stressed. Do not come. This journey is dangerous. We are building safe, orderly, and humane ways to address the needs of vulnerable children, do not come.

Republicans and some Democrats have faulted the Biden administration over its messaging to would-be illegal immigrants, saying White House officials have sent mixed signals. While some like Mayorkas have said they shouldnt come, they have also suggested that a system is being constructed to house them or unaccompanied children who unlawfully cross the border.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told Newsmax TV that Mayorkass and Bidens message to dont come is too little, too late.

When you tell basically everyone youre going to roll out the red carpet, and then people come and start walking down the red carpetI forget who used that metaphor but I think its appropriatewhen that happens and now you say what he said then last night, again, I think its not much and its way too late, he said.

This is a crisis they created, Jordan added. This is their policy. I dont think it should surprise anyone. This is in essence what they wanted. I think the real irony is  we have a wall around the Capitol to protect the politicians but we cant control the border to protect the country.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks at a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington on Feb. 23, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) last week, in a statement, said Bidens administrations policies are the reason why there is a surge in illegal immigration.

The White Houses halt in deportations, mass amnesty, and health care benefits for illegal immigrants, signaling to future illegal immigrants that if he became president the border would be wide open, he remarked. Cruz then added, And as a result, people came.

Trump-era Customs and Border Protection (CBP) chief Mark Morgan, in an opinion article, wrote that Mayorkas has not taken responsibility for the administrations part in creating the crisis, he misdirects, spins and lies to the very men and women hes putting in harms way as they navigate the unmitigated disaster this White House has allowed through its ideological hubris.

Its painfully obvious the secretary is looking to deflect blame when he opines about the perceived failings of the previous administration, rewrites history and inserts his own facts. What he doesnt say is how exhaustive were the briefings provided to the Biden transition team concerning the state of the border, including the effectiveness of the network tools and policies in place to address the illegal migration crisis we saw in 2019, he wrote.

The DHS, meanwhile, has received criticism for not allowing journalists to travel with Mayorkas and other officials to the border.

Photojournalist John Moore blasted the Biden administration over the weekend, saying he and other media workers have been provided zero access to CBP operations at the border.

I respectfully ask US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to their border operations, Moore tweeted Friday. I have photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump but now  zero access is granted to media. These long lens images taken from the Mexican side.

Moore noted that there is no precedent for what the administration is doing.

Theres no modern precedent for a full physical ban on media access to CBP border operations, Moore added on Twitter. To those who might say, cut them some slackthey are dealing with a situation, Id say that showing the US response to the current immigrant surge is exactly the medias role.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 03:21:05|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said Saturday three tear gas bombs fired by their riot forces are the cause of the deadly fire that broke out earlier this month inside a migrant detention center in the capital Sanaa and killed at least 45 African migrants.

There were a total of 862 African migrants in the seven-ward migrant detention center, and the accident took place on March 7 in Ward No. 1, which hosted 358 of the detained African migrants, according to the Houthi-controlled interior ministry's statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV.

The ministry said riot forces were called in to quash a riot after a hunger strike of the detained African migrants spiraled out of control.

"The riot forces then fired three tear gas bombs. One of them fell in a mattress that caused the fire and killed 45 African migrants," the Houthi-controlled authorities said, adding that they have arrested 11 soldiers of the riot forces for causing the accident.

Last week, the Houthi authorities said they buried in a mass grave in Sanaa a total of 43 dead detained migrants who were killed in the fire.

The International Organization of Migrants (IOM) in a statement has urged the Houthi authorities to allow its staff in Sanaa to access the center and the hospitals to provide health assistance to the fire victims.

The Yemeni government has accused the Houthi rebels of committing "a genocide against the African migrants in the seized Sanaa," calling for an international probe into the fatal fire in the detention center, according to a statement carried by the official Saba news agency.

According to the IOM, Yemen remains a transit country for tens of thousands of migrants traveling between the Horn of Africa and Saudi Arabia despite years of war.

The organization estimated that the number of migrants arriving in Yemen fell from more than 138,000 in 2019 to just more than 37,500 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014 when Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem
Former Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Sean Brady has expressed his "sadness" and "pain" over his role in an internal Church inquiry into paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, which involved swearing a 14-year-old victim to secrecy.

Cardinal Brady said he was "too focused" on getting a statement from the boy and acknowledged it was a "horrendous" situation for the child.

In a new book about Catholicism in Ireland Cardinal Brady told author Derek Scally: "Hauled into a room with three fellows there, his father wasn't there, it was horrendous, really. That is only dawning on me now, really... his double victimisation."

In his first interview on the Smyth controversy since he apologised at the Historical Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland in 2015, he says it was "strange" it did not cross his mind at the time that he had a moral obligation to report Smyth to the gardai.

Scally's book The Best Catholics In The World examines the hold of the Church in Ireland and its demise in recent years.

In 1975 Cardinal Brady was present at interviews with two boys who had been abused by Smyth. The boys were bound to an oath of secrecy and were not allowed to tell even their parents.

Further details were revealed by one of the two boys, Brendan Boland, in a documentary in 2012, and later in his book Sworn To Silence.

Transcripts of the Boland interviews revealed the inappropriate and intrusive line of questioning, such as whether he had done such things before.

Cardinal Brady, who stood down as Primate of All Ireland in 2014, told Scally he remembered little about his meeting with Boland and reiterated that the secrecy was concerned with protecting the Church's reputation.

The interview failed on four fronts, the cardinal says now: "Taking a legal approach intimidating to Brendan; separating him from his father; putting to him questions 'not respectful of the boy's dignity'; and shrouding proceedings in secrecy."

When Scally asked if he had ever considered going to the gardai with the information, Cardinal Brady replied it would have been "conflicting". Asked if he felt no additional moral obligation - beyond his legal duty - toward Boland in 1975, Cardinal Brady said: "It's strange that it didn't cross my mind that I had the moral obligation to report it to the guards, you know."

According to the author, the cardinal insisted "there was no legal obligation to do any more than he did then".

He "assumed" the issue would be followed up, but according to the author "he didn't know that nothing happened. It's possible he decided it was not his place to know".

Cardinal Brady also suggested he did not sufficiently acknowledge Boland's suffering.

"It didn't sink in how heinous it was, how premeditated. It wasn't treated in any of the textbooks except 'the worst sin of all'... [there were] no details of what effect it was having on children," he said.

"There's a sadness, I suppose, a great sadness, a pain about the situation about Brendan Boland, that we weren't more enlightened at the time, that it didn't occur to me to go to the police or suggest someone else go to the police."
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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"

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Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

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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

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Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

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His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his historic visit to the National Disaster Management Organization in his referred to the Director-General of the Institution as hardworking in his remarks.



The President who was there to present the first set of 40 vehicles and earth moving equipments to the organization.



He used the opportunity to regard the success story of NADMO under his watch and supervision of Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh.



Since 2017, NADMO has worked hard to carry out various emergency response missions and specially risk reduction measures, which have made the Organisation enviable among its peers in the sub region.



The following are some of the success stories:



2.Operationalizing Act 927, 2016.

Act 927 made critical provisions which when operationalized will enhance performance. Among these provisions are the establishment of the Governing Council and the National Disaster Management Fund. The Government constituted the Governing Council in 2017 to give direction to the organisation. It is gratifying that finally, a Governing Council which has eluded the Organasition for so many years had been inaugurated. Similarly, the National Disaster Fund established under the Act was also operationalized by the Organisation with the opening of the Account. Clearly, this is a feat beyond compare, considering the enormity of financial investment required for effective Disaster Risk Reduction.



3. International Emergency Response Support.

NADMO, in its bid to show solidarity for our neighbouring countries as indicated in international protocols, the Organisastion has supported its neighbours who have suffered the ravages of disasters. NADMO, and for that matter, Ghana, supported Sierra Leone when it suffered an agonizing mudslide disaster in August, 2017.

Similarly, when fire guttered the properties of a group of Ghanaians in Katanga, Togo, NADMO acted swiftly to alleviate the suffering of their fellow Ghanaians. In both cases relief items and cash donations were made.



4. Operation Thunderbolt.

The perennial flooding in the northern part of the country exacerbated by the opening of the Bagre Dam has visited deaths and hardships on the people. To address this problem, NADMO has instituted a holistic programme code-named Operation Thunderbolt. This programme prepositions responders and relief items at flash points for timely rescue and relief. The programme also provides early warning to people on the banks of the White Volta.



5. Catch Them Young.

The United Nations gives much thought to the involvement of young children in DRR. NADMO in response to that concept has come out with a programme called Institutional Arrangement to Engage the Youth and Young Children in DRR, dubbed Catch Them Young. The programme was piloted successfully in selected schools in Greater Accra Region, Ashanti Region, Bono Region and Volta Region. The target were school children and young Kayayes. The programme has advanced to a yearly DRR quiz competition among Senior High schools.



6. Space Based DRR Infrastructure

The NADMO has been granted universal access to the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. In February, 2019, the International Charter Space and Major Disasters acknowledge that NADMO had successfully completed the necessary steps to become an Authorized User of the Charter. Subsequently, NADMO was awarded a certificate formalizing the International Charters acceptance as Authorized User. This is a milestone for the National Disaster Management Organisation.



6. Promotion of Financial Discipline.

To promote financial discipline, an Internal Audit Committee has been set up at Headquarters. Again, Internal Audit Units and Committees have been formed in all the 16 Regions. The staff at the Internal Audit Units across the country have been taken through training for this purpose.



7. Retooling and Logistical Support for the organization.

The organization has provided motorbikes for all 16 Regional offices as well as all 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District offices across the country.

A payloader , one rescue ambulance, one clinical ambulance, thirty (30) Toyota Hilux Picks , Six (6) 4x4 Toyota Vehicles and a saloon car have been provided.

It is worthy to note that approval has been granted with all procurement processes complete for the delivery of additional thirty-two (32 ) pickups to the organization.

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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Arizona legislators have ordered a recount of 2.1 million ballots for the 2020 presidential election, this time to be done by hand.

The Arizona Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, released a statement confirming their intent to do another audit of the ballots from Maricopa County, the states most populous county.

The Arizona State Senate statement released on Thursday says that they will conduct a broad and detailed audit, adding that they will test voting machines, scan ballots, look for IT breaches, and perform a hand count.

As thousands of our voters continue to call for a thorough audit of the 2020 election in Maricopa County, I am pleased to report we have narrowed it down to a preferred forensic audit team, reads a March 18 statement from state Sen. Karen Fann (R-Ariz.).

We are negotiating final details on the execution of the audit and hope to have an announcement soon.

Our goal is to make this a bipartisan effort with full transparency and in joint cooperation with Maricopa County officials. Weve been reaching out to experts on election processes in Arizona and around the nation and hope to have the best and brightest involved in the audit, Fann wrote.

When all the work is done, there will be a full report for the Senate and County to review. Our voters expect this audit, and it can be a big step in returning trust and confidence in our election process, it concludes.

Last month, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason ruled that subpoenas issued by Arizonas state Senate are valid and should be enforced, and he disputed arguments from Maricopa County officials saying the subpoenas are unlawful.

The county previously stated that multiple audits have been sufficient and said ballots should be sealed.

The Court finds that the subpoenas are legal and enforceable, Thomason wrote (pdf) in his ruling. There is no question that the Senators have the power to issue legislative subpoenas. The subpoenas comply with the statutory requirements for legislative subpoenas. The Senate also has broad constitutional power to oversee elections.

He argued that the Arizona legislature clearly has the power to investigate and examine election reform matters, adding that senators can subpoena material as part of an inquiry into election reform measures.

The move was hailed by Republican legislators in Arizona.

Fann told news outlets after the judges ruling that their move was never about overturning the election, it was about the integrity of the Arizona election system.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Law and order: A bouquet after many brickbats View(s):

Responses to articles written by me on law and order are many. Quite a few are by email. Replies on the phone are many. These responses, comments and observations cover a wide area. Some are positive, others are apprehensive and negative in reaction to the articles.

Admittedly, the articles have been mainly critical of the establishment. Law and order are a problematic issue. Unravelling the difficult nature of law and order in their many situations is an onerous task. This is because the term law and order has, in its wide usage, both negative and positive aspects. Depicting the critical and negative aspect in law and order is, surely and relatively, easy and popular. The positive contribution of order to prosperity is, on the other hand, nearly an outlandish idea, barely spoken of.

A silver lining, however, has been spotted of late, and is gladly revealed: An exception to this rare contribution of order to prosperity is the recent enunciation by President Rajapaksa of the idea that the countrys prosperity is underwritten by law and order.

The idea of linking prosperity with order needs more elucidation. Can there be prosperity without order? There are surely, political, economic and social aspects which cover the area of the problem raised in question. Confining the inquiry, however, to the legal aspects of the issue, only a few matters that meet the eye can be referred to in this article. The larger issues in the political, economic and social areas of the problem can be dealt with more competently by the experts panel selected by the President for advice.

The focus of this article is squarely from the practical experience of policing for law and order, on the ground and in the village, not in courts. Much effort had to be made in the settlement of village disputes in the name of order. That was practical exercise. The initial action, though of a law-and-order exercise, was then, in effect, a guarantee of prosperity. It was also effective and, at the same time, a promotion of prosperity between the parties, of their relatively equal standing in the face of the law and order problem. On the other hand, quality and disparity of parties did not draw down on their relative prosperity to disturb their order. Order was thereby maintained as best as it may, with prosperity accruing to order. This is not theory but a fact of practical experience. To put this in more conceptual form, the law and order action was embryonic of order, and so of prosperity.

Colebrooke and Robert Knox, of old, knew this. They saw it before their eyes. Cameron would not see this; he looked the other way. All this is history, and now it is back as a sporadic exercise. Can this be of some meaning to the President, or just said by him in some rudimentary articulate way? Can the experts help?

Of course, law and order for prosperity can surely be promoted by such presidential instruction. That is the way to go. Were the President to appoint a Commission of Inquiry (PCI) to give nerve and muscle to prosperity for law and order, much of the disparate thinking that has plagued the countrys law-and-order history, can now be set aright. Law and order can never be detrimental to prosperity; it can only promote prosperity. The converse is even truer. Disorder leads to penury and poverty.

In practical terms, nevertheless, promotion of law and order for prosperity can barely be amenable to judicial thinking, which for all these years yielded very little on this. Judicious experience on a practical basis, on the other hand, is far more effective than in judicial writing.

Based on the incidence of the practical basis alone, the practice grows to foster order and so to prosperity; that one instance begets the other; and that the word goes with the parties to the people. There is no need then for education, training and writing to labour a PCI.

Order through settlement of disputes at ground level outside of courts builds up with the practice to allow for prosperity. This principle is in a nascent stage.

The idea of law is equally lost to practicality. As a result, there is now only a reawakening of these lost features in current considerations. Since independence, there have been many means that may be deployed to advance this principle of settlement of disputes and problems between parties with a view to promoting prosperity through law and order than conceived of. Examples abound in other countries. Space does not however permit the discussion of these possibilities in our current endeavour. The principle is to permit active participation of the parties to the case, to the extent feasible, with professional intervention brought into the minimum.

The idea is also that parties are more conscious of their rights than professionals. Professional intervention should only be to bring the parties together to settle their problem. The result is that they will so subscribe to law and order and look to prosperity, with little intrusion of others. In Japan for example, 90 percent of the indictable cases are dealt with out of court. This makes the difference between prosperity and penury and privation, in this area at least.

Resolution of problems and disputes at the village level is then better achieved by the intervention of elders who exude confidence and command the acquiescence of the disputants, much more efficiently than in courts. There are enough and more problems emerging from the latter process. These are well known and they need no further discussion. The idea advanced is that the means now suggested inspire confidence in the system, which is the critical factor in court process, in law and order maintenance and so of prosperity. The means envisaged in such resolution of problems is modest, the expectations are limited and the costs nil.

To the contrary, the courts process often reflects of untoward practices, of process to wear down participants and to wreak vengeance by smashing coconuts. Are all these in the same vein and strain that sometimes attends much law process? Do they inspire confidence? No, that is not the approach to prosperity. The difference is evident.

The purpose of the PCI is, therefore, to enshrine some of these salutary principles in law process, for law and order and for prosperity in the present context, yet, within feasible limits.

The Presidents call to law and order for prosperity is timely and laudable.

(The writer is a Retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted at seneviratnetz@gmail.com

TP 077 44 751 44)
As over 20,000 people took to the streets to oppose the anti-pandemic lockdown, protesters attacked several members of Germany's security forces in Kassel, according to authorities.

Violent clashes between various groups of protesters were also reported, according to DW.

"We will not tolerate such attacks... This is not what peaceful protests look like," local police said on Twitter.

Many protesters were chanting "Wir sind das Volk" ("We are the people"), a slogan taken from the peaceful protests that led to the end of communist East in 1989.

Some protesters even tried to break through a police barrier, prompting the police to use a water cannon to disperse the demonstrators outside the area authorised for the rally, DW reported.

Police said they had used mace and batons in scuffles with protesters.

The protest has been co-organised by the Querdenken (Lateral Thinking) movement, a group that has been behind many such demonstrations during the pandemic. These protests are considered by experts as having considerable potential as superspreader events.

is officially in the grip of a third wave of the pandemic, with more than 16,000 new infections reported on Saturday, reported DW.

The country has so far reported 2,658,851 infections and 74,657 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(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.)
Five years ago the stage was set for Humans of Mallorca. Influenced and inspired by the mighty Brandon Stanton.

Humans of Mallorca is an idea taken from the hugely popular Humans of New York photo blog run by Brandon Stanton. Brandon started this concept in 2010 and concentrated on the street life of New York.

Most of his early interviewees were met in Central Park. The fascination for random people and their stories grew and grew and grew.

This is his core work but developments have taken him to create a series of interviews with the people of many worldwide locations.

Governments have invited him to talk to their people to get a feel about what the person on the street is really experiencing at this time.

He has also taken his ability, to tell the stories, into posh places and spoken to the great and the good. Presidents and priests talk to Brandon and his uncensored style is admired by the journalistic world.

He publishes annual books of his chats and is invited to talk on TV as a social commentator of our age.

To even attempt to walk in Brandons footsteps was an arrogance, but I gave it a go. I spoke to random people in Majorca and was entranced by their stories.

I spoke to those I thought I knew well and learnt that I knew nothing. I talked to the angry and disaffected and lent them listening time. I have learnt so much in the last five years about people.

The biggest lesson I have understood is that the majority of people do not feel they are ever truly listened too. Listeners are usually too busy rehearsing their response to listen to anyone. I was shocked into a silence.

Our world is in a terrible mess and those charged with sorting it do not know how to listen. Decisions are made along political and ideological lines rather than by having an ear to the ground.

Now all the evaluations are happening about early days of the pandemic it is very clear that few were listening. A mixture of self interest and desperation to solve the problems went hand in hand.

Humans of Mallorca creates a huge postbag for me and the stories are wonderful. Currently I am watching the evolution of a journey of a young man from Greece. He sent articulate, impassioned messages asking for help.

His girlfriend is working in Mallorca and he wants to come and join her. Only problem is they split up before she left and he doesnt know what the reconciliation (if any) is going to bring.

Where will he live? Will he get a job? How many planes will he have to change before he gets here? By the way he has no money.

At present the great Soller community I live amongst are breaking all these problems down into manageable parcels and are trying to help. You can call us Soller Softies if you like but there is a ticking heart here.

A year ago I started writing a daily letter on Sollerweb Facebook. This was as the Lockdown started and it was a journal of our lives through the past 365 days. Every morning my first thought was that letter and it connected with thousands worldwide.

I thought I would stop when we came out of first Lockdown and that its job would be done, but oh no. The humans in our world wanted to hear from us every day to make sure we were ok and add their stories and comments to ours.

We shared our experiences from the USA, Canada, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, India, UK, Australia and so many places.

We are all Humans together in this global pandemic and some of us have had the time to find our listening skills. This has been a great outcome in adversity.

Humans of Mallorca are now entering year 6 as the changes begin after Brexit, and the gradual recovery from the events of the past year. The people I listen too in the future cant help but have a different focus.

Their stories and aspirations will be fascinating as they will be proof of change or lack of it. The fact that now we accept that these problems are still with us, and will wander into 2022 with us, makes us all very different people.

No wonder governments, census takers and major companies all want to listen to us now.

The population have all learned that there is a new story which starts immediately and will influence everything for years to come.

Humans of Mallorca will be one place where the decision makers can hear the voices of all those, who choose to tell me their story.
Raphael Warnock, one of Georgia's new Democratic senators, said Sunday his state's voters 'saved the country' by electing him to the Senate so he could help pass the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief and stimulus bill earlier this month.

'I can tell you this that the people of Georgia stood up in a powerful way and they sent the first African American senator and the first Jewish senator to the United States Senate,' Warnock said of him and fellow Democrat Jon Ossoff winning their respective runoff races in January.

'And when they did that, that was revolutionary not just for Georgia, but in a real sense they saved the country,' he added when speaking to NBC's 'Meet the Press' host Chuck Todd on Sunday morning. 'We would not have passed the American Rescue Plan, had I not been elected.'

Upon winning their races against then-incumbent Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, Warnock and Ossoff brought the Senate to a 50-50 party split  with Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie breaking vote.

Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock on Sunday took credit for 'saving the country' by winning his runoff Senate election and voting to pass the $1.9 trillion coroanvirus relief plan

Warnock told NBC's 'Meet the Press' host Chuck Todd of Georgians electing him to Congress: 'I can tell you this that the people of Georgia... in a real sense they saved the country. We would not have passed the American Rescue Plan, had I not been elected'

By winning the slimmest majority possible in the Senate  and maintaining control of the House  Democrats are now able to pass through almost all legislative agendas, to include the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden signed the massive coronavirus relief package, which passed in the House and Senate nearly along party lines. The administration has now launched a 'Help is Here' tour across America to promote the plan.

If Warnock or Ossoff lost their race in January, Republicans would have maintained control of the Senate and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell would have never allowed Biden's sweeping bill to get through the upper chamber.

The latest legislation includes another round of one-time direct checks for Americans, this time in the amount of $1,400. It also included an extension in a $300-per-week boost in unemployment benefits.

Warnock on Sunday also knocked Republicans for focusing on voter fraud, as some within the party are still disputing the validity of the results in the Georgia election.

'I think it's unfortunate that some politicians have looked at the results and rather than changing their message, they're busy trying to change the rules,' he said. 'It will not stand.'
The National Investigation Agency's forensic unit investigated gelatin in the Mansukh murder case. The NIA team is now on the hunt for Vaze's five luxury cars' owners. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh accused Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of seeking Rs 100 crore per month from him.

Till now, the gelatin seizure case involving the Mansukh Murder Mystery has remained closed. All of the proof has now been thoroughly examined with the support of the National Investigation Agencys (NIA) forensic unit. According to reports, the NIA can investigate the Mansukh Murder Case after Gelatin. On friday, Hemant Nagrale, the current Mumbai Police Chief, met with the NIA team.

Meanwhile, police officer Sachin has revealed a number of secrets, on the basis of which the NIA has gathered evidence from all angles. In the same facts, a 6-member forensic team from Pune to Mumbai NIA office is investigating 5 luxury vehicles belonging to Vaze.

The investigation of the gelatin explosive-rich Scorpio has been assigned to the same team. Aside from that, the forensic team is gathering technical evidence such as burned kurtas from Mulund, electronic devices from its police headquarters, documents discovered in Thanes Saket housing complex, and cash from luxury cars. The NIA team is now on the lookout for the owners of Vazes five luxury cars. A Scorpio, an Innova, two Mercedes, and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado are among the cars.

Also Read: Immunity VS vaccine efficacy: How effective are Indian vaccines? Heres what you should know

Also, Anil Deshmukh, the Maharashtra Home Minister, has been accused by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh. He has written a letter to the states Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, in this regard. According to reports in the media, the former commissioner has accused Anil Deshmukh of seeking Rs 100 crore per month. Please inform me that Parambir Singh was recently removed from his role as Mumbai Police Commissioner. In the letter, Parambir Singh wrote, Sachin Vaze informed me that Anil Deshmukh has demanded 100 crore rupees per month from him.

Following Sachin Vazes arrest in the gelatin case and the transfer of Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh, now fingers are being pointed at the Home Ministrys functioning. The BJP, (biggest opposition) is also calling for Anil Deshmukhs resignation as Home Minister. However, Deshmukh claimed that he met with Pawar and told him of the most recent developments in the Scorpio car case. He also mentioned that his meeting with Sharad Pawar for the Mihan project was already scheduled.

Also Read: Alaska tensions run high: US-China kick off talks; East vs West Dominion war?
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who stepped down as frontline royals and set up base in the US, in April 2020, unveiled the name of their new non-profit charitable organization as Archewell, based on the name of their 11-month-old son Archie. The couple who was using the royal monogram on their documents and letters are now using the Archewell logo with the letter AW.

The Duke and Duchess have been receiving a lot of backlash on social media for copying the logo design from Am Werdertor project, which has a similar 'AW' emblem since 2018. Talking to Daily Mail, Dmitry Pryanishnikov, chief executive of Am Werdertor's parent company Allea Group, said that 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'. Dmitry clarified that even though the logo is very similar, they won't take any action and do not take offence because 'the subject projects are very much different by their nature'.

A Twitter user wrote, "I think Am Werdertor would have a good lawsuit case against Archewell. Stealing their logo. My understanding you can't have a logo that is very similar to an already established logo." Another said, "Who wore it best Am Werdertor or Archewell?"

I think Am Werdertor would have a good lawsuit case against Archewell. Stealing their logo. My understanding you can't have a logo that is very similar to an already established logo.  Karen Cox Callahan - Teams Trump and Cambridge (@K_L_Cox) March 17, 2021

We had a very special delivery this week. It has been lovely to share this letter and advice with the students and remember our International Womens Day celebrations last year. #IWD2021 #iwd pic.twitter.com/wLDisgETwp  Robert Clack School (@RClackOfficial) March 11, 2021

Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey interview

The Duke and Duchess spoke for the first time together after their royal exit, which was recently confirmed, during the Oprah interview. In the interview, the couple explained why they decided to step down from their royal duties, which they announced in January 2020. In the interview, Meghan discussed a lack of mental health support from family members, as well as how some family members made racist remarks about the colour of her skin and expressed concerns about the colour of their mixed-race son Archie.
Congress would have gained had it fought Bengal polls alone: Abhijit Mukherjee

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 21: The Congress''s vote share would have increased if it had fought the West Bengal elections without aligning with the Left, former party MP Abhijit Mukherjee said on Saturday.

Abhijit, the son of former president Pranab Mukherjee, said that his party has forged an alliance with only the Left Front and not Abbas Siddiqui''s ISF.

"The Congress''s vote share would have increased if it fought the elections alone. This is my personal opinion. However, it is not necessary that the increase in vote share would mean an increase in seats," he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme at the Arabinda Stadium here.

West Bengal elections 2021: 684 companies of CAPF to be deployed in first phase of state polls

"Congress would have been able to fight on more number of seats if it contested the elections without going into any alliance. The chances of winning would have been more. Still, I am hopeful that the alliance will form the next government in West Bengal," he added.

The Congress has aligned with the Left Front and ISF for fighting the assembly elections in West Bengal, taking on the ruling TMC and opposition BJP.

Mukherjee''s comments come even as the three sides give a final touch to the seat-sharing arrangement.

The Congress got 5.67 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, most of which came from Murshidabad and Malda Dakshin seats where party candidates won.

The CPI(M)-led Left Front got around 7 per cent votes but could not manage to win a single amid a bipolar contest between the BJP (40.64 per cent) and TMC (43.69 per cent). The TMC won 22 seats, while the BJP bagged 18 seats, emerging as the main opposition party in the state.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 9:36 [IST]
Troy Carter has a head start after leading Karen Carter Peterson by 13 percentage points in Saturdays congressional primary to replace Cedric Richmond, but political analysts on Sunday said Peterson could overtake Carter in the upcoming runoff between the two Democratic state senators from New Orleans.

Carter won 36.3% to Petersons 22.9%, but she staked out more progressive policy stances that were in line with those of Gary Chambers Jr., the Baton Rouge activist and advocate who finished third after falling just short of overtaking Peterson with 21.3% in a Black-majority district that stretches from New Orleans through the west bank of Jefferson Parish and the River Parishes to north Baton Rouge.

Carter technically has the lead going into the April 24 runoff for the 2nd Congressional District seat, said John Couvillon, a Baton Rouge-based pollster and demographer. But I see the Chambers vote going into Petersons column [in the runoff]. So I see that lead as being illusory.

Said UNO political scientist Ed Chervenak: Once you get into the runoff, its a whole new election.

What caught the attention of political insiders Sunday was not only Chambers better-than-expected showing overall  he was virtually unknown when the campaign began with Richmonds resignation in December  but that he led Peterson by 834 votes, or 2 percentage points, in complete but unofficial results in New Orleans, where she was raised and has represented for 21 years in the state Legislature.

Peterson even finished third in her own Senate district, with only 26% of that vote, said Miles Coleman, a New Orleans native who is associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia. Meanwhile, Carter, who lives in Algiers, led in his Senate district with 45% of that vote, Coleman said. Peterson did win the most votes in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Couvillon attributed Chambers solid result in New Orleans to strong support in precincts near the Mississippi River where at least 70% of the voters are white.

For the lack of a better term, theres almost an emergence of the white Woke vote in New Orleans and nowhere else in the district, said Couvillon, adding that these voters most likely supported Vt. Sen. Bernie Sanders during the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

+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

The key question Sunday was whether Chambers would endorse either candidate in the runoff or remain neutral.

He said he wasnt sure.

Chambers said he talked to both Carter and Peterson late Saturday night after the results were clear and described both as having been gracious.

Chambers said he will sit down with each one during the coming week to discuss their views. It will effectively be a job interview with his potential endorsement as the prize.

They both believe my support is important for them to win, he said.

Asked what hes looking for, Chambers replied, Whos really committed to progressive values? He added, I dont think theres a particular issue for me. Its got to be a long-term strategy (to benefit the residents of the district).

Carter, 57, ran as an experienced hand who knows how to work with others to deliver for the residents of the 2nd Congressional District. He highlighted his support for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour but often spoke in broad generalities about such issues as the need to address climate change, create jobs and improve education. Carter won endorsements from key local Democratic and Republican elected officials.

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Troy Carter receives two important endorsements in the race to replace Cedric Richmond State Sen. Troy Carter picked up two key endorsements Monday when state Sen. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia

Peterson, 51, also highlighted her legislative experience and said she favors Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and raising the minimum wage. She had endorsements from national Democratic leaders.

Chambers, 35, ran as a representative for generational change by noting that one candidate had first won office in 1991 (Carter) and the other in 1999 (Peterson). Despite their best efforts, Chambers said derisively, Louisiana ranked 50th or only slightly higher in too many educational, social and economic state-by-state rankings.

Chambers stood out with his adroit deployment of social media videos. One featured a campaign song from New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia. Another lampooned Carter and Peterson for trading blows on Twitter over who had missed the most votes in the state Legislature  theyre on the Internet arguing like little kids, Chambers said, looking up from his phone. A third Chambers video entitled, Wheres Troy? ridiculed Carter for pulling out of the only televised debate during the campaign.

+5 Where's Troy Carter? New Orleans state senator pulls out of WDSU congressional debate Gary Chambers Jr. and Karen Carter Peterson are knocking Troy Carter for pulling out of the only televised debate scheduled during the congres

On Sunday, even as he said that he respected both Carter and Peterson, Chambers said, I dont think either one of them is a true progressive. Both candidates, he said, have taken campaign contributions over the years from oil and gas interests.

Besides, he said, Nobody was excited about either of their campaigns. Referring to himself, he added, A man who has never been elected and is labeled as just an activist should not have been able to come into New Orleans and finish second (there).

Carter and Peterson both challenged then-U.S. Rep. Bill Jefferson when he ran for re-election. Peterson finished second with Carter fifth as Jefferson won re-election.

Given that Peterson chaired the Louisiana Democratic Party for eight years, Carters path to victory over the next month could involve collecting the votes of Republican voters, Couvillon said. In all, the four Republican candidates totaled 16.4% of the overall vote.

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

Claston Bernard, a businessman who was endorsed by the Louisiana Republican Party, said on Sunday that he had not heard from Peterson or Carter and didnt expect to endorse either one.

Theres nothing in their ideology that supports my core principles, Bernard said.

Chervenak noted that the final results for Carter and Peterson virtually matched their vote in a private poll he and Anthony Licciardi conducted in early March, while Chambers final result nearly doubled the 11% he notched in the survey.

He was surging, Chervenak said.

Chambers agreed and talked about the electric response he received on election day in New Orleans during last-minute campaigning.

If we had one more week, Karen would have been out, absolutely, he said.
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(CNN)  The temperature read 95 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, but the humidity made it feel worse. Amid the stifling late summer Rio de Janeiro heat, Silvia Silva Santos steadied her 77-year-old mother as they walked toward the clinic gate.

"We've already come here twice but she hasn't managed to get a vaccine," said Silva Santos. "She just stands in line and then there's no more vaccines and we have to leave."

At the gate, Silva Santos asked the guard if she could get her mother a vaccine. Keenly aware of CNN cameras watching, he quickly ushered her in.

About five minutes later, the pair came back out, bad news written on their faces.

"I think this is very wrong," said Silva Santos, clearly angry and frustrated. "Now we'll have to find out again when they'll have vaccines and you never know when."

That frustration rippled through the elderly crowd as person after person was denied a first dose of a vaccine, after the state of Rio de Janeiro suspended its vaccination campaign because it had run out of vaccine supplies.

"This is a disaster, a total disaster," a woman told CNN after being denied her vaccine. "Who is to blame for all this? I think our leaders, our politicians suck."

The growing perfect storm

The COVID-19 crisis in Brazil has never been worse. Nearly every Brazilian state has an ICU occupancy of 80% or higher, according to a CNN analysis of state data. As of Friday, 16 of 26 states were at or above 90%, meaning those health systems have collapsed or are at imminent risk of doing so.

The seven-day averages of both new cases and new deaths are higher than they have ever been.

In the last 10 days, about a quarter of all coronavirus deaths worldwide have been recorded in Brazil, according to CNN analysis.

"They are clear signs that we are in a phase of very critical acceleration of the epidemic and it is unprecedented," said Jesem Orellana, a Brazilian epidemiologist.

If vaccines are the ultimate way out from this global pandemic, Brazil has a long way to go to seeing this through.

As of Friday, less than 10 million people in the country of about 220 million had received at least one dose, according to federal health data. Only 1.57% of the population had been fully vaccinated.

That is the result of a slow rollout program that has been plagued by delays. During the announcement of its distribution plan in early February, the government promised some 46 million vaccine doses to be available in March. It's been repeatedly forced to lower that number, now estimating only 26 million by month's end.

In-country production of what the governments says will eventually be hundreds of millions of doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine only just got off the ground. The first 500,000 doses were delivered and celebrated by top Ministry of Health officials in Rio de Janeiro this week, despite being months behind schedule.

"[There are] no vaccines in an amount that would really make an impact right now," said Natalia Pasternak, a Brazilian microbiologist, who said it won't be until well into the second half of the year before enough vaccines are available to make a substantive impact on the epidemic.

If vaccines are to remain in short supply for the foreseeable future, the only remaining ways to control the epidemic's exponential growth in Brazil are the methods the world has heard ad nauseam  social distancing, no large crowds, restricted movements and good hygiene.

But in many places throughout Brazil, that is just not happening. In bustling Rio de Janeiro, it is easy to find maskless crowds walking the streets, conversing in close quarters.

Though the city's famed beaches are closed this weekend, restaurants and bars can still be open until 9 p.m., many likely to be filled to capacity.

Many states have imposed much harsher restrictions including nighttime curfews, but local leaders are fighting against federal leadership, or a lack thereof, determined to keep things open.

President Jair Bolsonaro, a COVID-19 skeptic who has mocked the efficacy of vaccines and hasn't publicly taken one himself, announced Thursday that he would be taking legal action against certain states in the country's Supreme Court, claiming the only person who can decree curfews is him  something he has promised never to do.

Despite thousands of people dying from the virus each day, he claims the real threat is from the economic harm virus-prompted restrictions can impose.

Millions of his supporters are following his lead, openly flaunting local regulations of social distancing and mask wearing.

All of this would be concerning enough on its own, but it is exacerbated by a deeply concerning reality -- the spread of COVID-19 variants.

'People don't realize how much worse P.1 is'

The P.1 variant was first discovered in Japan. Health authorities detected the viral mutation in multiple travelers that were returning from Amazonas state, an isolated region in Brazil's north replete with rainforest.

CNN reported from the region in late January, where a brutal second wave of Covid-19 was decimating the city of Manaus.

Nearly two months later, more and more research points to the P.1 variant as a crucial factor not only in the Manaus outbreak but in the nationwide crisis Brazil faces today.

A study from Brazil's top medical research foundation, Fiocruz, from early March found that of eight Brazilian states studied, Covid-19 variants including P.1 were prevalent in at least 50% of new cases.

The variant is widely agreed to be more easily transmissible, up to 2.2 times so according to a recent study. That is more transmissible than the widely discussed B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom, which is up to 1.7 times more transmissible, according to a December study.

That same study also found that people are 25% to 65% more likely to evade existing protective immunity from previous non-P.1 infections.

Finally, there remain concerns the different vaccines might not be as effective against the P.1 variant.

Though a recent study from the UK did find that the "existing vaccines may protect against the Brazilian coronavirus variant," CNN spoke to several epidemiologists who remain concerned.

"The world has not awoken the dire potential reality that P1 variant could represent," said Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist. "People don't realize how much worse P1 is."

Brazil is becoming a global hazard

Amidst Brazil's unmitigated viral spread lies two additional, distinct threats.

One, the easier export of the existing P.1 variant abroad. It's already in at least two dozen countries and counting and international travel to and from Brazil is still open to for most countries.

Two, if the P.1 variant was created here, so can others.

"The pandemic being out of control in Brazil caused the variant," said Pasternak, the Brazilian microbiologist. "And it's going to cause more variants. It's going to cause more mutations because this is what happens when you let the virus replicate freely."

Under the laws of viral evolution, new variants are created to try and allow the virus to spread more easily. Along the way, more dangerous iterations can be created.

"More variants mean that there is a greater probability that one of these variants can really escape all vaccines, for instance," said Pasternak. "It's rare, but it could happen."

That, she says, makes Brazil a global hazard, not just to its neighboring countries but to others around the world.

"All of this together should raise the alarms in every country around the world that we must help Brazil contain P1, lest we all suffer the same fate of the collapsing Brazilian hospital system," said Dr. Feigl-Ding.

With a lack of a vaccines and a government unwilling to take the steps necessary to prevent that from happening, it is unclear how things get better in Brazil anytime soon.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "No vaccines, no leadership, no end in sight. How Brazil became a global threat."
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived Sunday in Kabul on his first trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, amid swirling questions about how long American troops will remain in the country.

State-owned Radio and Television Afghanistan and popular TOLO Television reported Austin's arrival in Kabul from India. He met with senior Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani.

According to the Washington Post, which was among the small group of U.S. media travelling with him, Austin said senior U.S. officials want to see 'a responsible end to this conflict' and 'a transition to something else.'

'There's always going to be concerns about things one way or the other, but I think there is a lot of energy focused on doing what is necessary to bring about a responsible end and a negotiated settlement to the war,' Austin said.

President Joe Biden said last week in an ABC News interview that it will be 'tough' for the U.S. to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. But he said that if the deadline, which is laid out in an agreement between former President Donald Trumps administration and the Taliban, is extended, it wouldn't be by a 'lot longer.'

In response, the Taliban on Friday warned of consequences if the U.S. doesn't meet the deadline. Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiation team, told reporters that if U.S. troops stay beyond May 1, 'it will be a kind of violation of the agreement. That violation would not be from our side... Their violation will have a reaction.'

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, center, walks on the red carpet with Acting Afghan Minister of Defense Yasin Zia as they review an honor guard at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, meets Afgan President Ashraf Ghani at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday

Austin met with Ghani and according to a statement released by the presidential palace both sides condemned the increase in violence in Afghanistan.

There was no mention of the May 1 deadline. Washington is reviewing the agreement the Trump administration signed with the Taliban last year and has been stepping up pressure on both sides in the protracted conflict to find a swift route to a peace agreement.

In a sharply worded letter to Ghani earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it is urgent to make peace in Afghanistan and all options remain on the table. He also warned that it is likely the Taliban would make swift territorial gains if U.S. and NATO troops withdrew.

The United States spends $4 billion a year to sustain Afghanistan's National Security Forces.

The Taliban warned America against defying the May 1 deadline 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.

Washington has also given both the Taliban and the Afghan government an eight-page peace proposal, which both sides are reviewing. It calls for an interim so-called 'peace government' which would shepherd Afghanistan toward constitutional reform and elections.

Ghani has resisted an interim administration causing his critics to accuse him of clinging to power. He says elections alone would be acceptable to bring a change of government.

Both the U.S. and Kabul have called for a reduction in violence leading to a cease-fire. The Taliban say a cease-fire would be part of the peace negotiations. The insurgent movement has not attacked U.S. or NATO troops since signing the agreement.

However, U.S. military commanders and NATO leaders have argued that the Taliban have not lived up to their part of the peace agreement, which includes a reduction in violence and a separation from al-Qaida and other terror groups.

State-owned Radio and Television Afghanistan and popular TOLO Television reported Austin's arrival in Kabul from India. Austin is seen in India on Saturday

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month that the alliance 'will only leave when the time is right' and when conditions have been met.

'The main issue is that Taliban has to reduce violence, Taliban has to negotiate in good faith and Taliban has to stop supporting international terrorist groups like Al Qaeda,' he said.

Austin has said little on the record about the ongoing stalemate. After a virtual meeting of NATO defense ministers, Austin told reporters that 'our presence in Afghanistan is conditions based, and Taliban has to meet their commitments.'

Austin's stop in Afghanistan marks his first return to a U.S. warzone in the Middle East since taking the Pentagon post. But he spent a great deal of time in the region during his service as an Army commander.

Austin, a retired four-star general, served in Afghanistan as commander of the 10th Mountain Division. And from 2013-2016 he was the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan visit comes at the end of Austins his first overseas trip as secretary. After a stop in Hawaii, he went to Japan and South Korea, where he and Secretary of State Blinken met with their defense and foreign ministers.
New Delhi, March 21 : Global rollout of Covid-19 vaccines along with the Centre's initiatives is expected to boost exports in the coming months, EEPC India said.

"Given the initiatives announced by the government and the speedy rollout of vaccination, we expect the growth to return in the coming months. There is also a gradual recovery in global trade which will have a positive impact on the export sector in India," said the Chairman of Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC), Mahesh Desai.

Last month, India's merchandise exports rose marginally to $27.93 billion from $27.74 billion recorded in February 2020. Accordingly, the share of engineering items in total merchandise exports was 23.49 per cent during this period.

"Lower exports during February 2021 could be partly attributed to the base effect as shipments had seen a sudden surge in the corresponding period last financial year. However, drop in shipments is certainly a cause of concern for exporters," Desai said.

Besides, the EEPC India cited that China, Singapore, Germany, Thailand and Italy were among the nine countries that saw high double-digit growth in demand for Indian engineering goods in February 2021.

Exports to China, India's second largest export destination, recorded a positive growth in both monthly as well as cumulative terms.

"While shipments to China jumped 68 per cent to $235.58 million in February, exports during April-February of FY21 saw a stellar year-on-year growth of 114 per cent to $4276.49 million," the EEPC analysis report said.

As per EEPC data, North America continued to be the biggest market for Indian engineering goods with 18.3 per cent share while the European Union (EU) and ASEAN ranked second and third in the pecking order, respectively.

"The EEPC analysis showed engineering exports to the EU recording positive monthly growth in February 2021 compared to February 2020 after a long hiatus," it said.

Among 33 product segments, 12 categories recorded negative growth in February, while the remaining 21 posted positive growth.

"China, Vietnam and Nepal were the three top importers of Indian iron and steel during April 2020-February 2021 with market shares of 23.19 per cent, 8.80 per cent and 7.91 per cent, respectively. The US, the UAE and Germany were the top three importers of products made of iron and steel during April-February 2021," it said.

At present, the engineering goods sector is a key component of the broader manufacturing industry. It accounts for about 25 per cent of India's total global exports in the goods sector and is one of the largest foreign exchange earners. The sector employs nearly 4 million skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Change.org petition

Revitalize + Provide Resources to Old Town Kern

The Hub of Bakersfield asks the Bakersfield City Council and City Managers Office to prioritize Old Town Kern for immediate revitalization efforts by allocating staff resources and funds toward projects that will spur redevelopment.

To see the petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/bakersfield-city-council-old-town-kern-needs-resources-for-revitalization.
Panic buying has hit supermarkets across New South Wales as the worst storm in a century caused major flooding and cut off major roads.

From Sydney's north-western outskirts to the Mid North Coast, bread, vegetables, eggs and meat have been flying off the shelves as residents prepared to evacuate with more heavy rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday.

The Woolworths supermarket at Lakewood, on the Mid North Coast, was last night cleared of bread after residents were told to leave in nearby North Haven, Laurieton, Dunbogan and Diamond Head.

The towns on the Camden Haven River, 35km south of Port Macquarie, have seen panic buying reminiscent of the Covid lockdowns a year ago.

'I went into the shops to grab bread for the kids' breakfast and there was literally nothing on the shelves,' a local mother-of-two told Daily Mail Australia.

Panic buying has hit supermarkets across New South Wales as flood-hit towns deal with the heaviest rain in a century. The Woolworths supermarket at Lakewood, on the state's Mid North Coast, was last night cleared of bread

'The vegetable aisles were also bare.

'I felt so angry and frustrated as we haven't had power for days and lots of the food for easy meals was gone by the time I arrived.

'But there are heaps of people doing it tougher than us.'

Making matters worse, the Pacific Highway is closed between Taree and Coopernook, stopping grocery supplies from Sydney and the Central Coast.

The panic buying phenomenon has also occurred at Richmond, on Sydney's north-western outskirts as the Hawkesbury-Nepean River burst its banks, causing the worst flooding in three decades and sparking an evacuation order.

The panic buying phenomenon has also occurred at Richmond, on Sydney's north-western outskirts

The Coles supermarket there has run out of meat, bread and eggs

The Coles supermarket there has run out of meat, bread and eggs.

Major flooding continues at North Richmond and nearby Windsor, as well as the Colo River at Upper Colo.

As of Monday morning, the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond had swollen to 13.29 metres and the weather bureau feared worse was to come.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting flooding along the Hawkesbury River that hasn't been experienced since 1990.

'Renewed rises are possible with forecast rainfall,' it said.

The State Emergency Service on Sunday issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas of North Richmond and western parts of Penrith.

Further upstream, the Nepean River at Penrith had risen to eight metres, compared with 6.55 metres at Menangle Bridge and 6.93 metres at Wallacia Weir.

Major flooding continues at North Richmond and Windsor. Pictured is the Windsor Leagues Club

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting flooding along the Hawkesbury River that hasn't been experienced since 1990. Pictured are workers at the Windsor Leagues Club removing a fridge

As of Monday morning on the Mid North Coast, the Camden Haven River at Laurieton had fallen back to 1.19 metres after peaking on Saturday.

Laurieton Public School is closed after residents in lower-lying areas were evacuated on Saturday.

It was one of 211 schools across the state that have so far been closed.

The SES issued an evacuation order on Saturday, advising floodwaters were set to peak at 2.1 metres and be higher than in 1978.

The Mid North Coast has copped the heaviest rain and storm conditions in a century.

Residents were evacuated in nearby North Haven, Laurieton and Dunbogan. Pictured is a bus shelter at Camden Head Road in Dunbogan

The State Emergency Service issued an evacuation order, advising floodwaters were set to peak at 2.1 metres and be higher than in 1978. Pictured is the oval at Laurieton which is now under water

The evacuation order also covered Dunbogan which runs alongside the Camden Haven River

North of Port Macquarie, Kempsey residents were ordered to evacuate on Sunday with major flooding possible along the Macleay River at Kempsey and Smithtown Monday morning.

Evacuation orders are now in place for low lying areas of Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie, the lower Macleay, Wauchope and Rawdon Island, Taree and Wingham.

Locals are being asked to move possessions above the predicted flood height, take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with them and stay with family or friends, or head to evacuation centres.

Kempsey recorded 173mm of rain between 9am Sunday to 4am on Monday, and it is not subsiding.

Heavy rain is likely to lead to flash flooding and will remain a serious risk for the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast on Monday and Tuesday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

North of Port Macquarie, Kempsey residents were ordered to evacuate on Sunday with major flooding possible along the Macleay River at Kempsey and Smithtown Monday morning
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - A motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries after a two-vehicle crash Sunday morning in Holland Township, police said.

Deputies with the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office were dispatched just before noon Sunday, March 21 to the crash scene on Lakewood Boulevard near North Park Drive.

An investigation has revealed the motorcyclist, a 26-year-old Zeeland resident, was headed west on Lakewood Boulevard when he crashed a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle into a 2018 Honda Civic driven by a 31-year-old Holland Township man, according to an Ottawa County Sheriffs Office news release.

The Honda Civic was headed east on Lakewood Boulevard and had begun to turn into a private driveway on the north side of the street. Thats the moment police say it was hit by the motorcycle.

Spectrum Health Aero Med took the motorcyclist, whose name has not been released, to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids via helicopter for treatment of life-threatening injuries, per the release.

The other driver had minor injuries and did not require hospitalization. The motorcyclist did not have on a helmet at the time of the crash, police said.

The crash remains under investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office. Police said it does not appear alcohol was a factor in the crash.

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A man accused of being involved in the robbery of a local shop is pleading not guilty to the charges and has had his case put back to June 6 for hearing.

Rupi Munteanu, 14 The Meadows, Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon, insists he was not involved in an incident where a shop was allegedly robbed by four men.

Sgt Enda Daly said that the states case would be that Mr Munteanu distracted the shopkeeper while the other three men robbed the shop.

He says he wasnt involved with the other three men, said Brid Mimnagh, defending.

Where did you meet these other Romanians? Judge Hughes asked the accused.

Mr Munteanu said that he met the men in town and walked around town with them because they were Romanian and so is he.

How did you know these strang men were Romanian? asked Judge Hughes.

Because they were speaking Romanian, replied the accused.

Dont be telling me lies, said Judge Hughes, noting that the charges were not a hanging offence.

You dont meet three strangers and go around the town with them and into a shop with them. Have you been in court before?

Mr Munteanu admitted that he had been in court before for theft and driving offences.

How many times have you been convicted of theft? asked Judge Hughes.

Four or five, the accused replied.

Sgt Daly explained that Mr Munteanu had 32 previous convictions, seven of which were for theft.

Its to your fortune that you meet three strangers and go into a shop and they rob it and you happen to be in the shop. Its a 30 theft. Are you pleading guilty or not guilty? asked Judge Hughes adding that the charge carries a sentence of up to 12 months in prison.

Mr Munteanu insisted he was pleading not guilty and the case was put back to June 8 for hearing.
Nigerias president in 2023 must come from the South-south zone in order to balance the political equation of the country, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has said.

Goodluck Jonathan, the first person from the South-south to be elected president of Nigeria, was unable to win a second term in 2015. He was defeated by the current President Muhammadu Buhari.

There are speculations that Mr Jonathan may run again for president in 2023, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Mr Shaibu, who spoke in Benin City, Edo State, on Saturday, during a reception organised in honour of Dan Orbih, the newly elected National Vice Chair, South-south, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it was important that the next president comes from the zone.

We voted for President Buhari again and he had a second term, so South-south must produce the next President of Nigeria, he said, adding that the PDP must strive to produce the president in 2023.

The deputy governor described Mr Orbih as an astute politician, and said the South-south zone would not be left behind at the national level, with his leadership in the zone.

That is why we have you. You have a great task ahead of you. You will not only drive it, but we will support you to the benefit of all of us, Mr Shaibu told Mr Orbih whom he said fought hard to turn around the fortunes of PDP from being the opposition to the ruling party in Edo.

Mr Orbih, in his remark, pledged to reposition PDP and make the party stronger ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He assured party members that he would change the fortunes of the party and the zone ahead of 2023.

He said he was committed to the political development of the zone and the party.

Let me assure the leaders and members of our party that I will at all times defend the interest of our party and our zone.

Let me use this occasion to call on leaders to stop playing politics with the development of the Niger Delta region.

Mr Orbih condemned the failure of the federal government to constitute the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in accordance with the Act.

The NDDC is now a celebrated institution of fraud and scandal, denying the Niger Delta people of accelerated development as envisaged in the Act.

Until a proper board is inaugurated, the government should suspend all allocations to the commission, he said.

Mr Orbih also challenged the Edo government to recover looted and misappropriated funds in the state.

You cannot leave Edo money for development in the hands of a few pretentious self-styled crusaders.

I call on them to use this Lenten season to seek forgiveness and return ill-acquired wealth and let the people benefit.

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Edo must move forward. South-south must move forward, Mr Orbih said.

The Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, said he was hopeful the South-south chairman of the PDP would not only deliver the zone for PDP, but would ensure victory and emergence of the next President from the zone in 2023.

Friends and political associates of the zonal party leader, while celebrating him, pledged their support for the PDP as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

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For his new photo book, Gentlemens Club, Chris Buck spent six years interviewing and taking portraits of strippers and their romantic partners.

Partners of dancers are in this inherently complicated space of dating someone whos intimate with others for their work, he said. In that sense, the project is a study not only of labor, but also of relationships and fidelity.

One question drove many of the interviews: How do you feel about your partners work?
New Delhi, March 21 : During a panel discussion at the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and Journalist-Author Ghazala Wahab debunked the bogey of "hum paanch hamare pachchis" rhetoric and dispelled several misconceptions.

Debunking the bogey of hum paanch hamare pachchis' rhetoric, Quraishi observed that it would take over 600 years for the Indian Muslim population to take over the Hindu populace.

Speaking at the "Bhava Samvad" of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) with author-journalists Ghazala Wahab and Rasheed Kidwai, Quraishi, writer of 'The Population Myth: Islam, Family Planning and Politics in India' (Haper Collins India) said, "Contrary to the much hyped claims about explosion of the Indian Muslim population, Muslim fertility rate is falling in line with the Hindu fertility rate, and gap between the growth rate of the population of the two communities is closing fast, so there is no fear of them ever outnumbering the majority community." Quraishi, an IAS Officer who was the CEC during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, lamented that the government, mainstream media, scholars and NGOs are failing to dispel the misconception that the numbers of the Muslim community are multiplying by leaps and bounds.

Ghazala Wahab, author of acclaimed book, 'Born A Muslim - Some Truths About Islam in India (Aleph)' insisted that the misconception was part of a 'conscious propaganda'. She regretted how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, had mockingly referred to "hum paanch hamare pachchis" making the discourses biased.

Wahab said during the course of research, she came to know about many cases where ordinary Muslims were either hiding their Islamic identity or were reverting back to their faith due to coercion, fear and intimidation. She also added how the community is insecure today, and how a section of the Hindu community is showing empathy - thus giving a hope to the idea of India. However, the state is increasingly keeping a distance from showing the much needed empathy.

While moderating the session, Rasheed Kidwai, who is also Adviser to the KLF said it is significant that persons of the stature of Quraishi and Ghazala Wahab had to write books to clear misconceptions about Islam. He contextualised the discussion around the fundamental changes taking place in 'New India'.

Quraishi said he had requested his friend, Dr. Dinesh Singh, a distinguished scholar and former Vice Chancellor of Delhi University to use a mathematical model to decipher population statistics. "What Dr. Singh revealed is part of my book. Going by the official statistics, Muslims of India are never going to overtake Hindus, even 600 years later..." Qurashi said while it is true that Muslims' birth rate is highest, but it is also a fact that Hindus' birth rate is the second highest and there is difference of less than one child between a Hindu family and a Muslim family, which means to say that if Muslim family has five children children, Hindus have four, therefore, they are not very far behind, he argued. He argued that the birth trend has made a big shift in the last four decades since the Muslim community has adopted the family planning actively, also the growing literacy rate and upward mobility have significantly controlled the earlier trend and now the modern couple are having one or two child in general.

"The Hindu right wing is exhorting the majority community to produce a large number of children to avoid being outnumbered by the Muslims, but I would still appeal to the Muslims not to be provoked by this call, and take to family planning. We in India cannot afford a procreation war," Quraishi said.

According to Ghazala Wahab, Muslims are facing an identity crisis of sorts in recent years. "Muslims didn't worry about asserting their identity all these years since Independence -- even if you look at Muslims looking or behaving in a stereotypical manner in films and popular media, there wasn't much protest against that," Ghazala told Kidwai, adding, "By and large, Muslims felt comfortable with their identity and knew when something was an exaggeration.

"What's happened over the past few years is that this Muslim identity and appearance is being used to target them. Previously, nobody would really bother to look at a Muslim woman in a full 'burqa', or men in checked 'lungi' or ankle-high pants -- it was just a part of the landscape. Now, this exact identity has become a reason for insecurity, because the Muslim people are being heckled in transportation, and in more extreme cases, being lynched and killed." The participants however, drew satisfaction that a majority of Indians regardless of caste, religion or region, had positive, inclusive and welcoming attitude towards the the Muslim community.

Quraishi underlined the need for proactive-ism, social media literacy while Ghazala Wahab underlined the need for reforms within the Muslim community, education, women empowerment and engagement as some tools to overcome the current atmosphere of anxiety and fear.

KLF is India's leading literature festival, in 2021, its annual program is scheduled on July 30-August 1 at Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar.
This decision locks in Australias sovereign vaccine manufacturing security and provides security of vaccine supply and safety for Australians, he said. Phase 1a, which the government has repeatedly said would be completed within six weeks, will continue for another six to eight weeks as all aged care residents and frontline health and border workers get their second doses, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said. Despite delays in the initial phase of the rollout, he said the government was confident phase 1b would be substantially completed by the middle of the year. At the moment were expecting to hit the targets for phase 1b, and the reason were very confident about this is because we have so many additional sites coming on over the next few weeks, he said. Those sites include more than 4500 general practices, about 100 Commonwealth respiratory clinics that will deliver in some cases about 2000 doses a week, Indigenous-controlled health services and state and territory respiratory hubs in coming weeks.

About 300,000 doses were due to be delivered to locations around the country for the first week of phase 1b. Most clinics had received their deliveries, but Professor Kidd could not confirm how many were still waiting for supplies. The government says there is no plan to move the target of having 6 million vaccinations delivered by mid-May. Credit:Getty Images We have to wait and see what happens with the weather over the coming days until we know when those vaccines are going to be able to be delivered, he said. Some of the practices themselves have had to close, as a result of the flooding and severe weather conditions. Not all clinics were scheduled to start vaccinating on Monday, and those starting later in the week were not necessarily due to receive vaccines just yet, Professor Kidd said. Of those starting on Monday, most already had their allotted number of doses.

But Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid said bad weather was not the only thing holding deliveries up. Loading Theres also, we understand, been some practices around the country that have not received their vaccine, which is due to some sort of problem with the logistics. Thats disappointing, but not surprising, he said on Sunday. Professor Kidd could not confirm how many doses CSL would produce in its first few weeks before it eventually ramps up to 1 million doses a week. He said it was hard to know what impact the widespread flooding in NSW would have on deliveries of the locally produced vaccines into the second week of phase 1b.

Whether the weather conditions will delay the delivery of some of those doses once they become available, we dont know; weve just got to wait and see what happens, he said. Loading Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler said the lack of detail was not good enough. Australians want to know how, when and where they will be getting their vaccines, he said. The chaotic vaccine rollout needs to get back on track. The federal government will face questions during the week in Senate estimates over its handling of the rollout and the chaotic launch of the Health Departments online eligibility checker and clinic locator.
For the first time, astronomers have now directly measured winds in Jupiter's middle atmosphere, also studying the aftermath of a comet collision from the 1990s. They have found that the powerful winds on the solar systems largest planet blew at an exorbitant speed of up to 1450 kilometers an hour, particularly near the poles. This could represent a 'unique meteorological beast in our Solar System, researchers said in a study published by ESO, European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. The winds on Jupiter were first identified by ESOs JunoCam imager aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft.

Jupiters famous bands of clouds are located in the lower atmosphere, where winds have previously been measured. But tracking winds right above this atmospheric layer, in the stratosphere, is much harder since no clouds exist there, scientists informed in the release. Further, they revealed that using the sensitive Atacama Large Millimeter or submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope, a team of researchers was able to measure the planets incredibly powerful stratospheric winds where the blue stripes lie all the way in the ionosphere.

[Comet ShoemakerLevy 9 impacting Jupiter in July 1994. Credit: ESO]

[Photos from ESO La Silla observatory show the individual nuclei of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, now headed for collision with Jupiter. Credit: ESO]

But what was completely unexpected is what we saw near the poles, a planetary scientist at the Laboratoire dAstrophysique de Bordeaux, also the lead author of the study, Thibault Cavalie said.

Scientists found that the speed of the winds, which were whipping in unpredictable directions at the poles, were being launched at a shocking speed of 300-400 metres per second. Another planetary scientist at Berkeley who has used ALMA previously said that the observation of such fast blowing winds is really hard and the unusual polar winds gushing north-south instead of commonly east and west was mind-boggling for the researchers.

Measuring Jupiter's stratosphere 'a challenge'

Previously, scientists already measured Jupiters troposphere, however, this is the first time they managed to analyse the wind velocity close to the equator and the poles. Jupiters winds all across the planets troposphere blow east and west within the planets crimson and white horizontal stripes, whereas, at the vortices such as Jupiter's crimson eye winds blow in a swirl like a hurricane.

Astronomers have also observed the vivid glow known as aurorae near Jupiter's poles, and swirling clouds of moving gas. Measuring Jupiter's stratosphere was a challenging feat as there are no clouds in this region of the atmosphere and astronomers tracked the alternative path of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 which helped them track molecules of hydrogen cyanide. These molecules led to the measurement of stratospheric jets. Finding these strong stratospheric winds near Jupiter's poles was a real surprise, astronomers said in the study.
Kathmandu, March 21

Nepal is all set to resume its tourism promotion campaign at the international level after a gap of a year.

Nepal Tourism Board says the country will physically participate in South Asias Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) in India later this week. The event will be organised in Greater Noida from this Wednesday to Friday.

Nepals participation in such an international event is the first since the government halted the international campaigning citing the Covid-19 fears in March last year.

The board will lead the country in the event, but 25 companies including the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation will also join, informs the board.

The boards CEO Dhananjay Regmi says the event will be important for Nepal as India is yet to resume visa services for several countries in the world.

The board plans to decide about other upcoming events in India and other countries after assessing the response it gets during the SATTE.

Meanwhile, a new plan has been made to attract Indian tourists, focusing on hill stations and destinations near the border, according to him.
That is a short period of psychosocial treatment, which is what excites me about this research  the potential to speed up, enhance or maximise on the conversations that we have as counsellors [with these patients]. The dosage used seems to be the optimal amount to avoid unwanted side effects  such as hallucinations  but still trigger a psychedelic effect, she said. Psilocybin is the psychedelic found in magic mushrooms such as Psilocybe semilanceata. It is really about people feeling freer to tell stories in their heads without being tied down to their value, Dr Knock said. Its this internal psychological and spiritual experience that people describe as transformative  they describe being transported back to childhood or back to where they can have conversations with people and resolve situations.

Loading One way to think about it, Dr Brett said, is to imagine the mind as a landscape of rolling hills, valleys and troughs. The troughs represent deeply held values and you can really get stuck in those troughs which is where the addiction sustains itself. Psilocybin allows the valleys to be flattened and people to shift their values more freely, he said. The trial will recruit 15 participants in August from among patients over 25-years-old who are already seeking treatment for meth addiction at St Vincents. These will be people who may have tried to achieve their goals but have not had success, Dr Brett said.

The eligibility screening process will be strict. Patients cant be taking any medication that may interact with the psychedelic, and will need to see a nurse, an addiction specialist and their psychiatrist before they are accepted. Anyone with a history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or a family history of either will be excluded. We wont start with heavy users, Dr Brett said. Theyll be people who use over a long weekend or Fridays to Mondays. That is the safest place to start this research. If its safe and feasible in that population then we can expand it. The trial  funded by the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs  will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity before and after the psilocybin-augmented therapy. The trial will focus on the default mode network  regions of the brain that activate when were awake but not focused on any particular task of mental exercise.

The network is responsible for introspection and mental time travel to experiences, and central to defining who we are, Dr Brett said, and previous research suggest psilocybin stabilises this network. We are looking for evidence of causation: that this treatment is effective for this reason, he said. The history of psychedelic research has been dogged by controversy since entering the mainstream in the 1930s. There were some very well-intentioned researchers, but they werent necessarily up to todays standards, Dr Brett said. Then the political war on drugs in the 1970s stoked fear of the drugs among the public, and overzealous psychedelic researchers performed experiments that compromised the integrity of the field, he said.

Loading The researchers stressed they are not suggesting psilocybin is a standalone treatment. We must tread very carefully and follow the ethical and scientific processes, Dr Brett said. Last Wednesday, the federal government launched $15 million in grants for clinical trials to investigate whether psychedelic drugs could be potential breakthrough therapies for mental illnesses. The announcement followed an interim decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in February that rejected a push to allow psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin led by not-for-profit organisation Mind Medicine Australia.
MEDFORD, Ore-- On Sunday Jackson County Public Health reported 13 new cases of coronavirus and zero new deaths. Over the last 14 days, from March 7 to March 20, the county has experienced less than 400 cases of coronavirus, putting the county on track to remain in the 'High Risk' category.

Back on March 12, Governor Kate Brown put Jackson County on a 'Two-Week Extension' because of a rise in cases throughout the county. The two-week extension gave Jackson County another two weeks to lower its coronavirus case count.

According to data from the Oregon Health Authority, Jackson County experienced roughly 385 new cases of coronavirus in the last two weeks, far below the 442 case maximum, which would have put the county back into the 'Extreme Risk'.

Vaccinations across Jackson County are also increasing at a steady pace. According to the Oregon Health Authority, Jackson County has vaccinated 43,238 people since vaccine doses were shipped to the county. From March 14-20, Jackson County administered more than 6-thousand doses of coronavirus vaccines and averaged about 875 doses per day in that seven day time-frame.
Bid to protect your favourite fish kelawalla, but IOTC is tangled in a net By Malaka Rodrigo View(s): View(s):

While the Indian Oceans yellowfin tuna stocks are fast depleting, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commissions latest meeting ended without positive conclusions aimed at sustainable measures.

The yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus Albacares), or Kelawalla as it is popularly known locally, is probably one of the most favoured fish of Sri Lankans, but little do we know that this species is being overfished. yellowfin tuna is now categorised as Near Threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

With intention to take action to throw a lifeline to dwindling tuna stocks, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held a special meeting last week. The meetings aim was to introduce catch limits and other measures to sustain the tuna stocks, but it ended without a decision. However, it was decided to hold another round of talks in June.

During the special IOTC session held from March 8-12, six proposals were submitted for discussion and interestingly two of them were from Sri Lanka. One of the proposals, Sri Lanka submitted sought to set a minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) for yellowfin tuna. It proposed that to save the immature tuna fish and to ensure the sustainability of the stocks, the MCRS should be 92 cm. With tuna being caught using different methods ranging from pole-and-line, long line and purse seine nets, Sri Lanka proposed the MCRS to be applicable to all these methods.

Sri Lanka was also a co-proponent of a proposal to manage the fish aggregating devices (FAD) in the Indian Ocean. The other co-proponent was Kenya. Fish are fascinated with floating objects like logs and rafts. They congregate around them. In the open sea, fishers throw manmade floating objects to attract fish. A sophisticated FAD equipped with electronic gadgets can emit signal to the mother vessel indicating the density of the fish aggregated around it. Based on this information, the fishing vessel can decide its most economical target to cast a large purse seine net and catch all the fish aggregated around the FAD.

FADs are helpful tools for the fishing vessels, but detrimental for fish populations as they are instrumental in catching small immature tunas and bycatch of vulnerable non-target species. Initially, it was only Kenya and Sri Lanka which pushed this proposal to regulate FADs used by large vessels. Later several other countries also became its co-proponents.

However, the special meeting was more concerned about the main item on the agenda  reducing the catch limits of tuna stocks. In 2015, the IOTC Scientific Committee recommended that yellowfin tuna catches had to be reduced by 20 percent of the 2014 catch levels to bring the stocks back to a decent recovery. It is learnt that the Maldives proposed a reduction of 25 percent for purse seine, 15 percent for gill nets, 15 percent for long line, and nine percent for other methods, while the European Union, which accounts for the most of the tuna catch in the Indian Ocean, pushed for 20 percent for purse seine, 20 percent for gill nets, 20 percent for long line, 10 percent for others.

But they later agreed to a joint position of reducing the yellowfin tuna catches by 20 percent from the 2014 level with regard to purse seine, gill net and longline methods while 10 percent reduction vis-a-vis other gear types.

Many Indian Ocean states accuse the European Union of double standards as it delays more drastic cuts in Tuna catch while advocating sustainable fisheries. As per 2019 records, EU fishing vessels caught 70,000 tons of yellowfin Tuna, outstripping the Indian Ocean coastal states and pushing Iran that produced 58,000 tons to the second place and Sri Lanka and the Maldives with 44,000 tons each to the third place.

Tuna is also an important foreign exchange generator for Sri Lanka. All Island Multi-day Boat Owners Association president Tiron Priyantha Mendis says that IOTC allows larger catch limits for developed nations with large fishing fleets that operate in the Indian Ocean.

Many fishing vessels from EU nations, Indonesia, Korea, and Mauritius are capturing fish by using purse seine nets. This method is used in the catchment areas with fishermen trapping a large shoal of fish in a net, thus harvesting the offspring of the same fish along with the fry, he explains.

He adds: This is a destructive system, but in our country, multiday fishing vessels use a non-destructive fishing method known as long-line fishery. In this method, a 40-50-mile-long line with 1,500-2,000 hooks is used and 100-110g of imported bait or squid bait is used. Because the bait cannot be eaten by small fish, our vessels catch only large yellowfin tuna, but IOTC approves larger limits for the EU and countries such as Taiwan.

In terms of weight, the percentage of fish we catch is between 40 and 45kg. Our vessels catch between 50 and 200 fish per night. But large ships using the purse seines method catch between 25,000 and 50,000 fish per night. When we catch a 45kg fish, others kill about 15 small fish for a fish of similar weight. What amazes us is the increase in quotas for countries that own such destructive ships.

Tuna is a pelagic or open ocean fish that lives as schools. Fish are cold blooded creatures that vary their temperatures with the environment, but tuna species are different as they are the only fish species that are warm-blooded. They can maintain body temperature higher than that of the surrounding water. Tuna species have bodies streamlined for fast swimming. Yellowfin tuna is said to be capable of achieving speeds of up to 75 km/h. They are marine predators preying on small fish.

The Tuna family has 15 species and overfishing has already put some tuna species on the brink of extinction with Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus Maccoyii) now categorised as Critically Endangered or fish closer to extinction. At present the yellowfin Tuna is the mostly caught tuna species in the world. Therefore, experts stress the need to take urgent measures to avert a population plunge like what happened to their bluefin cousins.

The IOTC is an intergovernmental organisation that coordinates the regulation and management of species of tuna fish in the Indian Ocean. It was set up under the guidance of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. Established in 1996, the IOTC now have 31 nations as its members including not only Indian Ocean nations but also European Union countries whose vessels are engaged in tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean.

As IOTC requested the delegates not to speak to the media, the Sri Lankan delegates remain tightlipped despite attempts by the Sunday Times to contact them.
Police launched an investigation after the deaths of two women and a man in an apparent murder-suicide in Newtownabbey (PA)

Northern Irelands Minister for Justice has said the murder of two women on Friday night was an absolute tragedy.

Naomi Long said while she could not comment on the specific incident, it is a tragedy when violence is perpetrated against women.

Ms Long said it is hugely important to focus on issues surrounding domestic violence.

Police in north Belfast launched an investigation after the deaths of two women and a man in an apparent murder-suicide in Newtownabbey.

We're pleased that @naomi_long this morning confirmed dedication to implementing a VAWG strategy in NI.



We reiterate our CEO @kellyandrews149 points that appropriate resources & funding allocation, in addition to cross-departmental support within the Executive is also essential.  Women's Aid Belfast & Lisburn (@WomensaidBelLis) March 21, 2021

It is understood that a man stabbed his mother and girlfriend during the incident on Friday night.

The three bodies were found at separate properties in Newtownabbey.

Ms Long said she plans to bring a paper to the Northern Ireland Executive in the coming days that would introduce a strategy to protect women and girls from violence.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that does not have a specific strategy.

Im also bringing forward a Miscellaneous Provisions Bill which will be at the Assembly in May and that will deal with a wide range of issues which Sir John Gillen identified in his review of serious sexual offences, Ms Long told BBC Sunday Politics programme.

We need to see progress made, for example in education in terms of relationship and sex education, in terms of dispelling rape myths, in terms of dealing with attitude around victim blaming.

We need to deal with things like street harassment, which is hard to prosecute as crimes but nevertheless has a huge impact on womens lives.

Ms Long also defended the decision to make the proposed legislation gender-neutral.

Two women in the UK are murdered every single week and tragically in Northern Ireland on Friday night, we had the murder of two women Kelly Andrews, Women's Aid

We want to recognise that there are men, there are people who are transgender, there are those who are in same sex-relationships who are also subject to domestic violence and abuse, she added.

Kelly Andrews, CEO of Womens Aid in Belfast, said that a gender-neutral strategy does not cut it.

What weve been doing has not been good enough, Ms Andrews added.

Two women in the UK are murdered every single week and tragically in Northern Ireland on Friday night we had the murder of two women.

We really need to recognise the gender-specific nature of domestic abuse.

Seventy per cent of domestic abuse victims are female and that really needs to be recognised.

So, having a gender-neutral strategy really doesnt cut it.

There is still a long way to go from here, however we are encouraged by the Justice Minister's comments & her recognition that women are disproportionately affected by sexual harassment & assault, as well as domestic abuse.  Women's Aid Belfast & Lisburn (@WomensaidBelLis) March 21, 2021

We believe that having gender-neutral language in a strategy doesnt work.

Were the only part of the UK that does not have one, we need to focus on early intervention of schools, about healthy relationships and conversations about consent for boys and girls.

We need to be looking at workplace policies, we also need to focus as well on perpetrators and reducing reoffending.

We need to get men involved in the conversation to call out misogynistic behaviour when they see it as well.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart said her party backs the proposal for specific strategy.

It is important that Northern Ireland is in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, she added.

Its not all about a strategy, its how its rolled out on the ground and how we protect women in Northern Ireland.

That is of utmost importance given recent events and its important that it comes forward with immediate effect.
 Flash

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov on Saturday returned to Moscow for consultations, according to an announcement by the Russian Embassy in Washington.

"Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on rectifying Russia-U.S. relations," the embassy said in a post on its official Facebook page.

The embassy also posted two juxtaposed pictures, one showing Antonov, in a black jacket, at an airport and the other, an airplane -- which appeared to be the one Antonov will fly in -- with a Russian flag on the outside surface of the cockpit.

Antonov flew from New York, as there is no direct flight between Washington and the Russian capital amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Russia's TASS news agency. He will arrive in Moscow on Sunday.

Russia recalled its top envoy in the United States after U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview with ABC News that aired Wednesday that Russia will "pay a price" for its alleged interference in the 2020 U.S. election.

A U.S. intelligence report released Tuesday directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering a wide-ranging influence operation to interfere in the 2020 U.S. election, intending to hurt Biden's campaign.

In the ABC News interview, Biden also agreed with the interviewer's claim that Putin was "a killer."

Responding directly to Biden's remarks, Putin said Thursday: "I would say to him: I wish you good health. I say that without irony or joking."

"I would like to offer President Biden (the opportunity) to continue our discussion, but on condition that we'll do so what is called live, online. Without anything pre-recorded, in an open and direct discussion," Putin said. "It seems to me, it would be interesting both for the Russian people and for the U.S. people, as well as for many other countries."

Asked by reporters whether Biden regretted the "killer" statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing Thursday, "Nope. The President gave a direct answer to a direct question," adding Washington still wishes to develop its relationship with Moscow.

"The current U.S. administration never ceases to surprise us with its absurd public statements. It's not just about the unseemly attacks against Russia's top officials, but also the absurd accusations of Russia's interference in last year's presidential election in the United States," Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said in comments posted Friday on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Washington.
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Imperial Valley News Center

Palm Desert Man Pleads Guilty to Firebombing Republican Club

La Quinta, California - A Palm Desert man pleaded guilty Monday to a federal arson charge and admitted that he used a Molotov cocktail in an attempt to destroy the East Valley Republican Women Federated (EVRWF) office in La Quinta.

Carlos Espriu, 23, who has been in custody since his arrest in this case last fall, pleaded guilty this afternoon to one count of attempted arson of a building.

During the early morning hours of May 31, 2020, Espriu broke the front windows of the EVRWF headquarters and repeatedly tossed through the windows a lighted Molotov cocktail made of three bottles he had taped together.

In his plea agreement, Espriu agreed to pay at least $5,426 in restitution to compensate the victim for the damage caused by the firebombing.

Espriu pleaded guilty during a hearing on Zoom before United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 24.

The attempted arson charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

The investigation in this matter was conducted by the FBIs Inland Empire Joint Terrorism Task Force.

This matter is being prosecuted by Sara Milstein of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
Alejandro Mayorkas testifies during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/AFP via Getty Images)

DHS Secretary: Border Is Closed but Children Wont Be Expelled

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the U.S.Mexico border is closed, although unaccompanied children who unlawfully cross into the United States wont be turned back.

We are expelling families. We are expelling single adults. And weve made a decision that we will not expel young, vulnerable children. I think we are executing on our plans, Mayorkas told NBC News Meet the Press on March 21.

Mayorkas was then asked by Chuck Todd, the host, about whether the policy encourages parents in Mexico and other countries to send their children alone to the border.

We have a short-term plan, a medium-term plan, and a long-term plan, and the president and I have spoken to this repeatedly. Please remember something: That President [Donald] Trump dismantled the orderly, humane, and efficient way of allowing children to make their claims under United States law in their home countries, the secretary said, without elaborating.

Mayorkass appearance followed a week in which the press began criticizing the Biden administrations border policies. President Joe Bidens immigration policies also have been blasted by Trump administration officials and Republicans, who have said that theyre weak and encourage illegal immigration.

The Trump administrations Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP) program has been touted as the most effective measure to deter illegal border crossings and meritless asylum claims. But Biden moved to rescind a series of Trump-era policies starting on Jan. 20, including MPP, and also indicated that he supports expanded pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

But Mayorkas said the border is not open.

In the meantime, we will not expel into the Mexican desert, for example, three orphaned children whom I saw over the last two weeks. We just wont do that. Thats not who we are, he said on March 21. 

Under an anti-trafficking law, unaccompanied minors from Central America and other noncontiguous countries havent been turned back into Mexico for decades.

In February, Border Patrol apprehended more than 100,000 illegal border crossers, almost triple those of last February, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). More than 9,200 were unaccompanied minors, almost 19,000 were individuals within a family unit, and nearly 69,000 were single adults.

In the busiest sector for illegal crossings, the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, more than 10,000 border crossers were apprehended last week, with over 2,000 on March 18 alone.

Illegal immigrants from Central America take refuge in a makeshift U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing center under the Anzalduas International Bridge after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Granjeno, Texas, on March 12, 2021. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

In an interview last week with ABC News, Biden said the border is closed and called on people not to show up at the border.

We are safely processing the children who do come to our border. We strongly urge, and the message is clear, not to do so now. I cannot overstate the perils of the journey that they take, Mayorkas said.

Mayorkas told CNN later on March 21 that the agency set up three new facilities in the past week.

We established three new facilities last week.  We are working on the system from beginning to end. We are working around the clock 24/7, he said. We have dealt with surges in the past, and the men and women of Department of Homeland Security will succeed.

At the same time, members of the media have raised red flags about how the administration is handling press access. Getty Images photographer John Moore over the weekend said that the press has been provided zero access to the border, and photographers have been forced to shoot photos from the Mexican side of the border.

I respectfully ask US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to their border operations, Moore wrote on Twitter on March 19. I have photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump but now  zero access is granted to media. These long lens images taken from the Mexican side.

Meanwhile, there have been reports that Border Patrol officials have been muzzled by DHS officials about the situation at the border.

The Epoch Times reported last week about how the Mexican cartels are using wristbands on the illegal immigrants as a way to track payments and border crossings. If an individual cant pay the required fee to cross, the cartel has details of their family members at home, as well as their contact details in the United States.

On March 21, The Epoch Times observed two van loads of mostly family units being dropped off by Border Patrol at a local NGO tent facility in downtown McAllen, Texas, across the road from the Greyhound bus station. Its unclear when the individuals crossed the border.
She recently lent her likeness to her younger sister Kim Kardashian's latest SKIMS promotional campaign.

And Kourtney Kardashian continued to give her 114million a behind-the-scenes look at the ultra sultry shoot on Saturday as she uploaded a slew of solo selfies to Instagram.

The 41-year-old Poosh founder, rocking a head full of voluminous waves, posed effortlessly in front of a wall covered in editorial-style photos.

Behind-the-scenes: Kourtney Kardashian gave her 114million a behind-the-scenes look at her recent ultra sultry SKIMS shoot on Saturday as she uploaded a slew of solo selfies to Instagram

Stunner: The 41-year-old Poosh founder, rocking a head full of voluminous waves, posed effortlessly in front of a wall covered in editorial-style photos

Kourtney slipped her enviably fit figure into a silky strappy bralette and a pair of matching high-waisted shorts from the upcoming SKIMS Jacquard collection.

She layered up her slumber party approved look with a matching pajama shirt that she left unbuttoned to expose her assets for the camera.

Rocking a pair of gold stiletto heels, Kardashian flashed a killer smile for one snap and showcased her killer legs.

She also posed for a few more candid photos, with one of them showing the star with her eyes rolled back into her head a la The Exorcist.

Coordinated: Kourtney slipped her enviably fit figure into a silky strappy bralette and a pair of matching high-waisted shorts from the upcoming SKIMS Jacquard collection

Layering: She layered up her slumber party approved look with a matching pajama shirt that she left unbuttoned to expose her assets for the camera

Despite her natural inclination to smolder for the camera, Kourtney got out of her comfort zone and continued to showcase her pearly whites for several more shots.

Providing a better look at her statement making hot pink eyeshadow look, the mother of three held her hair back out of her face and gazed into the lens.

The forward facing shot also gave her following a clearer view of the striking sleepwear crafted by her younger sister Kim.

Smiley: Rocking a pair of gold stiletto heels, Kardashian flashed a killer smile for one snap and showcased her killer legs

Playful: She also posed for a few more candid photos, with one of them showing the star with her eyes rolled back into her head a la The Exorcist

Kim, 40, proudly announced on Friday that her beloved shapewear brand would be releasing a collaborative collection with French company Jacquard.

In the promotional images the KUWTK star can be seen posing in silky bras and pajama pants as she is at a dinner table with sisters Kourtney and Khloe as well as some of her best friends La La Anthony, Steph Shep, Jen Atkin and Allison Statter.

On Saturday, the official SKIMS Instagram page highlighted Kourtney's modeling gig for the brand, which featured her best pal Steph.

Closer look: Providing a better look at her statement making hot pink eyeshadow look, the mother of three held her hair back out of her face and gazed into the lens

Sisterly support: Kim, 40, proudly announced on Friday that her beloved shapewear brand would be releasing a collaborative collection with French company Jacquard

Getting playful for the camera, Kourtney got on Steph's back for one shot as they modeled the white silky variant of the SKIMS x Jacquard collection.

Steph sported a more modest ensemble, consisting of a pajama top and trousers, while Kourtney proudly displayed her flat tummy once more.

'A glossy new collection of ultra-luxe and silky smooth loungewear patterned with a Jacquard SKIMS logo,' described Kim of the collection via Instagram.

Killer: On Saturday, the official SKIMS Instagram page highlighted Kourtney's modeling gig for the brand, which featured her best pal Steph

YEEHAW! Getting playful for the camera, Kourtney got on Steph's back for one shot as they modeled the white silky variant of the SKIMS x Jacquard collection

'Drops in 4 colors and in sizes XXS - 4X on Tuesday, March 23 at 9AM PT... Swipe to see this fun campaign w my besties!!!'

On the SKIMS Instagram page it reads: 'Stay up all night with a glossy new collection of ultra-luxe and silky smooth loungewear patterned with a Jacquard SKIMS logo. Join the waitlist now via the link in our bio for early access to shop.'

On the SKIMS website it says the company is 'setting new standards by providing solutions for every body. From technically constructed shapewear that enhances your curves to underwear that stretches to twice its size, our goal is to consistently innovate on the past and advance our industry for the future.'
Longtime president expected to see off challenge from six other candidates and win Sundays vote.

Video Transcript

[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]

MALCOLM WEBB: Not many people openly criticize the electoral process in the Republic of Congo. The Catholic Church is one of the few institutions that has. Father Felicien Mavoungou has been arrested twice because of his activism. He was meant to be part of a team observing Sunday's presidential election, but he told us all church observers have been blocked from monitoring the polls.

FELICIEN MAVOUNGOU: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: On paper, it is a democracy since 1991. But in reality, with such behaviors, we need to question ourselves if we really are in a democracy.

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MALCOLM WEBB: President Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled for most of the last 40 years, and he has campaigned to stay on.

There are many campaign posters to Sassou Nguesso in Brazzaville. The big one over there, another one here, another one there. There are far fewer for the opposition candidates like this one. And whenever we try and interview people on camera out on the streets they're scared to talk, especially if it's anything to do with politics or the election.

Across the Congo river from Brazzaville is Kinshasa, the capital of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo where the Catholic Church also played a role in campaigning for elections to be held three years ago. Many of the protests were violently put down. Reverend Bosela Eale was involved in that campaign. We met him training church leaders on elections in Brazzaville before they were banned from observing.

BOSELA EALE: We have to raise voice. If the human dignity is ignored, the Church have to raise the voice.

MALCOLM WEBB: Everything on the Brazzaville side of the river is much more tightly controlled. Soldiers already voted ahead of Sunday's election. Activists say their polls were not transparent. But the President of the Electoral Commission, who's also the Chief Justice, insisted the Republic of Congo is a democracy.

Story continues

HENRI BOUKA: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: Absolutely. If not, you would not be here interviewing President of the Electoral Commission. If not, there would be verbal criticisms made against the President of the Electoral Commission.

MALCOLM WEBB: Felicien says he's monitored elections for more than 10 years before being blocked. And the churches were some of the only election observers here that anyone thought might be critical of irregularities in Sunday's poll. Malcolm Webb, Al Jazeera, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
There is growing concern about the number of Covid-19 cases in the community and the rising hospital admissions, the head of the HSE has said.

Paul Reid said there has been a slight increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus this weekend.

There are currently 360 patients in hospitals on Sunday, a rise of 32 patients in 24 hours.

The 14-day incidence rate has been at 150 per 100,000 of the population for around a week.

We're at no way normal levels in our hospitals. Paul Reid

Mr Reid told Newstalk On The Record programme that hospital numbers have been stuck over recent weeks and the number of patients with Covid-19 is the same as the peak in the second wave.

Were at no way normal levels in our hospitals, Mr Reid added.

In the last week when we saw the numbers stuck for the past few weeks, they had come down for the past five or six weeks very well.

A slight increase again this weekend would give us concern around trends, particularly in line with some of the cases were seeing come through this weekend, a slight rise in cases would give us concern.

He said he can sense the publics frustration and anger in recent days.

All we can do is tell the facts of where things are at the minute and you would be concerned with what you see happening across Europe, he added.

From the HSEs perspective, we still see a very high positivity rate.

He said that a close contact of a positive case has a 25% likelihood of becoming infected.

Another busy vaccination day taking place today in the Helix @DCU where more over 70s are getting first and second doses of #CovidVaccine. pic.twitter.com/FgF8hqsDar  HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 21, 2021

We know the transmission levels, particularly of this B117 variant, are still very strong and the positivity rate is still very high, he added.

It is important that everyone protects themselves and hold their guard.

GPs have also reported a rise in referrals for Covid-19 tests.

Meanwhile, HSE chief clinical officer Colm Henry said they are confident the 30,000 people who missed the AstraZeneca vaccine last week will be covered over the next seven to ten days.

The use of AstraZeneca in Ireland was paused last Sunday following reports of unusual blood clots in Norway.

It resumed on Saturday following the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Irelands National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).

Mr Henry also raised concerns about the definite stagnation in the number of Covid-19 cases.

We are seeing a stubbornly high level of new cases identified every day, in the order of 500 or 600 cases, he told RTE News at One.

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Whatsapp A woman passes a construction site in Dublins city centre as Ireland remains in a level 5 lockdown (Brian Lawless/PA)

He also said the 14-day incidence is stagnated.

That famous R value, the accumulative measurement of all individual interactions we all have, is stuck on 1, which means that the disease is stable or increasing.

There are other signals of concern which sometimes anticipate deteriorations in some of these numbers, and one of those is an increase of referrals for GP testing.

Another is close contact  very high positivity percentage of 24%.

There is a lot of illness out there, it hasnt gone away and its much higher than what it was in December.

As long as we see that illness it will convert to hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, the countrys long-awaited quarantine system is set to be operational by the end of this week.

People arriving from 33 countries flagged as high risk will have to quarantine in hotels for 14 days.

Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team@hpscireland has today been notified of 2 additional deaths related to #COVID19.



These 2 deaths occurred in March.



There has been a total of 4,587 #COVID19 related deaths in Ireland.  Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 21, 2021

Mandatory quarantine will also apply to people arriving into Ireland without a negative PCR test.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will outline the details in the coming days.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath told RTE: This is a very complex issue and it does involve very significant interference with peoples civil liberties, but it is for the greater good and thats why the Government was determined to get it do this properly.

Over the next week or so, we will be reassessing the situation in light of the prevailing public health advice and the situation with the virus. We have made massive progress, but we would like to make more progress this week and we want to give people hope.

We recognise the enormous effort.

There is a need to give some relief, particularly in areas of activities that are of a low risk nature that would help to improve wellbeing and mental health, and give people hope for the future without compromising the huge progress.

There have been a further two deaths of people with Covid-19 in Ireland.

Another 769 cases were also notified by the Department of Health on Sunday evening.

As of 8am, there were 360 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 82 were in ICUs.

Meanwhile, as of March 18, 654,251 doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in Ireland.
Mark Makela/Getty ImagesBY: LUKE BARR, ABC NEWS

(WASHINGTON) Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas placed the blame for the current influx of migrants on the southern border at the feet of the prior administration in an interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC News' "This Week."

"It is especially challenging and difficult now, because the entire system under United States law that has been in place throughout administrations of both parties was dismantled in its entirety by the Trump administration," Mayorkas told Raddatz Sunday morning. "So we are rebuilding the system as we address the needs of vulnerable children who arrive at our borders.

Just weeks prior to Sunday's interview, Mayorkas said during a press briefing on March 1 that the message to migrants wasn't to come, but not to come yet. The secretary's rhetoric has seemed to toughen since then.

Mayorkas reiterated that the border is not open and that migrants should not come to the southern border -- especially in the midst of the pandemic.

"Now is not the time to come," Mayorkas stressed. "Do not come. This journey is dangerous. We are building safe, orderly and humane ways to address the needs of vulnerable children, do not come."

The secretary also said that they were using "Title 42" to send back migrants across the border due to the pandemic -- keeping this existing Trump administration policy has drawn criticism from immigration advocates.

Mayorkas said it takes time to get a system in place to overhaul what he calls a "dismantled" immigration system.

During the administration transition, some Customs and Border officials said they raised the alarm about a potential crisis at the border, the Washington Post reported.

Responding to a question from Raddatz about a tweet from Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, who said he was holding back tears after seeing a terrified 13-year-old girl sobbing uncontrollably to a translator while he visited the border this week with Mayorkas, the secretary said: "We all know what happened to that 13-year-old girl in the prior administration, she was turned away and turned into the desert of Mexico, or sent back to the very country for which she fled by reason of fear of persecution, we are addressing the needs of that child," he explained. "Now, when I say it takes time, I mean it, because we're dealing with a dismantled system."

Raddatz pressed Mayorkas on why the Department of Homeland Security has not let in members of the media to see U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities along the southern border.

"We're talking about a crowded border patrol station where we are focused on operations at the same time and let me assure you that we are working on a plan to provide access so that people can see what is going on in a border patrol station," he said, adding that they should also look at an HHS facility.

"We have a plan and we're executing. We will succeed. It takes time," he said.

There are now more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors in Border Patrol custody, three sources confirmed to ABC News.

Additionally, two sources familiar with the data confirmed that more than 600 have been in custody for more than 10 days.

The number of unaccompanied migrant minors under the care of U.S. Health and Human Services has increased to about 10,500, according an HHS official and a document obtained by ABC News, which is different than the number of unaccompanied minors in Border Patrol custody.

The document also shows that, on average, HHS is taking in far more migrant children than it can match with sponsors and family members.

"We have dispatched FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Administration, to assist HHS in building additional capacity to address the needs of children and to move those children through to their sponsors in the United States to shelter them in a way that they deserve and that their needs require," McCaul said.

The HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement will open a new influx shelter in Pecos, Texas, which will operate similarly to the facility at Carrizo Springs. Unlike the Midland, Texas, site or the Dallas convention center, this new facility announced by the Office of Refugee Resettlement on Saturday will offer long-term care for migrant children before they are matched with sponsors.

Raddatz also pressed the secretary on last week's Atlanta-area shooting which seemed to target Asian American women, and what was being done in response.

Mayorakas said the agency is "very focused on the increase in hate crimes targeting the Asian American, Pacific Islander community and many other groups," as well as on domestic violence extremism.

"We are focused on gathering intelligence and information and sharing it in actionable form with our state, local, tribal and territorial partners. We are working with the office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in addressing the challenges with the social media companies to ensure that we stop the violence that is born of ideologies of hate, and we are engaging with the community," Mayorkas told Raddatz.

"And let me also echo the very powerful words of the president -- words do matter," he added in seeming reference to the often inflammatory comments made by former President Trump in regard to the coronavirus and what many viewed as racist speech about the Asian community.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Britain's Special Forces will be tasked alongside MI6 to counter activities of Russian military intelligence in a major defence shake up, the head of the Army has said.

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith suggested the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) would be put on a 'different trajectory' in a major overhaul of the armed forces to be announced on Monday.

The overhaul could see Special Forces soldiers operating alongside MI6 to mount surveillance operations against Russian intelligence and military units.

The Army chief said some of their traditional roles would now be taken over by a new Ranger Regiment announced on Friday ahead of the publication of the Defence Command Paper.

He said that in future Special Forces 'will be tracking the changing and accelerating nature of the threat.

It comes as, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said armed forces needed to adapt to counter threats which had 'changed beyond recognition' in the past 30 years.

He pledged additional investment for 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' as well as for electronic warfare.

The National Cyber Force will be expanded, there will be a new Space Command to co-ordinate military and commercial operation and the Royal Navy will get a new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) protect vital undersea cables.

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith suggested the SAS and SBS would be put on a 'different trajectory'

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) said armed forces needed to adapt to counter threats which had 'changed beyond recognition' in the past 30 years

What will be announced in the upcoming Defence Command Paper? Changes are set to include: Additional investment for 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' as well as for electronic warfare

Additional 3billion funding for the British Army

The National Cyber Force will be expanded

New Space Command to co-ordinate military and commercial operation

Royal Navy will get a new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) protect vital undersea cables that are at 'risk of sabotage' by enemy submarines However, while the Army would get an additional 3billion, there are also understood to be cuts with a reduction of around 10,000 troops expected. There will also likely be cuts to armoured fighting vehicles and the last remaining C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. Advertisement

General Carleton-Smith told The Sunday Telegraph: 'The most persistent and lethal threats are those associated with hostile state actors.

'So they're tracking a different trajectory and what they leave behind is a vacuum where they need to hand off tasks, missions and responsibilities to a second echelon force.

'The Rangers will fit neatly into that.'

It is likely that Special Forces units will be tasked alongside MI6 with uncovering the activities of Russian military intelligence - the GRU - thought to be responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, The Telegraph reports.

Elite units could also be charged with countering the activities of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organisation widely thought to act as proxies for the Kremlin.

Also writing in the paper, Mr Wallace added: 'We can no longer take for granted the superiority of Western capabilities. Our enemies have infinitely more options,' he said.

'Encryption, precision, and information operations complicate the threat picture. We find ourselves constantly confronted in the 'grey zone' - aggressive actions below the threshold of open conflict.'

While the Army would get an additional 3billion, there are also understood to be cuts with a reduction of around 10,000 troops expected as well as cuts to armoured fighting vehicles and the last remaining C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.

The Army chief said some of their traditional roles would now be taken over by a new Ranger Regiment. (Stock image)

The move could see Special Forces soldiers operating alongside MI6 to counter operations Russian intelligence. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin
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PM to launch 'Catch the Rain' campaign on Monday

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the "Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain" campaign on the World Water Day on Monday. The historic MoU to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project, the first project of the national perspective plan for interlinking of rivers, will also be signed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh chief ministers at the event.

The PMO said in a statement that the campaign will be undertaken across the country in both rural and urban areas with the theme "catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls".

It will be implemented from March 22 to November 30 - the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country. It will be launched as a 'Jan Andolan' (public movement) to take water conservation at the grassroot level through people's participation. It is intended to nudge all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to climatic conditions and subsoil strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater, the PMO said.

After the event, gram sabhas will be held in all gram panchayats of each district (except in poll-bound states) to discuss issues related to water and water conservation. Gram sabhas will also take 'Jal Shapath' (oath) for water conservation, it added.

Congress is used to doing politics over tea, says PM Modi in Assam's Bokakhat

The Ken Betwa link project agreement heralds the beginning of inter-state cooperation to implement the vision of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to carry water from areas that have surplus water to drought prone and water deficit areas through the interlinking of rivers, the PMO said.

This project involves transfer of water from Ken to Betwa River through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the lower Orr project, Kotha barrage and Bina complex multipurpose project. It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectare, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower.

The PMO said the project will be of immense benefit to the water starved region of Bundelkhand, especially to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh. It will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country, the PMO said.
Mar. 20A former priest and two women are facing charges for having sex on the altar of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River, La.

The Times-Picayune  New Orleans Advocate reports a passerby spotted lights on inside the church. Looking into the church's windows and glass doors, the passerby saw Travis John Clark, 37, the pastor there, engaging in sexual activities with two "corset-clad women."

The incident happened between Sept. 29-30. On Thursday, the St. Tammany District Attorney's Office charged Mindy Lynn Dixon, 41, of Kent, Wash., and Melissa Kamon Cheng, 28, of Alpharetta, Ga., and Clark with institutional vandalism for "knowingly vandalizing, defacing, or otherwise damaging property and causing damage valued at over $500 and under $50,000."

More serious obscenity charges were dropped after attorney Bradley Phillips, who represents the women  called "professional dominatrices" by the Times-Picayune  argued the act was private and legal as it did not occur in public.

"Once again, (the state has) overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals," Phillips said in a statement. "Just because you don't like something, doesn't make it criminal. My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation."

Clark was not able to be reached for comment.

The paper reported court documents say the women  in corsets and high heels  "performed sex acts on a half-naked Clark as they recorded it with a phone and tripod-mounted camera."

Police seized plastic sex toys, stage lights and a pair of recording devices inside the church, records show.

On Friday, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond acknowledged the charges in a statement, saying, "We have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. We are proceeding to the Vatican to petition for their laicization presenting information from both the criminal and canonical investigations.

Story continues

"Our prayers remain with all those who were hurt by the actions of these two men, and in a particular way, we offer our prayers for healing of survivors of abuse."

The paper reports Clark was removed from his post the day after his arrest.

Aymond, the paper reports, ordered that the altar on which the sex acts took place be burned. During a ceremony to consecrate a new one in October, Aymond said the former priest's "behavior was obscene. The desecration of this church and the altar is demonic  demonic. ... He was using that which was holy to do demonic things."

The three accused are scheduled to arraigned Monday in Covington, La. If they are convicted, they could get up to two years in prison and a fine.

Chris Pastrick is a Tribune-Review digital producer. You can contact Chris at 412-320-7898, cpastrick@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
MONTREAL - Recent news that a Quebec hospital repeatedly posted notices seeking a "white woman" caregiver has sparked a debate about how to care for mentally ill seniors who refuse to be treated by people of another race.

A medical bed is photographed in the trauma bay during simulation training at a hospital in Toronto on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. Recent news a Quebec hospital repeatedly requested a "white woman" caregiver has sparked a debate about how to care for mentally ill seniors who refuse to be treated by racialized people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

MONTREAL - Recent news that a Quebec hospital repeatedly posted notices seeking a "white woman" caregiver has sparked a debate about how to care for mentally ill seniors who refuse to be treated by people of another race.

The heads of two placement agencies in Quebec say those kinds of requests usually come from racist patients who have dementia or Alzheimer's. They say Black and other racialized workers are sent to care for other patients for safety reasons.

But experts in the health field say trying to protect workers of colour by replacing them with white people is patronizing and paternalistic.

"That is racism, that's rationalization, said Bharati Sethi, a social work professor at Kings University College at Western University. Focusing on transferring racialized health-care workers instead of looking at bigger institutional issues downplays the problem, she said in an interview Friday.

"Bluntly, we have to stop rationalizing, look at the problem at the root and do something about it," Sethi, who worked as a personal-support worker before becoming a professor, said.

Earlier this week, Montreal La Presse reported that a hospital in St-Eustache, Que., north of Montreal, sent 10 requests to placement agencies asking for a white woman only or a woman with white skin. The hospital had reportedly sought a white woman to care for a patient with dementia who was disruptive in the presence of racialized staff.

In response, the regional health authority in Quebecs Laurentians region said it has opened an investigation.

Jill Eusanio, president of Comfort Keepers Quebec, said her placement agency receives requests for white workers a few times a year. She said, however, the issue is more complex than it may seem.

"Usually, these requests are for senior citizens, clients, that are racist, and who have a mental disease that's set in, like Alzheimer's or dementia, and they're mean to the worker," she said in an interview Thursday.

"What do I do?" Eusanio said. "Do I put a Black worker in this environment who will be verbally abused, who could be physically hit?"

Eusanio, whose placement agency provides personal support workers, nurses and nurses aids for home care, long-term care facilities and hospitals, said she would never promise to send a white worker. But, she said, if one of her employees is being abused by a patient because of their ethnic background, she said she would switch them.

Helene Gravel, head of Sherbrooke, Que.-based placement agency Agence Continuum, said requests for white workers are "very, very rare."

Gravel said those kinds of requests are intended to ensure employees aren't placed in difficult situations when dealing with patients suffering from conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's who have difficulty dealing with people who are different.

In some cases, however, she has received requests from people recovering from surgery or other medical procedures who need temporary home care but don't want a Black person helping them.

In those cases, she said, she refuses to serve the client. She said she doesn't tolerate racism.

Sethi recently conducted a study on racism against personal-support workers at an Ontario nursing home. She found that Black workers frequently experienced racism from patients and their families, and in some cases, from colleagues.

If personal-support workers are subject to racist abuse and believe they will be replaced by white people, then that might encourage them to stay silent out of fear of losing work, Sethi said.

Dr. Sophie Zhang, who oversees 15 long-term care centres in Montreal, said she has had patients who are openly racist against workers, adding that it can be challenging to manage those patients when they're suffering illnesses such as dementia.

Regarding requests for white-only workers, Zhang said there are two issues involved: one is about accommodations in the workplace, while the other is about hiring discrimination.

"For me, discriminating at the time of hiring is unacceptable," she said in an interview Friday. "That, I don't think we can make any excuses for."

Sometimes, however, when a decision needs to be made about who will be assigned to a patient, accommodations may have to be made, she said.

"This is not because we want to 'give in to racism,' but it's because sometimes the safety of the worker is at risk because there has been abuse, there has been verbal and physical abuse."

But she said it's the last resort. When patients are able to be reasoned with, she said, the first step is dialogue.

"My first reaction is to tell them that we don't accept racism," Zhang said. "That all our health-care workers are competent, are qualified, will take good care of them no matter what race they are, and that any sort of verbal or physical assault is not tolerated."

Sometimes, Zhang said, the patient ends up trusting the worker who takes care of them, adding that overall, she has had to manage few cases where people have demanded to be treated by non-racialized people.

"It's a very small number of cases where we have to intervene and make these accommodations."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel on Sunday revoked the VIP permit of the Palestinian foreign minister after he returned to the West Bank from a trip to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed.

The move appeared to be Israeli retaliation for Palestinian support for the ICC's war crimes investigation against Israel.

A Palestinian official said Foreign Minister Riad Malki was stopped Sunday as he entered the West Bank from Jordan through the Israeli-controlled crossing. Malki's VIP card was seized, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was discussing a sensitive diplomatic issue. Losing the VIP status makes it harder for him to move through Israeli military checkpoints in the West Bank, and traveling abroad will require Israeli permission.

Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, confirmed the incident, but directed questions to the Shin Bet security agency, which declined comment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined comment.

The ICC's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced earlier this month that she was opening an investigation into possible war crimes by Israel committed in the occupied West Bank and blockaded Gaza Strip.

The investigation is expected to look at the Israeli military's conduct in a 2014 war against Hamas militants and during months of mass protests along Gaza's frontier with Israel in which dozens of Palestinian were killed or wounded by Israeli gunfire. Israel has said its actions were legitimate acts of defense.

The probe also is set to examine Israel's settlement policies in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas captured in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians for a hoped-for independent state.

According to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Malki met with Bensouda last Thursday and urged her to expedite the investigations to end the era of impunity and to start the path of accountability of Israel.

Story continues

The investigation was launched in response to a request by the Palestinians, who joined the court in 2015 after being granted nonmember observer status in the U.N. General Assembly.

Israel has fiercely condemned the investigation, accusing the ICC of bias and saying it has no jurisdiction since the Palestinians do not have a state. Israel is not a member of the ICC, but its citizens could be subject to arrest abroad if warrants are issued.

The court said last week it has sent formal notices to both sides about the impending investigation, giving them a month to seek deferral by proving they are carrying out their own investigations.
New Delhi:

The body of a second class student was found inside the toilet of Ryan International School at Bhondsi, Gurgaon on Friday morning. The 7-year-old was found dead with his throat slit inside the toilet.

The student had come to school around 8.15 on Friday morning. After about half-an-hour, at around 8.45 am the school authorities called his father and informed him about the fatal incident.

The victim struggled and crawled outside the toilet when a fellow student noticed him in a pool of blood, said Bakshi. He was rushed to a private hospital in Gurgaon where he was declared dead.

Deputy commissioner of police (south Gurgaon) Ashok Kumar Bakshi said they received a call from the school authorities around 8am.

Don't knw what exactly happend.As soon as we came to knw abt child, rushed him to hospital:Neerja Batra,caretaker,Ryan Intl School #Gurugram pic.twitter.com/UbSmeV4MUK  ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2017

Earlier last month, a 10-year-old boy had died, allegedly after falling down, at G D Goenka Public School in Indirapuram. Arman Sehgal a student of class IV was dropped by his father to school and received a call as soon as he reached home.

#Gurugram Protesters vandalise school property after body of a Class II student was found with injury marks pic.twitter.com/y2sqD2YTDx  ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2017

They said my son had fallen down and was being taken to Shanti Gopal Hospital, his mother, Swati Sehgal, said. Arman, who received head injuries, was declared dead at the hospital, police said. A FIR against the school principal and the management had been registered on the basis a complaint filed by the boys father, Gulshan Sehgal.

Deputy commissioner of police Simardeep Singh, who is officiating as the Gurgaon commissioner of police, reached the school and a forensic team also scanned the crime scene. Singh said he would comment only after all the facts have been verified.

Classmates of the boy told the police he used to go to the toilet every day after reaching the school. The police said preliminary investigations suggested the accused knew about the habit. They also claimed a knife was found near the body.

The police have filed a murder case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code at Bhondsi police station and started an investigation. The body has been sent for a post mortem examination.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is eyeing U.S.-China talks in Alaska for diplomatic support as Beijing puts two Canadians on trial for suspected spying.

The pair, Michael Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig, have been detained for more than two years in apparent retaliation for Canadas arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive.

The trial began for Spavor on Friday, and Kovrig's is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Canada said its consular officials were denied permission Friday to attend the proceedings against Spavor, who is accused by China of stealing state secrets.

Trudeau blasted Beijing for what he described as arbitrary detentions and a lack of transparency, while also praising Canada's allies for their support.

"China needs to understand that their approach of coercive diplomacy is not working and it will not be well-received by other countries and not just Canada," Trudeau said during a news conference in Ottawa.

Spavor and Kovrig were detained in December 2018, days after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested at the request of the U.S. at the airport in Vancouver.

Meng was sought by the U.S. on fraud charges related to the telecom giant's dealings with Iran, which is under American financial sanctions.

Top U.S. and Chinese officials met for a second day Friday after sparring in their first face-to-face talks since President Joe Biden took office.

Trudeau expressed optimism that the U.S. will voice support for Canada in its talks with Chinese diplomats in Alaska.

"I know that the summit is happening now, and I'm very confident that it's an issue that will be brought up there," he said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
For those nervous about such a move, it's important to remember that the smaller physical distance threshold does not equate to a return to school the way it was pre-pandemic. Aside from the fact that there still is a distance requirement (albeit smaller), students and staff will continue wearing masks, hand-washing and sanitizing will still be emphasized and prioritized, and COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and quarantining will be continued.

What we've learned in the first seven months of this unprecedented school year is that students are excellent at following established COVID-19 guidelines, and as a result, transmission within school buildings has been extremely low. Even during our worst spike, contact tracing showed that community spread was mostly happening outside the educational environment.

The other big lesson learned this year, though, is that most students absolutely need in-person classes in order to succeed academically, and that it's also essential for their mental health and social development.

With a big blessing from the CDC in hand, we urge everyone with a hand in these decisions in Cayuga County to commit to giving all of our students an increased opportunity to learn in their school buildings with their peers.

The Citizen editorial board includes publisher Michelle Bowers, executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd.

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The Bureau of Meteorology has shared a map on social media of flood watch and warning zones in eastern Australia, overlaid with rain radars.

You can see rain still falling in flood areas, with more forecast for coming days, the bureau said.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and damaging surf applies to forecast districts across NSW and the ACT.

This includes: Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Upper Western, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Tablelands, and parts of the South West Slopes and Lower Western forecast disctricts.
Priyanka Chopra Says She's Aware Of Islam As Her Father Sang In A Mosque, Twitterati Scratch Their Heads In Confusion

Priyanka Chopra in her recent interview with Oprah Winfrey spoke about her secular upbringing. The actress said she was influenced by various religions during her years growing up in India including Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Her explanation that her father singing in a mosque led her to learn about Islam didnt really sit well with the netizens who didnt hold back at all in trolling her for it.

The Quantico actress spoke about various aspects of her life including her relationship with Nick Jonas, her upbringing, her career in Bollywood and the challenges it came with and her book Unfinished and what motivated her to write her memoir.

Talking about her religious and spiritual journey Priyanka told Oprah about the religious influences and said, I grew up in a convent school. I was aware of Christianity. My dad used to sing in a mosque, I was aware of Islam. I grew up in a Hindu family, I was aware of that.

From pointing out the one isnt allowed to sing in a mosque to questioning her awareness about Islam, Priyanka was called out despite her fans pressing hard on the fact that she was being misunderstood by people.

@priyankachopra

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   Syed Omer (@osyed20) March 21, 2021

I think priyanka chopra is confused between dargah and a mosque.  Zoe (@Meadowandhats) March 20, 2021

Ive watched Sholay many times so Im well aware of Indian culture



https://t.co/LZ1DVxo38Z  Khurram Qureshi (@qureshik74) March 20, 2021

My religion is not your dad's concert pic.twitter.com/ymRHKVFvtG  Tabrez (@tabrezdont) March 20, 2021

My dad used to sing in a mosque, I was aware of Islam, Priyanka Chopra Jonas said.

Mtlb kuch bhi agar ksi mazhab k baare mein apko pata na ho ya thora bht pata ho to behtar hai k banda chupp bethe. #priyankachoprajonas  Sameera Nawab (@hackelishere) March 21, 2021

U said that your father use to sing in a mosque but my question is that how you can be aware of Islam? And your father also used to have sehri and iftari if he love Islam why didn't he converted into Islam  Hamza AHMED (@HamzaAH31146638) March 21, 2021
New Orleans, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2021) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with losses in excess of $100,000 that they have until May 17, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lordstown Motors Corp. (NasdaqGS: RIDE) f/k/a DiamondPeak Holdings Corp., if they purchased the Company's shares between August 3, 2020 and March 17, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

What You May Do

If you purchased shares of Lordstown and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-ride/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 17, 2021 .

About the Lawsuit

Lordstown and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On March 12, 2021, pre-market, Hindenburg Research reported that the Company has "no revenue and no sellable product," and that it "has misled investors on both its demand and production capabilities." Further, the report noted that the Company's "orders are largely fictitious and used as a prop to raise capital and confer legitimacy," and that a former employee "explained how the company is experiencing delays and making 'drastic' design modifications, putting [Lordstown] an estimated 3-4 years away from production," rather than it being "on track" for a September 2021 production start.

Story continues

Then, on March 17, 2021, post-market, the Company disclosed during an earnings call that it had received an inquiry from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, despite not including that disclosure in its Form 8-K announcing its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results, filed after trading closed that same day.

On this news, shares of Lordstown plummeted.

The case is Rico v. Lordstown Motors Corp., et al., 21-cv-00616.

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

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78056
WE are now reading that the Minister of Sport has come out with a statement regarding our participation in the Tokyo Olympics.

As with the usual run-of-the-mill political type, the statement vacillates, kicks the can down the road and seeks to avoid the issue. Let us be clear on what the situation is regarding these Olympics.
This is an opinion column.

Im glad Roy Moore is a memory in Alabama politics, but Im not satisfied with the memory hes become.

Maybe hell forever be a joke. He deserves that.

The women who effectively ended his political career got to have their say. They deserve that, too.

Moore has been reduced to a caricature  some sort of lonely lecherous creature lurking in the food court of the Gadsden Mall, or a silly little man in a cowboy hat, laughing and waving a gun on a campaign stage like a demented Howdy Doody.

But thats not who he was. Moore was a monster we never really reckoned with. What he was alleged to have done to those women never should have been the bridge too far. There were so many bridges crossed before we got there.

First, Moore corrupted religion in Alabama, convincing too many folks their beliefs were under attack when no such thing was ever true. He made a mockery out of the Ten Commandments. With not a little bit of irony, he ignored that sacred texts admonition of graven images, just like he ignored the federal courts and the Constitution hed sworn to uphold and protect.

Next, he broke our court system. No one remembers this one, but it happened. As the chief administrator of Alabama courts, he exhausted his funds before the fiscal year was through. Jury trials had to be suspended until the Legislature could approve more money in a special session. He didnt follow budgets any better than he obeyed the law.

And he used his power to hurt vulnerable people. When a lesbian mom sought custody of her children from their abusive dad, Moore called her homosexuality an act so heinous that it defies ones ability to describe it and suggested the state should imprison or execute LGBT parents.

The state carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution, Moore wrote It must use that power to prevent the subversion of children toward this lifestyle, to not encourage a criminal lifestyle.

When asked in 2015 whether homosexuality should be punished by death, Moore said he didnt know.

He was a mean, divisive little man who encouraged Alabamians to be mean, divisive little people.

But we cast him out only after he was branded a pedophile. That was the last straw. It shouldnt have been.

We took a shortcut. We didnt learn our lesson. We didnt grow.

And now were faced with the same sort of candidate, again.

On Monday, Rep. Mo Brooks is supposed to make some sort of campaign announcement. He hasnt said what it is and his campaign website is mostly blank except where it says Paid for by Mo Brooks for Senate Committee at the bottom.

What suspense.

So far, Brookss political career has been a lot of spite and little substance. In Congress, hes blamed rising sea levels on rocks falling in the water. (Whenever I mention that, somebody thinks I made it up, but that happened.) He has undermined the leadership of better Alabama officials, like when he called Gov. Kay Iveys coronavirus mitigation efforts nanny-state directives, all while not having the sense to delete his dumbest tweets about the virus. Last February he shared death tolls from around the world.

American healthcare: ZERO dead, he said. Think about it.

After a half-million lives lost, weve had time to think about it. He still hasnt.

In January, Brooks led efforts to overturn a lawful presidential election and he still refuses to acknowledge the fraud he alleged has been dismissed or disproven in the courts.

The most effective thing he might have ever done was stoking a crowd of insurrectionists to pay a visit to the U.S. Capitol before they left Washington on January 6.

But he refuses to own it.

As the same folks he told to start taking down names and kicking ass beat up police officers and ransacked the Capitol, Brooks blamed Antifa. After he was called out for his incendiary comments to the mob, he insisted he was talking about 2022 elections.

Brooks is the type of political arsonist wholl strike the match and blame the fire department when it shows up to put out the fire.

Stephen Miller will join Mo Brooks for what is likely his kick-off for US Senate. pic.twitter.com/7PfTBoPqnU  Kyle Whitmire (@WarOnDumb) March 18, 2021

This week, Brooks sent out invitations announcing former Trump advisor Stephen Miller would be joining him for his campaign announcement, perhaps because the actual Devil had other business next week. Miller, like Brooks, shares a deep disdain for immigrants, whom hes scapegoated and targeted for abuse. In the White House, Miller successfully advocated separating children from immigrant parents at the border, a policy even his old boss Jeff Sessions now regrets.

After Brookss colleagues in the U.S. House proposed censuring him for his role in the Jan. 6 insurgency, Brooks published a bizarre, meandering diatribe online, boasting of, among many other things, his safe driving record and the fact hes never smoked a cigarette. If anyone is hoping some woman, or man, might come forward to end Brookss career like Moores, they could be waiting for a long time.

What you see is what youre going to get. And that should be enough to disqualify him.

Brooks has learned nothing in the last few years. But the question is, have we?

Because theres no side door out this time. No shortcuts.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram.

More columns by Kyle Whitmire

Alabama is dead last for open records. The Legislature could fix that.

Different year, same old fight, but a new champion for open government

Give Toforest Johnson a new trial. Or better, a pardon. Now.

John Merrills absentee voting flip-flop has no excuse

What will you carry with you from the pandemic?

Kay Ivey wont be bullied

Alabama doesnt have a gambling problem. Its worse than that.

Tuscaloosa named street for slain officer. Lawmaker wants to rename it for Nick Saban.

The Medicaid Civil War is over. Quit fighting, Kay Ivey.

Just keep talking, Tommy Tuberville

Richard Shelby, Mo Brooks and the death of Alabama pork politics

Alabama lawmaker has a health care plan  for lawmakers, not you
The Philippines on Sunday accused China of "incursion" after more than 200 militia boats were spotted near a disputed reef in the South China Sea, in a rare rebuke of its superpower neighbour.

The Philippine coast guard detected the boats "in line formation" at the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef around 320 kilometres (175 nautical miles) west of Palawan Island on March 7.

"We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory," Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

"This is a clear provocative action of militarizing the area. These are territories well within Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone."

Lorenzana said the government was considering "appropriate action" to take to protect Filipino fishermen, the country's marine resources and maintain peace and stability in the area.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Twitter he had lodged a diplomatic protest over the ships.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not respond to a request for comment.

A government task force charged with monitoring the contested waters announced Saturday the detection of around 220 "Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels" earlier this month.

"Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities," the agency said.

The United States has previously accused China of using maritime militia to "intimidate, coerce and threaten other nations" over its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.

The resource-rich waterway is also contested by several countries, including the Philippines.

China has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared its assertion as without basis.

Philippine-China relations have improved under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has tried to steer his country away from the ambit of the United States -- its former colonial master -- to pursue greater economic cooperation with its giant neighbour and American rival.

Story continues

But Duterte's shift has failed to stem Chinese ambitions in the sea or unlock much of the billions of dollars of promised trade and loans.

He has repeatedly said conflict with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process.

Lorenzana, however, has been more outspoken.

In August he accused China of illegally occupying Filipino maritime territory, saying the nine-dash line used by Beijing to justify its alleged historic rights to the key waterway was a fabrication.

His remarks at the time came amid a fresh row over the disputed Scarborough shoal, which China seized from the Philippines in 2012 following a tense standoff.

In 2019, the Philippines also complained after hundreds of Chinese ships were seen near Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, which the country branded as "illegal".

rbl-amj/rbu
Our Majordan A, who took a record of 1:47.3 at The Meadowlands in 2020, made an impressive 2021 debut at Miami Valley Raceway on Saturday (March 20).

The nine-year-old gelded and Australian-bred son of Art Major, following three qualifying tighteners for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., topped a stellar field of Open pacers as eight of 10 in the field owned sub-1:50 records.

Driver Brett Miller was confident that, with three qualifiers under his girth, the 35-time winner was fit enough to play catch-me-if-you-can in the featured $22,500 event. Despite an assigned outside post position, Miller set sail from the moment the gate opened, but needed the entire :26.4 first quarter before finally securing the front. The race was likely won with a :29.2 second quarter breather before stablemate Turbo Hill took up chase and moved up to second at the 1:24 third timing station.

With Turbo Hill fading in the stretch, a slew of other challengers fanned down the lane in a futile effort to catch the leader. My Hero Ron and Jet Rock got perilously close to the winner at the wire. Unfortunately, Jet Rock made a late break in stride and was placed fifth as GD Western Joe and General Dolan were lapped on to the third-place finisher at the finish line.

Our Majordan A is owned by the Enviro Stable, Ned Hodkinson and Milton Leeman. He paid $5.00 to win.

Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., who was recently inducted into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall Of Fame, harnessed a total of four winners on the Saturday card. His other winners were Howmacsblackjack (Noble, 1:52.3, $6.40), Rock N Jo Z (Trace Tetrick, 1:51.4, $4.60) and The Great Buzz (Tetrick, 1:52, $6.80).

Two first-leg divisions of the Tom Tharps Memorial Series were also contested. The winners were Louie Louie, in 1:52.1 over Thrasher and third-place dead-heaters No Quarter and WF Eeyore; and Velocity Poprocks, topping Shvaiko and Lous A Pansy in the second split.

Drivers Dan Noble and Trace Tetrick each scored hat tricks on Saturday, while Chris Page and Josh Sutton managed driving doubles. Noble joined Tetrick during the night as the only $1 million purse winners in North America thus far in 2021.

Racing will resume at Miami Valley on Sunday afternoon (March 21) with a 2:05 p.m. (EDT) post time.

(Miami Valley Raceway)
Almost everyone knows the billionaire Oprah Winfrey, whose success is entirely self-made. The TV personality became popular for discussing various topics. She reviewed books she read and interviewed celebrities, such as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry.

In Winfreys romantic life, she is just as fortunate as she is in her professional one. She has been in a relationship with Stedman Graham for a long time. However, warnings from friends almost kept them from dating.

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham lead successful lives

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon

RELATED: The 10 Most Unforgettable Moments on The Oprah Winfrey Show

Many people know Winfrey for being a charismatic talk show host and wealthy philanthropist. She attended Tennessee State University but dropped out. From there, the celebrity went to work in radio and television broadcasting.

In 1976, Winfrey got a job at a TV chat show called People Are Talking. Over the years, she attracted more and more fans. The TV star launched The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1986, and she made millions after the first year. Winfrey also is an actress and won an Academy Award for her performance in The Color Purple.

Graham is an educator, businessman, and speaker. He has a degree in social work and a masters in education. He created the S. Graham & Associates in 1988, an educational marketing and consulting firm. Graham has gone to multiple public schools to provide speeches on identity.

During his career, Graham wrote several self-help and business-related books. A couple of them include You Can Make It Happen Every Day and Identity: Your Passport to Success. He has had a long and successful career for over four decades.

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham are together

RELATED: Oprah Isnt Letting Stedman Quarantine in Their Main House. Heres Why

When people talk about Winfrey and Graham, they often mention the twos decades-long relationship. The couple first met in 1986 while attending a charity event. Winfrey and Graham were visiting a mutual friend when their relationship began.

Oprah often saw Graham with a woman every time they crossed paths in the past. Not to mention, she assumed he was too handsome to consider dating her. When the TV personality saw Graham without a girlfriend, she decided to ask him out for a drink.

In 1992, Winfrey and Graham got engaged, but they never held a wedding ceremony. However, the couple remains together to this day. Winfrey explained that marriage did not seem to be a viable option for them. Graham did not think they would have stayed together if they became the traditional husband and wife.

Instead, the two have a spiritual partnership. What it means is the couple has a partnership between equals for spiritual growth. Graham created an identity beyond being Oprahs man and is dedicated to her happiness.

Producers told Oprah Winfrey not to get with Stedman Graham

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham | Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

There was a chance that Winfrey and Graham would not have gotten together. Graham has had previous relationships before her, which Winfrey was aware of and did not think much about dating him. According to Insider, others told the TV personality to be careful.

I figured he must be a player. So did all my producers. They warned me not to get involved with that Stedman guy, Winfrey said.

At first, Winfrey listened to them and remained friends with Graham from a distance. When she learned that he broke up with his girlfriend, she gave a possible relationship a serious thought. Once the talk show host got to know Graham, she realized he is nice and supportive person.

Graham was not someone who wanted to be with Winfrey because she was extremely famous. If she did not take the chance, the two would not be happy together decades later.
Editor's Note This article is brought to you by Cox Business.

For the past 82 years, the Perlis family has relied on creativity and ingenuity to help its clothing business prosper.

In the years after original founder Rogers Perlis first opened the store in 1939, he would work in his shop, selling new clothes to customers Mondays through Saturdays. In the meantime, he would collect unwanted clothes from more affluent customers and friends. On Sundays, he headed to lower income New Orleans neighborhoods to sell those clothes out of his car.

He would do more business on Sundays in those first couple of years than he did during the rest of the week, said David W. Perlis, Rogers grandson and one of the current store owners. His Sunday work is really what allowed him to make the money to live on while he reinvested what he made Mondays through Saturdays back into the business.

The business continued to grow as both New Orleans locals and tourists gravitated to its selection of classic Southern clothing. But in the late 1970s, things began to look rough. The owners of Izod Lacoste, then one of the worlds most popular shirt businesses, pulled its American licenses, meaning that Perlis and other stores could no longer sell those products. A new company, Polo Ralph Lauren, entered the market around the same time, but Perlis couldnt reach an agreement with them to sell Polo products.

Davids father, David G. Perlis, who was running the business by then, decided it was time to create his own products. He worked with a local artist to create a unique crawfish design that was then incorporated into shirts sold at Perlis. It was an instant hit and now, more than 40 years later, remains one of Perlis best sellers.

It really came out of a scary time for the business, David W. Perlis said. It was successful quickly. I think the people of South Louisiana relished having something of their own on a shirt rather than something that was a bit more generic.

Through the years, some of the most popular items at Perlis have been shirts with the iconic crawfish design as well as Mardi Gras-themed shirts and dresses, especially ones with a rugby design. Theyve been especially popular with tourists, but Perlis expects at least a 50 percent drop in his first quarter revenue in 2021 because of the cancellation of parades and balls.

Its not about profit and loss right now, Perlis said. Its really about managing our inventory and our expenses and understanding that its going to take a while. Im fortunate to lead a business with a great staff and resources that have been left in the business by previous generations. My grandfather really built a sound financial structure. My father appreciated that and learned from him and hes passed that down to me. But there is no doubt that it is a challenge.

Today, David W. Perlis is thinking more about how his father and grandfather adapted as he navigates the rapidly changing world of retail. There is a renewed focus on online sales as more people prefer websites over physical stores. Perlis said that before the pandemic, online sales accounted for about 7 percent of the stores business. Now, online sales make up about 13 to 14 percent of all sales, meaning Perlis and other store leaders are working to make the online shopping experience as enjoyable and easy as possible.

In addition, Perlis said he is taking a closer look at the stores inventory and talking to his employees, especially those in the younger generation, about fashion trends and customer needs.

Weve always benefited from being in this region, where some restaurants ask you to have a jacket on or people want to dress up for events, fundraisers and balls, he said. Those things arent happening right now. We look forward to them happening again, but even when they do, we expect people will want to dress more casually. We want to make sure we right-size our inventory and focus on what customers are actually wearing.

Even with those changes, Perlis said there are some things that never go out of style. His grandfather and father both taught him the value of treating employees well and listening to their feedback. Today, many Perlis employees have been with the store for 15 years or more. That helps create stronger relationships with customers, something Perlis knows is key to any business success.

Its about taking care of people so that they choose to build a relationship with us and become a regular customer, he said. My grandfather and father really showed me how important it is to become a part of the fabric of someones life. Its become harder now because some people are not used to that sense of familiarity and they want to engage in a different way. We have to roll with it and learn how to adapt.

Perlis currently has stores at 6070 Magazine Street in New Orleans, 600 Decatur Street in New Orleans, 8366 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge and 1281 North Causeway Boulevard on the North Shore. For more information, visit www.perlis.com.
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Construction of a sugar refinery  the first of its kind in Oman  at Sohar Port and Freezone will commence around mid-year, while work on a large-scale food processing cluster in the zone will kick off before the year-end, a report said.



Initial groundwork on the sugar refinery project will commence shortly, followed by the development of a food processing cluster backed by a leading UAE promoter, Oman Observer reported.



The Oman Sugar Refinery project will now commence piling operations with a view to starting construction in the middle of the year, Robert Bartstra, Executive Commercial Manager  Sohar Port and Freezone, was quoted as saying in the report.



Oman Sugar Refinery Company (OSRC), backed by a Tanzanian-based Omani investor, had signed an agreement for the establishment of a state-of-the-art refinery on a waterfront site within the port.



Plans envisage a capacity of 700,000 tonnes per annum of refined sugar in the first phase, eventually ramping up to 1 million tonnes per annum in Phase 2.



The Sohar Food Cluster Company, which will be located in between the Sohar Flour Mills and the Sugar Refinery, is expected to start their construction by end-2021, said Bartstra.



The dedicated food processing cluster project is being spearheaded by Essa Al Ghurair Investments (AGI), a prominent UAE business conglomerate. Its proximity to the flour mill and sugar refinery will enable Sohar Food Cluster Company to focus on the development of value chains in the food sector.
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A victim of Black Cab Rapist John Worboys has told how police questioned her about wearing red nail varnish.

The woman, known only as NBV for legal reasons, says officers from the Met also asked about her drinking habits and choice of lipstick.

The astonishing disclosures are made in a new Channel 5 documentary about serial rapist Worboys.

Police believe Worboys (left) attacked more than 100 women during his 13 years as a London cab driver. One of his victims is represented by Phillippa Kaufmann QC (right)

Taxi used by the serial sex attacker. He would tell victims that he was celebrating winning a large sum of money and offer them a glass of champagne laced with sedatives

Even more shockingly, it also reveals how a female police officer raised the possibility with Worboys that NBV may have agreed to have sex with him.

NBV, who was being driven home in a black cab from a London nightclub by Worboys when he attacked her, said that the police interview was a humiliating experience.

She said: They started off asking a lot of questions about myself. They had observed that I had nail polish on which was red. They asked me whether Id describe myself as a young lady who would wear red nail polish and red lipstick.

They asked me how often I would go out drinking and they asked me how much I had drank that night. The way they behaved made me feel like anything that had happened to me was because I deserved it.

The programme  Predator: Catching The Black Cab Rapist, which will be shown on Wednesday  also features clips from Worboyss first police interview, where a female officer is heard asking him whether NBV offered sex in return for a free lift home.

NBVs lawyer, Phillippa Kaufmann QC, tells the programme: Its not his account, he is not even saying what happened. She [the police officer] is feeding him a defence, if sexual activity took place it was on the basis that NBV was prostituting herself and not paying the fare. If they had actually done some work they would have realised she did pay the fare. It makes it plain that they just didnt believe a word of it on her part.

This officer failed to question him on any of the multiple discrepancies between his account and the CCTV footage they had. They failed to follow up numerous other steps, for example, the timeline. Find out what time she left that club and got in a cab. The documentary also reveals that Worboys, who was jailed in 2009 for 19 sex attacks on 12 women, kept a diary detailing excuses in case he was stopped by police. Described in the programme as a Machiavellian script, it was written in question and answer form as a rehearsal for interrogation by detectives.

Police had the chance to catch Worboys when a 19-year-old student reported being attacked by him in July 2007. But blundering officers at Plumstead police station, South-East London, let him off without asking several obvious key questions, leaving him free to attack more women.

He said of his attack on the student: Police must have faith in me to let me carry on working. She kept flashing and rubbing her t*ts. She wanted to sh** and f*** me. Most men would have got hold of her and done worse things or just chucked her on the ground. How could I be responsible for her actions? If I sexually assaulted her my DNA would be down below.

Elsewhere, he wrote: I dont find drunk women attractive. Only like girls 40+ I find it pervy, young girls and older men All I want to do is get women home safely Its because Im too nice and caring.

Police believe Worboys attacked more than 100 women during his 13 years as a London cab driver. He would tell victims that he was celebrating winning a large sum of money and offer them a glass of champagne laced with sedatives.

Worboys, also known as John Radford, is serving a life sentence.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 02:54:09|Editor: huaxia

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A man walks on the street in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States, March 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Today, China-U.S. relations have arrived at a new critical juncture in history. Beijing and Washington have the responsibility, capacity and wisdom to find a way for major countries with different political systems to get along with each other. To that end, it requires an even grander vision and greater political courage.

After all, it is always correct to choose working together instead of decoupling each other, and to choose tearing down barriers rather than building more walls.

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- With all the world's eyes upon them, China and the United State have wrapped up their high-level strategic dialogue held in Anchorage, Alaska.

Undoubtedly, the China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties in today's world. Therefore, for the two sides, dialogue is always better than confrontation.

During this round of dialogue, the two sides conducted candid, in-depth and constructive communication on their respective domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations, and major international and regional issues of common concern.

They expressed their willingness to enhance cooperation or coordination in some specific areas. For instance, the two sides are committed to strengthening dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change and will establish a joint working group on that subject. In the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit, the two sides will hold talks on facilitating activities of each other's diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues related to media reporters.

The talks in Anchorage once again proved that communication and dialogue based on mutual respect can help the two sides increase trust, reduce misperceptions, properly manage differences and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

What needs to be clarified is that the fundamental purpose of China's development is to ensure that the Chinese people can live a better life and to benefit all humankind. Win-win cooperation is an important principle of China's development and a golden rule in China's external relations. China has no intention to interfere in the political system of the United States, nor challenge or replace its status and influence.

The U.S. side should take a right approach to China's political system and development path, its influence on the world as well as its major policies.

Meanwhile, the U.S. side should also respect China's core concerns such as sovereignty and security, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs on Taiwan and issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

In Anchorage, the United States reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question, which sent a right signal to the rest of the world.

Containers of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited are seen at the Port of Long Beach in Los Angeles County, the United States, Feb. 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

After all, the essence of China-U.S. relations is of mutual benefit and win-win results, rather than a zero-sum game. The two countries will gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Neither side can afford the consequences of conflict and confrontation.

They should trust rather than suspect each other, understand rather than blame each other, and cooperate rather than obstruct each other.

In the past few years, due to Washington's irrational suppression of China's legitimate rights and interests, China-U.S. relations have encountered unprecedented difficulties. This situation should not continue any longer. The only right way is to follow the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

Moreover, enhancing coordination and cooperation between China and the United States, the two major players with global influence, is to follow the global trend of peace and development, which will also meet the expectations of the international community.

Forming cliques, turning back the wheel of history, inciting ideological divisions, or instigating confrontation will lead to nowhere.

China is ready to work with the United States to uphold true multilateralism, and provide more public goods with better quality for the international community.

The two countries can cooperate on three most pressing tasks facing the international community -- fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and promoting world economic recovery -- and strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, so as to expand their cooperation on a bigger scale.

During the dialogue, 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.

They also exchanged views on a series of other topics, including climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar, and agreed to maintain and enhance communication and coordination.

In the 1970s, then far-sighted leaders of China and the United States worked together to break the ice in bilateral relations, and charted the course forward for bilateral cooperation.

Today, China-U.S. relations have arrived at a new critical juncture in history. Beijing and Washington have the responsibility, capacity and wisdom to find a way for major countries with different political systems to get along with each other. To that end, it requires an even grander vision and greater political courage.

After all, it is always correct to choose working together instead of decoupling each other, and to choose tearing down barriers rather than building more walls. 
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Britain's beloved chocolate bar, KitKat, is about to get the biggest shake up in its 90-year history. Owners Nestle are introducing a vegan version  out goes milk and in comes a rice-based formula.

It's a testament to just how many of us now want to eat vegan food for health and ethical reasons. But, when most of us think of milk as being integral to that lovely smooth, chocolatey taste, can a vegan version ever really be anything more than a pale imitation?

To find out, we challenged professional chocolatier and UK World Chocolate Master, Ruth Hinks, to pit traditional British chocolate treats against vegan versions and see if she could tell the difference.

We challenged professional chocolatier and UK World Chocolate Master, Ruth Hinks (pictured), to pit traditional British chocolate treats against vegan versions

Britain's beloved chocolate bar, KitKat, is about to get the biggest shake up in its 90-year history

'I'm intrigued,' she says. 'It's relatively easy to produce a vegan version of a dark chocolate which traditionally contains no milk. But producing a vegan milk chocolate is a different ball game.

'You are looking for a lovely creaminess but no overpowering flavour. It's the holy grail and companies are experimenting with soya, rice and coconut which all have slightly different textures and flavours from milk.'

So can Ruth, who owns her own chocolate brand Cocoa Black, tell the difference between vegan and traditional versions in a blind test? And which does she prefer?

MALTESERS

VEGAN

Doisy & Dam Ballers, 75g, 2, Sainsburys

These have a similar honeycomb centre to Maltesers but are dark chocolate. They are delicious with all the creaminess I expect from traditional chocolate. There's a high cocoa content  I'm guessing around 70 per cent  and not too much sugar. I'd share these with my girlfriends. Nothing in the taste tells me they are vegan. 8/10

TRADITIONAL

Maltesers, 102g, 1.50, Sainsburys

Ah. Straight away I know these are Maltesers. The taste is so distinctive. But after tasting the vegan version I suspect even my Malteser-loving 13-year-old son would be just as happy with the vegan version. I certainly would. 7/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Vegan.

SEA SALT CHOCOLATE

VEGAN

Taste the Difference Free From Sea Salted Choc, 85g, 1.75, Sainsburys

This is seriously good. It's creamy with a nice salty tang. But, there's a hint of vegetable oil and the texture is slightly gritty. I reckon that's because they've substituted rice powder, which doesn't break down as well as milk. But, it's lovely and I was almost fooled. 7/10

TRADITIONAL

Galaxy Fusions Blonde Chocolate with Sea Salt, 100g, 2

This caramelised white chocolate is the only white chocolate I will happily eat. But it's so sweet  52 per cent sugar compared to the vegan alternative of 44 per cent. Just one square will do. 5/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Vegan.

WHOLE NUT CHOCOLATE

VEGAN

Pico Hazelnut M*lk, 80g, 2.95,Sainsburys

This is beautiful. Texture is so important. This is studded with nuts so you work harder to get that gorgeous chocolate. The hazelnuts have also been woven through in a sort of paste or gianduja. Think Nutella. I can't taste milk. Does this mean it's vegan? Have they used nuts as a smart milk replacement? I'm stumped. It doesn't taste vegan to me. 9/10

TRADITIONAL

Lindt Les Grandes Milk Chocolate Hazelnut (34%) Bar, 150g, 3, Sainsburys

I love the big chunky nuts and I can definitely taste the milk. But are they both non-vegan? I honestly don't know. 9/10

Was Ruth right? No.

WINNER: It's a tie.

YORKIE BAR

Nomo Fruit and Crunchy Chocolate Bar

VEGAN

Nomo Fruit and Crunchy Chocolate Bar, 32g, 90p, Sainburys

I like the crunchiness which I'm guessing comes from crisped rice pieces. I'm also getting a hint of rice powder. It's a very clever way to avoid milk. And they've replaced sugar with inulin which comes from plants including chicory. It's popping up a lot as a healthy alternative to sugar. 7/10

TRADITIONAL

Yorkie Raisin and Biscuit Chocolate Bar, 44g, 60p, Tesco

Milk chocolate is the best seller in my shop. I can taste the milk powder instantly here. I know this is a classic, but I prefer the vegan version. It's less sugary. 6/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Vegan.

WHITE CHOCOLATE

Free From White Choc Bar by Sainsburys

VEGAN

Free From White Choc Bar by Sainsburys, 35g, 45p

Aaargh. It's a bit like chewing a candle. I've got a nasty waxy taste in my mouth. That comes from all the coconut oil they've used instead of milk. To be fair, making vegan white chocolate is like making a brick wall with no bricks. You've got to make up for all that missing milk somehow. Using extra cocoa butter would have given a better flavour but would have been more expensive. 3/10

TRADITIONAL

Nestle Milkybar, 90g, 99p, Tesco

I'll never be a Milkybar kid. I don't see the point of white chocolate  which is mainly sugar and milk. This contains 37 per cent milk  the biggest ingredient. I like my chocolate with a far higher cocoa content. But  love it or not  the sugary, creamy flavour is unmistakable. 6/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Traditional.

M&Ms

Doisy & Dam Dark Chocolate Drops

VEGAN

Doisy & Dam Dark Chocolate Drops, 80g, 2, Sainsburys

I am seriously impressed  the chocolate is tasty and the coating is subtly flavoured. I'm also completely stumped. Do M&Ms come in dark chocolate now? Pass me my phone, someone. I need to Google. 9/10

TRADITIONAL

Chocolate M&Ms, 125g, 1.50, Waitrose

OK. These are milk chocolate. It's harder to produce non-vegan milk chocolate, as opposed to dark chocolate, simply because you have to find an alternative to the milk. So that means these HAVE to be M&Ms. But  guess what? I prefer the vegan version. 6/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Vegan.

MILK SALTED CARAMEL BAR

VEGAN

Moo Free Organic Salted Caramel, 80g, 2, Waitrose

Wow. This is seriously impressive milk chocolate with a subtle flavouring. I'm not getting any strong milk taste  but I'm not tasting any possible alternatives like rice or coconut. Is it? Isn't it? 8/10

TRADITIONAL

Lindt Excellence Sea Salt & Caramel Milk Chocolate, 100g, 2, Sainsburys

The milk's coming through powerfully which means this has to be non-vegan. But the chocolate's too sweet for my taste. 6/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Vegan.

MILK CHOCOLATE

VEGAN

Ombar Coco Mylk Bar, 70g, 2.99, Waitrose

It's packed with coconut  I'm guessing powder AND sugar. Honestly, there's so much coconut, you could use this to rub your surfboard down. It's also softer than traditional chocolate which has a slight snap. I like it because I'm a fan of coconut but it won't fool anyone. 5/10

TRADITIONAL

Cadburys Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar, 200g, 1.80, Tesco

You definitely get your 'glass and a half' as the slogan went. The milky taste is unmistakable. People can be terribly snobbish about chocolate. But there are times when only Cadburys will do. It's comforting and horribly moreish. 7/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Traditional.

HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE

VEGAN

Ombar Centres Hazelnut Truffle, 70g, 2.99, Waitrose

I love the richness of the chocolate. The nutty truffle inside is delicious. There's the faintest hint of coconut which I'm guessing is the milk substitute. It's the only clue this might be vegan. I'm almost fooled. 8/10

TRADITIONAL

Cadbury Dairy Milk Whole Nut Chocolate Bar, 120g, 98p, Tesco

Chunky whole nuts in a chocolate bar are the best. The velvety milk chocolate and hazelnut flavours complement each other beautifully. It's sweet but somehow it works here. 9/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Traditional.

CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATE BAR

VEGAN

Raw Halo Mylk & Vanilla, 70g, 2.75, Sainsburys

This is a very convincing milk chocolate. However, as I'm tasting coconut, I'm guessing that this is vegan. I'd have liked it creamier. But I can see they were worried about overdoing the coconut. It's a good call. I'm getting a slight flavour of maple syrup which must be lucuma  which is a healthy sugar alternative. 7/10

TRADITIONAL

Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate, 100g, 2, Sainsburys

This is super creamy. I love Lindt  the Swiss really do make the best milk chocolate in the world and this is delightful. 9/10

Was Ruth right? Yes.

WINNER: Traditional.

AND THE WINNER IS.... VEGAN!

Vegan chocolate won five categories, with traditional winning four and one tie.
Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, says the perpetrators of the violence that marred the Ekiti East constituency I bye-election will be bro...

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, says the perpetrators of the violence that marred the Ekiti East constituency I bye-election will be brought to justice.





On Saturday, violence broke out during the bye-election, resulting in the death of three persons, including a policewoman.

Subsequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the exercise.

The bye-election was organised to fill the Ekiti East constituency I seat, following the death of Juwa Adegbuyi, the former representative.

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The Ekiti governor reacted to the killings through a statement signed by Yinka Oyebode, his chief press secretary.

The governor demanded the arrest of perpetrators of the violence, noting that those involved will not go unpunished.

The Ekiti governor commiserated with the families of those who died, adding that his administration will uphold the sacredness of life and sanctity of the electoral process.

This violence is most unwarranted and deeply disturbing. I have instructed the police authorities to fish out the perpetrators and ensure they face the music, he said.

Our condolences to the families that lost loved ones and those who were injured. Government would not relent in efforts to always ensure safety of lives and properties. We shall ensure all purveyors of violence are brought to book.
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.
Xi Focus-Quotable Quotes: Xi Jinping on archeological research

Xinhua) 09:15, March 21, 2021

Photo taken on March 19, 2021 shows bronze wares unearthed from a sacrificial pit at 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. (Xinhua/Li He)

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese archeologists announced Saturday that some new major discoveries have been made at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, helping shed light on the origin of the Chinese civilization.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has stressed the significance of archeological research. The following is a selection of his remarks on the subject.

-- Historical and cultural heritage is a non-renewable, irreplaceable resource, and protecting it should always come first.

-- Archeological findings reveal the origin and evolution of the Chinese civilization, its glorious achievements and great contributions to human civilization.

-- There are still many unknown areas in the ancient history of China, and archeological work remains an arduous task and still has a long way to go.

-- Archeology is an important cultural undertaking as well as a piece of work with great social and political significance.

-- Historical and cultural heritage not only vividly tells the past but also profoundly affects the present and future; it belongs not only to us but also to future generations.

-- Having gone through over 5,000 years of vicissitudes, the Chinese civilization has always kept to its original roots. As a symbol of the Chinese nation's unique spirit, it provides the nation with abundant nourishment to grow and prosper.

-- Through exchanges with other civilizations, the Chinese civilization has contributed to the world a profound system of thoughts, a wide range of scientific, technological, cultural and artistic achievements, and unique institutional creations, thereby deeply influencing the development of the world's civilizations.

-- We should encourage different civilizations to respect each other and live in harmony, and make exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations a bridge for enhancing friendship among the peoples around the world, a driving force for the progress of human society, and a bond for safeguarding world peace.
To the Editor:

Re To Lift Ratings, Nursing Homes Shroud Neglect (front page, March 14):

I am an elder-care specialist who has witnessed firsthand the less than optimal conditions in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, some of which have even earned five-star ratings.

The information on the Medicare website that tracks these facilities can be misleading and distorted. A lack of surprise inspections and reliance on self-reporting lead to limited disclosure about staffing, infection rates, medication errors, neglect and abuse.

I urge families to research the facilities through in-person visits to observe the environment, ask questions about care and activities, and promote discussions with resident family members.

The pandemic has illuminated deficits in long-term care facilities that must be addressed. Our seniors and loved ones are vulnerable and deserve more than fanciful reports and stars that are ultimately meaningless.

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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Police have arrested a man who they say threatened at least one person with a chainsaw at a Raleigh hotel Saturday night.

The unidentified man was wanted for attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault and damage to property, the Raleigh Police Department said in a news release Sunday.

The suspect was arrested in Raleigh near Garner, where police said he is believed to have lived. Kevin Pena, an officer at the Garner Police Department, told The News & Observer that the man is also accused of breaking into a Lowes hardware store in Garner and stealing some items.

Donna-maria Harris, a spokeswoman for the RPD, said the department could not release any identifying information about the suspect until after he had been officially charged.

Officers responded to a call in the 2500 block of South Saunders St. at roughly 9:14 p.m. Saturday night, according to the release. The department said the suspect was using a chainsaw to menace the victim.

The situation took place at the Super 8 motel at 2501 South Saunders St., according to the incident report. The suspect also damaged two room doors  one at the motel, and one at the Claremont Inn also on South Saunders St.

Harris declined to comment on how many people were present, or whether anyone was injured. The incident report lists two victims.

Harris also declined to provide more information about the attempted kidnapping charge.

Police said the man was wearing a dark green baseball cap, a long white coat, dark jeans, and white shoes. They also said he left in a dark colored passenger vehicle.

The Raleigh Police Department is looking for this vehicle used by a man they say threatened others with a chainsaw at a hotel Saturday, March 20, 2021.

Harris declined to comment on whether the mans motive had been determined.
Sydney, March 21 : Flooding in parts of New South Wales (NSW) was declared a natural disaster on Sunday and residents in flood-hit areas west of Sydney were evacuated as Australia's most populous state continued to be hammered by heavy rain.

Sixteen areas, primarily in the north of the state, were declared "disaster ridden", dpa news agency quoted NSW Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott as saying at a press conference.

"Regrettably, parts of the mid-north coast are experiencing a one in 100 years event," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told journalists.

Parts of Port Macquarie, some 400 km north of Sydney, and several nearby towns flooded, while further south Taree was in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago.

In nearby Mondrook, a three-bedroom cottage was swept away from its foundation by floodwater in footage shown on local television over the weekend.

The Premier said that, however, the area of major concern was the Nepean Valley, incorporating major urban centre Penrith, part of Greater Western Sydney, where local authorities were "envisaging a one in 50 years event".

The NSW Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said in a Sunday warning that the Nepean Valley was set to experience its worst flooding in 50 years as the Warragamba Dam, Sydney's main water source, began spilling on Saturday afternoon causing river levels to rise along the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

Berejiklian warned that, after a number of residents in flood-hit areas were already evacuated on Saturday night, a further 4,000 people in the "Hawkesbury region and parts of western Sydney" may be next.

On Saturday night, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) ordered anyone in low lying areas of Agnes Banks, Pitt Town Bottoms, Pitt Town North, Cornwallis, Gronos Point and North Richmond, some 50 km west of Sydney on the Hawkesbury river, to evacuate.

The BoM on Sunday morning warned of further heavy rainfall and damaging winds, with a severe weather warning covering almost 900 km of coast from Wollongong, south of Sydney, to Lismore near the border with Queensland.

A severe weather warning was also in place just west of Canberra.

Meanwhile NSW police said two hikers who on Saturday remained "stuck between two large bodies of water" in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, were among the over 670 people rescued since the severe weather event started on Friday.

Police were also looking for a bodyboarder believed to be "missing in waters" at Coffs Harbour, some 430 km north of Sydney.

So far there are no reports of deaths.

The heavy rain is expected until Thursday, according to the latest forecast.
Texas Roadhouse founder and CEO Kent Taylor has died by suicide aged 65.

The restaurant chain announced the tragic news in a Facebook post, saying Taylor died on Thursday after experiencing from severe post-coronavirus symptoms, including tinnitus.

'Kent battled and fought hard like the former track champion that he was, but the suffering that greatly intensified in recent days became unbearable,' Taylor's family said in a statement.

Taylor founded Texas Roadhouse in 1993 after coming up with the idea on a cocktail napkin. The first location opened in Louisville, Kentucky, where the company is based. Today, it boasts 630 restaurants in 49 states and 10 countries.

Taylor held various roles at the company, serving as chief executive and chairman of the board until his death. Last spring he made headlines when he gave up his salary to help support frontline workers during the pandemic.

Texas Roadhouse founder and CEO Kent Taylor (pictured) died by suicide aged 65 on Thursday

Taylor founded Texas Roadhouse in 1993 after coming up with the idea on a cocktail napkin. The first location opened in Louisville, Kentucky, where the company is based

The restaurant chain announced the tragic news in a Facebook post on Thursday evening

Taylor is pictured (second right) with family in 2010. 'Our community and the restaurant industry lost a legend and the Taylor family lost a wonderful son, father and grandad this week,' his family said in a statement announcing his death

'Our community and the restaurant industry lost a legend and the Taylor family lost a wonderful son, father and grandad this week,' the family said in a statement obtained by CNN.

'Kent leaves an unmatched legacy as a people-first leader, which is why he often said that Texas Roadhouse was a people company that just happened to serve steaks.

'He changed the lives of hundreds of millions of employees and guests over the past 28 years.

'We are saddened by the decision Kent felt he needed to make and want to emphasize more than ever the importance of reaching out for help if you or someone you love is suffering.'

The family statement noted that Taylor had funded a clinical study to help members of the military suffering with tinnitus.

Some research has shown that COVID-19 can exacerbate tinnitus, which causes a ringing sound in one or both ears.

Taylor was also widely praised last March when he decided to forgo his multi-million dollar salary up until January 2021 to help hourly restaurant workers hit hard by the pandemic.

'What kind of company does these things? Well, that would be a people company that happens to serve steaks, that's who,' Taylor wrote in a letter at the time.

Loved ones remembered Taylor (right) as a 'legend' and 'people-first leader' who 'changed the lives of hundreds of millions of employees and guests over the past 28 years'

Taylor (left) made headlines last spring when he gave up his salary to help support frontline workers during the pandemic

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer paid tribute to Taylor on Twitter, saying the city had lost 'a much loved and one-of-a-kind citizen'.

'Kent's kind and generous spirit was his constant driving force whether it was quietly helping a friend or building one of America's great companies in @texasroadhouse,' Fisher wrote.

'He was a maverick entrepreneur who embodied the values of never giving up and putting others first. My deepest condolences to Kent's family and many, many friends.'

The Kentucky State Police launched an investigation into Taylor's death on Friday.

Authorities said there was no indication of foul play, but an investigation was warranted due to the fact that Taylor was alone at the time of his death.

If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.

For confidential support in Australia LIFELINE: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer paid tribute to Taylor on Twitter
The first face-to-face meeting between senior Chinese and U.S. Biden administration officials has wrapped up in Anchorage, Alaska.

The two-day dialogue marked the first high-level contact between the two countries after their heads of state had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese New Year. 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 Anchorage, Alaskan.

(CGTN)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 4, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The American People Versus the Democratic Machine

Commentary

Earlier this week, I wrote about how congressional Democrats in Arizona (and other politically mixed states) are going to have to make a choice about whether they will serve the people they representor the Democratic machine thats running Washington.

Specifically, I was pointing out provisions in Speaker Nancy Pelosis H.R. 1 that are deeply opposed by most Arizonans. The bill is largely geared toward keeping Democratic politicians in power (and their allies well paid) in perpetuitydespite the will of the American people.

This got me thinking more deeply about how the American people as a whole feel about the broader agenda of the Democratic machinewhich is largely being hidden behind slickly named legislation and a complicit national news media that benefits more from helping the machine than informing the American people.

First, let me explain what I mean by the Democratic machine.

In a normal, healthy Congress, each individual member is there to serve the interests of his or her constituents. The leadership has some significant power, but ultimately the leadership needs its members support to operate effectively. Leadership understands that some members simply cant vote for some things, because each district and state is unique.

To navigate this, leadership will introduce legislation, let members read it and make amendments, and debate the amendments on the floor. This is how you make bipartisan legislation that works for, and has the support of, most of Congress.

When I was speaker of the House, I spent most of my time listening to members, learning what they needed for their districts, and helping to make sure that the overall agenda had the support of Republicansand as many independents and Democrats as we could bring over. Listen, learn, help, and leadthat was my method.

This isnt the method Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are using. They are building a machine. In a machine, leadership introduces legislation (which only a handful of insiders have seen) and calls for a vote. There is no amendment process. There is no debate. You vote with the machine, or you are punished.

This is what we saw when H.R. 1 passed the House (with no Republican support), and when President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion political payoff bill became law (also with no Republican votes).

Now, this machine can only run if the American people remain in the dark. If more Americans see what Democrats are doing, its going to be more and more difficult for Pelosi to impose her will. This is because much of the modern Democratic agenda is totally opposed by most Americans.

Consider these issues that McLaughlin & Associates uncovered in a national survey form Jan. 29Feb. 2.

On health care, by 89 percent, Americans from both sides of the aisle favor cutting prescription drug prices through consumer choice and private sector competition. The same percentage says insurance should cover all pre-existing conditions. Eighty-five percent of Americans want more choice and competition to lower health insurance premiums.

On voting integrity, 85 percent of Americans say mail in ballots must require signature verification to be counted. Eighty-four percent say only American citizens should be able to vote in elections, and 81 percent say photo identification should be required for all votingin-person and absentee.

On the economy, 87 percent support a Made in America tax credit for companies who manufacture in the United States. And 82 percent say we must demand fairness in trade with communist China.

In other areas, 87 percent support mandatory deportation for noncitizens who are in criminal gangs. Eighty-six percent of Americans support term limits for members of both chambers of the Congress. And a full 85 percent support protecting religious freedom from government interference.

Eighty-one percent of Americans support school choice for every American childas well as anti-trust legislation to regulate Big Tech to protect competition, free speech, and privacy.

Finally, 80 percent of Americans say we should fully fund (not defund) our police and law enforcement.

If you go down this list of 80 percent-plus support issues and consider where the Democratic machine is on most of these, it becomes apparent that the 2022 midterm elections will become much larger than simply Republicans versus Democrats.

It seems to me that 2022and potentially 2024will be defined as the American people versus the Democratic machine.

I have faith that the American people will win.

From Gingrich360.com.

Newt Gingrich, a Republican, served as House speaker from 1995 to 1999 and ran as a presidential candidate in 2012.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has dismissed Interior Minister Masoud Andarabi, the national security council said in a statement on Friday, amid a spate of attacks against the country's security forces.

The current chief of army staff General Yasin Zia has been appointed acting defence minister until Asadullah Khalid recovers from an illness which has hospitalised him for months, the statement also said.

It did not give further details on Andarabi's dismissal but a senior security official said the former minister had failed to arrest a militia commander whose forces shot down a helicopter in central Wardak province on Thursday killing nine security force members.

The senior official said Ghani had tasked Andarabi weeks ago with arresting the militia commander, who was also responsible for a number of other attacks against Afghan security forces in recent months.

Ghani told reporters on Thursday that the helicopter had been shot down and the perpetrators would be arrested and punished.

Andarabi did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

The government is also preparing for a renewed spring offensive by Taliban insurgents, which international players fear will further endanger the nation's fragile peace process.

Typically there is a lull in fighting during the snowy winter months before renewed attacks around March.

At a meeting in Moscow following an international conference on the peace process, the Afghan government and the Taliban agreed on Friday to try to accelerate peace talks.

The United States, Russia, China and Pakistan during the conference, held just six weeks before a deadline agreed last year to withdraw U.S. troops, called on Afghanistans warring sides to reach an immediate ceasefire.

(Reporting by Kabul Staff, Writing by Hamid Shalizi, Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- White supremacist groups nearly doubled their propaganda activity nationwide in 2020, according to the Anti-Defamation Leagues (ADL) annual report, and just one group with a Staten Island presence was responsible for 10% of the recorded incidents.

The ADLs Center on Extremism tracked 5,125 reported instances of racist, anti-semitic and anti-LGBTQ fliers, stickers, banners and posters being placed in locations from college campuses to highway overpasses, according to the report, compared to 2,724 postings in 2019.

Hate propaganda is a tried-and-true tactic for white supremacists, and this on-the-ground activity is now higher than weve ever previously recorded, said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADLs CEO. White supremacists appear to be more emboldened than ever, and the election year, the pandemic and other factors may have provided these extremists with additional encouragement.

The spike came in a particularly turbulent year, capped in the first week of January 2021 when the United States Capitol building was breached during the Congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election. Members of groups like the Proud Boys, which the ADL says harbors white supremacist ideologies, have been indicted on federal conspiracy and other charges in the Capitol riot.

The ADLs research uncovered that hate propaganda was most common in Texas, with more than 570 instances discovered, followed by California with more than 330 postings, New Jersey with 323 and New York with 308.

There were 41 instances of white supremacist material being posted on Staten Island, according to the ADLs Heat Map. That number nearly doubled the boroughs recorded total of 21 in 2019.

However, an Advance investigation revealed that the New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA), a white supremacist group with a presence on the borough, posted at least 50 flyers and stickers across multiple neighborhoods on Staten Island in an eight-month span in 2019, indicating that the ADLs data could perhaps under-represent the extent of the issue.

Hundreds of counter-protesters gathered in Palmer Square in Princeton in January, 2019, after the New Jersey European Heritage Association said it had planned to be in the area. The night before, the group announced it was a hoax. (Olivia Rizzo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

While more than 30 groups were responsible for all the activity tracked, the ADL said three groups  Patriot Front, NJEHA and the National Social Club  combined to constitute 92%. Of those three groups, Patriot Front, which dropped a banner over a Staten Island Expressway overpass in 2020, was responsible for 80% of all propaganda incidents nationwide.

The ADLs report found that NJEHA were responsible for 500 incidents in 2020, representing 10% of the nations total.

While the groups activity was centered in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania, its propaganda was spotted at least once in 23 different states.

On Staten Island, NJEHA material has been found from the North to South shores. Most recently, posters hung in New Dorp prompted the condemnation of the boroughs entire bi-partisan delegation

In the wake of the discovery of that material, Staten Island faith leaders organized a candlelight walk and vigil against hate. Just blocks into the route of the march, the group of about two dozen people encountered a flyer posted by NJEHA. The flyer was removed by the NYPD.

The latest ADL report said NJEHA promotes explicitly white supremacist propaganda with messages targeting various groups, including Jewish people, Black people and immigrants.

Earlier this year, the ADL said NJEHA likely has a small presence on Staten Island but added that the group is definitely growing.

Scott Richman, the director of the New York and New Jersey region for the ADL, said, It was smaller in 2018, larger in 2019 and larger in 2020.

BREAKING

ADL finds that white supremacist propaganda hit an ALL-TIME high in 2020 with a total 5,125 cases of racist, #antisemitic and other hateful messages reported. Dive into the numbers in our latest report: https://t.co/xt5Bjn34oZ pic.twitter.com/bPCzVMVJQD  ADL (@ADL) March 17, 2021

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic likely altered the strategies of white supremacist groups last year, according to the ADLs report.

College campuses, normally a favorite target of hate postings, saw significantly lower propaganda distribution, dropping steeply from 630 incidents in 2019 to 303 last year, likely because less students were at school amid virus restrictions.

Additionally, the ADL documented 56 white supremacist events held in 2020  a decrease of 20 gatherings held in 2019.

However, some areas of focus did increase. The ADL said incidents that included anti-Semitic language or targeted Jewish institutions rose by 68% compared to 2019. Banner drops, which commonly take place over highways to maximize exposure, also more-than-doubled.

Propaganda gives white supremacists the ability to maximize media and online attention while limiting their risk of exposure or arrest, said Oren Segal, vice president of the ADLs Center on Extremism. The literature helps to bolster recruitment efforts and spreads fear by targeting specific groups, including the Jewish, Black, Muslim and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as non-white immigrants.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and First Lady Bushra Bibi are feeling "comfortable with mild symptoms", his top communication aide said on Sunday, a day after they tested positive for the COVID-19.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, in a tweet in Urdu, said that the prime minister and the first lady are thankful to their well-wishers for their good wishes.

Khan, 68 will continue to perform his official duties via video conferencing, he said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and First Lady Bashari Imran are comfortable with mild symptoms, he said in the tweet.

According to Geo News, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that Khan was "fit and doing well".

"The best advice that we could give him was to stay at home, isolate, and rest.

"We are monitoring his clinical parameters, and medical treatment will be given to him if required. Right now, there is no need for any treatment, as such," Sultan said.

He said that the government is in touch with the people the premier met over the last few days.

"We will be contact tracing everyone and request all the individuals that met him to isolate themselves," Sultan added.

Khan contracted the on Saturday, a day when the country registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases since July last year.

He was vaccinated on Thursday as part of the nationwide anti- vaccination campaign which is underway in its first phase.

Khan is reported to have received the first shot of the Chinese-produced Sinopharm vaccine, the only anti-COVID jab available in Pakistan.

Pakistan started its COVID-19 vaccination drive in February after the first arrival of China-gifted vaccine doses, with frontline health workers given the priority for inoculation, while on March 10, the country started vaccination for the general public, starting with people aged 60 and above, Geo News reported.

Issuing a clarification on Khan's vaccination, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said that antibodies develop two to three weeks after the 2nd dose of the 2-dose COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the Johns Hopkins University's tracker, Pakistan has so far reported 626,802 cases and 13,843 deaths.

(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.)
Im kneeling to stand, writes the Rev. Rodney Graves of McCabe Roberts Avenue United Methodist Church.

He expands on the theme in his contribution to a compilation of autobiographical narratives that explore the realities of race and religion.

It is autobiographical, but also about theology and spiritual formation. We use biography as theology, Graves says, adding that the book is an institutional record of our experiences in society and in the United Methodist Church.

The book, Im Black, Im Christian, Im Methodist, was edited by the Rev. Rudy Rasmus of St. Johns UMC in Houston. It was published November and has become an Amazon best-seller. In it, 10 Methodist ministers describe navigating both the secular and faith-based worlds as Black Americans.

At times, one world helps them navigate the other; at others, as Graves describes it, the two worlds collide.

Faith becomes entangled with the secular issues of the world. Together, they test your faith. They bend your faith.

How one recovers is part of the journey.

Graves made that journey from bending to breaking to rising again. It helped him realize that before you can stand, you have to kneel.

Today, Graves is spiritual leader of one of Beaumonts oldest churches, tied to local Black and white history.

He uses his journey to help others navigate personal and systemic struggles through faith.

Graves piece begins with an image of his mother rubbing her womb and making a plea to God for her first-born child, the child that would be Rodney Graves.

His mother prayed, in faith that this child is born healthy. I declare that my child will be extraordinary and not be limited by this worlds expectations; and will walk in your ways all the days of his life. I pray that this child whom you created remain safe in a world that can be hateful to our people.

Growing up during segregation, Graves parents believed education was key to advancing in the world, he writes, and their home was filled with books.

Graves began school a year after the U.S. Supreme Courts Brown v. Board of Education ruling that struck down separate but equal and opened all schools to all races. But the constitutional gains were marked by violent racial incidents, notably the killing of 14-year-old Emmett Till.

The message of Tills death and the acquittal of those indicted was, Graves says, that Black lives didnt matter in America.

Still, the young Graves, in spite of a growing awareness of continuing inhumane indignities, yearned for a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, he writes.

I realized that genuine Christianity is not exclusive to white people but open to all.  I reveled in Jesus Christs unconditional acceptance and minimized my angst about a world that said I was less than.

Graves father encouraged his faith and education.

Many Black families are very intentional about preparing their children for a world institutionally designed for their failure. My dad often said, Son, you are as good as anyone else, white or Black, he writes, adding his fathers scriptural reference to Psalm 139:14.

You are wonderfully and marvelously made.

Not everyone believed that, he learned.

A high school aptitude test showed strong mathematical skills, his counselor said. But he also said that Rodney Graves might become an accounting clerk or bookkeeper, but Negroes were not smart enough to become accountants.

I never forgot those disparaging remarks, Graves says.

But those words inspired him, too.

Graves attended Howard University after graduation, majoring in economics and accounting.

That was my response to the micro-aggressive racism, and I was able to do that because I grew up in a strong family and a strong church, and they told me I could achieve, he says.

Graves experience with civil rights issues grew at Howard, and he was exposed to new ideas about spirituality.

At age 17, I entered Howard University during the turbulent late 1960s, he writes.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose nonviolent protest strategy hed supported, was gone. He was exposed to the Black Panthers and Malcolm Xs espousal of freedom by any means necessary.

After I read a book on Deism, I retained my belief in God, but perceived organized religion as unnecessary, he recounts.

He was further challenged by Karl Marxs notion that religion was the opiate of the people.

Graves didnt embrace communism, but he was drawn to the question of God it presented.

Initially, I became an agnostic, doubting Gods existence, but not totally discounting it. I later believed that an agnostic was an atheist who held an insurance policy, just in case he was wrong. I concluded that agnosticism was cowardly, so I embraced atheism, he writes.

I embraced atheism because I could not reconcile a good God with all the ugliness in the world.  I surmised that either God was dead, asleep or didnt give a damn.

His family prayed for him a lot those days, he says.

After graduation, Graves left for an accounting job in California and a secular future.

But something happened on the cross-country drive.

I was overcome with a divine presence that I knew was the God of my people, Graves said. I was so overwhelmed that I cried and begged God to forgive for my unbelief.

Graves didnt rejoin the church until years later. Then he left his job in accounting to enter Wesley Theology Seminary to pursue a masters degree in divinity and theology, with a focus on urban ministry.

Graves understanding of racial politics is now infused with the message of Jesus Christ and that that same God that brought the Israelites out of Egypt is bringing us out, he says, even though Christianity throughout has been used to enslave people.

Graves also had to reconcile his faith with his Methodist roots.

Methodists have a lot of good social principles about social, equity issues, but many never reach the stage of practice. Theyre just on paper, he says.

As a pastoring leader, Graves is able to do more, especially in a church birthed out of the union of Black and white Methodist faiths in a an economically struggling neighborhood.

I love this church and the people, he says.

Its where his urban ministry roots find a home in community outreach. For example, McCabe Roberts Avenue UMC was a hub for census activity and held multiple COVID testing clinics last year.

Those things are all under my rubric of cultural liberation, Graves says, referring to a three-tiered model of Black liberation  political, cultural, spiritual  in which all are called to faith in a higher power while respecting individual paths.

It shapes Graves response to last years upheaval, the emotions it raised and activism it fostered.

I hate that George Floyd had that pain, but it moved people, Graves says.

Much like Jesus crying out from the cross moved some to belief, Floyds death moved some closer to a broader understanding of what messages were at play.

Black lives matter, too, says Graves. They always have.

But the underlying question has always been, Do Black lives matter? Graves says. I dont think people have asked that question, but thats part of the ethos of the statement.

It brings Graves back to his roots and the message he hopes to impart to his congregants and community.

We are not all alike, but we all have value, and we must love one another based on who we are and not who we expect (one another) to be, he says.

The best lessons are learned the hard way, Graves says, recalling a parishioners statement that, Pain will teach you what pride wont let you learn.

In the end, you have to kneel to stand.

kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/kimbpix
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called President Muhammadu Buhari to order the arrest and prosecution of suspected bandits who attempted to assassinate the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday.

The party made the call in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The governor said unknown gunmen on Saturday attempted to assassinate him but security details attached to him were able to repel the attack.

The governor has since fingered the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for the attack, adding that he had been marked for elimination.

You know today is Saturday and as a farmer, I usually go to my farm, so I went to my farm along Gboko road and on our way back, we started hearing gunshots and we discovered people who were dressed in black and from experience we now discovered that these are Fulani militias, he said.

I didnt want to take things for granted because few days ago the media were awash with a statement from MACBAN who met in Yola, the same place they met in 2016 where they decided that they will take Nigeria and that every other person is a slave, that was when they started infiltrating the entire country.

They came out with a statement, I was alarmed that they singled me out as the only person who is creating problems for the entire Fulani race and behind the scenes I also heard that in the meeting, I was targeted for elimination; this was the information I got that they will go after me either in my home, farm or wherever they get me.

The PDP, Mr Ortoms party, condemned the assassination attempt and demanded investigation into the attack.

Full text of the statement

PDP Condemns Attempt On Gov. Ortoms LifeDemands Arrest, Prosecution of Assailants

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently condemns Saturdays reckless attack and assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state by suspected bandits, reported to be killer herdsmen.

The party calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to put machinery in motion by ordering an immediate manhunt, arrest and prosecution of the

assailants and beef up security around the governor.

The PDP expresses shock that the assailants trailed Governor Ortom and opened fire on him and his aides along Makurdi/Gboko road, in an attack that by every indication is aimed to assassinate the governor.

Our party is worried that this brazen attempt at Governor Ortoms life is coming on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly

behind the incessant attacks of communities in the state and demanding that the Federal Government live up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property in the state.

The PDP fears for the life of Governor Ortom and we urge Nigerians to hold the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration responsible

over its failure to take a decisive step to check the escalated insecurity and brazen attacks on innocent Nigerians.

The PDP however calls on Governor Ortom not to be deterred by the attack but to remain courageous and alert, at all times while providing

leadership to the people of his state.

The party also calls on the people of Benue State to be calm and vigilant while providing useful information to security agencies to

flush bandits and criminal elements out of the state and other parts of the country.

Signed:

ADVERTISEMENT

Kola Ologbondiyan

National Publicity Secretary
The rollout of the controversy-prone AstraZeneca vaccine resumed across acute hospitals yesterday in an attempt to reassure the public.

HSE chief Paul Reid said yesterday that he was conscious of "vaccine hesitancy" and wanted to restart inoculating people with AstraZeneca "in a safe way".

He said the HSE's priority is to resume vaccinating the 30,000 people who lost out on their jabs last week when the AstraZeneca vaccine was suspended over a suspected link to blood clots.

Paul Reid told RTE Radio's Saturday With Katie Hannon it was hoped they would all get their jab this week or next. "Overall it is not a choice, can I have that one over the other one. All vaccinations are proven safe and effective," he said.

"We are aiming throughout this week certainly to get to as many as we possibly can.

"If it goes into next week, we will continue on as well," he said, adding that each patient will need to be contacted and their appointments rescheduled.

Mr Reid said people won't be allowed to choose their brand of vaccine.

The chair of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP committee, Dr Denis McCauley, said initial signs from yesterday's rollout are that the uptake was good.

"The signs are there has been very little vaccine hesitancy so far and it will be interesting to see what happens today," he said.

"The resumption of the vaccine is reassuring but the pause was a good idea.

"It's important to be open and honest and explain everything to people.

"We are comfortable that this is a very effective vaccine that will save lives."

The High Level Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force expects deliveries to remain on track over the coming weeks with a delivery of between 175,000 to 200,000 vaccines expected by the end of March and early April. The administration of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was given the all-clear last week after a review by the European Medicines Agency found it was "safe and effective".

The vaccine was suspended in several EU states including Ireland because of concerns that it was linked to blood clots in a small number of people.

The head of the European Medical Agency, Emer Cooke, said the committee had reached a "clear scientific conclusion" and said the benefits outweighed the risks.

She said patient information will in future carry a warning of the risk of very rare blood clots.

The HSE plans to complete the vaccination of all frontline healthcare workers will then move on to the next priority groups.

The AstraZeneca rollout in hospitals yesterday was primarily for frontline workers and for some medically vulnerable people.

The programme resumed at Beaumont Hospital, Blanchardstown and Connolly hospitals, all in Dublin, as well as hospitals in Cavan and Kerry.

Earlier, Mr Reid tweeted to say 3,700 over-75-year-olds would receive either their first or second doses at the vaccination centre at the Helix at Dublin City University.

These were the two groups who were directly affected by the pause in the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine from last Sunday.

Work continued throughout last week to identify medically vulnerable people at risk of developing severe illness from Covid-19 who are due to be invited for vaccines.

The HSE and the wider health sector are working to invite those people for vaccination, primarily through hospital services and the wider disability and mental health sector.

The Irish Patients Association said the decision to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine stemmed from "an abundance of caution" and the HSE should have been poised to resume its rollout swiftly, not just in acute hospital settings.

"Patients should be the focus here. The necessary bureaucratic processes should have been streamlined in advance so that full recommencement of vaccines into arms could have happened as soon as the green button was pressed," it said.

According to the Government's latest update, Ireland has had a total of 758,490 vaccines delivered.

As of March 14, 617,050 doses of vaccine had been administered.

Pfizer has supplied most of Ireland's vaccine stock at 511,290 doses. The Moderna jab accounts for 40,800 of vaccine deliveries while AstraZeneca accounts for 206,400.
A fresh surge of the Covid wave was becoming increasingly evident in Uttar Pradesh with 442 new cases being reported in the past 24 hours.

Out of the 442 fresh cases in Uttar Pradesh, a total of 115 cases was recorded in Lucknow.

With the daily infection count soaring past 100 in Lucknow, district administration issued notices to 542 persons for violating Covid-19 norms.

The district administration also cautioned people that strict action will be taken for violating Covid-19 norms under the epidemic act.

Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash has directed officials to ensure strict compliance of the corona virus-related guidelines.

Recording details of all visitors to different establishments and workplaces in the district is among the guidelines issued by the district magistrate.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to aggressively pursue testing, tracking and treatment in order to check the resurgence of Covid cases.

A special alert has been sounded in view of the upcoming Holi festival.

--IANS

amita/dpb

(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.)
(Photo : Flickr/Niels Epting) Apple store Brazil

The Brazilian consumer watchdog has fined the tech giant Apple $2 million for not including a charger in the newly-launched iPhone 12 series.

The Brazilian consumer watchdog accused Apple of allegedly engaging in misleading advertising, selling a device without the charger, and unfair terms.

Apple fined $2 million in Brazil

In October 2020, Apple announced that the iPhone 12 series would not come with chargers or earbuds in their boxes, citing environmental concerns. The new iPhones come with only a USB-C to Lighting cable.

Brazilian consumer protection regulator called Procon-SP has now fined Apple for not including a charger with the device. In November 2020, the agency stated that the iPhone maker "did not demonstrate environmental gain," as noted by 9to5 Mac.

Also Read:Apple Lawsuit Alleging 'Unlawful and Intentional' Recording of Siri Conversations Dismissed by Judge

According to Procon-SP, the the issue is misleading advertising as iPhone 11 Pro consumers reported that Apple did not repair their phones after problems with water.

The agency also stated iOS update problems and unfair terms as other issues as Apple exempts itself from all legal and implicit guarantees and against hidden or not apparent defects.

Procon-SP Executive Director Fernando Capez stated that Apple needs to understand that in Brazil, there are solid consumer protection laws and institutions and that smartphone manufacturer needs to respect these laws and these institutions.

Apple is yet to comment on Procon-SP's charges. While the iPhone 12 mini costs $729 in the United States, the same phone is around $1,200 in Brazil.

Apple had introduced the iPhone 12 series last year and announced that the phone would only have a charging cable inside the box without a power adapter and headphones.

According to Apple, it will reduce 2 million metric tons of carbon, which is equal to removing 450,000 cars in just one year, as reported by The Verge.

Apple's lawsuit

Aside from the fine in Brazil, Quebec's Court of Appeal has approved a class-action lawsuit against the Apple. The plaintiffs claim that the tech giant had violated the part of Quebec's Consumer Protection Act with product batteries that have a limited lifespan.

Law firm LPC Avocat Inc. wrote online that the one-year warranty period that is offered to consumers in Quebec is not a reasonable length of time, having regard to the price paid and intended use of Apple Products.

The law firm also argued that Apple further violated the Act by not informing AppleCare and AppleCare+ purchasers both orally and in writing of the existence and nature of Quebec's legal warranty outline.

So, who is eligible to participate in the class action?

According to Narcity Quebec, the first group includes all of the customers who bought an iPhone since Dec. 29, 2014, according to Montreal Gazette.

The second group, according to LPC Avocat Inc., includes all of the consumers who bought AppleCare and/or AppleCare+ for an Apple product, including an iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, iPod and/or MacBook since Dec. 20, 2015, and who were not informed of the legal warranty under the Consumer Protection Act at the time that the product was purchased.

According to the law firm, the class-action lawsuit is seeking punitive damages in the amount of $300.00 per Class Member. The other possible damages are yet to be determined.

Related Article:Apple Wins Lawsuit in France Over iOS 14 Privacy Concerns

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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.
Kishore Biyani-led Future Group has moved the Delhi High Court, challenging a single judge's order upholding Singapore's Emergency Arbitrator's (EA) order that halted Future Retail Ltd's (FRL) Rs 24,713 crore deal with Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail, a deal that was opposed by US-based e-commerce giant Amazon.

The appeal by Future Retail and Future Coupons, filed through advocate Harshvardhan Jha, will be heard on March 22 by a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh.

It has challenged the single judge's March 18 judgment, which prohibited Kishore Biyani-led FRL from going ahead with the biggest retail deal and ruled the group willfully violated the Singapore Arbitrator's order.

Rejecting all the objections raised by Future Group, the single judge bench comprising Justice JR Midha imposed Rs 20 lakh fine on the Future Group and its directors. The court also asked them 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 a fine for violating the SIAC, which should be deposited with the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. It also ordered attachment of properties of Biyani and others related to the Future Group.

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 a 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 a 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
Following a controversy triggered by the resignations of two high-profile professors, former vice chancellor and former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian, in quick succession, on Sunday acknowledged that there were some lapses in institutional process and said it would work to rectify them in consultation with all stakeholders.

In a joint statement issued with Mehta and Subramanian, the university expressed deep regret at the recent events surrounding their resignations. Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor Malabika Sarkar and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ashish Dhawan were the signatories on behalf of Ashoka.

Mehta and Subramanians resignations, however, stand.

Mukherjee and Dhawan also wrote separate letters to Ashoka students, faculty, alumni, parents and founders reaffirming the universitys commitment to academic freedom and intellectual independence.

In the joint statement, the university said: We acknowledge that there have been some lapses in institutional processes, which we will work to rectify in consultation with all stakeholders. This will reaffirm our commitment to academic autonomy and freedom, which have always been at the core of the ideals.





ALSO READ: Ashoka University row: Students announce two-day class boycott in protest

Referring to them as extraordinary colleagues and faculty members, stated it had the privilege of being led, guided and counselled by Mehta, first as vice chancellor and then as senior faculty. He has worked closely with the faculty and founders over the years to take the university into a position of being rightly acknowledged as a great centre of learning, teaching and research, the statement read.

As one of the leading thinkers of Indian and global economy, Subramanian's exit, too, would leave a hard to fill void, the statement added.

As signatories to the statement, Mehta and Subramanian said they were sad to be leaving Ashoka University, which was "one of the most important projects in Indian higher education".

The statement added that both remain available for advice and consultation to the university in the future.

In his letter to students and alumni, Dhawan promised an open line of communication (full text: 'Committed to freedom': Ashoka University's Chairman of Board of Trustees). I admit that the departures of Professors Mehta and Subramanian make us all feel a tremendous loss but there is nothing for you to fear. As an institution, we are committed to freedom in every aspect, he wrote. We will make ourselves available for meetings with the Student Government and Alumni Council on a regular basis, he added.

Mehta, a strong critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Democratic Alliance government, also wrote to the students on Sunday. Addressing them as superheroes, he praised them for their bracing moral clarity and rebellion grounded in a concern for freedom and democracy.
Quran teachings

Regarding U.S. needs to reckon with its anti-Asian roots, (A14, March 19): Eight people were shot to death at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area on Tuesday evening, raising fears that the crimes may have targeted people of Asian descent. Such an attack, race or gender based, serves no purpose other than to destroy the peace of a society and to bring devastation to the community and the wider world. My religion Islam condemns violence and extremism. The Holy Quran proclaims that whosoever killed a person  unless it be for killing a person or for creating disorder in the land  it shall be as if he had killed all mankind. [5:3] Prophet Muhammad said, There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a non-Arab over an Arab, and no superiority of a white person over a black person or of a black person over a white person, except on the basis of personal piety and righteousness.

The worldwide spiritual leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Caliph to Messiah Ahmad, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said, Another principle of Islam to develop peace is that we should not tolerate injustice towards others or for their rights to be usurped. In the same way that we would not accept for our own rights to be taken, we should not be willing to accept it for others. As member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I condemn the use of violence on the innocent and my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this horrific crime.

Lateef Oresanya, Cypress

Praise from Carl Sagans sister

Regarding Most over 50 would be dead without vaccines, (A14, March 18): I want to applaud Dr. Paul Klotman on his clear and plain-spoken column on the history and virtue of vaccines and the necessity for people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

As the mother of an epidemiologist and sister of a world-renowned astrophysicist, I would love to see a regular science column in the Houston Chronicle by Dr. Klotman.

Carol Sagan Greene, League City
New Delhi, March 21 : In a shocking incident, a superstitious, childless woman brutally strangulated a 3-year-old boy on a tantrik's urging as he had allegedly told her that she would conceive a child if she undertook this sacrifice, police said on Sunday.

"During the course of interrogation, accused Neelam Gupta revealed that she got married in 2013 and could not conceive a child despite medical aid. Under a lot of pressure to conceive due to taunts of her in-laws and society, she approached a tantrik in (Uttar Pradesh's) Hardoi four years back who suggested to her at that time to sacrifice a child if she wants to conceive," DCP, Rohini, Pranav Tayal, said.

Gupta, who hails from Hardoi, was residing at Budh Vihar here with her husband.

The matter came to light on Saturday, after a missing report of a 3-year-old child was lodged at the Budh Vihar police station. During the search operation, a police team noticed a white-coloured bag lying the roof of the adjacent house and it raised some suspicion in their minds. They opened it to find the dead body of the missing child inside.

"The deceased child had some injury marks on his neck and on prima facie observation, it was found he was strangulated," the officer added.

Family members, relatives and neighbours of the family were questioned. During the course of interrogation, it was revealed that last time the child was seen with one of the neighbours who was identified as Neelam.

After sustained questioning in which the accused tried to mislead the police, she confessed to having committed the murder when the boy was playing on the roof alone.

She said she went to the roof of the building in which all the families stayed together, when others were absent, to execute her plan.
Judge Laurence Silberman has had a distinguished career in the law, culminating in his service on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals since his appointment to the bench by President Reagan in 1985. He took senior status on the court in 2000. Accordingly, he now sits as a senior judge on the court.

Last week Judge Silberman partially dissented from the courts decision in Tah v. Global Witness. In his dissent Judge Silbermam cocked his astute eye on developments in the media that we have observed on Power Line over the yeas with great frequency. He even cited Left Turn by Professor Tim Groseclose, a book we enthusiastically championed upon its publication. Most recently, commenting on the 2018 election results in Minnesota, I drew on Professor Grosecloses book in The role of the Star Tribune.

Judge Silberman rightly singles out the evolution of the New York Times and the Washington Post into virtual Democratic Party broadsheets, while adding that the news section of the Wall Street Journal leans in the same direction, as do the major broadcast and cable outlets as well as the lords of Big Tech.

Judge Silberman calls for the reformation of the constitutionalized defamation law fabricated and fashioned by the Supreme Court in New York Times v. Sullivan and its progeny. This is Judge Sullivans dissent as excerpted by Dean Paul Caron here at his TaxProf Blog (I have added only the link to the Atlantic column by Kaitlyn Tiffany cited by Judge Silberman):

* * * * *

My disagreement with the district court is limited to the actual malice question (my disagreement with the Majority is much broader). In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964), the Supreme Court set forth the well-known rule that, to hold a defendant liable for defaming a public figure, plaintiff must prove the defendant acted with actual malice. Id. at 27980. That is, with knowledge that the statement was false or with reckless disregard for the truth. Id. at 280. As the Supreme Court saw it, this scienter requirement appropriately balanced (as a policy matter) the vindication of reputational harms with the need to protect unintentional falsehoods that inevitably arise as part of vibrant debate. Id. at 27172. The actual-malice rule makes the speakers state of mind the constitutional gravamen in any defamation case brought by a public figure. 

After observing my colleagues efforts to stretch the actual malice rule like a rubber band, I am prompted to urge the overruling of New York Times v. Sullivan. Justice Thomas has already persuasively demonstrated that New York Times was a policy-driven decision masquerading as constitutional law. See McKee v. Cosby, 139 S. Ct. 675 (2019) (Thomas, J., concurring in denial of certiorari). The holding has no relation to the text, history, or structure of the Constitution, and it baldly constitutionalized an area of law refined over centuries of common law adjudication. See also Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 38088 (1974) (White, J., dissenting). As with the rest of the opinion, the actual malice requirement was simply cut from whole cloth. New York Times should be overruled on these grounds alone. 

One can understand, if not approve, the Supreme Courts policy-driven decision. There can be no doubt that the New York Times case has increased the power of the media. Although the institutional press, it could be argued, needed that protection to cover the civil rights movement, that power is now abused. In light of todays very different challenges, I doubt the Court would invent the same rule.

As the case has subsequently been interpreted, it allows the press to cast false aspersions on public figures with near impunity. It would be one thing if this were a two-sided phenomenon. Cf. New York Times, 376 U.S. at 305 (Goldberg, J., concurring) (reasoning that the press will publish the responses of public officials to reports or accusations). But see Suzanne Garment, The Culture of Mistrust in American Politics 7475, 8182 (1992) (noting that the press more often manufactures scandals involving political conservatives). 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. See Hale v. FCC, 425 F.2d 556, 562 (D.C. Cir. 1970) (Tamm, J., concurring). It turns out that ideological consolidation of the press (helped along by economic consolidation) is the far greater threat.

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.

As has become apparent, Silicon Valley also has an enormous influence over the distribution of news. And it similarly filters news delivery in ways favorable to the Democratic Party. See Kaitlyn Tiffany, Twitter Goofed It, The Atlantic (2020) (Within a few hours, Facebook announced that it would limit [a New York Post] storys spread on its platform while its third-party fact-checkers somehow investigated the information. Soon after, Twitter took an even more dramatic stance: Without immediate public explanation, it completely banned users from posting the link to the story.).

It is well-accepted that viewpoint discrimination raises the specter that the Government may effectively drive certain ideas or viewpoints from the marketplace. R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, Minn., 505 U.S. 377, 387 (1992). But ideological homogeneity in the mediaor in the channels of information distributionrisks repressing certain ideas from the public consciousness just as surely as if access were restricted by the government.

To be sure, there are a few notable exceptions to Democratic Party ideological control: Fox News, The New York Post, and The Wall Street 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.

There can be little question that the overwhelming uniformity of news bias in the United States has an enormous political impact. That was empirically and persuasively demonstrated in Tim Grosecloses insightful book, Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind (2011). Professor Groseclose showed that media bias is significantly to the left. Id. at 192197; see also id. at 16977. And this distorted market has the effect, according to Groseclose, of aiding Democratic Party candidates by 810% in the typical election. Id. at ix, 20133. And now, a decade after this books publication, the press and media do not even pretend to be neutral news services.

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. 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.
Blood donation not allowed for 28 days after taking last jab of COVID vaccine

India

pti-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 21: A recent order by the National Blood Transfusion Council has said that a person cannot donate blood for the next 28 days after taking the last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

As approved in the 30th meeting of the governing body of the NBTC held on February 17, the deferral criteria for blood donation post COVID-19 vaccine was finalised as "28 days post vaccination deferral after the last dose of COVID-19 vaccination irrespective of the type of the vaccine received."

The order implies that the donor has to wait for 28 days after taking second dose of the vaccine, which means that he or she cannot donate for 56 days after taking the first jab.

The order was issued by NBTC director Dr Sunil Gupta on March 5.

According to the Union Health Ministry, two doses of the vaccine need to be taken by an individual 28 days apart to complete the immunisation schedule.

Amitabh Bachchan hints at receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Protective levels of antibodies are generally developed two weeks after receiving the second dose, it has said.

Also, on whether one should avoid alcohol after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry in a series of FAQs on March 2 clarified that "according to experts, there is no evidence of alcohol impairing the effectiveness of the vaccine".

Two vaccines - Oxford's Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute in the country and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin have been approved by the National Drug Regulator for restricted emergency use in India.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated and vaccination of the frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
Newspaper image: Susan B. Anthony had an opponent in Anna L. Dawes Anna Laurens Dawes's legacy as an anti-suffragist, was noted by The Eagle in November 1940, when marking the 20th anniversary of the 19th amen

On Saturday, Nov. 5, 1932, just days before the presidential election, Anna Laurens Dawes, 81, known as the "grand lady of Pittsfield," took to the airwaves to urge every Republican to head to the polls that Tuesday.

"Why are we going to vote for Hoover? Because of what he is, and what he has done, and what he is doing, and what he can and will do," she passionately bellowed into the microphone in her radio debut on WGY Springfield.

On the ticket? President Herbert Hoover and the progressive Democratic nominee, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"This is an election in which every vote counts," she said, urging men, but especially women, to get out to vote.

Being from the Berkshires, birthplace of the most famous suffragette, Susan B. Anthony, Dawes' ardent push for voters to head to the polls doesn't seem out of place  until you consider she, just a dozen years prior, was the leading anti-suffragette of Western Massachusetts, if not the state.

Dawes, in fact, had spent a major portion of her life as an anti-suffragist, serving as vice president of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women from its inception in 1895 until its dissolution in 1919. She was the founder and president of the Berkshires' anti-suffrage society; devoting much of her free time to writing or speaking against the extension of voting rights to women, stating to one reporter that she was of the mind that "feminine nature is unsuited to government."

On Aug. 18,1920, upon learning of Tennessee becoming the 36th state to ratify the "Susan B. Anthony amendment," giving it the required approval of three-fourths of all states, Dawes told reporters she had hoped "women would have a year or two of education in governmental matters before voting for president."

Her comments on Susan B. Anthony, to the Wednesday Morning Club, an exclusive literary club she founded, that same afternoon were reportedly limited to "personal reminiscences of her acquaintance with Miss Anthony in Washington, D.C.," calling Anthony "a very pleasing and interesting person." Dawes was said to have "spoke particularly of a bright crimson shawl which [Miss Anthony] habitually wore over a dark dress."

Defeated as she was when it came to the 19th amendment, Dawes was at the front of the line when groups such as the League of Women Voters were formed in Pittsfield.

"The paradox of Miss Dawes was her unmitigated opposition to women's suffrage despite her own great interest in politics and public affairs," The Eagle wrote in a lengthy obituary for Dawes on Sept. 26, 1938. "Miss Dawes addressed many meetings in her futile endeavor to stem the tide. On one occasion, she said that if there were any of her sex still on the fence [about the vote] she would advise them to climb down, for it was a very undignified position. On another occasion, she said [women's suffrage] was one subject on which her mind was absolutely closed, never to be reopened."

Perhaps what made Dawes' opposition to women's suffrage even more confusing was the she was a celebrated author, journalist, activist and an advocate of higher education for women.

Dawes's privileged lifestyle was most likely the cause of her disdain for women's suffrage, according to theories posed by historian Susan E. Marshall, in her book, "Splintered Sisterhood."

"Anti-suffragists organized to protect gendered class interests," Marshall writes. "Most vocal were the wealthy, educated women who exercised considerable political influence through their personal ties to men in politics, as well as through their positions on social service committees."

Marshall is also of the opinion that anti-suffragists "sought to keep the vote from lower class women fearing it would result in an increase of the ignorant vote."

In the case of Dawes, the daughter of an influential U.S. Senator, Marshall's theory has merit.

Born in North Adams in May 1851, Anna Laurens Dawes was the daughter of Electa (Sanderson) and Henry Laurens Dawes. Her father, a prominent lawyer and former editor of the North Adams Transcript, was serving in the state Legislature at the time of her birth. He would move the family to Pittsfield soon after her birth, becoming the state district attorney for western Massachusetts from 1853 to 1857. Henry Dawes would go on to serve as both a U.S. Representative, from 1857 to 1875, and as a U.S. Senator, from 1875 to 1893. (Sen. Dawes would support the creation of Yellowstone National Park; help establish U.S. Fish Commission and daily weather reports to Congress  the early beginnings of U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the National Weather Service  and author the Dawes Act of 1887, which was aimed at assimilating Native Americans into the general population by breaking up the Reservation System and illegalizing Indigenous cultural practices.)

Sen. Dawes political career would play a major role in Anna Dawes's life, giving her access to powerful politicians and families and establishing her as a cultural and societal influencer in Pittsfield and the greater Berkshires for at least six decades.

Anna Dawes first arrived in Washington, D.C., in 1859 at the age of 8, where she attended a reception at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln, who according to reports, scooped her up in his arms and kissed her on her cheek. Lincoln was the first of 11 presidents with whom she would be personally acquainted.

At the age of 20, in 1871, Dawes became a Washington correspondent for the Springfield Republican, the Boston Congregationalist and the Christian Union and later was a regular contributor to several magazines. In 1883, she briefly served as the editor of the miscellany department for the Berkshire Gazette, a weekly edition of the Pittsfield Journal.

Primarily, Dawes worked as her father's personal secretary, spending much of her time dealing with governmental affairs on her father's behalf. In 1883, she lobbied Congress and helped to secure funding for the rescue Lt. Adolphus W. Greely and the members of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition who had been lost in the Arctic for three years. Greely and five survivors of his 25-member crew were rescued in June 1884.

At home, in Pittsfield, Dawes' civic pursuits included saving the Pittsfield Common, as a public park; fighting for the preservation of elm trees along Elm Street and in 1879, establishing the Wednesday Morning Club, a literary club fashioned after Boston's Saturday Morning Club. During her 60-year tenure as the club's president, her connections helped bring in numerous speakers including Woodrow Wilson; Dr. Harry A. Garfield, son of President James A. Garfield; Mark Twain; Robert Frost; and Serge Koussevitzky, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and founder of the Tanglewood Music Center. The club's talks, like its membership, were exclusive and not open to the public.

She also served on the state board of managers for the Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1892-1894 and on the board of lady managers the St. Louis Exposition of 1902-1904.

Educated at the Maplewood Institute in Pittsfield, and later, the Abbott Academy in Andover, Dawes did not go on to further her education. However, she was a staunch supporter of women's higher education and was a trustee of Smith College from 1889 to 1896. She was one of the first three women to be appointed as a trustee, all of whom were chosen by Smith College's Alumnae Association in 1889.

Dawes was nominated by the Alumnae Association, according to The Smith College Monthly, Vol. 8, 1900, because she was "representing no college but the broader general education gained in her busy, helpful outside life." She would later bequeath a quarter of her residuary estate to Smith College, where a dormitory, Dawes House, still bears her name.

Dawes was also a prolific writer, authoring numerous papers and books throughout her lifetime. Her first book, "How We are Governed," in 1885, was meant to explain the U.S. Constitution and federal government to high school students. She authored "A United State Prison" in 1886; "An Unknown Nation" in 1888 and a biography of U.S. Sen. Charles Sumner in 1892. Her two most prominent works, "The Modern Jew: His Present and his Future," published in 1886, and "The Indian as Citizen," published in 1917, are today, her most controversial due to her opinions. "The Indian as Citizen," written 30 years after the Dawes Act, espouses her belief that her father's bill, had only done good by forcing the assimilation of the Native American with Western society.

Despite her conflicting and often controversial views, Dawes spent her remaining years in her beloved Pittsfield, where she remained a key cultural influencer up until her death, at the age of 87, in 1938.
A solar farm development company was dealt another blow against its attempt to build in the Slate Belt.

The Lower Mount Bethel Township Zoning Hearing Board voted Wednesday to uphold its zoning ordinance as valid.

Glidepath Ventures, which does business as Prospect14, filed an application in July to build a 130-acre solar farm on Gravel Hill Road in the townships conservation and agricultural zoning district.

The townships zoning and code enforcement officer denied the application because solar farms are not a permitted use in that district.

Solar farms are not defined as a use anywhere in the township zoning ordinance, but undefined uses are permitted with conditional use approval from the board in the townships industrial zoning districts.

The developer sought a variance from the zoning hearing board to allow the solar farm in the conservation and agricultural zone, but the board denied that request in February.

Glidepath attorney Sam Cohen said the townships industrial zoning districts are too small to allow a solar array project to be built there.

Under Pennsylvania law, a municipality must offer a wide variety of zoning uses within its borders. Cohen argued that the impracticality of building a large solar array in the relatively small industrial zoning districts renders the township ordinance constitutionally invalid.

However, the township hired Philip Jones from EMS Environmental, who testified at Wednesdays zoning hearing that he reviewed the townships industrial zones and identified several areas where solar farms could potentially be built.

Jones said he based his calculations on Glidepaths initial development plans and that he located 35-acre, 10-acre and 7-acre tracts in the industrial zones that would be suitable for installing solar panels.

Jones said the identified land would be commercially viable options for Glidepath or other solar developers. The sites could generate up to 13.4 megawatts of power.

Cohen noted the land Jones identified is significantly smaller than the 130 acres Glidepath planned to develop and that Glidepaths proposal would generate 25 megawatts.

Of the 500 acres in the industrial zones, only about 52 acres are suitable for solar arrays, which is relatively small, Cohen said.

Township solicitor Paul North pointed to several existing solar farms in Pennsylvania that ranged in size from 3 acres to 29 acres.

North also noted about 4% of Lower Mount Bethel Townships land is zoned for industrial use. That percentage is consistent with most of the surrounding communities, he said.

Zoning board member Philomena Nagy said the ordinance is presumed to be constitutionally valid and it is the challengers burden to prove it is invalid. Jones testimony showed that solar arrays can be feasibly built in the industrial zones, she said.

I agree 100% with Mr. Jones investigation, Nagy said. The burden was on the applicant.

The board voted 4-1 to deny the validity challenge with board member Joseph Keifer casting the sole vote in favor of the applicants challenge.

Glidepaths next option to continue its attempt to build on Gravel Hill Road would be to appeal the boards ruling in Northampton County Court.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to recede in Los Angeles County, various indoor/outdoor events have been given the go ahead to proceed.

One such event took place at MASH Gallery in Downtown LA on Saturday, where Selling Sunset stars Chrishell Stause, Mary Fitzgerald and Jason Oppenheim were seen in attendance.

Chrishell, 39, stunned in a flesh-toned strapless midi dress that featured lace overlay and corset-style boning on the bodice.

Pretty: Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause was seen in attendance at an exhibit at the MASH Gallery in Downtown LA on Saturday

Stause accessorized with a cute pink satin bucket purse with a bejeweled ring handle, and wore simple heeled sandals.

She had a few layered necklaces on around her neck.

The former soap opera star wore her highlighted dirty blonde hair down, parted at the middle.

The gang's (almost) all here: Joining her were costars Mary Fitzgerald and Jason Oppenheim from the hit Netflix show

Chic: Chrishell, 39, stunned in a flesh-toned strapless midi dress that featured lace overlay and corset-style boning on the bodice

Mary, also 39, was fetching in a unique black dress that featured a high neck, one sheer sleeve, and a diagonal cut hem with a train that followed behind.

The garment was adorned with jewel encrusted appliques along the collar and underneath the bust, as well as on the sleeve.

Fitzgerald carried a circular clutch purse, and wore black pumps with pointy toes.

Two's a crowd: Mary, also 39, was fetching in a unique black dress that featured a high neck, one sheer sleeve, and a diagonal cut hem with a train that followed behind

Seen with Haleh Mashian (left): Realtor Jason, 43, was casual in a white T-shirt and jeans, with a green jacket worn on top

Her blonde hair was slicked back behind her ears.

Realtor Jason, 43, was casual in a white T-shirt and jeans, with a green jacket worn on top.

The group came to the gallery to see the Overload exhibit by artist Maggi Hodge.

Unique look: Mary's garment was adorned with jewel encrusted appliques along the collar and underneath the bust, as well as on the sleeve

Protected: The stars made sure to mask up inside when speaking to fellow attendees, like Chozxn (right)

Chrishells sighting comes after she recently reacted to her other costar Christine Quinns pregnancy.

Quinn, 31, announced she was expecting her first child with husband Christian Richard in February.

After the attention-getting star publicly called out Stause for not 'liking' her pregnancy announcement on Instagram, Chrishell confirmed this week that the pair do not have much of a relationship outside of costarring on their real estate reality show.

Scandal-attracting: Chrishells sighting comes after she recently reacted to her other costar Christine Quinns pregnancy

'Listen, I wish her well. [An article about] it came up on my feed, I liked it,' Chrishell told People on Friday. 'Im happy for her. I truly want the best for her, but Im not going to do this performative act to unblock someone and then like a post.

'We had things that happened behind the scenes that were worse than what happened on camera, so its just better for everybody. Lets keep it professional,' she added pointedly. 'It is what it is; Im not going to do a fake performative thing and make a show of something. But like I said, no ill will  I truly am happy for her, and I wish her nothing but the best.'

Selling Sunset has been renewed for two more seasons on Netflix, with production on season four slated to begin soon.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Several policy makers and media managers have accused the Nigerian media of allowing its obsession for bad news and screaming headlines to obstruct the principal mandate of setting the right agenda toward building a united and virile nation.

Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across the nation, expressed disgust at the promotion of bad and sensational news over developmental stories crucial to bringing Nigerians together and maximising their potential.

They specifically decried the prepondrance of fake news that had caused sharp divisions along tribal, religious and geographical lines leading to mutual distrust, suspicion and hatred that had constituted a huge threat to Nigerias corporate existence.

While some accused the unregulated social media of being the worst culprits of this situation, others pointed out that the traditional media had not fared any better as they all partake in the primitive struggle to be first with the news, a situation that had seen the media sacrificing national interest and patriotism.

Such tendencies, the commentators noted, have always exacerbated insecurity across Nigeria as the media publish stories and pictures that fan the embers of organised hate leading to the escalation of little disagreements in some obscure corners, into major conflicts and crises.

Nura Ibrahim, a senior lecturer, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano (BUK), while decrying the ugly situation, ascribed the spate of fake news to inept attitude of media practitioners to elicit readership.

Mr Ibrahim, head, Department of Information and Media Studies, observed that the crave to break news often lead to misrepresentation and fabrication of facts on the conventional and social media platforms.

The issue of partisanship is one of the reasons journalists easily spread fake news; they want to appease certain individuals, politicians, groups and ethnic biases.

Most journalists are being manipulated by the actors that spread the fake news, disinformation and hate speeches.

Journalists are easy targets of lies and hoaxes by the manipulators of fake news, hate speech and disinformation.

I think there is also the issue of money inducement from the politicians, the advertisers and from every quarter.

Negative and fake news always make the headlines because the majority of people always want to hear or read bad news; fake and negative reports are in the form of bad news.

Editors and reporters often get desperate to attract people to read their newspapers, listen to their radio or watch their television channels. Fake news purveyors know this and will always dangle such baits at them, he said.

The lecturer also decried the competition between the social and mainstream media, citing it as another factor responsible for easy spread of fake news in the society.

Studies indicated that majority of the readers dont read the full news; they only scan through the headlines. Most of the fake news that make the headlines, if you read the content, they are never in tandem with the headline.

The effect of such fake news, hate speech and disinformation is clear  individuals are denied the right to know the truth and the actual fact, thus, leading to uninformed decisions which translate into bad decisions.

Ultimately, it affects national integration and harmony, the nascent political democracy, economic stability, cause corruption and promote crises, Ibrahim lamented.

Abbas Ibrahim, chairperson, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State chapter, shares the lecturers concerns.

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Journalists should serve as the watch dog of the society, but recent trends have affected this age-long obligation.

Overzealousness, quest for financial gain, followership, political, ethnic and religious partisanship have blurred the visions of media practitioners, reducing some of them to mere pawns in the hands of evil men.

We have a duty to ensure that we disseminate accurate and balanced information, devoid of incitement and nepotism, he said.

Umar Usman, information officer, Federal University, Gusau, opined that the desire to defame peoples character had led to the rise in negative and fake news.

Negative and fake stories make headlines in todays society simply because people want to hear negatives over positives.

People also like to hear scandalous stories instead of developmental ones. Unfortunately, journalists pander to such destructive tendencies instead of the developmental stories.

The solution to the problem is to enforce all media laws. Journalists need to be educated so as to realise the existence of media laws and their applicabilities.

Professional unions and associations, especially the NUJ, should emphasise the training and retraining of its members across the country.

To reduce the circulation of fake news, social media platforms need to be regulated in order to avoid sharing as received without making further investigation to determine authenticity of the information.

Negative news sells

But Nasiru Biyabiki, chair, Zamfara Media and Publicity Consult, believes that the ownership and control of media outfits determine their content.

The media houses have to comply with the directives given to them by their owners and most media owners are serving their personal, political, religious or tribal interests. Government must provide regulatory agencies to ensure proper control of social media practice in the country.

On his part, Saidu Maishanu, chairperson, Zamfara State Radio and Television Services, is concerned that professional journalists freely engage in circulation of fake news.

He lamented that the social media has made everyone a journalist.

Fake news and hate speeches dominate social media platforms because every citizen has access to a little cellphone with which to spread news and manipulate pictures and videos. We must regulate social media in the country, he said.

For Hamisu Danjibga, a veteran journalist, negative news sells better and that is why media practitioners hunt for it.

Some do that out of laziness. They wont carry out investigation. Others do that in order to be the first with the news.

Muhammad Shehu, spokesperson of the Police Command in Zamfara, also decried the medias obsession for fake news and reminded practitioners of the obligation to inform accurately and avoid creating disharmony in the society.

He attributed the spate of nagative, fake news and disinformation to political influence, corruption and lack of proper monitoring and supervision of journalists by media managers.

Muhammad Nasir, a former executive member of Zamfara Correspondents Chapel of the NUJ, said the media must remain a source of credible information, to remain relevant.

He expressed fear that that the nation would be plunged into deep crisis if the spread of fake news was not checked.

In his contribution, Gambo Isah, spokesman of the Police Command in Katsina State, noted that fake news had contributed to the current insecurity in the country.

Fake news in its entirety leads to insecurity, apprehension, fear, uncertainty, crises, among many other effects.

Government has to do something urgently to stop the spread of wrong information in the social media, he said.

Decline in professionalism

Some experts have also attributed the decline in professionalism to the lack of adherence to entry requirements as obtained in other professions.

Some of them told NAN that other factors like poor training, poor funding and remuneration, geo-political, tribal and religious sentiments had also affected the quality of news content served to members of the public.

Abdulrasheed Tulu, a lecturer with the Department of Mass Communication, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), observed that apart from other factors, laziness on the part of most journalists had been their greatest undoing.

He said their reluctance to go extra mile in digging out information had contributed immensely to the propagation of fake news and misinformation in the country.

The traditional media should serve as a check on fake news, hate speech and disinformation, but unfortunately, they also engage in it.

In a situation where those that are expected to solve the problem become the ones contributing to it, the drift along the dangerous route will continue, he said.

He also blamed proprietors of media outfits for not living up to the expectations of providing the appropriate working conditions, thereby breeding an environment that encourages malpractices and desperation.

The effect of fake news, hate speech and disinformation can be very devastating, especially in a conflict situation, as it aggravates tension, thereby creating panic, he argued.

On possible solutions, the lecturer advocated reasonable regulation of the social media, as well as sensitisation of both practitioners and members of the public.

He also explained that gatekeeping processes should be intensified in media organisations so that editors could regulate and enforce ethics.

Umar Saidu, chair, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State chapter, also stressed the need for appropriate sanctions on defaulters to serve as deterrent to others, just as he pointed out the desirability for training of professionals.

Ishola Michael, North-East Zonal Editor, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, observed that unnecessary competition between traditional and social media, as well as the commercialisation of media content, had done a great disservice to the profession.

The social media wants to break the news, not minding what would follow, and the traditional media wants to keep its status of authority, honesty and credibility.

That situation has brought about competition. So, in order to remain relevant, the traditional media, particularly private-owned, are gradually tilting the way of the social media.

Again, no matter what a client wants dished out, he or she is obliged, so long as there is willingness to pay for the airtime, he said.

On his part, Saidu Malala, chairperson of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gombe State Council, urged journalists to always live up to the ethics of their profession.

Unless journalists imbibed the spirit of placing the interest of the country above other things, development will hardly be attained.

As journalists, we must take into cognizance our responsibility as watchdogs of the society and always keep to best practices.

This could only be achieved by dwelling on reports protecting national interest and developmental stories devoid of destructive sentiments, he said.

Alkasim Bala, a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, said many factors were responsible for the unprofessional conduct of some journalists.

In Nigeria, many factors influence decisions and actions of media practitioners, some of which include regional, tribal and religious differences that determine way we think and do things.

Many people try to defend what they see may affect their tribe, religion or where they come from, Mr Bala said.

He regretted that some people take advantage of being media proprietors to spew hate speeches, while the appropriate authorities hardly bother to check their excesses.

According to him, such media owners only see and assess things from their own points of view and hardly consider overall national interest.

Fati Balla, former Nigerias Ambassador to Botswana, however, attributed the challenges being faced as a result of the unwholesome activities of some media outfits to lack of proper supervision by the appropriate authorities.

Media is a very important instrument in shaping and educating every society, through accurate information. It must be regulated to ensure protection of public interest, she told NAN in Yola.

(NAN)
There have been mixed reactions in Cameroon to 88-year-old President Paul Biyas orders that his party-dominated upper and lower houses of Parliament reelect officials who are over 80 years old to top positions.

According to the central African states constitution, Marcel Niat Njifenji, the 87-year-old president of the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, would take over and organize elections if Biya were to die.



Members of the National Assembly, the lower house of Cameroons Parliament Wednesday applauded as Cavaye Yegue Djibril was reelected speaker. The 81-year-old Cavaye said he appreciated Biyas making his reelection possible.



Djibril said he is highly indebted to Biya for asking his ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, or CPDM, lawmakers to retain him in his position.



Djibril has been National Assembly speaker for 30 years. The lone candidate, he garnered 147 votes in the 180-seat body.



Many Cameroonians expected he would be replaced by a younger lawmaker. However, Biya summoned the 152 CPDM lawmakers together for an emergency meeting. CPDM Secretary General Jean Nkuete said Biya asked them to reelect Djibril.



Emmanuel Banmi, a CPDM lawmaker from the English-speaking North-West region said they obeyed instructions from their party hierarchy. He said Djibril has enough experience as National Assembly speaker.



"Cavaye Yeguie Djibril is doing his work. I want to commend his devotedness. We know we have difficulties; we have concerns of security. We need to move ahead. Let the government work hand-in-hand with the representatives of the people (National Assembly) to see that the security issue is collectively addressed with the collaboration of the people," he said.

Banmi said he was optimistic Djibril will work in collaboration with the government to find solutions to youth unemployment and the several armed conflicts Cameroon is facing. He said priority will be given to assisting people affected by COVID-19 and stopping the spread of the pandemic.



Djibril is Cameroons third most powerful state political figure after Biya and Marcel Niat Njifenji, president of the Senate, the upper house of Parliament.



The 87-year-old Njifenji, who has been Senate president since the body was created in 2013, was reelected Wednesday with 85 votes in the 100-member chamber. The CPDM controls 63 of the 70 elected Senate seats. The other 30 members, appointed by Biya, are loyal to him.



Niat said he was also grateful to Biya for his reelection.



Twenty-six-year-old Nguenang Cosmas, member of Cameroons National Youth Council, an independent state body that discusses issues related to the well-being of youths, says octogenarians are keeping young people from leadership positions in Cameroon.



"How could we elect people at the head of the legislature who could barely walk. The president of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji, could barely walk to the hall. [The] same goes for the president of the National Assembly. Where are we heading to? It beats my imagination why the same people have been ruling. It is not good. They should leave the younger generation to show what they are capable of doing. Does it mean that only the old can rule? It is not good at all," Cosmas said.



Under Cameroon's constitution, if Biya were to die, were to resign or become incapacitated, Njifenji would take power, although elections would have to be organized to elect a new president in 20 to 120 days.


People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk down a pedestrian overhead bridge in Beijing, Sunday, March 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In China, the problem doesn't seem to be a shortage of vaccine. Rather, with the COVID-19 outbreak largely under control at home, not enough people want to get the shot.

Chinese health officials appealed to the public Sunday to get inoculated. They also said that with vaccination not a guarantee against infection they would still require anyone arriving in China to quarantine for 14 days, even if they have received a vaccine.

"China will continue the current prevention control measures to prevent imported cases and rebound of domestic cases," Feng Zijian, the deputy director general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference.

Through Saturday, nearly 75 million vaccine doses have been given, the country's National Health Commission said. The number of people inoculated would be less, as some people have taken two shots.

China, with 1.4 billion people, has a much lower rate of vaccination than many other countries.

"Many people mistakenly think there is no practical meaning to be vaccinated because the epidemic situation is under effective control and the virus is far away from us," He Qinghua, a National Health Commission official, said at the same news conference.

He warned that no one is immune to the disease, and that with the pandemic still ravaging other parts of the world, imported cases could trigger fresh outbreaks in China.

A man wearing a face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks by an advertisement featuring a human eyes at a subway station in Beijing, Sunday, March 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Chinese officials want to get enough people vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Because the outbreak was not widespread in China, a relatively small proportion of the population acquired immunity through past infection, He said. Mainland China has reported 90,099 cases during the pandemic.

"Now that we have vaccines, we must let more people get immunity and protection through inoculation," He said. "I once again suggest that people get vaccinated as soon as possible so as to acquire immunity."

The relatively low rate of vaccination in China was one reason Feng cited for maintaining the current measures for overseas arrivals. He also noted concerns about how effective vaccines are against new variants of the virus.

China itself has had a vaccinated person get infected, its only recent case of domestic spread of the coronavirus.

The person works in a hospital virus testing lab in the city of Xi'an and had received the second vaccine shot in early February, according to Chinese media reports. They did not say which vaccine the person took.

China had gone 31 days without a local case until this one was reported Thursday. It sparked concern in China about domestic vaccines.

Wang Huaqing, an immunization expert at China's CDC, said that vaccines have failed to prevent infection in a small number of cases. He said the recent case is being studied to try to determine why the vaccine failed.

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

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Rahul Gandhi stoking fear on vaccine, all will be vaccinate by December: Union Minister

Attack on Badruddin Ajmal is attack on Assam: Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 21: 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.

BJP's attack on Badruddin Ajmal is attack on Assam: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

"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.

"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: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 9:39 [IST]
Filmmaker Lee Joon-ik / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M



By Kwak Yeon-soo



"The Book of Fish" is the latest in director Lee Joon-ik's exploration of overlooked historical figures. In "The Throne" (2015), the master of period films shed light on the life of neglected Crown Prince Sado (1735-1762), who was deemed unworthy to rule and was locked inside a wooden chest and left to die by his own father, King Yeongjo.



Lee's black-and-white film "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet" (2016) delved into the lives of famous Korean poet Yoon Dong-ju and his best friend and cousin, independence activist Song Mong-kyu. "Anarchist from Colony" looked into independence activist Park Yeol and Fuiko Kaneoko, who was Park's lover and was imprisoned with him on treason charges.



The upcoming biopic revolves around Jeong Yak-jeon (Seol Kyung-gu), the older brother of one of the leading scholars in the late Joseon era, Jeong Yak-yong. While living in exile on Heuksan Island in South Jeolla Province, he meets a young fisherman named Chang-dae (Byun Yo-han).



With the help of Chang-dae, who has a profound knowledge of fish, shell fish and marine plants, Jeong begins to write a book about sea creatures.





Actor Seol Kyung-gu in a scene from "The Book of Fish" / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M



"I initially wanted to make a film about Hwang Sa-yeong, but it was short on drama. Jeong Yak-yong's life is too great for a two-hour movie. It needs to be made into a 16-episode series," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Friday.



Hwang was a devoted Catholic who wrote a long letter on silk to the Bishop of Beijing, Portuguese Franciscan Alexandre de Gouvea, to describe the anti-Catholic suppression of 1801. In his letter, Hwang called for foreign invasion in hopes that it would force the government to end its persecution of Catholics. Hwang was later arrested and executed for treason.



"Then I came across Jeong Yak-jeon. He was peculiar because it was unlikely for a scholar to write a book about marine life in the Joseon era. Most scholars at that time, including his younger brother, were focused on Confucianism  the state ideology," he added.



The introduction of "Jasan Eobo," or Korean Atlas of Fish, briefly mentions that the late scholar wrote the book with the help of a fisherman named Chang-dae, which sparked the director's curiosity and was where the film essentially began for Lee.



"There was not much detail about Chang-dae, so I had to create a fictional story for the character. With this film, I wanted to focus on the lives of individuals rather than informing the audience about historical context through the story of a battle or a hero," Lee said.



In the film, Chang-dae appears as a dynamic and multi-faceted character whose worldview changes over time. Chang-dae, who is young but conservative, clashes with Jeong, who is older but progressive. Through the two contrasting characters, Lee aims to draw the ideological clash of the late Joseon era  centuries-long Confucianism versus Catholicism and western principles.





Actor Byun Yo-han in a scene from "The Book of Fish." / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M
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WASHINGTON  A newly declassified report from the National Intelligence Council (NIC) alleges that a range of U.S. enemies  including Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran and Hezbollah  all attempted to interfere in the 2020 election.

The scope of the supposed interference was relatively minor, amounting to attempts to push false narratives around Democratic nominee Joe Biden, with state media outlets questioning Bidens credibility or sending out emails meant to confuse or intimidate American voters.

The report offered no evidence for the allegations, arguing that doing so could endanger sensitive sources and methods and imperil the intelligence communitys ability to collect foreign intelligence. However, the NIC insisted, the classified report included such evidence and came to the same conclusions.

Despite the lack of substance, and the fact that the intelligence community has continually published outlandish claims about foreign actors nefarious roles (which were later rolled back), the reports release became a major international story, dominating the news cycle and featuring prominently in The New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, The Guardian and many other outlets.

The report generated outrage on social media. Movie director turned political activist Rob Reiner summed up the mood among many: No surprise. Putin launched a massive disinformation campaign in 2020 to help Trump. This time he failed to get him elected. But he was more than successful at poisoning our Democracy. Evidence: Jan.6. To restore faith, Trump must be prosecuted, he tweeted.

Home cooking in a big, dark kitchen

Receiving far less attention was a report published at the same time by the Center for Responsive Politics, which revealed enormous election interference from corporate dark money. More than $1 billion worth of secret donations were made during the 2020 election. This included around $660 million in contributions to big-money political groups, more than $300 million in advertising, and $88 million in FEC-reported spending.

Few people, even political junkies, know the names of these organizations. But dark-money groups  organizations trying to influence politics that do not disclose the source of their funding, such as Duty & Honor and America Votes  have considerably more influence over who rules the United States than do any foreign leaders.

Sauce for the goose?

The largest of these groups in terms of political spending is One Nation America, a Republican organization masterminded by former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. The organization spent over $125 million during the last election cycle.

However, it was the Democrats who benefitted the most from dark money sourced from wealthy, shadowy donors. Democrats outraised the GOP by well over two-to-one, with Bidens bid attracting more than six times the amount of money from anonymous sources than did Trumps. Given the relatively close race, it is entirely plausible that this massive cash injection swung the balance in favor of the 78-year-old Delawarean and away from the incumbent.

Putting meddling in perspective

In 2016, the St. Petersburg-based troll farm the Internet Research Agency is said to have spent around $100,000 in online ads targeting American readers. But four years later, the Center for Responsive Politics calculates that opaque non-profits shelled out $132 million on the same thing  more than a thousand times as much.

In politics, money talks. Since 2000, the party spending the most cash has won between 85% and 98% of all House and 71% and 85% of all Senate races, depending on the year. Election 2020 was by far the costliest election in history, coming in at $14.4 billion. That figure is more than double the price of the 2016 election, which cost around $6.5 billion. The six most expensive Senate races of all time occurred in this cycle. Democrats comfortably outraised and outspent Republicans in 2020.

The two Senate elections in Georgia  regular and special, which both went to runoffs that saw Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock elected  wound up with nearly $830 million spent on the two races alone. Democrats relied on hefty donations from tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, and AT&T, while Republicans counted on support from financial firms like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America and from money from the Koch Brothers.

This disparity in coverage between the two reports suggests that, while unapproved foreign interference is a major scandal, corporations and the ultra-wealthy essentially buying elections is simply (big) business as usual.

Alan MacLeod is Senior Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent, as well as a number of academic articles. He has also contributed to FAIR.org, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, and Common Dreams.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

New Delhi, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2021 ) :A huge religious gathering in northern India could fuel a surge in Covid-19 cases, the government warned Sunday as it called for an increase in testing and other health protocols.

The annual Kumbh Mela festival usually attracts millions of devout Hindus over three months, but was shortened to 30 days as India -- the world's third-most infected nation with nearly 11.6 million coronavirus cases -- grapples with the pandemic.

Authorities had already warned about a recent uptick in infections nationally, with some states imposing restrictions on movement and activities.

Virus fears have not stopped large crowds of pilgrims -- mostly maskless and with no social distancing -- from attending the gathering, with more than three million pilgrims taking part one day earlier this month.

Up to 40 pilgrims and locals were testing positive every day at the festival in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state, the health ministry said.

"This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh," it added.

More than 12 Indian states have shown a jump in Covid-19 cases in the past few weeks, the ministry said, warning that some pilgrims could be from these badly affected regions.

Some 50,000 rapid antigen tests and 5,000 RT-PCR tests are being carried out every day at the festival. But the ministry said more RT-PCR tests needed to be done -- particularly in areas where high transmission appears likely.

Crowd sizes are expected to swell during three upcoming holy bathing days.

The government also called on Uttarakhand state authorities to ensure "strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour".

There were 43,846 fresh cases reported in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said Sunday, the highest single-day rise this year.

Infections fell to below 9,000 new cases a day in early February, from a peak of almost 100,000 in September.
Kolkata: The Congress party has released another list of 39 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal State Assembly elections on Saturday (March 20).

The candidates declared on Saturday (March 20) are for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth phases of the election.

It has fielded Md Shadab Khan in Bhowanipore, Md Mukhtar in Kolkata Port and Asutosh Chatterjee in the Rashbehari seat. Santosh Kumar Pathak will be contesting from Chowringhee, while Janab Ajmal Khan is the party's candidate from Jorasanko in Kolkata. In Krisnanagar Uttar, the Congress has declared Silvi Saha as its candidate, while Dharmendra Shaw will fight from Bhatpara.

INC COMMUNIQUE Important Notification regarding candidates for West Bengal elections pic.twitter.com/5GBSkK4g4M  INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) March 20, 2021

The Congress party will contest the election from 92 seats in the state. The Congress will be contesting the state assembly election in alliance with its long-time rival the Left.

West Bengal State Assembly elections 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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By Josef Joffe





HAMBURG  The harsh sentence handed down to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was found guilty of influence peddling, confirms anew an ancient truth of politics. Even in the world's most firmly entrenched democracies, corruption remains a curse.



Power always gets you more power. It works its magic better than greasing palms with money. The strong don't need to wave their purse. Five hundred years before the verdict against Sarkozy, Machiavelli famously declared in his Discourses that "Gold alone does not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold." In other words, clout beats cash.



So, power is the hardest currency in politics, creating temptations that cannot be exorcized, but must be contained and controlled. This is why democracies have devised intricate checks and balances, above all, an independent judiciary  something despots don't need to worry about. The three-year prison term given to Sarkozy, from 2007 to 2012 the mightiest person in France, shows that the French system is working as designed.



The signal sent by the Parisian court could not have come at a better time. Everywhere, darkness is supposedly descending on democracy. The COVID-19 pandemic is said to undermine the separation of powers everywhere, tilting the balance toward a grasping executive, which threatens freedom in the name of safety. Aren't lockdowns the first step into servitude?



Moreover, authoritarianism is rampant in Eastern Europe, and strongmen are ruling from Budapest to Beijing and Brasilia. Even in the United States, the world's oldest democracy, former President Donald Trump spent four years attacking (and stacking) the judiciary and incited a violent insurrection at the Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress.



Against this backdrop, the verdict against Sarkozy, which he will appeal, spells out a reassuring message in troubled times. Chief financial prosecutor Jean-Francois Bohnert highlighted the symbolic significance of a case involving "a former president of the Republic who was once the guarantor of an independent judiciary." As the court wrote in its ruling, Sarkozy had "used his status as former president ... to reward a magistrate who had served his personal interests."



Sarkozy is not the first French president or senior official to face the bench. Jacques Chirac, president from 1995 to 2007, was convicted in 2011 for misusing public funds when he was mayor of Paris. Francois Fillon, Sarkozy's former prime minister, was sentenced last June to five years in prison (three suspended) for embezzlement.



Christine Lagarde, now head of the European Central Bank, was convicted on charges of "negligence with public money" while she was France's finance minister under Sarkozy. Jerome Cahuzac, the budget minister under President Francois Hollande, was sentenced in 2016 to three years in prison for tax fraud.



Now, the frequency of such crimes  and not only in France  suggests a depressing pattern: the progressive erosion of public trust across the Western world. These incidents heighten suspicions that politicians use their muscle to benefit themselves or their parties; hence an endless string of campaign finance scandals shaking one democracy after another.



Actually, their citizens should take heart. This side of neo-authoritarian Hungary and Poland, the democratic ship of state is not sinking, but plowing ahead, no matter how strong the headwinds. The rule of law and the separation of powers, enshrined in every Western constitution, remain strong, even in perilous times when economic and health catastrophes torment the soul and strengthen the grip of the all-providing state.



In fact, electorates have become more sensitive to misdeeds in high places. It is a plausible assumption that during the French Fourth Republic (1946-58), let alone during the Third (1870-1940), former heads of government would not have been given a three-year prison term. "Transparency" and "accountability" are the new battle cries in the democratic arena.



Just consider Italy, known as the land of arrangiarsi  making do, wiggling through. And yet, Silvio Berlusconi, a three-time prime minister, has been indicted dozens of times. Finally, in 2012, he was sentenced to four years for tax evasion. Better late than never.



And then there's Trump, Berlusconi's heir as the world's populist-in-chief, who tried to cow and outflank the judiciary and Congress. Yet, when democracy was on the line, as it was in the months after the 2020 presidential election, even his own appointees to the Supreme Court ruled against him. The occupation of the Capitol by his loyalists on January 6 briefly delayed but did not disrupt Congress in confirming the election of Joe Biden as president. The institutions proved mightier than the mob.



From France to America, democratic countries are affirming the fundamental principle of government by law, not by men (and women). That is the message of our time that should reassure the Cassandras who believe that despotism is on a roll. Some may carp that Sarkozy, if his appeal is rejected, will have to serve only one year, and then in the comfort of his home, guarded only by an electronic bracelet.



Yet the larger moral of this drama of crime and punishment is the supremacy of the law, which goes back to the English Magna Carta of 1215. Its 63 clauses boil down to a single commandment: No ruler stands above the law.





Josef Joffe, a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, serves on the editorial council of the German weekly Die Zeit. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).




In spite of everything, Ofeimun believes that Nigeria is not too far gone to be saved. He wants Nigeria reinvented. And he advocates that the elite put in the required intellectual rigour to navigate a more federal way out of the current mess.

This house is falling, so says many people about the Nigerian project. They point at many indices which signal the psychological dismemberment of the notion of nationhood from every direction of the Nigerian compass. Strife here, discord there, killings everywhere. Such situations propel men and women of goodwill to put heads together in an attempt to fashion a way out of the maze.

The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation provided such a crucial forum at its 2021 annual lecture which held virtually in accordance with the COVID times we live in. Held under the chairmanship of Professor Wole Soyinka, the lecture attracted well over 500 guests. Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, was the Special Guest of Honour, while Sultan Saad Abubakar was the Royal Father of the Day, with Professor Michael Faborode, former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, masterfully moderating the event.

The stage was set with some words of wisdom by the Sultan, who candidly admitted that Nigeria was at the brink again and called for all hands to be on deck to salvage the nation from war. He warned: War is not something to wish for During my career as a military officer, my tour of duty took me to Pakistan and the borders of Afghanistan, where I saw conflicts and deaths and disruptions of lives with people who were otherwise comfortable, finding themselves in IDP camps with all the indignity and sufferings.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku suggested a way out, drawing from his vast experience in the international circuit. He noted that, There is abundant evidence to show that a federal system that is based on more economically and socially viable federating units with a less dominant central government, is what will restore Nigeria to the path to greater political stability and a more assured economic growth.

Sinking his teeth into the topic, Whither Nigeria?, the Guest Speaker, Odia Ofeimun (poet, polemicist and author) traced the source of the current centrifugal tendencies in the land and cautioned that the perceived expansionist proclivities of the Fulani ethnic group may propel the country into an inexorable spin. Noting that political parties have become toothless aggregation of power mongers, who have no ideology in common but just the will to grab power for self aggrandisement, he rued the emergence of what I had called the Kabiyesi Syndrome in an article two years ago, in which I decried how elected persons become larger than the constitution.

The current state of insecurity all over the country could have been averted, or, at least minimised, he said, if the present administration had followed through with plans already laid down by its predecessor. Education is the key to development, he noted. Keeping 15 million children out of school and without skills is recipe for disaster. He took a backward glance at President Jonathans efforts in that regard:

He (Jonathan) built 165 almajiri schools, and 27 colleges, recalled Ofeimun. In a country where fifteen million children of school-going age were lying fallow on the streets, mostly as almajirai, baited as recruits by sundry terrorists masquerading as clerics of the Boko Haram variety, what could be more apt than a response intended to ride terror to a halt through education! So he created a special military unit, the Safe School Initiative, endorsed by the United Nations in 2014, for covert and open protection of schools and colleges in the era of education-hating Boko Haram

The area where government has exerted so much energy, even at the expense of alienating large sections of the country, according to Ofeimun, is its attempt to create independent republics for Fulani herdsmen all over the country.

However, noted Ofeimun, Once General Buhari removed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and settled down to business, one of the first things he did was to close down all the educational ventures that had taken such great expectations to strategise. As if the Federal Government had simply become an arm of the notorious Boko Haram, haters of schools and kidnappers of school girls, and blockers of the spread of so-called Western education, all the grand plans were simply routed and abandoned.

The area where government has exerted so much energy, even at the expense of alienating large sections of the country, according to Ofeimun, is its attempt to create independent republics for Fulani herdsmen all over the country. Tracing the genesis of various crises between cattle herders and indigenous farmers over the years, he wonders why the option of ranching was not explored in the North, especially as that zone is three times the size of the South. He wondered what became of the river basin development authorities built at great costs to provide water for farming and animal husbandry.

Ofeimuns analysis of the sudden upsurge in foreign bandits is quite riveting:

It simply happened that the great issues and uproars of our times began to centre on herdsmen mass-migrating as ethnic fractions of the Fulani from Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad, and from other parts of Africa. All of them were apparently following invitations to join in the scramble for lands that were not usually identified with the Fulani in Nigeria. Or to put it in the strident terms of the social media, the Fulani in Nigeria were inviting the Fulani all over Africa to come to Nigeria to take over the country with armed propaganda

According to him, From within and outside Nigeria, Fulani youths, who should be truly benefitting from a Marshall Aid to give them education and skills that could remove them from harrowing poverty, were being dragooned in their hundreds of thousands, in trailer loads from the North and dumped into forests and virtual urban jungles in the South Assuredly, these are the grand and subaltern narratives of our times in the face of governments that are openly asking indigenous farmer-folks in the Middle Belt and across the country to be hospitable to strangers who have been confronting them, ordinary peasants, with Kalashnikovs (AK47 rifles).

It was in the light of the above, he noted, that people have resorted to all forms of self-help: Understandably, the local populations across the country, feeling unprotected and betrayed, have accountably lost faith in the national security apparatus. They view all the security forces, all of them under determinate, parochial, ethnic leadership, as being easily and constantly overtaken by virtual hoodlums who perpetrate mayhem. Hoodlums, so called, are pumping general distrust into the public space with forms of impunity daring all communities to set up their own home grown security arrangements.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka urged state governors not continue wringing their hands in helplessness. They should, he suggested, use the existing constitutional framework to wrest more power from the centre to the federating units and ensure prosperity and welfare of their peoples.

But self-help has its problems, and Ofeimun tackles the issue with his own question: What if every ethnic group, especially those dispossessed by herdsmen, decided also to buy guns and constitute raiding squads to do unto others what has been done to them? It would amount to efforts to dissolve Africas most populous state with virtual anarchies and traumas, not too dissimilar to what Africa experienced during the era of the slave-hunting wars that literally despoiled our continent and prepared the way for colonialism.

We obviously dont want things to degenerate to that level.

All animals ought to be equal in the Nigerian forest, says Ofeimun. If Fulanis from other country are to be given automatic Nigerian citizenship, as canvassed by some politicians of that ethnic stock, then Yorubas and other ethnic groups with brothers and sisters in Benin, Ghana and other countries in West Africa should be extended the same privilege. And where will that leave the current international borders and the protocols governing them?

In spite of everything, Ofeimun believes that Nigeria is not too far gone to be saved. He wants Nigeria reinvented. And he advocates that the elite put in the required intellectual rigour to navigate a more federal way out of the current mess.

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Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka urged state governors not continue wringing their hands in helplessness. They should, he suggested, use the existing constitutional framework to wrest more power from the centre to the federating units and ensure prosperity and welfare of their peoples.

Overall, it was an evening of great intellectual intercourse with Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia and others engaging Ofeimun on some of the issues.

The aim of the annual lecture, as stated by Ambassador Dr Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, had been achieved. We are seeking through this event, not to criticise gratuitously, but to actually provoke a national dialogue that will ultimately arrive at a consensus about the way forward for this country, she said.

And the mystics and sinners and royals and plebeians say  Amen!

Wole Olaoye can be reached through wole.olaoye@gmail.com.
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli authorities confiscated the VIP border pass of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki upon his return to the West Bank from a meeting at the International Criminal Court, a Palestinian official said on Sunday.

Ahmed al-Deek, an official at Maliki's office, told Reuters the Israeli move was linked to Maliki's meeting with ICC lead prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at her office in The Hague on Thursday.

Israel's Walla news website cited unnamed Israeli officials who said Maliki's ICC visit was the reason for the revocation of his VIP card, an Israeli-granted pass that enables dozens of senior Palestinian officials to move freely through border crossings.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined to comment and the Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

"This is the Foreign Minister of the State of Palestine. He doesn't represent himself. He represents the State of Palestine, and we regard this as an attack against the State of Palestine," said Deek.

He added that Israeli officers detained and questioned Maliki's aides for 90 minutes at the Israeli-operated border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.

Deek said that the minister left the crossing without the card. It was not clear when it would be returned to him.

Bensouda announced this month she would formally investigate war crimes in the Palestinian Territories, a move welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and denounced by Israel.

On Friday, ICC prosecutors said they have sent Israel and the Palestinians notifications of the opening of a war crimes probe, a move that leaves the parties with one month to seek a deferral.

Maliki's office said on Thursday that he met with Bensouda to urge that the investigations be accelerated.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, one of the New Jerseyans charged in the U.S. Capitol attack, wears his mustache to resemble Hitler, is a white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer, and has a history of making hateful comments about to Jews, Blacks and women.

Thats how federal authorities portray the 30-year-old, who was working as a contracted police officer with secret security at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck when he was arrested a little over a week after the Jan. 6 attack. He lives in Colts Neck and is also a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.

His lawyer, though, Jonathan Zucker, and four people who wrote letters of support filed in his case, describe him very differently: as a college-educated, nonviolent man whos suffered abuse and has responded to loved ones in need.

The letters are in court motions filed by his lawyer to free him from custody pending trial. Federal prosecutors filed a response arguing hes a danger who should remain in custody pending trial.

Hale-Cusanelli is scheduled for a custody hearing this week in federal court in Washington, D.C. He is currently incarcerated in a city jail there, records show. (A judge in New Jersey initially ruled to release him on an unsecured bond, but prosecutors won a stay of that decision.)

In his filing, Zucker argues that while many at the Capitol wore combat gear, his client, got dressed up in a suit and tie for the occasion, and there are no specific allegations that Hale-Cusanelli was violent on Jan. 6. (Hale has been indicted on seven crimes, ranging from civil disorder to disruptive behavior.)

Hale-Cusanelli believed the election was stolen, and while that may not have been rationally based, he was not acting out of criminal intent, Zucker wrote in his motion.

The former President maintained that the election had been stolen and it was the duty of loyal citizens to stop the steal by preventing the election certification. Although the claim appears to be baseless, it is apparent that Mr. Hale-Cusanelli was one of millions of Americans who were misled by the former Presidents deception.

Zucker argues his client should be released to the custody of a friend in New Jersey, where two women  one an aunt and one aunt-like  will be his support system who can look after him. One is married to a New Jersey police officer.

Zucker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Federal prosecutors included these pictures of Timothy Hale-Cusanelli in court papers opposing his release from custody pending trial. The Colts Neck man has been indicted on seven crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Federal authorities in January cited Hale-Cusanellis alleged racist ideology in charging him, as well as accusations that he believed there was a good chance Trump would joint protestors at the Capitol, and once inside said a revolution was coming. Afterwards, to an informant, Hale-Cusanelli allegedly described being in the Capitol was exhilarating and a feeling that could only be recreated through a civil war.

Recently, federal prosecutors ramped up their descriptions of Hale-Cusanelli in their response, putting pictures of his Hitler mustache in court papers, and adding several racist social media posts they say he made. His affinity for Hitler and the Nazi party, went far beyond facial hair, they say.

Prosecutors say federal investigators interviewed 44 people at the Earle base, 34 who described Hale-Cusanelli as having extremist or radical views pertaining to Jewish people, minorities, and women.

One was a John Getz, a supervisor, who told federal agents he knew Hale-Cusanelli was a Nazi sympathizer and Holocaust denier, and they had words and hed had to tell Hale-Cusanelli to stop making jokes about Jews.

However, Getz later wrote a letter supporting Hale-Cusanelli. I was appalled at how he was slandered in the press in regards to him being a white supremacist. I have never known him to be this way. I know that our co-workers would agree.

Stunned, federal agents went to interview Getz again, and he stuck by both descriptions, saying one of Hale-Cusanellis supporters asked him to write the letter, and he wanted to speak positively about him because he was not personally offended by his conduct.

Hale-Cusanellis supporters and lawyer say he had childhood trauma that culminated 10 years ago when he was forced into a violent altercation with his mothers intoxicated boyfriend. The incident appears to be a prior arrest, in Monmouth County, which was reported in the media and in which a person was stabbed.

Zucker wrote that Hale-Cusanelli intervened to protect his mother, a grand jury dismissed the case and he used the incident to show his client will appear in court if released. He tracked down Hale-Cusanellis lawyer for that case who said Hale-Cusanelli was free pending trial then, and never failed to appear for any hearing.

Since that incident, Mr. Hale-Cusanelli has been a law-abiding citizen, Zucker wrote.

The woman who is like an aunt to Hale-Cusanelli said he considers him a son, who has a heart of gold.

Tim is not a violent person in any manner, she wrote in her letter. Tim is one of the smartest people I know and sadly being terribly misunderstood.

Hale-Cusanelli remains a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, and his lawyer said he has been offered an honorable discharge.

Army Reserve leadership is reviewing the information regarding Sgt. Hale-Cusanellis alleged misconduct and will take appropriate administrative action in accordance with Army Regulations, a Reserves spokesman, Lt. Col. Simon B. Flake, said in a statement.

The U.S. Army Reserve takes all allegations of Soldier or Army civilian involvement in extremist groups seriously and will address this issue in accordance with Army regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure due process, Flake said. Extremist ideologies and activities directly oppose our values and beliefs and those who subscribe to extremism have no place in our ranks.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Boris Johnson likely to visit, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai during April 26 visit

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 21: There are plenty of expectations during the visit by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to New Delhi next month.

The British PM will be in India on April 26 and the focus would be on a new trade pact. Johnson is also expected to travel to Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Chennai as well. While he is keen on travelling to these cities, the itinerary is yet to finalised.

Johnson who had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership was scheduled to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. He however had to postpone his visit due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in UK.

On the visit, Johnson's office said, it would 'tilt' its focus towards the Indo-Pacific region as part of its Integrated Review of government policy for the coming years, saying the area increasingly represented the geopolitical centre of the world.

Boris Johnson to visit India in April

In December Johnson had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formally accept his invitation to visit India as Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade, which was to mark his first major bilateral visit since taking office in 2019 and the first since Britain's formal exit from the European Union (EU) at the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31, 2020.

"I am absolutely delighted to be visiting India next year at the start of an exciting year for Global Britain, and look forward to delivering the quantum leap in our bilateral relationship that Prime Minister Modi and I have pledged to achieve," Johnson said at the time.

"As a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, India is an increasingly indispensable partner for the United Kingdom as we work to boost jobs and growth, confront shared threats to our security and protect our planet," he said.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 8:09 [IST]
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of india has issued a bank calendar mentioning the dates on which the banks will not function. The bank users need to note that the coming weeks of March and April will observe over 11 days of holidays.

Banks are scheduled to remain closed for three consecutive days from March 27-29 all over the country, on account of the second Saturday and Holi festival.

The bank customers are to note that if they have any pending work, they need to take care of it before March 27. If any customer fails to do so, he or she will have to wait till April 4, as the bank will continue its services for only two days in between, which are March 30 and April 3.

Whereas, the people living in the capital of Bihar, Patna will not get this option as well. The banks in Patna are scheduled to remain shut on March 30 as well.

Bank services on March 31 will remain suspended, even though it is not a holiday, on account of the last day of the financial year.

Here is the list of important bank dates:

March 27: Last Saturday of the month

March 28: Sunday

March 29: Monday (Holi Holiday)

March 30: Tuesday (Holiday only for bank branches in Patna, not for rest of India)

March 31: Wednesday (Year-end holiday)

April 1: Thursday (Bank closing of accounts)

April 2: Friday (Good Friday)

April 3: Saturday is a working day

April 4: Sunday

Meanwhile, the country observed a two-day pan-India bank strike on 15-16 March which resulted in disruption of banking services including deposits, loan disbursements, cash withdrawals and cheque clearances hitting customers.

The strike was staged by the members of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) protested against the privatisation of two more government-owned banks.

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Spring brings new things, and I'm off to resounding start with my ukulele
New Delhi: After a meeting held at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence over the row involving Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, the party ruled out the latter's resignation.

The meeting was held in view of former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh's allegations of corruption against Deshmukh.

It was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state unit NCP chief Jayant Patil, Praful Patel, Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

"There is no question of Anil Deshmukh's resignation. ATS is investigating the case and we believe the culprit will be punished," Jayant Patil was quoted as saying by ANI.

The meeting took place hours after Pawar told reporters that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh.

Param Bir Singh has claimed Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai. Deshmukh has denied these allegations as baseless.

BJP leaders and workers staged protests in various cities demanding resignation of Deshmukh.

Demonstrations were held at more than 200 locations including in all district headquarters like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Nashik, Aurangabad and at various district headquarters and taluka places.

BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also demanded the resignation of Deshmukh.

"This matter cannot be investigated till Maharashtra Home Minister stays on his post. Hence, Anil Deshmukh must resign," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis also hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar who came out in defence of Deshmukh, saying at the veteran leader is "fleeting away from the truth."

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Kit Malthouse has been accused of breaching COVID rules by going into work without waiting for the result of a COVID test. (PA)

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse is self-isolating after being accused of breaching COVID rules by going into work without waiting for results of a test that turned out to be positive.

Malthouse revealed on Saturday that he was self-isolating with his family after testing positive for coronavirus in a lateral flow test.

The Sunday Times reported that he had gone into the Home Office without waiting for results of the precautionary test, which meant staff from his team also now have to self-isolate.

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Writing on Twitter on Saturday, Malthouse said: "Occasionally need to be in Westminster, so took care with several precautionary covid tests.

"On Monday morning, no symptoms, but tested positive. Fortunately no in person meetings had taken place.

Read more: Tory MPs warn Johnson not to extend COVID curbs

"Departed promptly by own car, brilliant team sent home as precaution, Whip and Home Sec office informed. Juliana downs tools, retrieves kids from school, all into isolation until Friday.

Watch: How England will leave lockdown

"Team all OK and not pinged. Feeling lucky to still be symptom free with 5 days to go.

But the minister has been accused of breaching COVID rules, which say workers should stay socially distanced at work until they receive the all-clear, according to the Sunday Times.

The newspaper said sources had claimed that staff from two teams are understood to have gone into self-isolation, while his office had to be deep cleaned and the air vents changed.

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Malthouse later tweeted that he was "disappointed" by the story and had held a virtual meeting alone in his office after the test "in line with guidelines".

He said the Permanent Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Whip had all been informed.

In January, Malthouse said it would be "preposterous" for anyone to claim they were ignorant of lockdown rules after nearly a year.

His alleged breach of coronavirus restrictions comes after public outcry after it emerged that SNP member Margaret Ferrier had travelling from Scotland to London and back while waiting for a COVID test result.

Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown
VALE  Anthony Montwheeler sat in clean street clothes with a fresh haircut and stared straight ahead Friday morning as more than a dozen people delivered statements at his sentencing at the Malheur County Courthouse.

The session was the final chapter on a four-year-long legal case that began in the early morning hours of a cold, overcast January day 2017.

The former Nampa man pleaded guilty Feb. 26 to second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault.

Montwheeler stabbed to death his ex-wife, Annita Harmon, killed Vale resident David Bates and injured his wife Jessica in a head-on crash as he fled police.

Under terms of the plea deal reached earlier this year, Montwheeler will serve a life sentence for killing Harmon but be eligible for parole in 25 years  when he is 78. But he would have to serve another 10 years of the 20-year sentence he has agreed to for Bates death. He would also get a three-year sentence for injuring Jessica Bates, to be served as part of the overall sentence.

The crimes occurred less than a month after Montwheeler was discharged from the Oregon State Hospital.

He was released after state doctors reversed 20 years of diagnoses to conclude Montwheeler didnt appear mentally ill but remained a risk to the community. Montwheeler himself said he faked his illness to avoid a prison sentence for a 1996 kidnapping.

While there was an undercurrent of anger from the relatives of David Bates and Harmon last week, a major theme from many of the speakers was one of forgiveness.

All I can do is pray for your tormented soul, said Lucas Faverau, Annita Harmons son.

Stacey Harmon-Roeber, Annita Harmons older sister, told Montwheeler I have no words of anger toward Tony.

God loves Tony as much as he loves me, said Harmon-Roeber.

Harmon-Roeber told the court that her kid sister was precocious, tow-headed, brown eyed girl that loved to tease us.

I remember how she loved horses and animals. I remember special sister time when she was little, said Harmon-Roeber.

Harmon-Roeber said the Montwheelers crimes terrorized her.

I used to be fearless. Now I am a fearful red head. I have anxiety. I dont sleep at night, Harmon-Roeber said.

At one point Harmon-Roeber began to weep.

I wonder what her body felt when he stabbed her. I hate I wasnt there to protect her, Harmon-Roeber said through tears.

Jessica Bates also wept when she delivered her remarks.

It is obvious you caused a huge amount of hurt and loss. It still feels surreal, said Bates.

I want you to know that I forgive you. I really do hope this will give you pause to stop and seek God, said Bates.

Bates told the court she never in a million years dreamed Id be married to someone so wonderful and have five children.

I didnt want to lose David so early, said Bates.

After the testimony from the families, Dave Goldthorpe, Malheur County district attorney, told the court that there is no punishment under the laws of the state of Oregon harsh enough for Anthony Montwheeler.

No amount of time in prison could ever even come close to making these families whole after what he did to all of them, said Goldthorpe.

Goldthorpe called Montwheeler evil.

He is abusive. He is a horrible human being and his face should never be seen by any of these good people who have spoken to you today, said Goldthorpe.

Montwheeler gave a brief statement at the end of the sentencing.

I cant express the right words of sorrow. I have caused so much pain. To say I am sorry isnt nearly enough, said Montwheeler.
New Delhi: India on Sunday recorded 43,846 new daily cases of the coronavirus infections which is the highest single-day surge in around four months pushing the country to the brink of a likely 'second wave' of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 cases have been rising at an alarming rate prompting states like Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka to impose strict COVID-19 measures. Lockdowns, nightcurfews have been imposed in many districts and cities to stop the spread of the infection.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan claimed that people have become complacent in following the COVID-19 safety protocols which has resulted in the recent surge. Further, he urged that citizens should not to let their guard down against the infection, else the situation may turn dangerous.

I want to appeal to people of the country that they should not let the COVID appropriate behaviour get weakened at any cost. Maintaining social distancing, wearing masks properly and washing hands with soap probably are the biggest tools to win the fight against COVID-19, said Vardhan.

He added that that the two vaccines are the second tool in this fight against contagion.

COVID-19 CASES IN MAHARASHTRA

In Maharashtra, around 30,535 new cases of COVID-19 has been registered in the past 24 hours, highest since last March. With this, the tally of coronavirus has now increased to 24,79,682. The death toll now stands at 53,399 with 99 more people succimbing to the infection in the last 24 hours.

While Mumbai with 3,062 new COVID-19 cases reported the highest spike for the city since the start of the pandemic last year.

The latest surge comes just three days after Maharashtra recorded its highest rise in a single day at 25,833 thoug, the previous highest spike was 24,896 in September 2020.

COVID-19 CASES IN PUNJAB

Punjab recorded 2,669 fresh infections, maximum this year so far, and 44 fatalities on Sunday, as per a medical bulletin, with these new fresh cases, the infection tally climbed to 2,13,110. The number of active cases has increased from 16,988 on Saturday to 18,257 on Sunday.

A total of 1,331 coronavirus patients were discharged after recovering from the infection, taking the number of cured persons to 1,88,529. There are 23 critical patients who are on ventilator support, while 272 are on oxygen support, the bulletin said. A total of 56,03,286 samples have been collected for testing so far in the state, it said.

COVID-19 CASES IN MADHYA PRADESH

Madhya Pradesh imposed a one-day lockdown in the major cities like Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur on Sunday, the step was taken with the objective to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The lockdown is going to be imposed on every Sunday in these three cities until further orders from the authorities. Only essential services will be allowed to function as per the state Home Department.

The state authorities and CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan also urged the people of the state to strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines.

Also, all schools and colleges in the three cities too have been ordered to remain shut till March 31 from 10 pm every Saturday to 6 am on Mondays.

COVID-19 CASES IN KARNATAKA

As Karnataka reported 1,715 fresh coronavirus cases in one day, state Health Minister K Sudhakar said that as the state is beginning to witness the second wave of coronavirus the next three months are going to be crucial. The fresh cases were reported from Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Mysuru and other districts.

In order to contain the highly infectious virus, the state government has banned late-night parties, re-imposed restrictions in various parts of the state Bengaluru, Bidar, among others.

Earlier, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa too made a appeal asking people to follow guidelines wear masks, avoid mass celebrations as virus cases surged in the state sporadically.
City hotels opt out of the bubble By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

City hotels in Colombo continue to cater to locals for business and not foreign visitors due to the bubble concept that is in place for tourists.

At present there are only two Level 1 hotels in Colombo, City Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar told the Business Times on Tuesday pointing out that most of the city hotels continue to obtain business from

Sri Lankans that patronise them.

Every hotel, he noted is making a tremendous loss as they are compelled to function amid a number of regulations imposed by the health authorities.

They are restricted to 150 people for banqueting for a wedding and also the restaurant and bar business continues under strict guidelines, he explained.

Hotels are compelled to remain open and pay salaries for staff already in the hotel including their service charge, Mr. Shanthikumar said insisting that whatever service charge they (the hotels) are being paid to the staff.

Moratoriums have been extended until December 31 and the bar license has been waived off for this year as well, he noted.

However, hotels are still in for a rude shock this week since they have been asked to pay up their electricity bills on or before March 21. Hoteliers had been granted a delayed payment of three months and now they would be appealing to the authorities again for a further extension as they continue to face difficulties in paying their bills. Our priority is to pay staff and so all other payments are delayed, the City Hotels President stated adding that the Tourist Hotels Association has already made an appeal for a further extension and they believe there will be a favourable response.

At present hotels are sustained through business in the restaurant, bar and banqueting that keep the cash flow going but due to competition there is a severe drop particularly in deliveries.

Mr. Shanthikumar explained that today anyone involved in the catering business provides delivery services hoteliers face tough competition from individuals and even small catering outlets around the city.

There is a drop of about 50 per cent in those patronising the hotels for food compared to two years ago, he said.

Hoteliers believe that the current vaccination drive could ease regulations on tourists arriving in the country.


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 14:39:51|Editor: huaxia

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ANCHORAGE, the United States, March 21 (Xinhua) -- With all the world's eyes upon them, China and the United State have wrapped up their high-level strategic dialogue held in Anchorage, Alaska.

During this round of dialogue, the two sides conducted candid, in-depth and constructive communication on their respective domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations, and major international and regional issues of common concern.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that win-win cooperation is an important principle of China's development and a golden rule in China's external relations, 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.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Lucknow, March 21 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will establish three Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) women battalions, named after female warriors.

The three battalions will be named after Rani Avantibai Lodhi, Uda Devi, and Jhalkaribai who sacrificed their lives during India's freedom struggle.

"Avantibai Women Battalion, Uda Devi Women Battalion, and Jhalkari Bai Women Battalion will be set up in Badaun, Lucknow, and Gorakhpur, respectively. All the formalities regarding the setting up of the battalions have been completed," the Chief Minister said in a statement.

He said that Bundelkhand had played a vital role in the freedom struggle and that Rani Laxmibai in Jhansi, Rani Avantibai Lodhi in Ramgarh were leading this movement.

"When the kings of different regions were supporting the British to protect their reign and their throne, these female warriors remained firm on their stand against them. They fought fiercely to protect the country till their last breath," he said.

While Rani Laxmi Bai belonged to a Brahmin family, Uda Devi belonged to the Pasi community and Jhalkari Bai was from the Kori community.

In the 'Sankalp Patra' of the Yogi government, it was mentioned the setting up three PAC women battalions in the province for the protection of women.

Taking inspiration from these warriors, the Uttar Pradesh government has started the empowerment campaign 'Mission Shakti' for the safety and security of women.

The Chief Minister also informed that "under this campaign, it is mandatory to appoint 20 per cent women in Uttar Pradesh's police force so that every woman feels safe and protected".
March 21, 1946

Flames claim two businesses in Childs

Fire destroyed two businesses the afternoon of March 20 in Childs. Destroyed in the blaze was the general store operated by Mary Casey that was also home to the post office and a hotel operated by Paul Salvatore. The structures were located on the 200 block of Main Street.

Also damaged by the flames were the water pressure tower and car shop for the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad.

The damage was estimated to be between $65,000 and $75,000.

The fire was first noticed by a patron of Salvatores hotel in the buildings storeroom. Guests, patrons and Salvatore made it out of the burning building. The fire then spread to the neighboring general store.

Siblings Mary and Daniel Caffrey attempted to save the mail and the postal receipts in the post office inside the general store while their father, Harry, drove to Mayfield to alert more fire companies.

Childs Fire Company was assisted in fighting by companies from Carbondale, Jermyn, Mayfield, Archbald and Peckville.

State Police Fire Marshal William Murphy believed the fire was caused by defective wiring in the overhanging lights in the hotels storeroom.

Shopping list

Whole roasting chickens were 39 cents per pound, leg of lamb was 37 cents per pound, frankfurters were 35 cents per pound, 2 pounds of sauerkraut for 15 cents, a dozen Florida oranges were 45 cents, 7 pounds of potatoes were 43 cents per pound, fresh baked Marvel bread was 12 cents, three boxes of pasta were 30 cents, a can of tomato sauce was 7 cents and 2 pounds of coffee was 41 cents.

Coming attractions

Saratoga Trunk starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman opened on March 22 at the Strand, Because of Him starring Deanna Durbin opened on March 22 at the Comerford, a special repeat performance of Follies of 46 at West Scranton High School on March 23, Blossom Time at the Masonic Temple on March 26.
The Cork office of the now collapsed Dolphin property investment scheme bought hundreds of thousands of euro worth of expensive cars, gym equipment and top of the range technology.

The fixed asset register for Irish-registered Dolphin International Group (Dolphin IG) up to the end of November 2017, seen by the Sunday Independent, adds further detail to the pattern of high spending at the firm revealed in recent weeks by this newspaper.

Amongst the items on the register were two BMW X5 luxury SUVs  worth more than 90,000 apiece  as well as a BMW 7 Series and a BMW 5 Series. The firm also owned a Range Rover Vogue that it had bought the previous year for 142,000  the most expensive item on the list. In 2018, the year before Dolphin IG was placed into voluntary liquidation by its directors, it purchased another Range Rover  an Autobiography  for 183,000.

Dolphin IG had almost 10,000 worth of gym equipment amongst its assets, including a 2,500 treadmill, a 300 Sissy squat bench, and more than 6,000 worth of dumbbells, weights and spin equipment. Apart from a leather sofa, standard IT and other office equipment, Dolphin IG favoured Apple products, with a range of iPads and Mac computers. Cork-based Dolphin IG was part of a German property investment scheme that has since collapsed, leaving investors across a number of countries over 1bn out of pocket  including 107m owed to 1,800 Irish investors. Last week, premises belonging to Charles Smethurst, who founded the scheme were raided by German police, German media reported. Smethurst, alongside Irishmen Marc Reilly and Cormac Smith, was previously a director of Dolphin IG, The Sunday Independent previously reported that in June 2019 Reilly and Smith were paid gross monthly wages of close to 70,000 each, four months before they placed the firm in voluntary liquidation.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Joe Pleasant slowed his breath and calmed himself.

In the most pressure-packed moment of his college career, the Abilene Christian junior forward was perfect on two free throws from a spot where he'd struggled in the past.

When he picked off a final desperation pass by Texas at midcourt, Pleasant and his teammates erupted in a celebration that nearly spilled into the stands.

Another double-digit seed is moving on in the NCAA Tournament, and this one at the expense of the flagship school in Abilene Christian's home state.

We just beat the University of Texas. Little ol Abilene Christian out in West Texas built a program that went toe-to-toe with the University of Texas and its an incredible story, Wildcats coach Joe Golding said. Its what March is about.

Abilene Christian and its frantic, havoc-causing defense bounced coach Shaka Smart and the Longhorns out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round yet again, as the 14th-seeded Wildcats stunned No. 3 seed Texas 53-52 on Saturday night.

Pleasant, a 58.8% foul shooter on the season, made two from the line with 1.2 seconds left, and the Wildcats took down their in-state rivals in the first meeting between the schools.

Pulling off one final upset in a first round filled with two years worth of excitement, Abilene Christian (24-4) became the fourth team seeded 13th or lower to reach the round of 32 in this NCAA Tournament, joining 15th-seeded Oral Roberts and No. 13 seeds Ohio and North Texas.

We needed March Madness, man. We needed some type of normalcy to our country, Golding said. We needed people to fill out brackets. We needed people to cheer for the underdog.

There was plenty of cheering for the Wildcats by their fans clad in purple as they caused all kinds of headaches for the bigger, more talented Longhorns and got just enough offense to pull off their first NCAA Tournament victory in their second appearance.

Pleasant finished with 11 points as did Coryon Mason for the Wildcats. Abilene Christian was blown out by Kentucky two years ago when it made its first trip to the NCAAs.

Story continues

Now, the Wildcats will face No. 11 seed UCLA in the second round Monday.

I felt like two years ago, we were kind of happy to be there as a first-time experience, Pleasant said. Then this team, were ready to take on another challenge, not just to be here but to compete, to get some wins.

Andrew Jones scored 13 points for Texas (19-8) and was nearly the hero. Jones hit two free throws with 56 seconds left and his 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining put the Longhorns in front 52-51.

ACU had one more chance. Damien Daniels drove to the basket but his shot was blocked by Kai Jones. Pleasant was first to get his hands on the rebound and Matt Coleman III was called for a foul, causing Smart to drop to his knees on the sideline.

It was a loose ball. We both went for it. He got to the ball first and he threw it up and they called a foul on me. The ref called foul so I guess it was a foul," Coleman said.

After a timeout, Pleasant calmly hit both free throws. Then he intercepted a long pass by Texas, turning it into the Longhorns' 23rd turnover of the game and setting off a wild celebration that carried all the way off the court.

Pleasant waved his arms toward the crowd, egging on fans to make some noise and cupping his hand to his ear before being mobbed by teammates. Other players flexed toward ACU supporters in the stands of Lucas Oil Stadium that were definitely not socially distanced during the celebration.

I was visualizing the free throws going in before I shot them, Pleasant said. I was just trying to key in on the rim, just lock in and block out the noise.

There were heroes throughout for the Wildcats. Daniels, all of 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, missed his first eight shot attempts but muscled through a foul to score on a drive with 3:42 left. The three-point play gave the Wildcats a 50-47 lead. Reggie Miller made one of two free throws to push the lead to four.

Texas went nearly four minutes without scoring before two free throws by Jones with 56 seconds left  foul shots that needed a pause to clean blood off the court.

Miller committed a turnover on ACUs next possession and Jones 3 seemed set to be a perfect March moment after the Texas junior missed time earlier in his career after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Instead, the Longhorns are headed home with their third first-round exit under Smart, which will only raise the heat on his standing in Austin.

A lot of tears in the locker room right now, Smart said. "A lot of guys extremely upset about the way the game ended, the fact that we have to go home now. Really disappointed, everybody is.

Texas was rolling coming into the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Tournament for the first time in school history. The Longhorns had won five straight overall and eight of 10 following a midseason slump.

But the Longhorns were too careless and too impatient against the Wildcats' swarming defense.

It was ugly, physical basketball, exactly the formula for the Wildcats to pull off the upset. They had the seventh-best scoring defense in the country this season, giving up just 60 points per game, and led the nation in forcing turnovers. They smothered Nicholls State 79-45 in the Southland Conference title game.

Texas was held 23 points below its season average. The 23 turnovers were the most for the program in eight years, and the Longhorns took 27 fewer shots than ACU.

It just doesnt feel real. I feel like Im trying to wake up from a bad dream, Coleman said.

___

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
The aftermath of every terror attack places Western countries in the same conundrum: How to honour the victims and show national resilience without giving the perpetrators the place in posterity that they crave?

Governments and public opinion have moved mostly towards backing the idea of a physical place to help survivors find closure and give societies strength.

After attacks, the cities of Madrid, Oklahoma, New York, Brussels, Oslo and Manchester all set up either memorials or museums, and sometimes both.

In France, which has been a prime attack target for half a century, President Emmanuel Macron has created a working group to plan for a terrorism memorial and museum to be inaugurated in 2027 in Paris.

- 'Unwritten cultural norm' -

"It has become somewhat of an unwritten cultural norm that countries construct memorials to commemorate terrorist attacks," said Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn, a researcher at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) at Leiden University.

But there are sometimes clashing expectations of what such memorials should achieve.

"There can be a tension between the desire to show or mark trauma and showing resilience," De Roy van Zuijdewijn said.

"While some might want to physically mark a place, others might want it to look as normal as possible in order not to credit the terrorist by making damage the most visible element."

The inhabitants of the Norwegian island of Utoya, the main focus of a killing spree by a right-wing extremist in 2011, said from the start they did not want any memorial, which they said would force them to relive a trauma they wanted to forget.

After a legal row lasting six years, a court eventually ruled against them in February, allowing work on the memorial to continue.

Locals didn't want a memorial after Norway's 2011 attacks, but there will be one anyway /  AFP/File

Cliff Chanin, executive vice president of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York -- the world's biggest -- recalls a lively debate about how to remember the 2001 attacks that killed 3,000.

"The difficulty is an inherent part of the process. You can't avoid it. It's how you build confidence among all parties during that process that gets you to the outcome," he told AFP.

In the end, Chanin said, it became clear that most Americans wanted a new place as a focus for their collective memory, and not just Ground Zero.

While few experts doubt that many people feel a deep-seated need for something to focus memories on, that something doesn't have to be made of bricks and mortar.

Spontaneous and fleeting tokens of remembrance abounded after attacks in Madrid, Brussels and Paris in the form of flowers, photographs, drawings, and poems.

- 'Je suis Charlie' -

Sometimes slogans can perform the same function, like the "Je Suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie") catchphrase that went viral after the January 2015 attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Sometimes, it's national leaders who come up with suggested ways to allow citizens to remember the victims while depriving the attackers of any such attention.

Sometimes a powerful slogan can become like a memorial /  AFP/File

After the Christchurch attack in New Zealand that killed 51 in 2019, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she would never pronounce the name of the perpetrator.

"He sought many things from his act of terror but one was notoriety. And that is why you will never hear me mention his name," she said.

Five local media agreed on some ground rules to cover the trial of attacker Brenton Tarrant, with the aim of depriving the Australian of a platform for his white supremacist ideology.

Hans Davidsen-Nielsen, a reporter at the Danish paper Politiken, felt inspired by the initiative and urged his country's media to follow suit.

"Without press coverage, the interest in committing atrocities would evaporate," he said.

After the Christchurch attack, New Zealand's leader said she wouldn't say the perpetrator's name /  AFP/File

It is, however, "an illusion to imagine that the media should look the other way", he added in an article entitled "How To Not Be a Useful Idiot when Covering Terrorism".

But for many, it is a stretch to imagine that a place of remembrance could somehow avoid identifying killers and their motivations.

"If you don't believe in collective guilt for an act as you shouldn't, then you have to have the individuals be responsible for their own behaviour and their decisions," said Chanin.

"How do you present that, if you don't actually present the individuals who did these horrible things?"

- 'Not my approach' -

He said the New York museum set the 9/11 attackers apart by showing them only in pictures provided and stamped by the FBI, and in a very different display style from the victims.

Henry Rousso, a historian leading the French memorial working group, said he too had little time for any approach that omitted the names or the motives of attackers.

"That's not my approach," he said. "I wouldn't create a museum on Nazism that doesn't name Hitler."

When American forces killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in 2011 they took no chances with posterity: They threw his body into the open sea at an undisclosed location, making sure that his followers would never have a site at which to pay their respects.
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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.
Press Release

March 21, 2021 De Lima seeks probe into killing of Calbayog Mayor Aquino, incessant attacks vs local chief executives Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for a Senate investigation into the continuing attacks and killings of local chief executives across the country as she condemned the murder of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino. In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 683, De Lima underscored the need to identify the gaps in law enforcement, attaining justice for all victims, and ending the culture of impunity, especially among law enforcement agencies. "The killing of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino is but the latest local official to fall victim to the spate of killings committed against local chief executives across the country," said De Lima, a known human rights defender here and abroad. "The series of extrajudicial killings waged against local chief executives and the subsequent failure of the government to take meaningful action to give justice to the victims are part of a pattern of and systematic violations of human rights in the country, including by state agents," she added. Calbayog City Mayor Aquino and his two drivers were killed on March 8, in what was initially reported as an ambush, but members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) later claimed that it was a shootout between the mayor's team and the police. Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento, however, refuted the PNP's statement claiming that the mayor's escorts were the first to fire at the officers that were tailing their vehicle, revealing that the police were already waiting for Aquino's vehicle at Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog City before the shooting incident. Sarmiento likewise questioned the claims of PNP that they were merely conducting a "Red Teaming inspection" on the operational readiness of PNP units in the area - that they were role playing as the enemy in security drills - considering that the narcotics officers had high-powered firearms with them. Moreover, it was reported that there were witnesses who claimed that the incident began with the assailants opening fire on Aquino's vehicle. "This bloody incident is not the first of its kind," De Lima said, pointing out that Aquino's death has brought to 25 the tally of mayors and vice mayors killed since 2016. "The events of the past few years have shown that the police under this administration have all but eliminated peaceful surrender of anyone that they unilaterally and unlawfully determined to be their enemies... Until when will our people remain silent against these abuses?," the lady Senator from Bicol said in an earlier statement. Amid the alarming series of targeted killings to local chief executives across the country, De Lima stressed that "it is imperative for the Senate to conduct a thorough, independent and impartial inquiry to determine, once and for all, the concrete efforts the government has undertaken and is undertaking to stop the killings and seek answers to the reported illegal activities of alleged rogue police personnel."
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ALBANY  Chad Campbell has spent his entire adult life behind bars after committing a grisly double murder in 1990 when he was 14.

He is serving 18 years to life for stabbing to death 15-year-old Cindy Lewis and 17-month-old Curtis Rizzo  a child Lewis was babysitting  on Aug. 1, 1990, behind the middle school where the young teens were classmates in Palmyra, a village east of Rochester. A jury in Wayne County found Campbell guilty of two counts of second-degree murder. An adult found guilty of the same crime would have faced 25 years to life.

In a 2019 parole board hearing, Campbell acknowledged his guilt, but said "that 14-year-old that committed this crime is not here."

When Campbell was a child, he suffered from encephalitis, which caused learning disabilities. Encephalitis can also trigger behavioral issues, but he never received consistent treatment for those. According to state Board of Parole hearing transcripts, Campbell in 2019 pointed to what he perceived as rejection and disregard from his parents for throwing him into a rage that day.

"My issues as a child does not absolve me or excuse me for what Ive done," Campbell told the panel. "Every night I pray that one day I will be forgiven. I understand the severity of my crime. I understand what Ive taken; I understand who Ive hurt and that nothing I can possibly do until the day I pass away will ever make up for what Ive taken, what Ive done. I think its important to show that who I was and the horrific thing I did is not who I am today.

Campbell, 45, has been incarcerated for more than 30 years, first in a juvenile detention center and then, from age 20, in state prison.

He has an exemplary record with no serious offenses behind bars, has achieved educational and career milestones, and has been assessed as a low risk for reoffending. Court records state that he has a support network and a plan for his release.

Campbell has been denied parole seven times. Attorneys and advocates say his case highlights many of the core questions embedded in New Yorks parole system: Is redemption possible? Who do we decide to give second chances to? And are some crimes so heinous that no matter the circumstances, no matter the passage of time, they can never be atoned for?

Denial after denial

In New York, many long sentences are discretionary, meaning theres flexibility built in. After a certain minimum year count is reached, inmates are eligible for parole, and they appear before a board to seek release. If denied, they usually return again two years later. Those who appeal a denial may be granted a "de novo hearing" if the board's Appeals Unit agrees with any of their arguments. At a de novo hearing, a different group of parole board commissioners hear the case.

A Times Union analysis of 46 parole transcripts provided by the Parole Preparation Project  a nonprofit that works with incarcerated people  found commissioners frequently ask specific questions about the original crime, even if it took place decades earlier. Transcripts also show commissioners often acknowledged an inmate's exemplary record, work history and their low likelihood for reoffending, only to deny parole on the basis of the original crime's severity.

Activists frequently ask how this is compatible with the principles of rehabilitation and redemption that are supposed to be at the core of our parole system. The crime, once committed, cannot be changed, they note  but incarcerated people can work to change themselves.

In one transcript, an incarcerated person was attempting to explain how his father had abused him as a child and he thought that contributed to his violence later in life, growing emotional, and the parole commissioner repeatedly interrupted to say that his question wasnt being answered. Parole was denied for not being forthright in answering questions.

In another, a commissioner repeatedly asked an inmate about someone he had stabbed in prison more than a decade earlier: Im asking you a simple question: Was he a snitch? The inmate declined to answer, saying that the person he was when he called others in the jail yard "snitches" was someone who perpetrated violence, and he didnt want to be that person anymore. He, too, was denied parole.

These are just a few examples of many where the commissioners focus on the original crime, asking prosecutorial questions about specific details that were already litigated at trial. Little time is spent and few questions focus on what the incarcerated person has done to rehabilitate themselves or prepare for life after prison.

In August 2019, the commissioners told Campbell that parole isnt granted merely as reward for good conduct and that they departed from" his score on the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) assessment.

The COMPAS system was implemented in 2011 to determine the risk of an inmate reoffending and being a danger to the community after release. The algorithm that generates the scores is proprietary and comes from a private firm. It's intended to assess inmates in an objective way that considers the totality of their efforts to reform while incarcerated.

Campbell, whose COMPAS score showed a low risk for reoffending, was asked by commissioners to describe the violent assaults he perpetrated  a common line of questioning in parole transcripts reviewed by the Times Union.

Your educational accomplishments, letters of support, and release plans are positive, they wrote in their rejection. This panel has weighed the factors as required and found most compelling the bizarre and excessive violence you displayed during the instant offenses and your limited insight for why, even at a young age, your rage was so intense. To grant your release at this time would so deprecate the seriousness of your offenses as to undermine respect for the law.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) declined to make current parole commissioners available for interviews. But the Times Union interviewed two former members: Carol Shapiro, who was on the board from 2017 to 2019, and Barbara Treen, who served from 1984 to 1996. DOCCS officials defended the Board of Parole as the sole entity and "independent body" responsible for granting parole, noting that board members make their decisions based on state Executive Law.

"Prior to making a final decision, the board members must follow the statutory requirements which take into consideration many factors, including statements made by victims and victims families, as well as an individuals criminal history, institutional accomplishments, potential to successfully reintegrate into the community, and perceived risk to public safety," DOCCS spokesman Thomas Mailey said. "Additionally, by statute, the board considers any recommendations concerning release to Community Supervision from the district attorney, sentencing court and the defense attorney."

Treen and Shapiro, both of whom are now advocates for policies that reduce incarceration, pointed to the internal culture and values of the parole board.

Shapiro, who likened parole hearings to conveyor-belt justice, said many of the commissioners have law enforcement or criminal justice experience rather than backgrounds in social work or psychology, which contributes to this presumption of (offenders) not being released.

DOCCS officials said the parole commissioners all have at least a college degree, a well-balanced range of professional expertise, including social work and addiction counseling, and several years of professional experience.

Treen said that in her experience, longer and more detailed hearings tend to be the ones that result in a denial because there might be a chance of an appeal. If they knew that they were facing this, and they were never going to let this guy go  even if he had a Ph.D.  ... the hearing would actually be more civil.

Lacking 'fairness'

Rochelle Swartz, who represents Campbell in his parole efforts, said the need for objectivity in the process is paramount, yet hard to come by with a politically appointed board.

Commissioners are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, and earn more than $100,000 in annual pay. Treen described the process as political payback, political patronage  it's a way to reward people who, if they served three years, can go out with a large salary in their pension.

Treen said that while most breakdowns in government systems are due to lack of money, the parole board suffers from a deficit of fairness.

While DOCCS officials recognized that there is no definition of a heinous crime and therefore it "is not a factor in making parole determinations," it was used to deny Campbell parole in 2016. The board also claimed Campbell's remorse was "shallow" and asked him to further reflect on why he singled out the two victims.

"Your actions while long ago and as a then 15-year-old were heinous causing irreparable harm to many in the community including your loved ones," the commissioners wrote.

Campbell was 14 at the time of the crime  one of several inaccuracies uncovered by Swartz in the transcripts. Other allegedly false statements by parole commissioners appear to stem from media reports over the years, she added.

In court documents, Swartz challenged the credentials and objectivity of the commissioners, noting that they aren't required to have specialized expertise in psychology, criminology or law. Some have made political contributions to state lawmakers.

Swartz also cited a former commissioner who noted that board members are disincentivized from granting parole to people whose release would be newsworthy.

If you are in doubt, deny, just deny, Treen said of the board's handling of high-profile cases. Think of legal reasons that wouldn't be appealed. You denied if you want to keep your check coming.

State Sen. Pam Helming, who represents Palmyra, gathered hundreds of signatures on a 2018 petition urging the parole board to deny Campbell's release. That effort attracted media attention that focused on the 1990 killings and earlier parole board hearings, and comments from victims families pleading to keep Campbell behind bars.

Helming, who referenced media reports and allegations for which Campbell was never charged, said she will always fight for the crime victims and their families.

When I met with the family members, what struck me was just the mental and physical suffering and the anguish they continue to suffer from, she said, adding that family members fear Campbell will retaliate against them if he is paroled. Chad should serve life in prison. How do you fix a person? How do you fix them if they intentionally stab to death two people and stab them over and over again? What kind of rehabilitation fixes that person?

In a 2018 post on her Senate website, Helming claimed Campbell lacks remorse and suggested he is blaming his upbringing for the criminal acts rather than taking responsibility for them.

Efforts to keep people behind bars solely because of the crime is whats wrong with New Yorks parole system, said Steve Zeidman, an attorney, professor and co-director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at CUNY School of Law. The seriousness of the crime is never going to change, he said, so the question parole commissioners must ask is whether an inmate presents a danger and risk if released.

This is why 22 percent of the worlds incarcerated population is in the United States and we represent 4 to 5 percent of the total global population, he said.  ... It just points out how punitive and unwilling our society, but more importantly the parole board, are in recognizing the value of redemption.

'Shocking'

While inmates can appeal a parole board's denial, judicial review of the board's actions is limited.

The repeated denials of Campbell's parole applications prompted Swartz to file a court petition in Sullivan County last year, arguing among other things that the board is violating Campbells constitutional right to due process.

New York state law ... explicitly forecloses parole denials based solely on the seriousness of the underlying crime, her petition states. This is true for every individual but is particularly applicable in the case of juvenile offenders given that they are constitutionally entitled to a meaningful opportunity for release.

If an inmate appeals a decision, the same body makes a determination on whether a new hearing should be granted. The same body, albeit a "different panel" of parole commissioners, conducts a hearing without reference to any legal conclusion or assumption made by the previous panel. Zeidman said this opens the process up to a never-ending cycle of denials, appeals and new hearings where parole commissioners repeat the same mistakes.

Judges often voice frustration with how much authority the law gives a politically appointed body that requires no expertise on the part of its members.

State Supreme Court Justice Stephan G. Schick, who is reviewing Campbell's petition, remarked in a January hearing that based on the records he had reviewed, Its hard for me ... to find a reason within the law that would be a legal reason to deny parole."

I can understand the position of someone on a parole board being confronted by citizens who find out about the acts that occurred back in 1990, Schick said. But that's why we need to have parole boards that are independent from public pressure, because there are things the general public may not be aware of such as all of these findings and studies about the human brain and the brain of a juvenile.

Attorney General Letitia James office argues the petition is moot because the parole boards Appeals Unit quietly agreed with Campbells appeal on the 2019 hearing, and ordered another hearing that took place in August. At that hearing  held to ensure proper consideration was given to Campbells age when the crime was committed  he was denied parole again, with similar arguments made against his release.

Schick said the arguments for overriding the parole board's decision and granting release were compelling  even "shocking."

The fact that the parole department seems to be using criteria to extend incarceration based on evidence that was not before a jury or a fact finder, these are all extremely important constitutional issues, he said.

Campbell appeared before the parole board again on March 9; the outcome of that proceeding was not immediately available.

Zeidman, who has represented dozens of incarcerated individuals in their parole efforts, said there are plenty of cases in which judges determine the board's actions were "an abuse of discretion." But all they can do is order a new hearing.

Schick's frustration was evident at the January court proceeding in Sullivan County.

"The only thing the court can do is order a new ... hearing wherein he'll be denied again and then the court can order a new ... hearing," the judge said. " ... You know, this can go on into infinity."
Recognizing the popularity and clout of his patron in the West Wing, Mr. Carter has sought to capitalize on Mr. Richmonds endorsement. I would have the ear of the guy who has the ear of the president of the United States of America, Mr. Carter said.

In response, Ms. Peterson has sought to run to the left, portraying herself as an anti-establishment Democrat even as she trumpets her role as a former state party chair and her numerous national endorsements.

She has dismissed Mr. Carters calling card, saying that she has her own contacts in the Biden administration and does not need to have the ear of the ear of the ear of the toe of the thumb of someone.

Given the intensity and history of their rivalry, as well as the often spicy politics of New Orleans, the runoff could be hard-fought.

Two of Louisianas most prominent Democratic officeholders have yet to weigh in and could prove consequential if they do intervene. Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans surprised some in the city by not endorsing Ms. Peterson, an ally, before the first round of voting. Also still on the sidelines is Gov. John Bel Edwards, who has clashed with Ms. Peterson in the past and is widely thought to be in Mr. Carters corner.

Perhaps most significant is who shows up to vote next month. Early voting before Saturdays all-party primary was anemic  fewer than 6 percent of eligible voters cast ballots  and turnout was little better the day of the vote.

The combination of the turbulent 2020 election, a pandemic that is only now showing signs of receding and a new, no-drama president has left the electorate apathetic, according to local officials. Grandpa Joe has really taken the air out of the balloon, and theres not that fever about politics, Andrew Tuozzolo, a Democratic strategist said, referring to Mr. Biden.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
New Delhi, March 21: India and the US agreed to strengthen their military partnership during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the US Secretary of Defence, General Lloyd Austin, held in New Delhi, according to a joint statement issued after the talks.

Singh told the media that India is committed to further strengthening its robust defence partnership with the US.

At the meeting, Singh also highlighted the opportunity for the US industry to invest in India's defence sector. "I invited the US defence industry to take advantage of India's liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) policies in the defence sector," the Defence Minister said.

Singh, in his statement, said a range of issues were discussed with a focus on "enhancing defence information sharing, cooperation in emerging domains of defence, mutual logistics support, and expanding military-to- military engagements across services".

"We also reviewed many bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed on increasing cooperation between the Indian military, US Indo-Pacific command, Centre Command and Africa Command. We've signed LEMOA, COMCASA & BECA agreements and we've agreed to realise their full potential," the Indian Defence Minister said. This is also in line with India's 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy," he added.

Austin says India partnership is a priority "We discussed opportunities to elevate the US-India major defence partnership, which is a priority of the Biden-Harris administration. And we'll do that through regional security cooperation and military to military interactions and defence trade," the Defence Secretary said after the meeting with Singh.

The leaders pledged to work together for a free and open Indo-Pacific and to cooperate on maritime and cybersecurity in the face of challenges from China.

Austin called India "an increasingly important partner in the rapidly shifting international dynamics" and reaffirmed his country's commitment to a "comprehensive forward-looking defence partnership with India" for its approach to the Indo-Pacific region.

"Our relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi stated India stands for freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce in adherence to international law. This reaffirms our shared vision for regional security," Austin said.

His maiden visit is significant as it comes within a week of the summit between the heads of state of Quad countries US, India, Australia and Japan.

Both countries have increased defence partnership in recent years. India signed four key defence pacts with the US in the past few years. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018 enhanced information sharing and interoperability. The Industrial Security Annex (ISA), signed in December 2019, allows for the transfer of technologies in support of defence production. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is for sharing unclassified geospatial information.

"We've signed LEMOA, COMCASA & BECA agreements & we've agreed to realise their full potential," said Singh.

The top US defence official landed in New Delhi on Friday evening as part of the Biden administration's efforts to forge an alliance of countries seeking to push back against China's assertiveness in the region. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor soon after.

Austin, Doval exchange notes According to the Hindustan Times, the two-hour-long meeting between Secretary Austin and NSA Doval was very positive with both leaders exchanging notes on the security environment in Asia and beyond.

"It is in American interest that there is a favourable balance of power in Asia in face of a militarily assertive China. Washington needs to join hands with countries like India whose territorial integrity is being challenged by Beijing," a former Indian foreign secretary told the daily.

India has substantially increased its acquisition of US defence equipment, with Indian forces operating US-sourced platforms such as P-8s, C-130Js, C-17s, AH-64s, CH-47s, Precision Guided-Excalibur Munitions, and M777 howitzers. In February, India agreed to acquire Apache and MH-60R multi-mission helicopters worth $3.1 billion, and is considering other US systems.

A deal for 30 armed drones, 10 each for the army, air force, and navy, pegged at over $3 billion, is close to being approved by the Indian defense ministry. In November 2020, the Indian Navy acquired two Sea Guardian unarmed drones from the U.S. on a one-year lease. India has plans also to buy six additional P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft in addition to the 12 already contracted.

Experts believe that the trajectory of Indo-US relations under President Biden could well turn out to be more consistent, smoother and stronger because India is poised to play a central role in the US's Indo-Pacific strategy given its big professional armed forces, large economy and its aim of resisting China's unfair policies.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  When Dogs Heal: Powerful Stories of People Living with HIV and the Dogs that Saved Them was a traveling exhibit of photographs before it was a book of photographs.

We had an opening exhibit in Chicago. We hung it in a beautiful space. It was packed and we raised money for Fred Says, said Jesse Freidin, the exhibit and books photographer. Fred Says is a nonprofit charity.

We didnt know what would come of it.

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................................................................

Soon they did.

The public response was so good that we thought that maybe it could be a book, Freidin said in a phone interview from his Santa Fe home.

Freidin, an award-winning dog photographer, teamed up with three others to produce the book, Dr. Robert Garofalo, a pediatrician and an adolescent HIV+ specialist; Zach Stafford, an LGBTQ advocate and journalist; and Robert Garofalos niece Christina Garofalo, who helped with the interviews and writing.

They spent two to three years of shopping around the book idea. A number of publishers turned them down, believing there was too much stigma attached to the subject, Freidin said.

When we found Lerner, he said, they were behind the book 100%, and because Lerner is a young adult publishing house, they wanted to make sure young people were exposed to the book, and of course, adults, too.

When Dogs Heal was released March 2 under Lerners Zest Books imprint.

In the book are 36 full-page photographic portraits showing the love between humans and their canine companions. Personal stories accompany each portrait.

The books origin goes back to 2010 when Robert Garofalo tested positive for HIV.

I felt like a failure. I felt damaged, ashamed and alone.  I was somehow unable to afford myself the same compassion I had spent my career giving to others, he writes in his introduction to the book.

Early in 2011, Robert Garofalo adopted Fred, a 10-week-old Yorkshire terrier. Over the next weeks and months, he writes, Fred brought me back to life. With boundless energy, a pure soul and unconditional love, he was the perfect antidote to the isolation and loneliness that crippled me.

The last of the 36 dog-and-human portraits/narratives is about Robert Garofalo and Fred. He gives credit to Fred for inspiring him to develop the idea for the book.

Freidin said the format for the photographs is based on the central focus of his studio work over many years. For those years I focused on documenting through private commissions and books the healing relationship between dogs and their people, he said. People hire me to come to their homes to tell the intimate story of them and their dogs. Freidin penned his own introduction to the book. In it, he writes that his aim in developing the series of portraits with Robert Garofalos help was to show people with HIV thriving, loving and being loved  a visual story that is rarely told.

Freidin said When Dogs Heal is his first collaborative project. The portraits, he writes, carry a deep message of acceptance, one that I hope readers will amplify. In his introduction is a portrait of Freidin embracing his dog Pancake.

The charity Fred Says is named for Robert Garofalos Yorkie. The charity helps raise funds to improve the lives of young people living with HIV.

A portion of the proceeds from the books sales benefits Fred Says.

The books website is whendogsheal.org.

In canine-related book news, Penguin Young Readers Group this month launched a new series of illustrated dog books for middle school readers. The funny new series title is Good Dogs and it begins with two releases  Good Dogs on a Bad Day and Good Dogs with Bad Haircuts. The three main dogs in the adventure series are Hugo, King and Lulu. Each of them has its own distinct voice and style and each narrates alternating chapters.

The co-authors are Rachel Wenitsky and David Sidorov. Tor Freeman is the illustrator.
ironSource provides the most comprehensive business platform for the app economy. The platform is designed to enable any app or game developer to turn their app into a scalable, successful business by helping them to monetize and analyze their app and grow and engage their users through multiple channels, including unique on-device distribution through partnerships with leading telecom operators and OEMs such as Orange and Samsung. In 2020, ironSource grew revenue 83% year-over-year to $332 million, with 94% from 291 customers with more than $100,000 of annual revenue, a dollar-based net expansion rate of 149%, and adjusted EBITDA margins of 31%. The company serves over 2.3 billion monthly active users across its global customer base.

As a public company, ironSource is expected to benefit from the financial and operational support of Thoma Bravo  one of the most experienced and successful software investors in the world. With a track record of over 300 software investments, Thoma Bravo can provide ironSource with unparalleled industry expertise and a global network.

"Joining forces with Thoma Bravo Advantage to bring ironSource to the public markets presents an opportunity to partner with the world's leading software investor to achieve the next level of growth," said Tomer Bar Zeev, CEO and co-founder of ironSource. "Despite our previous progress pursuing a traditional IPO, when we met with Thoma Bravo Advantage we found an alignment of vision and shared conviction about the long-term growth we can drive at ironSource that made them the perfect partner as we take this next step in growing our company, and the market as a whole."

"As one of the fastest-growing and most innovative platforms for building and scaling businesses in the app economy, ironSource is well-positioned for continued success as a public company," said Orlando Bravo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thoma Bravo Advantage, as well as a founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo. "With a full suite of solutions across the app growth life cycle  and a unique combination of scale, business growth, and profitability  we expect ironSource to further its market leadership position as a public company. We look forward to partnering closely with Tomer and the talented ironSource team in this exciting next chapter for the company."

"ironSource is a one-of-a-kind software company that combines an innovative, high-growth franchise with a deeply experienced management team that has a track record of success in a rapidly expanding market," said Robert (Tre) Sayle, CEO of Thoma Bravo Advantage, as well as a partner at Thoma Bravo. "We are thrilled to be partnering with ironSource as it enters the public markets and to be able to provide Thoma Bravo's deep software expertise and financial support to the company as it continues its growth journey."

Company Overview

The app economy is one of the fastest-growing markets today, with millions of apps available to billions of users who spend 83% of their time on mobile devices inside apps. Within the app economy, games are the leading category of apps, accounting for the majority of apps in the Apple App Store in 2020 according to Statista, and ironSource has established a strong leadership position within this category, focusing its product development and innovation on building core infrastructure serving mobile game developers.

ironSource powers the business growth of 87% of the top 100 games, and has been ranked multiple times as one of the top 3 platforms for driving both quality and scaled user growth by leading industry indexes. In addition, 14 of the 19 games published through the ironSource platform were ranked in the top 10 most downloaded games on either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store over the course of 2020, and one of them  Join Clash  was the most downloaded game in the world in February 2021.

"Our solutions cover the entire game growth cycle, from growing your user base, to generating revenue to reinvest in growth, and then analyzing and optimizing the entire cycle to drive profitability," said Omer Kaplan, CRO and co-founder of ironSource. "Using our platform, game developers are able to unlock a flywheel of continuous growth, and since our business model is aligned with our customer's success, as they grow, we do too. While this cycle is most often leveraged by mobile games, it's easily transferable to apps outside of gaming, and today 16% of our customers with more than $100,000 of annual revenue are already from industries beyond games."

The ironSource platform is made up of two solution suites, ironSource Sonic ("Sonic") and ironSource Aura ("Aura"). The Sonic solution suite supports developers as they launch, monetize, and scale their apps and games. The Aura solution suite allows telecom operators to enrich the device experience by creating new engagement touchpoints that deliver relevant content for their users across the entire lifecycle of the device. This creates a unique on-device distribution channel for developers to promote their apps as an integral part of the device experience.

"The Aura solution suite represents a unique value-add for developers, allowing them to get their apps discovered on millions of devices worldwide," said Arnon Harish, President and co-founder of ironSource. "Equally important, however, is our ability to help telecom operators with digital transformation, enabling them to engage their users throughout the lifecycle of the device. By leveraging ironSource's core capabilities around content monetization and user engagement, we were able to quickly build and deploy a solution suite for telecom operators that allows them to more fully participate in the app economy."

The combination of these two solution suites serves to differentiate the ironSource platform, making it the most comprehensive app business platform in the market and underpinning its market leadership. That market leadership makes ironSource the de facto choice for customers looking to grow their app, and the breadth of its solutions means developers of all sizes and at all stages of growth have a way to leverage the platform. Once a developer starts working with ironSource, they typically expand their use to multiple solutions within the platform, driving a high dollar-based net expansion rate and gross customer retention rate.

"This is a very proud moment for us at Viola and for me personally. A company where we were the first investors thrives and goes public as one of the largest public tech companies in Israeli history," said Shlomo Dovrat, co-founder of Viola Ventures and board member at ironSource. "We look forward to continuing to work with the amazing founding team of ironSource on their incredible journey."

"We invested in ironSource in 2019 because we saw a unique opportunity to partner with a founder-led company that not only operated in an exciting market, but had already achieved impressive, profitable growth and industry leadership," said Daniel Pindur, Partner at CVC Capital Partners. "It's been amazing to be part of ironSource's journey so far, and incredibly rewarding to see the company enter its next chapter of growth," added Sebastian Kuenne, Managing Director and Head of CVC Growth Partners in Europe.

Transaction Overview

Thoma Bravo Advantage has agreed to combine with ironSource based on a $11.1 billion pro forma equity valuation and the transaction is supported by a $1.3 billion oversubscribed Class A ordinary share PIPE led by a $300 million investment by an affiliate of Thoma Bravo, as well as investments from Tiger Global Management, LLC, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Nuveen, LLC, Hedosophia, Wellington Management, The Baupost Group, and certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC and other institutional investors.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Thoma Bravo Advantage's shareholders.

Shares issued to the sponsor of Thoma Bravo Advantage will be subject to a 12-month lock-up with limited releases based on the trading price of the shares following the 150th day after the closing of the transaction; nearly all of ironSource's shareholders will be subject to a 6-month lock-up after the closing of the transaction, subject to the same early release applicable to Thoma Bravo Advantage.

Following the closing of the transaction, ironSource will have a dual class equity structure whereby current shareholders of ironSource will own Class B ordinary shares with five votes per share and holders of Class A ordinary shares, including Thoma Bravo Advantage's shareholders, will have one vote per share.

After giving effect to the transaction and assuming no redemptions by the Thoma Bravo Advantage shareholders, the company is expected to have approximately $740 million of unrestricted cash.

Total consideration to ironSource shareholders will be $10 billion, which is expected to be comprised of $1.5 billion in cash consideration and a majority of the shares of the combined company.

Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will retain the ironSource Ltd. name.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are serving as financial advisors to ironSource, and Latham & Watkins LLP and Meitar | Law Offices are serving as legal advisors to ironSource.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Goldfarb Seligman & Co. and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP are acting as legal advisors to Thoma Bravo Advantage.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC acted as PIPE placement agents.

Investor Conference Call

For those investors that wish to listen to an investor presentation and webcast hosted by management of ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage discussing the business and the proposed transaction, please register here www.is.com/investors.

A link to a brief investor audio call hosted by management of ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage discussing the business and the proposed transaction can be found on ironSource's investor website at www.is.com/investors.

The investor presentation is being filed by ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be available on the company's investor relations website and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

About ironSource

ironSource is a leading business platform that enables mobile content creators to prosper within the app economy. App developers use ironSource's platform to turn their apps into successful, scalable businesses, leveraging a comprehensive set of software solutions which help them grow and engage users, monetize content, and analyze and optimize business performance to drive more overall growth. The ironSource platform also empowers telecom operators to create a richer device experience, incorporating relevant app and service recommendations to engage users throughout the lifecycle of the device. By providing a comprehensive business platform for the core constituents of the app economy, ironSource allows customers to focus on what they do best, creating great apps and user experiences, while we enable their business expansion in the app economy. For more information please visit www.is.com

About Thoma Bravo Advantage

Thoma Bravo Advantage is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purposes of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Its Class A ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "TBA." Thoma Bravo Advantage is sponsored by Thoma Bravo Advantage Sponsor LLC, which was formed by individuals affiliated with Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity firm focused on the software and technology-enabled software services sector. Thoma Bravo Advantage was formed for the purpose of executing a business combination in the software industry.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This press release relates to a proposed transaction between ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage. This press release does not constitute (i) solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction or (ii) an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any security of Thoma Bravo Advantage, ironSource, or any of their respective affiliates, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

In connection with the proposed transaction, ironSource intends to file a registration statement on Form F-4 with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement of Thoma Bravo Advantage in connection with Thoma Bravo Advantage's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Thoma Bravo Advantage's shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction and a prospectus of ironSource. Thoma Bravo Advantage also will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.

This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed transaction. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders are urged to read the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by ironSource and Thoma Bravo Advantage through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by ironSource may be obtained free of charge from ironSource's website at http://www.is.com or by written request to ironSource at ironSource Ltd., Derech Menachem Begin 121, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, and the documents filed by Thoma Bravo Advantage may be obtained free of charge from Thoma Bravo Advantage's website at http://www.thomabravoadvantage.com or by written request to Thoma Bravo Advantage, 150 N. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Participants in Solicitation

ironSource and Thoma Bravo and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Thoma Bravo's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Thoma Bravo Advantage ("TBA") and ironSource Ltd. ("ironSource"). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this communication, including statements regarding ironSource's, TBA's or the combined company's future financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, ironSource's or TBA's expectations concerning the outlook for their or the combined company's business, productivity, plans and goals for future operational improvements and capital investments, operational performance, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets and expected future financial performance, as well as any information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the combined company. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding the expected benefits of the proposed transaction between ironSource and TBA.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of TBA's securities; (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the adoption of the merger agreement by the shareholders of TBA and ironSource, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by TBA's public shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iii) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether to pursue the proposed transaction; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (v) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on ironSource's business relationships, performance, and business generally; (vi) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans of ironSource and potential difficulties in ironSource employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against ironSource or against TBA related to the merger agreement or the proposed transaction; (vii) the ability of ironSource to list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (ix) volatility in the price of the combined company's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive industry in which ironSource operates, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting ironSource's business and changes in the combined capital structure; (x) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and to identify and realize additional opportunities; (xi) ironSource's markets are rapidly evolving and may decline or experience limited growth; (xii) ironSource's reliance on operating system providers and app stores to support its platform; (xiii) ironSource's ability to compete effectively in the markets in which it operates; (xiv) ironSource's quarterly results of operations may fluctuate for a variety of reasons; (xv) failure to maintain and enhance the ironSource brand; (xvi) ironSource's dependence on its ability to retain and expand its existing customer relationships and attract new customers; (xvii) ironSource's reliance on its customers that contribute more than $100,000 of annual revenue; (xviii) ironSource's ability to successfully and efficiently manage its current and potential future growth; (xix) ironSource's dependence upon the continued growth of the app economy and the increased usage of smartphones, tablets and other connected devices; (xx) ironSource's dependence upon the success of the gaming and mobile app ecosystem and the risks generally associated with the gaming industry; (xxi) ironSource's, and ironSource's competitors', ability to detect or prevent fraud on its platforms; (xxii) failure to prevent security breaches or unauthorized access to ironSource's or its third-party service providers data; (xxiii) the global scope of ironSource's operations, which are subject to laws and regulations worldwide, many of which are unsettled and still developing; (xxiv) the rapidly changing and increasingly stringent laws, contractual obligations and industry standards relating to privacy, data protection, data security and the protection of children; and (xxv) the effects of health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

ironSource and TBA caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this communication. Neither ironSource nor TBA undertakes any obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that ironSource or TBA will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear, up to the consummation of the proposed transaction, in TBA's public filings with the SEC or, upon and following the consummation of the proposed transaction, in ironSource's public filings with the SEC, which are or will be (as appropriate) accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to consult.

Market, ranking and industry data used throughout this communication, including statements regarding market size and technology adoption rates, is based on the good faith estimates of ironSource's management, which in turn are based upon ironSource's management's review of internal surveys, independent industry surveys and publications, including reports by Altman Solon, App Annie, AppsFlyer, Apptopia, eMarketer, Newzoo, Omdia and Sensor Tower and other third party research and publicly available information. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. While ironSource is not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented herein, its estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed above.

SOURCE Thoma Bravo Advantage; ironSource
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Portland police officers and Oregon state troopers arrest a man they said was armed with a rifle during a protest in Portland, Ore., on Nov. 4, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Murders, Shootings Skyrocketed in Portland Following George Floyds Death

Shootings and murders significantly increased in Portland, Oregon, starting in May 2020 and have been plaguing the city since.

The death of George Floyd in police custody that month in Minneapolis triggered nationwide protests and riots, with Portland seeing escalating violence that eventually culminated in nightly clashes between federal officers and insurgents.

Shootings rose 173 percent after the riots, while murders spiked 255 percent in the months following the unrest, according to Portland police data analyzed by the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

Sean Kennedy, a visiting fellow at the institute, told The Epoch Times that he sees a clear connection between the spike in violence and the demoralization, disempowerment, and defunding of police following Floyds death.

When the police stand down, criminals step up is the simplest way to put it, Kennedy said.

Fifty-one excess homicides took place in Portland between June and February, according to his analysis. According to the Portland Police Bureaus website, the city has seen 104 shootings in January, up from 50 in January 2020; and 75 in February, up from 38 in February 2020.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler speaks to the media at city hall in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 30, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Rioters in Portland attacked the U.S. courthouse shortly after Floyds death, prompting the federal government to send reinforcements to protect the building. For weeks afterward, clashes between federal officers and rioters played out and made news around the world. Hundreds of insurgents were arrested while several officers were sued for alleged excessive use of force.

Federal and city officials eventually reached a deal to scale back federal involvement and send state troopers to help local law enforcement. Rioters and protesters turned their sights on other buildings, including police stations and businesses. This continues to this day.

Police officials have said that 911 calls are going unanswered, in some cases for hours, because so many officers are tasked with dealing with the unresta major concern in trying to respond to the spate of shootings.

In an emailed statement, Portland Sgt. Kevin Allen told The Epoch Times that the causes of gun violence and homicides are varied and complex.

Theres no one cause that we can point to. But its extremely concerning. For months we have had additional detectives assigned to the Homicide Division to help solve these cases. Additional detectives have also been working out of the Assault Detail. In fact, just recently some were branched off to focus on investigating shootings specifically, he said.

Police officials, under the direction of Portland Mayor and Police Commissioner Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, announced last month the formation of the Enhanced Community Safety Team.

The team, much like the disbanded Gun Violence Reduction Team, is going to focus on gun violence.

Shootings spiked in Portland in May 2020. (Maryland Public Policy Institute)

Murders spiked in Portland in May 2020. (Maryland Public Policy Institute)

Our communities cant wait, Portland Deputy Chief Chris Davis said in a statement at the time. The mayor has made it clear that this is a top priority and that we need to start right away. So I think this is a step in the right direction toward addressing this unacceptable gun violence were seeing in our city.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced around the same time that his office had initiated 26 cases related to gun violence in the first 18 days of February, saying: I am surging our resources in the district attorneys office in response to the escalating gun violence occurring in our community. This is the most pressing public safety issue we face right now.

Wheelers office told The Epoch Times: Gun violence is not endemic to Portland. Community violence, and gun violence in particular, is rising sharply around the country. It is a public health crisis as contagious and viral as any pandemic. In the middle of a global pandemic, on the front edge of a deep recession with record unemployment, kids out of school, parents out of work, rent unpaid, and nowhere to go, the pressures were facing collectively and individually would have been unimaginable a year ago. These pressures, and the lack of an effective federal safety net to relieve them, are driving this spike.

The office said it is working urgently to address the crisis with a program that will be effective and responsive to increasing gun violence, while avoiding the over-policing of the Black community that we have seen historically.

Wheeler said earlier this month, after Portland saw its 20th homicide of the year, that he will seek $2 million to bolster the response to shootings and murders. An interfaith group had written to city commissioners, including the mayor, requesting immediate action to address gun violence.

Cuts to the Police Bureau created a vacuum that undermined public safety and the very communities whose voices the Counciland our communityseek to amplify, they wrote.

Wheeler convened former and current elected officials on March 15 for a press conference to condemn the continued riots and said authorities are taking a more hardline stance against them, pointing to the kettling tactics police used against rioters who had begun smashing windows.

Recent riotous activity and destruction of property by self-described anarchists do not support the calls for social justice and system reform, Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese said during the briefing. They only simply damage private property from businesses already suffering from the economic slowdown due to COVID-19, and they disrupt vital public safety and government services that our community relies on. Responding to these events pulls away resources from public safety priorities.
Two Metairie Republicans, Eddie Connick and Laurie Schlegel, will head to an April 24 runoff for the open 82nd District seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives representing East Jefferson.

Connick led the three-candidate field, finishing with 40% of the vote. Schlegel had 36%. And Raymond Delaney Jr. garnered 25%, according to complete but unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office. The Secretary of State's Office rounds the numbers.

Unofficial voter turnout was just under 19%.

+4 Meet the 3 candidates trying to win a Jefferson Parish-based House of Representatives post March 20 Three candidates, two with familiar names in political circles, have jumped into the Jefferson Parish race to replace Charles Henry as the 82n

The seat opened up earlier this year when Charles Henry, who had been in office about a year, resigned. The district includes parts of Jefferson, Metairie and Elmwood.

The 59-year old Connick is a longtime medical industry executive and a member of one of the New Orleans area's most well-known political families. Schlegel, 44, is a professional therapist whose husband, Scott, is a sitting district court judge in Jefferson Parish. Delaney, the lone Democrat in the race, is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Southern University at New Orleans.

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Connick and Schlegel are competing to represent a district that has been ruby-red for years. Before Henry, his brother Cameron held the seat, and before that, Steve Scalise.

Both Connick and Schlegel have vowed to make the state more business friendly, clearing red tape and restructuring the tax system. Both touted their business experience.

Connick has called for a constitutional convention, arguing that the state constitution is too byzantine and out of date. He has pointed to his years as a medical industry executive in saying he would be able to help reduce waste and abuse in the state's health care programs.

"We've got to get back to basics," he said recently. "I know how to manage finances, cut expenses and negotiate contracts."

Schlegel has said the state needs to be "more user-friendly" for businesses and that educational opportunities, such as vocational education, should be expanded. Her experience as a therapist, she said, would help her bring different people to the table to talk out their differences.

"It's sort of a continuation of what I do all day long," she said.
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Actress Sandra Oh told a Pittsburgh rally on Saturday that she is proud to be Asian and urged others to stand together against racism in the wake of Tuesdays mass shooting in Atlanta that claimed the lives of eight people.

Six of the eight people who were fatally gunned down at massage parlors in Atlanta and Cherokee County, Georgia were women of Asian descent. One person who was shot survived.

The alleged gunman, a 21-year-old white man identified as Robert Aaron Long, is said to have confessed to the shootings though authorities have yet to firmly establish a motive.

Grey's Anatomy actress Sandra Oh (above) gave a rousing two-minute speech at an anti-hate rally in Pittsburgh on Saturday

The rally was one of several nationwide over the weekend denouncing anti-Asian racism following Tuesday's mass shootings in and around Atlanta that left eight people - six of them women of Asian descent - dead. The image above shows a rally at McPherson Square in Washington, DC on Sunday

Members and supporters of the Asian-American community attend a 'rally against hate' at McPherson Square in Washington, DC

New York City mayoral hopeful and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang is seen above speaking at a rally against hate and racism at Columbus Park in the Chinatown section of Manhattan on Sunday

Long claimed that he has a sex addiction which drove him to target the two massage parlors since he viewed them as fueling his affliction, according to investigators. So far, authorities have said that the shootings were not a hate crime.

Pittsburgh, I am so happy and proud to be here with you, and thank you to all the organizers for organizing this just to give us an opportunity to be together and to stand together and to feel each other, the 49-year-old Greys Anatomy star told rallygoers in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Oh's speech was first reported by TribLIVE.

For many of us in our community, this is the first time we are even able to voice our fear and our anger, and I really am so grateful to everyone willing to listen.

Oh, the Golden Globe Award-winning star of Killing Eve, is in Pittsburgh filming a new Netflix series The Chair.

Rallygoers hold up signs denouncing anti-Asian racism at a demonstration in the Chinatown section of New York City on Sunday

Demonstrators in New York City gathered on Sunday to protest Tuesday's slaughter of six women of Asian descent in the Atlanta area by a white gunman

A man attending a rally in the Chinatown section of New York City holds up a sign that reads 'Stop Asian hate' on Sunday

A young girl in the Chinatown section of New York City holds up a sign that reads 'Hate = a virus' on Sunday

She gave a rousing two-minute speech on Saturday in which she led the audience in a chant of I am proud to be Asian.

I know many of us in our community are very scared and I understand that, Oh said.

And one way to get through our fear is to reach out to our communities. I will challenge everyone here, if you see something will you help me?

Earlier this week, Oh, who was born in Canada to parents who emigrated from South Korea, reacted to the Atlanta massacre by posting a heartfelt message on social media.

I send loving kindness and support to the families of the eight souls murdered in Georgia on March 16, she wrote.

And to all the victims of racist violence. I am devastated and profoundly angry. I know many of you are scared but let us not be afraid.

Remember #itsanhonorjusttobeasian.

The demonstration in Pittsburgh was one of many rallies nationwide on Saturday which were staged to denounce anti-Asian racism.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic last year, Asians in the United States have increasingly been victims of racist attacks.

A diverse crowd gathered on Saturday near the Georgia State Capitol to demand justice for the victims of recent shootings at massage businesses and to denounce racism, xenophobia and misogyny.

Hundreds of people of all ages and varied racial and ethnic backgrounds gathered in Liberty Plaza in Atlanta, and in similar rallies across the country, waving signs and chanting slogans.

In Atlanta, they cheered Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, and Georgia state Representatives Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House.

Demonstrators are seen above attending a rally on Sunday in Washington, DC in the aftermath of Tuesday's massacre in and around Atlanta

Rallygoers are seen above in Washington, DC on Sunday to protest the mass shooting in and around Atlanta on Tuesday

Canadian protesters rally against anti-Asian racism in Montreal on Sunday in the wake of Tuesday's shooting in and around Atlanta

Demonstrators march and brandish signs during Sunday's protest in Montreal against anti-Asian racism

A demonstrator (left) in Montreal on Sunday holds up signs with the names of the victims of Tuesday's massacre in and around Atlanta

'I just wanted to drop by to say to my Asian sisters and brothers, we see you, and, more importantly, we are going to stand with you,' Warnock said to loud cheers as passing drivers honked car horns in support.

Georgia lawmakers last year passed a hate crimes law allowing additional penalties 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 Georgia law, but can be used to add time to a sentence of someone convicted of another crime.

'No matter how you want to spin it, the facts remain the same. This was an attack on the Asian community,' said Nguyen, an advocate for women and communities of color.

She noted the shooter targeted businesses operated by women of Asian descent.

'Let's join hands with our ally community and demand justice for not only these victims but for all victims of white supremacy,' she said.

A couple hundred people gathered in a separate Atlanta park and marched through the streets to join the larger rally, chanting 'Stop Asian hate' and 'We are what America looks like.'

Frankie Laguna, 23, who grew up in Atlanta and now lives in Tennessee, was an organizer of that group.

Scores of people attended a rally against anti-Asian racism in downtown Houston on Saturday

Sally Sha holds up a sign during a Stop Asian Hate rally at Discovery Green in downtown Houston on Saturday

Protesters in Houston on Saturday slammed the police handling of the investigation into Tuesday's shootings in Georgia

Anti-racism protesters are seen above during a demonstration in Houston on Saturday

Young children of Asian descent hold up signs denouncing violence against elderly Asian-Americans during a rally in Houston on Saturday

Attendees close their eyes during a Stop Asian Hate rally at Discovery Green in downtown Houston on Saturday

Rallygoers in Houston hold up signs that read 'Asian & proud' and 'No excuse for racism' during a demonstration on Saturday

Protesters in Houston hold up signs on Saturday to denounce anti-Asian racism in the wake of Tuesday's shootings in Atlanta

Hong Jiang kisses Annie Jiang in Houston on Saturday as people protest after the deadly shootings in Georgia and against violence targeting Asian people

A demonstrator holds a candle during a protest against anti-Asian racism in Houston on Saturday

She told the crowd she was the first person in her family born in the US after her mother arrived from Taiwan.

'I'm sick of being belittled and hypersexualized and hated for who I am, for something I cant change,' she said as the group marched.

Bernard Dong, a 24-year-old student from China at Georgia Tech, said he came out to the protest for the rights not just for Asians but for all minorities.

'Many times Asian people are too silent, but times change,' he said.

Dong said he was 'angry and disgusted' about the shootings, and the violence that persists in 2021 against Asians, minorities and women.

Otis Wilson, a 38-year-old photographer whos black, said people need to pay attention to the discrimination those of Asian descent face.

'We went through this last year with the black community, and we're not the only ones who go through this,' he said.

Camden Hunt, a 28-year-old black woman, said she first got involved in activism in her native Baltimore.

She attended protests over the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who suffered a broken neck in police custody in Baltimore in 2015.

She moved to Atlanta four years ago and got involved in community organizing, last summer pulling together an event to support black women victimized by police violence.

Yune Kim, 10, sits and holds a flower during a vigil at a makeshift memorial outside the Gold Spa in Atlanta on Sunday

A woman prays on Sunday during a vigil at a makeshift memorial outside the Gold Spa following the deadly shootings in Atlanta

Police in Atlanta are still investigating the motive in connection with the fatal shooting of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, on Tuesday. People on Saturday embrace by a makeshift memorial outside the Gold Spa following the deadly shootings in Atlanta

Hunt joined Saturdays rally to 'show black and Asian solidarity,' adding 'I think it's amazing. I look out and I see people of all shades and ages and backgrounds.'

Similar rallies were held from coast to coast.

In San Francisco, hundreds gathered in Portsmouth Square, in the middle of Chinatown, to grieve the victims and to call for an end to racist and sexist violence against Asian Americans.

The participants waved signs reading 'stop Asian hate.'

In Chicago, about 300 people gathered and in New York City, hundreds marched from Times Square to Chinatown, news outlets reported.
The collision of two powerful weather systems over the east coast of NSW on Monday night may see more evacuations as western Sydney residents were forced to flee to higher ground on Sunday when floodwaters inundated their neighbourhoods.

The State Emergency Service ordered about 1000 residents from western Penrith, Jamisontown and Mulgoa to pack up and leave or face being trapped by rising floodwaters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned up to 4000 people could be displaced in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley over the next few days.

Residents of several western Sydney suburbs were forced to evacuate on Sunday. Credit:Nick Moir, Dean Sewell

Almost 140 schools have closed, roads and bridges have been cut off, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been delayed in parts of Sydney and NSW because of the extreme weather, and supplies to supermarkets have also been impeded.
Ysgol Clywedog students plant fruit trees as part of heritage project

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 21st, 2021

Students at a Wrexham secondary school have been planting ancient varieties of fruit trees in an area of the school grounds as part of a local heritage growing project.

Staff at Ysgol Clywedog approached the team at Brymbo Heritage Orchard a year ago to discuss the potential of working together on the schools Tyfu (Grow) project, which has been developed by the Eco-Action Taskforce Group.

On a visit to the school, the potential of creating a heritage orchard was discussed, along with apple juicing and learning how to care for trees.

After hearing about the plans, the students were excited to get involved and Brymbo Heritage Orchard donated twenty apple and plum trees to kickstart the project.





Last year, in the same field, the Eco-Action Taskforce Group created an allotment and planted two hundred and fifty trees donated by the Woodland Trust.

Nicholas Brown, head of geography at Ysgol Clywedog, said: It has been great to start working with the Brymbo Heritage Orchard and we are grateful for their support with this exciting project.

We should be harvesting fruit in a couple of years time so this is a long term partnership and project for students in school, and those who have not joined yet.

We did not choose cider varieties as we dont want to produce alcohol, but we are really looking forward to juicing and baking with the fruit.

After only one year, we are already seeing a boost in the biodiversity in the area and this will increase further once these new fruit trees begin to establish.

I think it is so important for young people to have an opportunity to get hands on experience through projects such as this, where they can learn about growing food and the benefits this can bring to them and the environment.

Hana McGreary, a design technology teacher, organised the planting day. She said: It was a very productive morning and, with the help of students from key worker families, some of whom are Eco-Taskforce members, we successfully planted eighteen heritage apple trees and two plum trees.

The students worked well as a team to accurately space out the trees, prepare the ground and position the support posts.

It was a really enjoyable day, and I would like to thank everyone for their hard work.

Daisy Pittaway, a year nine student who took part in the scheme, said: Even though it was hard work planting the trees, it was great fun.

I loved being able to use the big tools to dig holes and turn over the soil.

When the trees start to grow, I will know that all the hard work that was put into planting them was so worthwhile.

Knowing that I am contributing to helping the environment is extremely rewarding for me.

Our Eco Club has been working really hard on different projects and I feel proud to be involved with it.

The schools Tyfu (Grow) project has already achieved numerous accolades since it started in September 2019, including: the Woodland Trust Green Tree Gold School Award; Jane Goodalls Roots and Shoots Silver Award; The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) School Bronze Award and the Eco-Schools Bronze Award.

The environmentally astute students also scooped the top International Collaboration prize in the final of the International Collaboration category of the Young Reporter for The Environment (YRE) Competition, in conjunction with their partner school, Colegio Enriquez Soler in Melilla in Spain. The students winning video entitled Plastic Waste  An Intercontinental Problem, highlighted the damaging and long-term impact of single use plastics on the environment.

Hoping to defend their title, this year the students have once again teamed up with students from Colegio Enriquez Soler as well as two schools in Beirut, Lebanon to produce a video about swapping single use plastic for reusable materials.

Plans are also in place to launch a whole school International Eco-Week later in the year where students will be doing joint activities with the schools in Lebanon in every subject, including joint assemblies, cooking traditional Welsh and Lebanese foods, sharing music and art, measuring air quality, and comparing the two areas.
Ronald Reagan famously said, "The trouble with our liberal friends isn't that they're ignorant. It's that they know so much that isn't so." This might be the only thing our friends on the left have in common with yesterday's liberals. The earlier breed at least gave lip service to the value of free speech and vigorous debate.

"Liberalism" was the enemy of truth and clarity throughout the Cold War. Public debate was full of wordplay. Nimbleness of language ruled the day, with liberals parsing their way through the decay of communism 'til they could blame the decadence of capitalism for all the world's woes. It may be why they hated "The Great Communicator" Reagan so much. He beat them at their own game, giving substance to style, facts to flair.

Today's adversary is illiberalism, leftism. Words still matter, for words constitute the building blocks of ideas. Argument suffers as one block after another is made "off limits." Soon enough, entire arguments are forbidden. Today, the subject can be anthropogenic climate change, the veracity of the November 2020 vote, the efficacy of employing certain antimicrobials in treating COVID-19, or whether the Capitol riot of January 6 is better described an armed insurrection or a pitiful flash mob. In each instance, the left loudly insists that the issue is "settled." By that, they mean to say to us, "Shut up."

Elected member of Congress, in fact, maintain that to question their conclusions is nothing less than "disinformation." When the absurdity of their assertion begins to raise eyebrows, they resort to an allegation of mere "misinformation." In either case, however, they contend that the First Amendment does not encompass the speech at hand. This matter, too, is presumably "settled," for debate has been foreclosed on these and a growing number of topics in the public sphere.

For decades, society recognized that "gender dysphoria" was a mental disorder, and for millennia, our forebears intuitively treated (probably mistreated, alas) the afflicted accordingly. But it's 2021, and in much of media, the term itself is forbidden. Those of us who use it are pronounced "hateful," and the president of the United States of America appointed a man who calls himself a woman, "Rachel" Levine, to be assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Worse, by executive fiat, he has presumed to prohibit states from denying males who identify as females from competing with females in sports. This week, a progressive journalist, while pretending to approve of vigorous debate, sought to "shame" others into rejecting the term "biological male" as transphobic. It's okay to disagree, as long as you don't give words to the disagreement.

Newsrooms and classrooms eagerly ban words that give newly discovered offense. Inevitably, the ideas the words conveyed disappear. Libraries and retailers ban the books they're found in. And we have only ourselves to blame. For 30 years, on transgenderism and a host of other issues, we've seen the camel's nose sneak more deeply into the tent, and we looked away, pretending not to notice as its neck, front legs, and prominent torso squeezed into our living quarters. Another three years of Biden-Harris and we'll be wondering why the kids have humps.

Years ago, a "liberal" friend gave me perhaps the most honest criticism I have ever heard about conservatives. "You people are pathologically polite," he said. "We scream and swear and march and chant and all you can do is write a clever letter to the effing editor."

The truth is, it was actually worse than he described it. More often than not, I'd forgo the letter, go for a walk, "take the high road," be the bigger man, and bathe in a sort of perverse satisfaction that comes from certitude alone. Where I would take comfort in my demonstration of patience and maturity, my friend assumed I'd folded up my tent, effectively conceding that the camel owned the lot.

It is a hideous realization, but a corollary to President Reagan's truism might be, "The trouble with us conservatives isn't that we lack backbone. It's that it's difficult for invertebrates to show we have it."

By our nature, conservatives embrace a kind of "good citizenship" mentality that includes a belief that the peacemaker is blessed. Although an evangelical Christian who takes the word of God seriously, it's often hard for me to believe that the meek will inherit a thing. If it were otherwise, the GOP would have owned the whole solar system long before Trump came along.

It's too late (for now, at least) to fight the many battles we tacitly surrendered. We can recover lost ground later. As a litigator and appellate lawyer, I'd never have advised a client at the outset of a case to stake his hopes on the results on appeal. We need to win a battle decisively, even if it's not the decisive battle.

Perhaps we start by agreeing that when "biological male" constitutes hate speech, the boundaries are no longer simply blurred. Linguistic coastal cliffsides have crumbled into the ocean. As the coastline goes, so does the definition of the nation. Failing to protect that is when politeness become cowardice, when good citizenship becomes bad citizenship. It's when peacemaking looks more like surrender.

Ultimately, there's a time for the Sermon on the Mount, and there's a time for calling out the brood of vipers. There's a time for style and diplomacy, and there's a time to tell the other side to shut up. If that's not settled, nothing is.

Image: Pezibear via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday called for a "fair and impartial probe by an outside agency" into the controversy surrounding Mumbai policeman Sachin Waze and his alleged patronisation by top leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP combine in Maharashtra.

Prasad expressed astonishment over Waze, "a mere assistant inspector", having been defended inside and outside the assembly by none other than Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He also questioned the "silence" of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in the matter though his party colleague and home minister Anil Deshmukh has been accused of asking the policeman to "extort Rs 100 crore from dance bars etc. every month".

"The Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra has been formed with an intention to loot and not to govern. The BJP is going to raise this issue very strongly and will soon hit the streets", Prasad declared at a press conference at the party office here.

Charging Thackeray with having betrayed the NDA for the sake of power, Prasad wondered whether the sordid turn of events were in consonance with the "Jai Maharashtra" (hail Maharashtra) slogan popularised by his late father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, "for whom I have tremendous respect". Referring to the explosive letter written to Thackeray by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, the BJP MP from Patna Sahib said, "extortion is a crime. A policeman indulging in it and that too at the behest of the home minister of the state is a very serious matter.

"It must be probed in an honest and transparent manner by an outside agency".

Prasad is holding Law and Justice, Electronics and Information Technology and Communications portfolios in Prime Minister Narendra Modi cabinet. "What has been alleged in the letter could be just the tip of the iceberg. Maharashtra is a prosperous state.

"If a policeman in Mumbai is asked to extort money for political bosses, we can surmise that there have been similar transgressions at other business hubs like Pune, Nagpur and Jalgaon", Prasad added. Training his guns at Sharad Pawar, the BJP leader said "the very senior leader" needed to break his "silence" and hold forth as to in what capacity was he recently "briefed" about the whole episode by Anil Deshmukh.

"Pawar is not a part of the government. Moreover, the so- called briefing makes it amply clear that he is aware of the serious charges against a member of his party. As a party chief, what action is he going to take", Prasad asked.

Also Read: Mukesh Ambani bomb threat: Sachin Waze remanded to NIA custody till March 25

The Union minister also demanded an explanation from the Maharashtra government as to "under pressure from whom" was Waze, who had been suspended for years and joined the Shiv Sena, reinstated during the COVID crisis last year. He also sought to know how the assistant sub-inspector came to head the crime intelligence unit of the Mumbai police "which should normally be helmed by an SP or at least a Deputy SP".

Waze, once hailed as an "encounter specialist", hit the headlines recently in the aftermath of an explosives laden vehicle being found parked outside the residence of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani. Param Bir Singh, who was transferred following the grave security lapse, came out with his litany of shocking allegations soon after being shifted from the top post.

Also Read: NIA arrests Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze in Ambani house bomb scare case

Also read: 'Time to say goodbye': Sachin Vaze shares cryptic message; files anticipatory bail plea in Hiren murder case
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Michelin, the worlds leading tyre company has announced the launch of Michelin Agilis 3 in the GCC for the commercial light truck tyre market, targeting conventional load customers involved in people and goods transportation activities.

The newly launched tyre aims to capture the larger high-potential, light-load segment with exceptional solutions  in terms of safety, performance, and environment.

Marc Pasquet, President, Michelin Africa, India and Middle East Region said: When it comes to sustainability, Michelin is committed to a long-term strategy that applies to all of its products, from car to truck tyres. Our design choices seek to make more efficient use of raw materials and resources, while at the same time ensuring outstanding performance throughout the working life of the tyres. As a result, their environmental impact is lower and they last longer, two key considerations for road and urban transport professionals who are looking to optimise their costs without compromising safety, while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint. I am confident that this tyre range fulfils these aspirations of the light truck fleet owners in the country.

Rolling resistance of tyres accounts for at least 20% of a vehicles energy consumption. On average, the tyres that make up the new Michelin Agilis 3 range weigh one kilogram less than their corresponding predecessor, and the difference is as high as 1.7kg in the case of certain larger sizes.

Fewer raw materials and natural resources are consequently required for their manufacture and the amount of waste that needs to be recycled is reduced.

According to the results of in-house tests carried out by Michelin, this Michelin Agilis 3 tyre curbs CO2 emissions by 100kg on average over a distance of 20,000km. Thats equivalent to the CO2 stored in approximately three trees, a fuel-consumption reduction of 0.12 litres/100km.

Certain performance-related qualities actually improve as tyres wear, such as their braking performance on dry roads and fuel consumption. Braking performance in wet conditions deteriorates with wear, however, but the Michelin Agilis 3 is designed to deliver high-level braking performance on wet roads all the way down to the tyres TWI (tread wear indicator / 1.6mm). Indeed, in addition to being A-graded for braking performance in wet conditions when new (in-line with European labelling legislation), GROUP it continues to perform in this domain even when worn, with results that are superior to the safety threshold legislation required for new tyres.

This achievement was made possible thanks to the use of EVERGRIP technologies, notably:

*An innovative rubber compound featuring an optimised dosage of carbon black and silica which contributes to the tyres safety and wet-weather braking performance throughout its working life;

*A new tread pattern, featuring:

- Deep grooves: flexible tread blocks for superior vehicle handling on wet roads.

- U shaped grooves: more vertically-sided tread blocks for a higher land-to-sea ratio at a tread-depth of 2mm to favour efficient water clearance all the way down to the TWI (tread wear indicator).

The Michelin Agilis 3 delivers long life and robustness thanks to two technologies developed for truck tyres which Michelin has carried over to a light commercial vehicle tyre for the first time:

*A rubber compound with superior resistance to abrasion; and

*A patented technology which combats stones becoming wedged in the tread.

Last but not least, for even greater safety, Michelin has employed the same sidewall protection solution first seen on the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate, namely an additional layer that shields the tyre from scrubbing. The new Michelin Agilis 3 is further evidence of Group Michelins sustainable-performance strategy in favour of safer, cleaner, more accessible and more efficient mobility.

All size ranges Michelin Agilis 3 is now available from 14- to 16-inch diameter catering to a wide range of small minivans and pick-up trucks like New Toyota Hiace, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Urvan etc. at Michelins authorised tyre dealers across the nation. -- Tradearabia News Service
Tesla 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.

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.

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 Defence Ministry didnt immediately respond to a fax sent after business hours
Biggest Casualty of COVID? Personal Freedoms.

The psychological devastation caused by teaching children to fear their own hands, other people, the air they breathe and that their very presence poses a lethal threat to others is but one of the many casualties of COVID.

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

Story at-a-glance:

While the casualties of government-imposed COVID-19countermeasures are manifold, the biggest and most tragic of them all is the loss of individual freedoms.

We either choose freedom, or we choose to live under authoritarian rule. Even if restrictions are lifted, public attitude can place freedom on shaky ground, as public acceptance of overreach will allow for the same to occur again and again at a moments notice.

The freedom to interact with other human beings is a crucial, most basic human need.

The inevitabilities of life  which include uncertainty, moment-to-moment risk and the surety of death  demand that we not require people to cease living in order to save others from the ramifications of ill health.

The answer, if we really want to protect the masses, is to educate and promote healthy living at all stages of life. Improving your health through a healthy lifestyle, sunshine, fresh air and real food, is the best way to protect the most people.

While the casualties of government-imposed COVID-19 countermeasures are manifold, the biggest and most tragic of them all is the loss of individual freedoms. As noted by Jonathan Sumption in his February 15, 2021, Telegraph commentary:

What makes us a free society is that, although the state has vast powers, there are conventional limits on what it can do with them. The limits are conventional because they do not depend on our laws but on our attitudes.

There are islands of human life which are our own, a personal space into which the state should not intrude without some altogether exceptional justification.

Liberal democracy breaks down when frightened majorities demand mass coercion of their fellow citizens, and call for our personal spaces to be invaded. These demands are invariably based on what people conceive to be the public good. They all assert that despotism is in the public interest.

A fragile freedom

As Sumption points out, We cannot switch in and out of totalitarianism at will. We either choose freedom, or we choose to live under authoritarian rule. Even if (and thats a big if, at this point) restrictions are lifted, public attitude can place freedom on shaky ground, as public acceptance of overreach will allow for the same to occur again and again at a moments notice.

This is a serious problem, as there will always be other epidemics and pandemics. There is always the threat of terrorism and climate change. There will always be a public health calamity, be it obesity or diabetes, that can be used as justification for government intrusion into our private lives.

A threshold has now been crossed, Sumption writes. A big taboo has gone. Other governments will say that the only question that matters is whether it works and whether they can get away with it  We already have a striking example. The vaccine, which was supposed to make the lockdown unnecessary, has become a reason for keeping it in force 

Infections, hospitalizations and deaths are plunging, but millions who are at virtually no risk are being kept in house imprisonment. This is being done mainly because a selective regime of controls would be too difficult for the state to enforce. Coercion quickly becomes an object in itself.

Personal liberty is worth fighting for

Personal liberty, as Sumption points out, is critically important, and perhaps most important of all, for our mental and physical health, is the freedom to interact with other human beings. It is an absolutely crucial and most basic of human needs. Infants robbed of physical interaction fail to thrive and are at increased risk of death.

But children, adolescents, adults and the elderly have no lesser need for it. We may tolerate it for longer without marked ill effect, but over time, it takes its toll on health, emotional stability and longevity. The fact that were allowing government to ban human interaction is a dire sign of a society at the brink of self-destruction.

I do not doubt that there are extreme situations in which oppressive controls over our daily lives may be necessary and justified, Sumption writes.

An epidemic of Ebola, with a death rate of 50%, for example, might qualify. However, COVID-19 is nowhere near that serious a threat. As noted by Sumption, COVID-19 is well within the range of perils which we have always had to live with, and always will.

Data show the overall noninstitutionalized infection fatality ratio is 0.26%. People under the age of 40 have a mere 0.01% risk of dying from the infection. The vast majority that test positive for SARS-CoV-2 have no symptoms at all, and most do not get seriously ill.

We must relearn to accept the inevitabilities of life

Whats more, the average age of death from COVID-19 is somewhere between 76.9, according to one study, and 82, according to U.K. government data cited by Sumption.

Either way, this is right around the average age of death from any cause anyway, and therefore not an outrageous threat to public health. Yet, the public willingly relinquishes the freedom to live a normal life, somehow oddly convinced that by trading in their freedom, people at the end of their life will be spared the pain of death. They wont. None of us will.

The inevitabilities of life  which include uncertainty, moment-to-moment risk and the surety of death  demand that we not require people to cease living in order to save others from the ramifications of ill health, regardless of their age. Its as inhumane as it is illogical.

Rather, the answer, if we really want to protect the masses, is to educate and promote healthy living at all stages of life. Improving your health through a healthy lifestyle, sunshine, fresh air and real food, is the best way to protect the most people. Quarantining and shunning human interaction are probably the worst things you can do for yourself and society at large.

And lets not go down the road of all the psychological devastation caused by teaching children to fear their own hands, other people, the air they breathe, and that their very presence poses a lethal threat to others.

The press has become an instrument of control

Historically, the press has been viewed as a crucial instrument for a well-informed public, and thus supportive of a free and democratically-run society. Indeed, this is why journalists and news outlets were known as the Fourth Estate. It was an acknowledgement of their societal influence. To be effective, the press had to develop a certain amount of public trust. Today, trust in mainstream media has dramatically eroded, and for good reason.

Time and again, reporters and entire news outlets have been caught peddling fake news, and when the press misleads rather than informs the public of the facts, they become tools for tyranny. Their viewers become more ignorant by the day rather than more informed, and thus more easily controlled and manipulated.

In a recent substack article, independent journalist Matt Taibbi addresses the attempt by UCLA professor and co-leader of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, Sarah Roberts, to shame readers away from substack. Substack is a dangerous direct threat to traditional news media, Roberts tweeted.

According to her half-baked reasoning, journalists who leave mainstream newsrooms for substack and other independent portals are taking unfair advantage of the trust they earned while gainfully employed within the Fourth Estate. Then, once on their own, they can print whatever they want without having to go through the onerous chore of fact checking and other standard checks and balances.

To imply that trust is a thing that can only be conferred by a mainstream newsroom is beyond insulting, especially since mainstream news organizations already long ago started to become infamous for betraying exactly those hallowed norms to which Roberts refers, Taibbi writes.

Why did a source like former NSA contractor Edward Snowden choose to come forward to Glenn Greenwald in particular? He surely wasnt bothered by the fact that Glenn didnt come up through the ranks of a paper like the New York Times or Washington Post.

The answer connects to one of the primary reasons audiences are moving to places like Substack: the perception that traditional news outlets have become tools of the very corporate and political interests theyre supposed to be overseeing.

Roberts complains about lines between opinion and reporting being blurred at Substack (an absurd comment on its own, but thats a separate issue), but the blurring problem at those other organizations is far more severe. Are newspapers like the New York Times checks on power, or agents of it?

A century of controlled media

As detailed in Reuters and BBC Caught Taking Money for Propaganda Campaign, infiltration and manipulation of the media has been a routine occurrence since 1915, when J.P. Morgan interests, including the steel and shipbuilding industries, purchased editorial control of 25 of the most influential newspapers, thereby allowing them to control news about military preparedness, financial policies and other stories deemed crucial to their private and corporate interests.

Then, in 1948, the CIA launched Operation Mockingbird, a clandestine media infiltration campaign that allowed the agency to control and inject its own propaganda into the mainstream press. Today, several decades later, its clear that Operation Mockingbird never ceased. As noted by Taibbi:

The major traditional cable networks, as well as many of the bigger daily newspapers, have for years now been engaged in mad hiring sprees of ex-spooks, putting whole nests of known perjurers and Langley goons on their payrolls as contributors, where they regularly provide commentary on news stories in which they themselves have involvement.

The modern propaganda machine also includes Big Tech, which allows for previously unthinkable information control through automated censorship across a much broader spectrum of sources.

Literally overnight, an individual or company involved in the dissemination of truthful information that goes against the status quo can have their website shadow banned by search engines, their social media accounts eliminated, their web hosting and email services canceled and their online payment systems shut down. From one day to the next, you, your thoughts, opinions and all your hard work can be effectively erased.

Political power brokers call for massive censoring

Were now even seeing politicians starting to throw their weight around, demanding censoring of political opponents and news outlets that fail to properly toe the political line.

U.S. House Democrats from California  Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney  went so far as to send a letter to a dozen cable, satellite and streaming TV companies, basically telling them to censor or remove Fox News, Newsmax and OANN. As noted by Glenn Greenwald in an article on the rapid escalation of government calls for censorship:

Democrats justification for silencing their adversaries online and in media  They are spreading fake news and inciting extremism  is what despots everywhere say  Since when is it the role of the U.S. Government to arbitrate and enforce precepts of journalistic integrity?

Unless you believe in the right of the government to regulate and control what the press says  a power which the First Amendment explicitly prohibits  how can anyone be comfortable with members of Congress arrogating unto themselves the power to dictate what media outlets are permitted to report and control how they discuss and analyze the news of the day?

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has strongly denounced the Democrats actions, calling it a marked departure from First Amendment norms, adding that the demands are a chilling transgression of the free speech rights that every media outlet in this country enjoys  No government official has any business inquiring about the moral principles that guide a private entitys decision about what news to carry.

To what aim control?

Its important to realize that authoritarian dictators are not, in fact, trying to help you. Theyre trying to change you. Censorship does not protect the public. Its a control mechanism, as you are unlikely to rebel against an injustice that you dont even know exists, or if you know about it, your understanding of the problem is diametrically opposed to the truth; hence, youll support a solution that will perpetuate or deepen the problem.

At an even deeper level, censorship and information suppression is an effort to alter your cognitive faculties, because how do you even define people and things that you are not allowed to criticize? As noted by Taibbi, Big Tech and media are tools for politicians, corporations and the intelligence industry, the interests of which are frequently diametrically opposed to that of the people.

Chemical companies cannot sell their toxic wares if an informed public shuns them. The fake food industry cannot flourish if the public understands the basics of health. Technocracy cannot be implemented if an informed public opposes the agenda, and so on.

What we see clearer than ever these days, is the schism in journalism where the old-school norms of gathering data and then delivering it to the audience and allowing them to make up their own minds as to whether its good or bad has been replaced by subjective interpretation of the data.

Essentially, most mainstream reporters now tell you how to think about a given topic. They even tell us how to think about people who refuse to think the way theyre instructed to think. That way, the public ends up doing the dirty work of censoring, canceling and dehumanizing the undesirables for them.

Rule through medicine

While the rise of dictatorships has historically involved the use of armed forces to subdue an unruly public, the budding dictatorship of today relies heavily on weaponized medicine and the control of information. If youve taken the time to familiarize yourself with the concept of technocracy, which has a distinct transhumanist component to it, you will see why this makes perfect sense and was, in fact, entirely predictable.

By tying the issue of health care into the digital surveillance apparatus, you end up with a very robust platform for automated mass control. The use of fear also works well in this scenario, since most are keen to stay alive and dont want their loved ones to die. So, they fall for lies like we have to shut down the world and sequester indoors for months on end or else we all die.

A leading figure in this medical dictatorship scheme is Bill Gates, who now wields a dominating influence over not just Big Tech but also global health policy, agriculture and food policy (including biopiracy and fake food), weather modification and other climate technologies, surveillance, education and media. As reported by The GrayZone:

Beyond the public relations bonanza about Gates lies a disturbing history that should raise concerns about whether his foundations plans for resolving the pandemic will benefit the global public as much as it expands and entrenches its power over international institutions.

The Gates Foundation has already effectively privatized the international body charged with creating health policy, transforming it into a vehicle for corporate dominance. It has facilitated the dumping of toxic products onto the people of the Global South, and even used the worlds poor as guinea pigs for drug experiments.

The Gates Foundations influence over public health policy is practically contingent on ensuring that safety regulations and other government functions are weak enough to be circumvented  Strong evidence suggests that the Gates Foundation functions as a Trojan horse for Western corporations, which of course have no goal greater than an increased bottom line.

Indeed, as reviewed in Bill Gates  Most Dangerous Philanthropist in Modern History? Gates donates billions to private companies, and is invested in the very products and businesses he donates money to and otherwise promotes as solutions to the worlds problems, be they hunger, disease, pandemic viruses or climate change.

As suggested by The GrayZone, Gates global health empire is more about building an empire for himself and his technocrat cronies than promoting public health.

The Great Reset  a plan to capitalize on COVID-19 pandemic

For a time, there was so much uncertainty about SARS-CoV-2 and the infection it causes, youre forgiven if you opted to err on the side of caution. Now, however, a full year later, its become obvious that this pandemic was never as serious as portrayed by the media, and that it is being used (whether preplanned or not) as a convenient vehicle for a radical overhaul of just about every aspect of life. And not for the better.

In a recent report, independent journalist Johnny Vedmore delved into the professional history and personal background Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, who wrote the books The Fourth Industrial Revolution (2016), Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution (2018) and COVID-19: The Great Reset, thereby cementing his role as a leading figurehead for the modern technocracy movement. Vedmore writes:

As the driving force behind the World Economic Forum  Schwab has courted heads of state, leading business executives, and the elite of academic and scientific circles into the Davos fold for over 50 years.

More recently, he has also courted the ire of many due to his more recent role as the frontman of the Great Reset, a sweeping effort to remake civilization globally for the express benefit of the elite of the World Economic Forum and their allies 

Like many prominent frontmen for elite-sponsored agendas, the online record of Schwab has been well-sanitized, making it difficult to come across information on his early history as well as information on his family.

Yet, having been born in Ravensburg, Germany in 1938, many have speculated in recent months that Schwabs family may have had some tie to Axis war efforts, ties that, if exposed, could threaten the reputation of the World Economic Forum and bring unwanted scrutiny to its professed missions and motives 

Digging even deeper into his activities, it becomes clear that Schwabs real role has long been to shape global, regional and industry agendas of the present in order to ensure the continuity of larger, much older agendas that came into disrepute after World War II, not just nuclear technology, but also eugenics-influenced population control policies 

Is Klaus Schwab trying to create the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or is he trying to create the Fourth Reich?

Is depopulation part of the agenda?

Gates family history is also heavy on eugenics, as is the Club of Romes agenda, another technocratic power center. The United Nations Agenda 21 also hints at the need for a dramatic reduction in population size in the coming decade.

The idea that eugenics might make a comeback may seem like a remote possibility, but considering the history of using vaccinations to secretly inhibit fertility in native populations, it would be naive to dismiss the possibility out of hand. As reported in a 2014 paper written by researchers at the University of Louisiana and the University of British Columbia:

Published research shows that by 1976 WHO researchers had conjugated tetanus toxoid (TT) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) producing a birth-control vaccine.

Conjugating TT with hCG causes pregnancy hormones to be attacked by the immune system. Expected results are abortions in females already pregnant and/or infertility in recipients not yet impregnated. Repeated inoculations prolong infertility. Currently WHO researchers are working on more potent anti-fertility vaccines using recombinant DNA.

WHO publications show a long-range purpose to reduce population growth in unstable less developed countries. By November 1993 Catholic publications appeared saying an abortifacient vaccine was being used as a tetanus prophylactic.

In November 2014, the Catholic Church asserted that such a program was underway in Kenya. Three independent Nairobi accredited biochemistry laboratories tested samples from vials of the WHO tetanus vaccine being used in March 2014 and found hCG where none should be present 

Given that hCG was found in at least half the WHO vaccine samples known by the doctors involved in administering the vaccines to have been used in Kenya, our opinion is that the Kenya anti-tetanus campaign was reasonably called into question by the Kenya Catholic Doctors Association as a front for population growth reduction.

Certain vaccines have also been found to cause infertility as an unexpected side effect. For example, a 2018 study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health found that women who received HPV vaccinations suffered higher rates of infertility.

According to this study, if 100% of females in this study had received the HPV vaccine, data suggest the number of women having ever conceived would have fallen by 2 million. After skeptic critics of scientific evidence that vaccines have significant health risks publicly attacked the study, the paper was withdrawn by the publisher.

What we lose is exponentially harder to get back

Safeguarding our Constitutional rights and civil liberties against unlawful government overreach is essential. Yet many are willingly giving up freedoms that, once gone, may be difficult, if not impossible, to get back. Vaccine passports are just one example.

By showing proof that youve received a COVID-19 vaccine, through a digital certificate or app on your phone, the hope is that you can once again board an airplane and travel freely, attend a concert or enjoy a meal in your favorite restaurant, just like you used to.

Except, being required to present your papers in order to live your life isnt actually freedom at all  its a loss of personal liberty that you once had, one that disappeared right before your eyes and one thats setting the stage for even more intrusive surveillance and privacy erosion.

While government has a duty to protect the health and welfare of its citizens, this duty must be balanced against the loss of individual rights and liberties. Right now were facing a battle of freedom versus tyranny. Long term lockdowns are clearly not in the publics best interest. Rather, its tantamount to abuse.

Originally published by Mercola.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children's Health Defense.

Source: Biggest Casualty of COVID? Personal Freedoms.  Children's Health Defense

Hat tip to Carole Gunn for sending us this link.
Last September, energetic Trump administration diplomacy brought Bahrains foreign minister, the United Arab Emirates foreign minister, and Israels prime minister to the White House to sign and to celebrate the Abraham Accords. The agreements offer unprecedented opportunities for the parties to the accords, for the broader region, and for the international order. Over the last seven months, the focus has been on cooperation in national security and commerce. Thats understandable. More attention now should be given to education initiatives, which can serve the shared interests of Abraham Accord nations by opening minds and hearts, promoting mutual understanding, and forging the lasting bonds that are among the long-term benefits reaped by those who learn together.

The Abraham Accords are not the first agreements establishing normal relations between Israel and Arab countries. The 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt brokered by President Jimmy Carter brought dramatic security gains to the Jewish state by removing the threat posed by the regions most populous country while restoring the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. The 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan -- facilitated by the 1993 Oslo Accords signed by Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization at a White House ceremony presided over by President Bill Clinton -- formalized a longstanding working relationship between Jerusalem and Amman.

Advantageous as the 1979 and 1994 treaties have been to the signatories, the countries have not progressed beyond cold peace. While the formal agreements took war off the table, established embassies, and instituted regular diplomatic channels of communication, commerce remains limited and tourism in both directions, especially from Egypt and Jordan to Israel, is meager.

The Abraham Accords are different. They normalized relations but did not need to end hostilities since Israel was never at war with Bahrain and the UAE. At the same time, like the 1979 and 1994 peace treaties, the Abraham Accords are grounded in national-security calculations. Bahrain, the UAE, and Israel have long shared a vital interest in countering the Islamic Republic of Irans funding of terrorism, pursuit of nuclear weapons, and imperial ambitions. Indeed, the Abraham Accords build on years of behind-the-scenes security cooperation. But in contrast to Israels peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, the agreements with Bahrain and the UAE have unleashed a keen desire among the parties to cooperate in the commercial sphere and to visit one anothers countries.

The excitement is palpable. Governments eagerly prepared for the exchange of ambassadors and brought friendly relations out into the open. Entrepreneurs rushed in to invest and strike deals. Israel and Bahrain, and Israel and the UAE launched commercial air travel between their countries, and, notwithstanding the pandemic, tourists leapt at the opportunity.

Educators should build on the momentum. By bringing students and scholars together, cross-cultural education initiatives do more than serve the high purposes of transmitting knowledge, encouraging the search for truth, and cultivating independent minds. They also have far-reaching ancillary effects -- fostering the exchange of outlooks and experiences, enriching appreciation of the complex interplay of tradition and common humanity in the formation of peoples and nations, and building networks of life-long friends and colleagues.

Israel and the UAE have taken the first steps to create what should become a variety of vibrant student-exchange programs. Much more can be done. Universities should establish visiting professorships to bring Israeli scholars to teach in the Gulf, and Bahraini and Emirati scholars to teach in Israel. And they should provide financial incentives to encourage faculty members to devise proposals for academic conferences that focus on issues of special interest to all three Middle East countries as well as to the United States -- from desalination and the environment to comparative religion and religious freedom.

Universities, however, are not the only source of educational initiatives. In recent years, the United States has witnessed the growth of a new model rooted in the private sector. The new model revolves around seminar study of classic books supplemented by a variety of guest speakers and cultural excursions. It gathers students -- for a few days, a week, a month, or a summer -- to explore big ideas with a small group of peers. Such programs encourage students to continue classroom discussions on walks, over meals, and late into the evening. Instead of disseminating a single approved set of policies, such programs create a community devoted to joint inquiry and the lively exchange of views based on shared respect for fundamental freedoms and basic rights.

Over the last decade and in the United States and Israel, I have been involved in several of these privately financed undertakings -- through the Tikvah Fund, the Hertog Foundation, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and The Public Interest Fellowship. The model could easily be adapted for a variety of educational programs that brought together, say, 25 or so Bahrainis, Emiratis, Israelis, and Americans for intense study and leisurely conversation.

The first program might be called the Principles of Freedom Seminar. Intended for promising 20-somethings and 30-somethings, it would draw participants from government, business, journalism, security, medicine, and the academy. It could be easily adapted to students of many ages, from high school to accomplished senior figures across many professions and disciplines. Its curriculum would consist of seminal works from the tradition of modern freedom, featuring renowned thinkers such as Locke, Montesquieu, Smith, Madison, Burke, Tocqueville, and Mill. By setting aside the political controversies of the moment and instead focusing on pivotal writings on a topic of abiding importance, such a seminar enables students to engage robustly while avoiding the most divisive issues. At the same time, thoughtful examination of the principles of modern freedom is bound to illuminate controversies students encounter in their own countries.

The second program could be named the Common Traditions Seminars (an approach developed by my friend and former Policy Planning colleague Andrew Doran). It, too, could be designed for students of quite different ages. Its point of departure is that Jews and Muslims as well as Christians share a common biblical heritage, and that great philosophers in all three traditions undertook enduring efforts in the Middle Ages to reconcile their faiths with the wisdom of Plato and Aristotle. The first half of the seminar would concentrate on Biblical passages of surpassing importance to the three Abrahamic religions. The second half would explore influential arguments from the outstanding medieval philosopher of each of the traditions: Al-Farabi, Maimonides, and Saint Thomas Aquinas.

The third program might be titled the Law, Nation, and Faith Seminar. It would bring reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and editors together to undertake in-depth study of a select aspect of one of the large forces influencing regional politics. Journalists from the four countries would enhance one anothers appreciation of the issues by sharing their experiences regarding, and perspectives on, matters of common concern. They would return home with ideas for stories, unexpected angles on familiar controversies, and a host of new contacts, sources, and colleagues.

These three seminars -- and variations that could follow on their heels -- neednt remain restricted to original Abraham Accords signatories. As soon as is practically possible, citizens from Sudan, Kosovo, and Morocco -- which also recently normalized relations with Israel -- should be invited to join. The same goes for Jordanians, Egyptians, and Palestinians. And why not reach out to the Republic of Cyprus, a vibrant democracy in the eastern Mediterranean eager to contribute to regional stability and prosperity?

Of surpassing value in itself, education can play a vital role -- along with the advancement of shared interests in security and commerce -- in bolstering the Abraham Accords.
Thousands of protesters angry at Covid-19 restrictions rallied in cities across Europe on Saturday as several nations reimposed partial lockdowns to fight new surges in infections.

The coronavirus, which has killed more than 2.7 million people, has been spreading faster recently, with the number of new infections up globally by 14 percent in the last week, according to AFP data.

That has forced governments to impose social distancing and movement restrictions again, even as vaccines are rolled out, with residents in Poland, parts of France, and Ukraine's capital the latest to face fresh curbs.

But populations have grown increasingly weary of the economically painful restrictions, and frustrations spilled over in cities across Europe with thousands marching in Germany, Britain and Switzerland.

Demonstrators in the German city of Kassel held up signs including "End the Lockdown" and "Corona Rebels", as they participated in a protest organised by activists from both the far-left and the far-right, as well as peddlers of baseless conspiracy theories about the pandemic and vaccines.

Authorities used water cannon, batons and pepper spray to disperse the Kassel protesters, which a Kassel police spokesman said numbered between 15,000 and 20,000 -- one of the largest such rallies so far this year.

Thousands also demonstrated in London against virus curbs, including many carrying signs promoting coronavirus conspiracy theories. The Metropolitan Police said 36 people were arrested, most for breaking those restrictions, with a spokesperson adding that a group of around 100 demonstrators threw missiles at officers.

There were also anti-restrictions protests in Amsterdam, Vienna, the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, and the Swiss town of Liestal.

'We vaccinated, baby'

Across the Atlantic, American authorities imposed a state of emergency and a curfew on Saturday in Miami Beach, Florida, to deal with uncontrollable throngs of people partying during spring break.

This year, with approximately 13 percent of US residents vaccinated, the atmosphere in the city is particularly festive and the illusion that the pandemic is now under control in the world's worst-hit nation is pervasive.

"Just go get your vaccine y'all so that you could come out here and have a good time like us because we vaccinated, baby," Jalen Rob, another student from Texas, told AFP.

Despite the vaccine rollout, health experts have stressed that people still need to remain cautious -- or there may be more spikes in infections.

"I'm really concerned if we declare victory prematurely that that's the same thing that's going to happen," top US expert Anthony Fauci said Saturday on NBC's "Today" show.

"Vaccines are coming on really well... If we can just hang on a bit longer, the more people get vaccinated, the less likelihood that there is going to be a surge."

Like many other parts of the world, US authorities are also battling vaccine scepticism and even denial, fuelled by the spread of baseless misinformation about the pandemic.

"If they (authorities) try to make me get it, they're just going to (have to) put me in jail," Todd Engle, 58, told AFP from the porch of his home in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

"I just don't trust them."

'Unavoidable' Olympics fan ban

Hopes of ending the pandemic have been boosted with rollouts starting in some poorer parts of the world as well, including the Palestinian Territories, where authorities said they would start giving out shots on Sunday.

The row in Europe over the AstraZeneca jab meanwhile showed no signs of abating, with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen threatening to halt exports of the vaccine if the bloc does not receive its deliveries first.

With more than 400 million vaccine doses already administered globally, organisers of the Tokyo Olympics had previously billed this summer's already delayed Games as a chance to provide "proof of humanity's triumph over the virus".

But on Saturday, Olympics chiefs announced that overseas fans would be banned as it remains too risky to invite large international crowds to Japan.

"It was an unavoidable decision," said Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto.

The unprecedented ban will make the Tokyo Games the first ever without overseas spectators.

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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House Democrats in the Hawaii legislature are asking the states marketplace regulator to end restrictive laws put in place against cryptocurrency businesses almost five years ago.

Policymakers have requested the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs reassess asset reserve requirements for crypto companies. The bill, sponsored by 10 Democrats, is currently pending before the states House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee, according to a public bill tracker.

Under the current requirements, exchanges must hold an amount of fiat equivalent to the value of the cryptocurrencies their clients are holding.

Related: When DeFi Becomes Intelligent

The 2016  law governing money transmitter businesses  subjected these companies to licensing and asset reserve requirements that were too burdensome for them to do business in Hawaii, the bill reads.

Indeed, several exchanges including Coinbase left the state after the requirement was implemented.

The Division of Financial Institutions asset reserve requirements for digital currency companies are not consistent with other states, the bill reads. Cryptocurrency is an evolving technology globally with much still to be explored and assessed.

The current regulatory regime requires companies to obtain a money transmitter license if they are providing financial instruments for the sale or transaction with those in Hawaii even if the business is not physically present in the state.

Related: Morgan Stanley to Offer Clients Exposure to Bitcoin Funds: Report

See also: Hawaii to Let More Crypto Companies Join Regulatory Sandbox

The department also requests applicants that trade, transmit or custody crypto in the State meet financial statement requirements and that crypto value is not seen as a permissible investment.

The states financial regulator has taken steps to change its current regime, opening a sandbox, or testing environment, last year to test how exchanges might operate within Hawaii. A number of exchanges have since begun operating there in a limited capacity.

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Kogi State senators and House of Representative members have said that they are yet to make a decision on whether or not they would receiv...

Kogi State senators and House of Representative members have said that they are yet to make a decision on whether or not they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Smart Adeyemi, leader of the Kogi lawmakers forum in the National Assembly, said this in an interview.

Adeyemi, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, said all the 12 National Assembly members from the state were solidly behind the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who has been insistent that there is no COVID-19 in the state.

The senator said, The Kogi State legislators in the National Assembly have not thought of taking the vaccines yet, but if ever we will take it at all, it is because we are in Abuja where there is COVID-19 but there is no COVID in our state.

The lawmaker also cautioned those berating Yahaya Bello for his claims that COVID-19 was not affecting anybody in his state.

Adeyemi said, I dont know the magic in Kogi State because the coronavirus is not killing our people.

If it is leading to deaths in the state, I would be the first person to cry out and disagree with our governor but our people are not dying and they are not falling ill.





I agree with our governor that there is no COVID-19 in Kogi State. If the disease is there, people would have been dying. It appears COVID-19 is afraid of the Kogi people. To a large extent, we are convinced that our governor knows what he is doing and saying.

Adeyemi also said that the Ministry of Health officials told him that they did not know what was happening in Kogi that was keeping people from dying from COVID-19.

We cannot be killing our people just to justify that the disease is real. We are not just saying yes to our governor but we are also saying yes to him because nobody has died of the disease.
The Torres Strait has recorded no cases of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Now, an expedited vaccination program aims to keep it that way, despite a widespread epidemic sweeping through Papua New Guinea.

In pre-pandemic times, about 100 people a month would cross from western PNG villages into the Torres Strait Islands, with a treaty zone allowing villagers on the coast of remote PNG to enter Australian territory for trade.

Saibai Island councillor Conwell Tabuai is vaccinated by nurse Sue Bowler.

The border was closed early in the pandemic by PNG and has remained shut, but people are still allowed to travel for medical treatment, executive director of medical services for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Dr Tony Brown said.

The Torres and Cape health service will always accept patients from treaty villages, he said, but growing COVID-19 infections in PNG meant there was an increasing concern some of them could also bring COVID-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 10:36:34|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China is a very decisive driver of a dynamic catch-up process of many emerging countries, a recent German study showed.

While the growth potential in the classic industrialized countries is limited -- mainly due to demographic factors -- many emerging countries, especially in Asia, are experiencing a dynamic catch-up process, a study of the Bavarian Industry Association noted.

"China is not the only driver, but a very decisive one of this development," it said.

China's increasing importance also has economic and trade policy consequences, the study said, adding that the competition between China and the United States may change the global trade order.

"The global economy is in upheaval, a shift of forces is underway," the study said.

Above all, the study also makes it clear that de-globalization, which is increasingly becoming a realistic threat, will lead to a loss of prosperity worldwide.

There is no alternative to free trade and the international division of labor, and protectionism and trade wars ultimately hurt everyone, it said.

In addition, the study noted that the European Union must stand up for free trade and against protectionism. It has enough economic weight to ensure the stabilization of the world trade order.

The study, titled "Shifts in the global economy -- Danger for the economic dominance of the West," analyzed the economic and political changes in the global economy. Enditem
BIA new terminal: From banana back to lotus at heavy cost By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s):

A government decision to change the design of the proposed passenger terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport  once again back to 2012 from the shape of a banana leaf to the lotus flower shape  is to cost millions of rupees.

The previous government changed the 2012 lotus flower shape to a banana leaf shape.

Initial estimates show that the change of the design alone will cost an additional Rs 35 million while the cost for the structural changes is currently being estimated.

Approval to revise the plan to go ahead with the louts flower shape design was given by the Government after the previous Yahapalana government changed the initial lotus shape plan to a banana leaf shape at a cost of Rs 600 million.

The project was initially due to begin in 2012 when Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President, but had been delayed due to a range of issues including the high cost estimated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The project which is due to be completed in three years is back on track now.

However, the project has run into further problems with the Government being forced to find a fresh location and an investor for the construction of the car park after permission had been granted to construct a road in the original location of the proposed car park.

The Sunday Times learns that the airports design, planning and engineering unit had granted permission for the road construction project, despite the location being earmarked for the car park project.

The Government in addition to suffering a revenue loss will now be required to construct the car park under a Public Private Partnership or a Build Operate and Transfer system.

A cabinet paper is to be submitted next week, seeking approval for the construction of the car park which is estimated to cost Rs four billion. This is in contrast to the Rs 2.1 billion estimated earlier.

Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has ordered an inquiry as to how the area reserved for the car park had been released for a road construction project.

The overall project of the BIAs second terminal is estimated to cost Rs 108 billion and to be completed in three years. The terminal is expected to handle nine million passengers annually.
Check worthwhile coverage and the latest note the 37TH MURDER IN KANSAS CITY so far in 2021 which, tragically, involves the 2nd female to be gunned down on local streets this month.



Read more . . .


In the early hours of November 13, 1974, DeFeo, armed with a .35-calibre Marlin rifle, fatally shot his parents Ronald and Louise, his brothers, Mark and John Matthew, and his sisters, Dawn and Allison, in their bedrooms. He stashed his clothing and the murder weapon in a storm drain on the way to the car dealership at 6am.

Ronald DeFeo Jr., centre, leaves Suffolk County district court after a hearing, on New Yorks Long Island. DeFeo was convicted of slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a home that later inspired the book and movie The Amityville Horror. Credit:AP

No one knows exactly what happened that night in 1974 in the affluent town of Amityville, 30 kilometres from New York, because DeFeo concocted conflicting versions and he was the only survivor. But it appeared that he had been nursing a grudge against his father, who suspected him of stealing from the family car dealership.

Ronald DeFeo, who has died aged 69, was convicted of murdering his parents and all four brothers and sisters during a crime that inspired The Amityville Horror, a bestselling haunted house book, then a successful film.

At work he telephoned home, pretending not to know why his father had failed to arrive, and at 6pm rang a friend in mock surprise, saying that someone had broken into the house and shot his family.

At first Butch DeFeo, as he was known, spun detectives a tale that a mafia hitman, Louis Falini, may have been responsible but suspicion began to fasten on DeFeo himself. As DeFeos stories unravelled, police extracted a confession from DeFeo and he eventually broke down.

The eldest of five children, Ronald Joseph DeFeo jnr was born on September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn. When his father took a well-paid job as service manager at the Buick dealership owned by his wifes family, the DeFeos moved to a large Dutch Colonial house at Amityville on Long Island and called it High Hopes.

Expelled from school at 16 with no qualifications, DeFeo drifted through various dead-end jobs, and by the age of 17 he was using LSD and heroin. A year later he joined the family firm as a mechanic at $80 a week.

At DeFeos trial almost a year after the murders, his lawyer ran an insanity defence, telling the jury that Butch had heard voices. A defence psychiatrist supported the claim, saying that DeFeo was neurotic and suffered from dissociative disorder. But the prosecution psychiatrist demonstrated that the defendant suffered from antisocial personality disorder, a condition in which he was aware of his actions, and intensely self-centred.
Like it or not, the city college is a valuable resource and a place where the vast majority of professional locals work to brush up their skills.



And so, here's a peek at substantive changes to the commuter college struggling to survive in a POST-COVID world.



Read more . . .


Police have smashed an international sex gang who forced Romanian women to become prostitutes in Britain.

Police in Spain and Romania 'liberated' 17 women and one underage girl who were coerced into sex work.

Pimps would initially start relationships with their victims before forcing them to sell their bodies in clubs, private houses and on the street, police said.

The gang would also brand the women with tattoos so rival organisations knew they belonged to them and were 'theirs for life'.

They moved the women from a base in the Catalan border province of Girona to the UK and Romania when the coronavirus pandemic kicked in.

Police made 19 arrests - eight in Spain and 11 in Romania - in an operation involving Spanish and Romanian officers, as well as the regional Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police force.

Police have smashed an international sex gang who forced Romanian women to become prostitutes in Britain. The gang moved the women from a base in the Catalan border province of Girona to the UK and Romania when the coronavirus pandemic kicked in

Seven of the 18 rescued women were freed in Spain and the rest were in Romania.

Some of the women had been forced to continue selling their bodies despite falling pregnant.

A Spanish National Police spokesman said: 'The organisation had links to the UK, Denmark and Germany, where it forced women to work as prostitutes and in some cases marked them with tattoos so that rival organisations knew they belonged to them as part of an effort to make them think they were theirs for life.

'When the criminal organisation realised the coronavirus pandemic had led to a downturn in business and benefits in the areas it controlled in Girona, it moved most of its members and victims to Romania and the UK with the intention of returning to Spain when conditions improved.

'The women were captured by members of the organisation who began relationships with them before sending them to countries like Spain and the UK where they made to work as prostitutes in clubs and on the street.

'They were forced to work all the time, including in cases where they fell pregnant.

Police in Spain and Romania 'liberated' 18 women who were coerced into sex work - one of whom was under age (file image)

'Among the material seized in Romania were pornographic photos featuring one of the women who was freed, a minor who was also forced to become a sex worker.'

News of the arrests comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel was last year urged to stop the UK being a 'pimp's paradise' by campaigners who claimed trafficked women - especially from Romania - were being sexually exploited on an 'industrial scale.'

Ms Patel was urged to follow other countries including France, Ireland and Sweden in cracking down on the demand that drives sex trafficking by criminalising paying for sex, decriminalising victims and shutting down pimping websites.

Dame Diana Johnson, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on commercial sexual exploitation, said at the time: 'The industrial-scale sexual exploitation of Romanian women by UK men is a national scandal.'
People of the state have continued to show their distrust in Telugu Desam subsequently by giving landslide victories to YSRC in gram panchayat, municipal and corporation elections, which is a severe punishment delivered by the public court.  DC file photo

VIJAYAWADA: Civil supplies minister Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao alias Nani has called Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu a coward for not facing the court case to prove himself as not being corrupt in Amaravati assigned lands case.

The minister also referred to Naidu as stay Babu for his act of getting continuous stays from courts in every case. Nani maintained that the stay order on the CID probe will go and Chandrababu Naidu getting punished in the coming days is inevitable.

Addressing media here on Saturday, the minister recounted that Naidu has so far got stay orders in over 30 cases. However, the former chief minister has already been punished by the peoples court following TDPs debacle in 2019 assembly elections. People of the state have continued to show their distrust in Telugu Desam subsequently by giving landslide victories to YSRC in gram panchayat, municipal and corporation elections, which is a severe punishment delivered by the public court.

Nani predicted, People will further confine Chandrababu to his house by voting YSRCP in ZPTC and MPTC elections, apart from Tirupati by-poll too. Let Naidu hire any number of top lawyers paying whatever amount of money from his ill-gotten wealth, he declared.

The minister was also critical of Nara Lokesh who, he said, is politicising Visakhapatnam Steel Plant issue by blaming Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The issue is not at all in the purview of state government, he pointed out.

Nani dared Lokesh to go and protest in Delhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and make the latter withdraw proposed privatisation of VSP. The minister asserted that the state government will stand by steel plants employees who are protesting against the privatisation move.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Supremo has summoned Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and party chief Jayant Patil to Delhi on Sunday to discuss the fallout of the allegations against the party leader and Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

The issue of Maharashtra Police and state home department has become murkier since the day the letter of former commissioner Param Bir Singh was leaked to the media.

However, 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 Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

While rejecting Singh's allegations that the state home minister sought extortion money, Deshmukh alleged that Singh was levelling false allegations against him to save himself.

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 former 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".

--IANS

miz/dpb

(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 Chinese delegation led by Yang Jiechi (2nd L), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the Chinese Communist Party and China's state councilor and foreign minister, Wang Yi (2nd R) depart the ballroom at the conclusion of talks between the United States and China in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/Pool via Reuters)

Chinese Media Spin USChina Spat in Alaska as Diplomatic Win for Beijing

Chinas state-controlled media are on the offensive after top Biden administration officials and their Chinese counterparts clashed during their first in-person talks in Alaska.

The two-day meeting, covering an array of issues that have strained relations between the two countries, got off to a rocky start on March 18, with Chinese officials reacting angrily to criticisms of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) human rights abuses and economic coercion.

Lashing out over what they described as unwarranted criticisms, the Chinese diplomats aired bitter denunciations that veered off the usual diplomatic proceedings, extending the allotted two-minute opening remark for each speaker to a diatribe of roughly 20 minutes. With the translation, what was initially intended to be an eight-minute photo-op went on for more than an hour.

Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister and state councilor, particularly took issue with the United States sanctioning of 24 Chinese officials over Beijings clampdown on freedom in Hong Kong on the eve of the talks, saying this is not the way one should welcome his guests.

The United States does not have the qualification to say that it wants to speak to China from a position of strength, senior Chinese foreign policy official Yang Jiechi said after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, apparently taken aback, followed up with a brief speech reiterating the U.S. position.

While President Joe Biden on March 19 expressed pride in his team for how they handled the matter, mainland-controlled media have uniformly cheered on their officials confrontational approach, while snickering at the United States.

Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, insisted at a March 19 press conference that the U.S. side failed to keep to the set time limit and provoked disagreements first, thus bringing a strong smell of gunpowder and drama to the meetinga narrative that other Chinese media soon amplified.

Guancha, a pro-Beijing site, said that the U.S. side engaged in double standards by making follow-up remarks but not allowing the Chinese side the opportunity to do the same, without providing the context.

Volumes of Chinese reports compiled social media comments that spoke negatively of the U.S. delegation, such as saying that their closed off gestures contrasted with the confident body language of the Chinese side.

State-run Peoples Daily promoted red posters featuring aggressive Chinese remarks from the meeting in both English and Chinese. Reference News, a news site under the state newspaper Xinhua, said the United States made an empty show and exposed its lack of confidence by visiting other allies prior to the meeting to create pressure.

Posturing in Battle

U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters on March 19 that the Biden administration is aware that Beijings exaggerated diplomatic presentations in front of the media are aimed at a domestic audience. She said the department will continue to lay out our common interests and principles from the United States.

Some critics, however, believe that the heated comments should wake Americans up to the fundamental differences between the two political powers.

The public blowup in Alaska is a serious provocation, signaling that in the future, the CCP will no longer abide by the rules set by the United States, said Wang He, a Chinese political affairs commentator.

The fact that the Biden administration remains eager to seek cooperation with the Chinese regime on areas such as climate change in the face of the fiery exchange plays right into the regimes hands and would make the U.S. side lose its advantage, he wrote in a commentary for The Epoch Times.

[The] CCP 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, Wang said.

Following the meeting, Chinese media have trumpeted a growing sense of assertiveness, with Sina, a Chinese news portal, declaring that the days when China was a silent lamb are gone forever.

The United States had plotted a Hongmen Banquetreferring to a historical event where a Chinese warlord invited his rival to a feast with the purpose of killing himbut instead messed up and led to its own Waterloo, the article stated.

This first-round battle made a good play and is the prelude to a new stage of China-U.S. relationship, it said.

Hu Xijin, chief editor of the nationalist state-run tabloid Global Times, said the fallout should teach the United States and its allies to be more respectful toward the regime.

The Chinese delegation has shown the few U.S. allies how China is dealing with the U.S. China has publicly refuted the U.S., and for those U.S. lackeys who try to bite China, please behave, he wrote in an op-ed.

The regime, following the conclusion of the meeting, has continued to assert that its affairs in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are untouchable red lines and that the United States should not interfere.

Gordon Chang, a U.S.-based China expert and the author of The Coming Collapse of China, challenged the approach of U.S. lawmakers who have so far remained supportive of maintaining good relations with Beijing.

Policymakers say China is too big to shun. No. China is too belligerent, too dangerous, too evil to deal with. Didnt we just see that in Alaska? Chang wrote on Twitter on March 21.

There is, after the Alaska Meeting, no longer any point talking to Chinas regime. Beijing told us in no uncertain terms that we must accept its barbarism, aggression, and criminality. What more do we need to hear?
WASHINGTON  Before dawn on an October morning in 2015, representatives of the United Farm Workers turned up at a strawberry plant nursery in Northern California to meet with workers and urge them to consider unionizing.

They were able to enter the nurserys property thanks to a state regulation, issued in 1975 and unique in the nation, that allows union organizers to meet with agricultural workers at work sites in the hour before and after work and during lunch breaks for as many as 120 days a year. The regulations drafters said this was the only practical way to give farmworkers, who can be nomadic and poorly educated, a realistic chance to consider joining a union.

On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case brought by the nursery, which argues that the access regulation amounts to a government taking of private property without compensation.

The case, the courts first major encounter with a labor dispute since the arrival of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, has the potential to define what union organizers can do on California farms. But it could also have far-reaching consequences beyond such campaigns, including limiting the governments ability to enter private property to conduct health and safety inspections of facilities like coal mines and pharmaceutical plants and to perform home visits by social workers charged with ensuring child welfare.
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Two significant gas projects that are poised to take final investment decisions (FID) in Morocco this year could add 70mmcfd of natural gas to the countrys energy mix in the next five years. This will support its ambition of reducing reliance on coal and costly imports from Algeria, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData's latest report, Morocco Exploration & Production, reveals that Morocco is on the brink of unlocking its gas potential - even though the country is not a major producer and imports most of its gas. The country has almost 700bcf of reserves sitting in announced developments.

Santiago Varela, Upstream Analyst at GlobalData, comments: Productive growth is expected to materialise with the launch of the first phase of Tendrara, which expects to provide gas volumes by mid-2022 with a development breakeven price of under $5/mcf. Anchois, discovered in 2009, is expected to produce first gas in 2024 and will be the largest gas development undertaken in Morocco to date, by far. For both projects, the major obstacle is obtaining adequate financing, since neither of the two operators have sufficient funds to undertake these developments alone.

Anchois operator Chariot Oil & Gas has struggled during recent years to convince investors to support the funding of the Anchois development. However, in the last year, the company successfully reprocessed seismic data that led to an upgrade of 1tcf in recoverable resources. In addition, the company announced the expression of interest of Africa Finance Corporation and a Multinational Investment Bank to finance the project as well as a memorandum of understanding for gas sales with the Moroccan ministry of energy. These latest developments move Morocco ever closer to unlocking its largest gas field, and a final investment decision is poised to be taken this year.

Santiago continues: Morocco has failed to develop its major gas discoveries to date, mainly due to the fact that oil has been the preferred resource over gas. But now, with the focus turning to gas, an attractive fiscal framework and strong domestic demand, international operators are pushing hard to develop the countrys resources.

Although the economics of Tendrara and Anchois projects looks tempting, it is not yet clear whether the current operators will be able to finalise the necessary funding required to develop the fields. Securing capital is the final roadblock in the path for unlocking the countrys gas resources. -- Tradearabia News Service
After a series of diplomatic notes to the United Nations opposing Chinas maritime claims, the United States allies have been sending warships to the East Vietnam Sea.

The Peoples Liberation Army of China (PLA) launched a month-long drill in the East Vietnam Sea earlier this month.

The China Maritime Safety Administration announced a military exercise zone with a radius of five kilometers (3.1 miles) west of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong Province.

Challenge signals

This is part of a plan to intensify combat exercises, known to help the Chinese military meet the requirements of modern war.

This development may deepen the differences between China and other countries in the waterway, which has been shown during the past time.

In February, China caused concerns for the region when it passed the new Coast Guard Law that would allow the countrys Coast Guard to use weapons against foreign ships.

The U.S. side has warned China against the possibility of using force in the sea while being concerned that Beijing would use this law to impose illegal maritime claims.

The pattern of increasing Chinese assertiveness has been unbroken, Greg Poling, senior fellow for Southeast Asia and director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at CSIS, told Tuoi Tre News.

Last year we saw one incident after another, with both Chinas Coast Guard and naval activities increasing despite the global pandemic.

That trend continues into 2021 as Beijing seems determined to throw its weight around.

Likewise, most observers this time believe that the month-long drill is just Chinas normal move.

Singapore scholar Collin Koh Swee Lean noted that Beijing is even acting on the momentum of confidence because it has been able to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and was the only major economy to achieve positive growth in 2020.

While China is consolidating its gains in the sea (and for that matter, other regional maritime flashpoints), taking advantage of the distraction of its rivals over COVID-19, its also engaged in posturing against the Americans, who are still regarded as the primary challenge to Chinas attempts at exerting dominance in the waterway, said Lean, who is a research fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies under the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

The Wests increased presence

Although not specifically mentioned, the PLAs stated exercise was immediately linked to the recent operations of the ships of the United States and allies in the East Vietnam Sea.

While the United States and other countries said they were deploying ships to the sea to protect freedom of navigation, the Chinese side warned other ships not to move into the drill zone during March.

Chinas Ministry of National Defense has said that Beijing opposes any countries that create tensions and increase military presence in the name of freedom of navigation.

The Chinese emphasis on the name of freedom of navigation shows Beijings opposition to a series of recent developments in the resource-rich sea, with the specific presence of warships from North America and Europe.

On March 2, Reuters quoted high-ranking German government officials as confirming a plan to send an escort ship to Asia in August, which will pass through the East Vietnam Sea on the way back.

German diplomats and defense officials added that the ship would not enter 12 nautical miles around entities in the sea.

However, the fact that a German warship was slated to pass through the sea for the first time since 2002 immediately commanded attention, against the context that U.S. allies have moved to deploy warships through the waterway.

Late last month, the UK Ministry of Defense said the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier would reach Southeast Asia from April to June this year.

Australias Financial Review revealed that the country would participate in exercises with the HMS Queen Elizabeth, along with the navies of such countries as the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands.

The report came shortly after Frances amphibious assault helicopter carrier Tonnerre and corvette Surcouf left the port of Toulon on February 18 to begin a three-month mission in the Pacific, where they will twice cross the East Vietnam Sea and participate in drills with the United States and Japan in May. Before that, Frances nuclear attack submarine SNA Emeraude and support ship BSAM Seine already conducted a patrol in the same sea.

In January this year, Canadian frigate Winnipeg also transited the Taiwan Strait to emphasize the free, open Indo-Pacific message.

Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, noted that all the European countries that will be involved in naval deployments to the sea this year are treaty allies of the United States.

All have separately and collectively recognized that Chinas intimidation, bullying, and military displays threaten their interests in a peaceful and stable maritime region, he observed.

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China has the strongest military force in the world while India stands at number four, according to a study released on Sunday by defence website Military Direct.

"The USA, despite their enormous military budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and then France with 58. The UK just about makes the Top 10, coming in 9th place with a score of 43," said the study.

The study said "ultimate military strength index" was calculated after taking into consideration various factors including budgets, number of inactive and active military personnel, total air, sea, land and nuclear resources, average salaries, and weight of equipment.

China has the strongest military in the world, scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index, it noted.

"Based on these scores, which account for budgets, men, and things like air and navy capacity, it does suggest that China would come out as top dog in a hypothetical super conflict," it mentioned.

The world's biggest military spender with a budget of USD 732 billion per year is the USA, it noted, adding that China comes second with USD 261 billion, followed by India at USD 71 billion.

"China would win by sea, USA by air and Russia by land" in this hypothetical conflict, it said.

"USA wins in an aerial war with 14,141 total airships vs Russia with 4,682 and China with 3,587. The Russian Federation wins in a land war with 54,866 vehicles vs USA with 50,326 and China with 41,641," it mentioned.

China wins in a sea war with 406 ships vs Russia with 278 and the USA or India with 202, it said.
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Despite the clamor to speed up the U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 and get the country back to normal, the first three months of the rollout suggest faster is not necessarily better.

A surprising new analysis found that states such as South Carolina and Florida that raced ahead of others to offer the vaccine to ever-larger groups of people have vaccinated smaller shares of their population than those that moved more slowly and methodically, such as Hawaii and Connecticut.

The explanation, as experts see it, is that the rapid expansion of eligibility caused a surge in demand too big for some states to handle and led to serious disarray. Vaccine supplies proved insufficient or unpredictable, websites crashed and phone lines became jammed, spreading confusion, frustration and resignation among many people.

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The infrastructure just wasnt ready. It kind of backfired, said Dr. Rebecca Wurtz, an infectious disease physician and health data specialist at the University of Minnesotas School of Public Health. She added: In the rush to satisfy everyone, governors satisfied few and frustrated many.

The findings could contain an important go-slow lesson for the nations governors, many of whom have announced dramatic expansions in their rollouts over the past few days after being challenged by President Joe Biden to make all adults eligible for vaccination by May 1.

If youre more targeted and more focused, you can do a better job, said Sema Sgaier, executive director of Surgo Ventures, a nonprofit health-data organization that conducted the analysis in collaboration with The Associated Press. You can open it up  if you have set up the infrastructure to vaccinate all those people fast.

Numerous factors stymied state vaccination performance. Conspiracy theories, poor communication and undependable shipments slowed efforts after the first vials of precious vaccine arrived Dec. 14.

But the size of the eligible population was always within the control of state officials, who made widely varying decisions about how many people they invited to get in line when there wasnt enough vaccine to go around.

When the drive began, most states put health care workers and nursing home residents at the front of the line. In doing so, states were abiding by national recommendations from experts who also suggested doing everything possible to reach everyone in those two groups before moving on to the next categories.

But faced with political pressure and a clamor from the public, governors rushed ahead. Both the outgoing Trump administration and the incoming Biden team urged opening vaccinations to older Americans.

By late January, more than half the states had opened up to older adults  some 75 and above, others 65 and up. Thats when the real problems started.

South Carolina expanded eligibility to people in Steven Kites age group Jan. 13. Kite, 71, immediately booked a vaccination at a hospital. But the next day, his appointment was canceled along with thousands of others because of a shortage of vaccine.

It was frustrating at first, Kite said. After a week of uncertainty, he rescheduled. He and his wife are now vaccinated. It ended up working out fine. I know theyve had other problems. The delivery of the doses has been very unreliable.

In Missouri, where more than half of adults were eligible for shots, big-city shortages sent vaccine seekers driving hundreds of miles to rural towns. Dr. Elizabeth Bergamini, a pediatrician in suburban St. Louis, drove about 30 people to often out-of-the way vaccination events after the state opened eligibility to those 65 and older Jan. 18 and then expanded further.

We went from needing to vaccinate several hundred thousand people in the St. Louis area to an additional half-million people, but we still hadnt vaccinated that first group, so it has been this mad dash, Bergamini said. It has just been a whole hot mess.

It got a little chaotic, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. We created far more demand than there was supply. That stressed the system and that may have left the system less efficient.

Plescia said the analysis suggests that a more methodical, measured, judicious, priority-based approach  despite peoples perception  actually can be as efficient, or more efficient, than opening things up and making it available to more people.

In retrospect, health workers and nursing home residents were the easy groups to vaccinate. Doses could be delivered to them where they lived and worked.

We knew where they were and we knew who they were, Wurtz said. As soon as states went beyond those populations, it got harder to find the right people. Nursing home residents live in nursing homes. People 65 and older live everywhere.

West Virginia bucked the trend with both high numbers of eligible residents and high vaccination rates in early March, but the state started slow and built its capacity before expanding eligibility.

Similarly, Alaska maintained a high vaccination rate with a smaller eligible population, then threw shots open to everyone 16 and older March 9. This big increase in eligible adults near the end of the period studied led the AP and Surgo Ventures to omit Alaska from the analysis.

The analysis found that as of March 10, Hawaii had the lowest percentage of its adult population eligible for vaccination, at about 26%. Yet Hawaii had administered 42,614 doses per 100,000 adults, the eighth-highest rate in the country.

Thirty percent of Connecticuts adult population was eligible as of the same date, and it had administered doses at the fourth-highest rate in the country.

In contrast, Mississippi had the sixth largest percentage of its adult population eligible at about 83%. Yet, Mississippi had administered only 35,174 total doses per 100,000 adults, ranking 43rd among states.

Missouri, with 61% of its population eligible, had dispensed 35,341 doses per 100,000 adults.

Seven states in the bottom 10 for overall vaccination performance  Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Missouri  had larger-than-average shares of their residents eligible for shots.

Among high-performing states, five in the top 10 for high vaccination rates  New Mexico, North Dakota, Connecticut, Wyoming and Hawaii  stuck with more restrictive eligibility. Another two high-performing states from the top 10  South Dakota and Massachusetts  were about average in how many residents were eligible for vaccine.

This is a thorough analysis showing a clear association between breadth of eligibility and vaccination rates across states, said Dr. Mark McClellan, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration who was not involved in the new analysis but reviewed it for AP.

The better-performing states could be getting results by paying closer attention to vaccine supply, thoroughly vaccinating high-risk groups and then opening to additional categories more slowly as they wait for supplies to build, McClellan said.

What happens next will depend on how much states can improve their vaccine delivery systems and whether Americans remain eager for vaccination, even as the threat eases with more people protected and case numbers dropping.

Have states used this time wisely and fruitfully to lay down the infrastructure needed to open it up to more people? Sgaier asked.

___

This story has been corrected to fix the percentage of people eligible for COVID-19 vaccines as of March 10 in Missouri. It was 61%, not 92%.

___

Associated Press Writer Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 21:45:11|Editor: huaxia

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street for the House of Commons to make a statement on the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy in London, Britain, on March 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The "reckless" move is not conducive to forging the reputation of a "Global Britain," which requires London to join more global cooperation to deal with the challenges the entire international community faces.

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- As part of efforts to build a "Global Britain," the country decided to dramatically increase its nuclear arsenal earlier in the week. The plan came under fire immediately domestically before it went out globally, with many Britons criticizing it as a "provocative, illegal and morally obscene use of resources."

For the first time after the Cold War, Britain, a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), reversed its previous policy of reducing its overall nuclear warhead stockpile ceiling and decided to increase the number of nuclear warheads by more than 40 percent, which it deemed as necessary due to the "evolving security environment."

However, the so-called "necessary" step is not convincing enough to many British people, let alone the international community, given Britain is in the middle of a crucial battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and its role as a signatory of the NPT, making the strategic reverse rather "dangerous," "reckless" and "toxic."

For one thing, by raising the nuke warheads cap, Britain clearly breaks international law and risks starting a "new nuclear arms race."

Stewart McDonald, the defense spokesman for the Scottish National Party, accused the British government of being wedded to an outdated defense policy, saying "for the prime minister (Boris Johnson) to stand up and champion the international rules-based system before announcing in the same breath that the UK plans to violate its commitments to the international treaty on non-proliferation beggars belief."

The fact that the United States and Russia agreed last month to further reduce their nuclear arsenals made Britain's decision even more inappropriate, as this is not the time to start a new nuclear arms race.

"This dangerous decision panders to right wing 'punch above weight' ideologies that have nothing to do with British security. It flies in the face of Britain's genuine security needs and appears ignorant of the widespread and increasing opposition to the UK's continued possession of nuclear weapons," the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said in a statement.

A woman wearing a face mask walks along Westminster Bridge in London, Britain, on Feb. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Moreover, facing the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Europe, Britain cannot afford to make another reckless move by spending resources wrongfully.

"With the government strapped for cash, we don't need grandiose, money-wasting spending on weapons of mass destruction. We need essential investment in health, jobs and dealing with the climate catastrophe," said Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Putting it in a more direct way, the Scottish National Party called the planned expenditure "shameful," as that sum of money "could be used to tackle child poverty instead."

Suffering a double whammy with the pandemic and Brexit, Britain's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 2.9 percent monthly in January, leaving the British economy around 10 percent below its pre-pandemic level.

Under such circumstances, butter goes before guns. The expenditure on these ultimate weapons of mass destruction "should instead be directed toward real and urgent challenges, especially climate change and the pandemic, as well as to other essential social needs such as health services, housing and jobs," said Linda Pentz Gunter from Beyond Nuclear, a nonprofit organization pushing for abandoning both nuclear power and nuclear arms.

Finally, the dangerous and reckless move will prove to be toxic as it will raise global security concerns and strain relations with countries that support the NPT.

"It will ... alienate Britain's allies and increase fears that the UK is on a hell-bent road to sabotage our future and the collective norms and laws on which our security depends," said Rebecca Johnson, founding co-chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

The decision has also drawn criticism from the wider international community, as a UN spokesman warned it could have a damaging impact on global stability and efforts to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons.

All in all, the "dangerous," "reckless" and "toxic" move is not conducive to forging the reputation of a "Global Britain," which requires London to join more global cooperation to deal with the challenges the entire international community faces.

On the contrary, by ratcheting up global tensions and squandering resources on nuclear weapons, the British government undermines its own claim to be a responsible member of the global community. 
Rio De Janeiro, March 21 : Rio de Janeiro's world-famous beaches have been closed to the public due to a dramatic rise in the number of daily coronavirus cases in Brazil, local media reported.

Police officers took up positions in front of the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca on Saturday, dpa news agency quoted news portal G1 as saying in a report.

"The progress of the epidemic is leaving us in a more difficult situation," said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

"Either we are aware of it and we respect lives, or we are going to live in an unmanageable situation in the next few days," he added.

He announced further measures to contain the measures in the coming week.

As of Sunday morning, Brazil's overall caseload and death toll stood at 11,950,459 and 292,752, respectively.

After the US, Brazil is the second country most affected by the pandemic worldwide.

Last week, the country reported over 90,000 new single-day infections, and around 3,000 deaths.

According to a poll by the Datafolha institute, 79 per cent of Brazilians said the pandemic was out of control.

President Jair Bolsonaro, however, has repeatedly downplayed the coronavirus' seriousness and opposed any far-reaching protective measures.
Police arrest Talad Yai attacker, victim in serious condition

PHUKET: Police have arrested a man responsible for hospitalising a Talad Yai resident after attacking him with a piece of wood before fleeing on the victims motorbike.

violencecrime

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 21 March 2021, 12:11PM

Police apprehend the attacker yesterday. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub.

The incident occurred on Friday evening (Mar 19) when 53-year-old Mr Anan Chuenkaew was attacked near his home on Takua Pa Rd and left with a serious wound to his head before being taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan confirmed that authorities yesterday arrested 26-year-old Wirawit Saengthong nearby a national housing authority apartment complex on Koh Sirey, in the eastern side of the Phuket Town.

Meanwhile, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Chalermpong Sukontapol explained that Mr Anan is still in a serious condition and requires ongoing medical attention and observation.

From the TC scan, we found that he has bleeding on his brain, Dr Chalermpong.

Two of his ribs were broken which have punctured his lung. His lung is still bleeding.

We will monitor his situation to see how he responds to treatment, Dr Chalermpong added.

It was not revealved how the additional wounds to Mr Anan occurred, whether they were inflicted by the attacker or a consequence of his fall after the initial assault.
Council rates for businesses in one Sydney area are set to rise by more than 60 per cent in a proposal before the pricing regulator as other merged local government areas grapple with major increases in service fees.

Businesses that are not subject to the minimum rate rise in the former City of Canterbury municipality, now under Canterbury-Bankstown City Council, will be slugged a 62 per cent increase over five years if the councils proposal before the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal succeeds.

Arthur Efthymiou, owner of Trianon Cake Shop in Earlwood, trades in the old Canterbury City Council area, where business rates could go up by 62 per cent. Credit:James Brickwood

The amalgamated council is one of a number of councils that are proposing to pass on major fee increases to sections of their rate base, including Central Coast Council, which is imposing a 50 per cent rate increase on Gosford businesses.

Councils merged under the state governments controversial 2016 amalgamation process have been told they must harmonise their rates, with several local governments - including Canterbury-Bankstown applying to the regulator to vary their rates above the two per cent peg. The peg sets the maximum increase in each councils general income for the 2020-21 financial year, which for most consists entirely of rates.
Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl: available at SauceyWhile we love the artwork  and it's sure to catch your eye  we're just as in love with what's inside the bottle. This popular wine welcomes those hesitant about Riesling: it features stone fruit flavors like nectarine and apricot along with a mineral finish but lacks the sweet nature that often puts people off. This wine pairs perfectly with spicy and Asian cuisine.
King Mountain Lodge, Mile 78 of the Glenn Highway was one of the early Glenn Highway Lodges. The mountain in the background is an unnamed peak just north of King's Mountain.


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The shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Worcester Sunday morning remains under investigation by police.

Authorities said officers responded to a call around 2:25 a.m. Sunday for a report of a gunshot victim at an address on Winifred Avenue.

Officers discovered the 15-year-old male shooting victim when they arrived at the scene, according to a police spokesman.

The victim was rushed to an area hospital by ambulance. Authorities did not disclose the boys condition as of Sunday afternoon.

Anyone with information can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web-based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651.
Two elderly lovers who went missing on a camping trip a year ago could have been ambushed or shot by deer hunters, according to police.

Investigators are still trying to determine what happened to Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, after they disappeared while camping in Wonnangatta Valley, in Victoria's East Gippsland region, on March 19, 2020.

The pair had been involved in a secret affair for years and had gone on the camping trip before their site was found burned to the ground two days later.

Friends and police have speculated what might have happened and suggested they could have been ambushed, shot by deer hunters and their bodies dragged away in their sleeping bags.

Investigators are still trying to determine how Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, disappeared while camping in the rugged bushland of the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's East Gippsland region on March 19, 2020

The pair had been involved in a secret affair for years and had gone on the camping trip before their site was found burned to the ground two days later

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told A Current Affair officers are chasing all leads and have zeroed in on a driver of a white ute that was seen in the valley a day before the pair disappeared.

'It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carol's disappearance but we can't afford to leave any stone unturned,' he said.

Mr Hill, 74, left his Drouin home and picked up Ms Clay, 73, from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota Landcruiser.

He was last heard from the next day via HF radio, stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alps.

Police have noted the toilet at the campsite had been unused, suggesting the couple had not had time to settle in before they disappeared.

Officers are also following a theory the couple could have unwittingly witnessed an illegal activity, like hunting, and were killed because of it.

Friend Rob Ashlin has even said their bodies could have been wrapped in their sleeping bags and disposed of in the sprawling bushland.

'The fact that it's been reported that those sleeping bags were missing, makes me feel that those sleeping bags were carted out of there and... used as body bags,' he said.

'There are a lot of places  the country is very rugged  where they can be got rid of, never to be found again.'

The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne

Russell Hill and Carol Clay (pictured) were last heard from on March 20 last year

Detectives want to speak to anyone who was in the area of Howitt Plains and Zeka Spur Track on March 19 or 20, and the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between March 20-24.

Campers found Russell's vehicle with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely destroyed by fire, near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on March 21.

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw this fire or the smoke from it.

Investigators have been told Mr Hill took his DJI Mavic drone with him on the trip and the drone is still yet to be recovered.

A drone was handed into police earlier this month but has been confirmed not to have belonged to Mr Hill.

Police also have appealed for information about a white dual cab ute seen near the pair's campsite on March 19 last year.

Mr Hill's best friend Rob Ashlin (pictured) believe the couple had been attacked during their camping trip

Mr Hill (pictured) had left his Drouin home on March 19 for a camping trip along the Dargo River in Victoria's northeast and planned to leave the region on March 26

Investigators have not been able to account for the vehicle but do not believe it is connected to the pair's disappearance.

Detectives have established Mr Hill was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between March 11 and 13.

An older person or pair were later seen in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on March 22 and 23 but investigators have never been able to establish if this was Mr Hill and Ms Clay.

Detectives are calling for anyone in this area, including the pair themselves, to come forward.

Victorian police believe it is 'highly unlikely' that either Ms Clay (pictured) or Mr Hill are alive after they went missing last year

It is still to be determined whether the pair's disappearance is suspicious.

Ms Clay had told friends she was expecting to return by March 29.

'The grief that these families have had to deal with over the past year, coupled with immense public speculation, is immensely difficult to comprehend and our thoughts are with them on this anniversary,' Det Insp Stamper said.

'I know they will be hanging on every phone call and every knock on the door, hoping they will finally get some answers.

'Sadly, at this stage we believe it is highly unlikely that either Russell or Carol are still alive.'
Body of Lankan woman who died in Japan lies in funeral parlour pending investigations View(s):

The body of a 33-year-old Sri Lankan woman who died in Nagoya, Japan, is being held in a funeral parlour in that city pending the completion of investigations, diplomats said.

Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali died on March 6 after being taken to hospital from an immigration detention centre of the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau. Her parents gave an affidavit to the Sri Lankan mission in Tokyo requesting her remains to be disposed of in Japan.

But the funeral cannot be held until an investigation ordered by Japans Justice Minister is brought to a close. Separately, the Sri Lankan Embassy has also looked into her case, including examining health reports. The cause of death is yet to be determined.

Japanese media reported that Wishma, from Imbulgoda, Gampaha, went to Japan on a student visa in 2017 and was detained by Japanese immigration in August last year for overstaying. It was also said that she had expressed a desperate desire for food in notes and letters. Diplomatic sources indicated that she had a stomach condition that made her vomit frequently.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan mission has been told that there are currently 26 of its nationals in Japanese immigration detention centres. The authorities would not disclose details, including names, addresses or ages, because nearly all were seeking asylum status claiming they were unsafe in Sri Lanka, diplomats said.

Earlier, it has been indicated that there were around 300 illegal immigrants but many had been given provisional releases owing to COVID-19. The Embassy has asked for details of any Sri Lankans in immigration custody who are ill and are outside the asylum-seeker category.

Most Sri Lankans caught in the immigration net first to Japan went on student visa, stopped studies midway and overstayed when the respective educational institution refused to approve their continued presence in the country. Others took short-term or visit visas and overstayed. Still more chose other categories of visa to obtain work, abandoned the jobs and sought alternate employment, thereafter overstaying. Many of them then seek asylum.
WYDOT says 55 mph is a better speed limit for 22, commission will consider issue Monday
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, his office said on Saturday, adding Imran Khan was in self-quarantine at home.

Imran Khan was infected with COVID-19 before he accepted the vaccine, and the symptoms of COVID-19 often take days to show up, officials confirmed.

(CGTN)
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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Popular justice, 3 bandits lynched

On Friday, residents of "Trou Lenfer", a locality in the town of Anse-a-Galet, on Friday morning captured 3 armed individuals who held up passers-by to strip them of their valuables. After having confessed their crimes, the population without further form of trial lynched them before burning their bodies.



Escape : Funeral of Hector Paul Joseph

On Saturday March 20, the funeral of Inspector Hector Paul Joseph in charge of La Croix-des-bouquets prison took place, killed during the bloody mutiny followed by the escape of more than 400 inmates https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33115-haiti-flash-arnel-joseph-killed-more-than-400-detainees-on-the-run-at-least-25-dead.html



Foot : Tokyo 2021 elimination phase

The Grenadiers (after their 3-0 defeat against Honduras https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33283-haiti-tokyo-2021-eliminatory-severe-defeat-of-the-grenadiers-against-honduras-[3-0].html), will make a reconnaissance visit to Akron Stadium in Guadalajara (Mexico) where they will face Monday, March 22, 2021 in their second playoff match Canada, 2nd in the Group B standings (winner of El Salvador [ 2-0]). This visit will be followed by a training session on another field.



The CFHCI condemns acts of violence...

The Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFHCI) once again strongly condemns acts of violence that have caused the loss of human life and the destruction of private and public property. The Chamber presents its sympathies to the victims of these heinous acts, in particular to Universal Motors / AutoPlaza SA https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33264-haiti-flash-violence-vandalism-and-looting-in-port-au-prince.html which further weaken the national economy and the image of our country. The CFHCI launches a cry of appeal for the Government to find a rapid solution to this crisis which has raged for far too long in order to restore the rule of law, peace in the streets, security and improve the living conditions of citizens. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33273-haiti-economy-adih-deplores-and-condemns-acts-of-destruction-and-looting.html



Tribute to the Mayor of Delmas

On March 18, the employees of the town hall of Delmas, at the initiative of the communication office, honored Mayor Wilson Jeudy as the best employer, for his sense of leadership, his dynamism, his rigor, his vision and for proving to him how important it is not only for its employees, for its municipality but also for the whole country.



Montreal : Demonstration against support for Jovenel Moise

This Sunday, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Solidarite Quebec-Haiti is organizing a demonstration in Montreal, in front of the office of Marc Garneau, Foreign Minister Marc Garneau, to say no to the racist foreign policy of the Government of Canada and not to the support of the Federal Government to President Jovenel Moise.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Media bodies propose single monitoring authority View(s):

The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), its constituents and affiliated organisations met Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Monday to submit a proposal for a single Authority to monitor the media, including print, radio, television and digital media in keeping with self-regulatory principles that will ensure freedom of expression and social responsibility.

The delegation comprised representatives of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka (NSSL), The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL), the Free Media Movement (FMM), the Tamil Media Alliance (TMA), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMESTU), the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) and the SLPI.

[Centre] Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, [seated on the Right side of Minister] Kumar Nadesan, Chairman SLPI & representing NSSL, Siri Ranasinghe, President TEGOSL, Kumar Lopez, CEO SLPI, Kanchana Dasanayake, TEGOSL, [seated on the Left side of Minister] Seetha Ranjanee, Convenor FMM, Lakshman Gunesekera, President SAFMA, N.M. Ameen, President SLMMF & representing TMA, and Dharmasiri Lankapehli, Gen. Secretary, FMETU

It is proposed that this new mechanism will be repealing the Press Council Act No 5 of 1973 and bring in relevant amendments to the relevant Acts such as the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Act, No 37 of 1966, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Act, No 6 of 1982, the Sri Lanka Telecommunication Act, No 25 of 1991 and the Newspaper Ordinance of Sri Lanka, No 5 of 1839.

The proposed board of the Authority will comprise media representatives from the industry, state representation of media and subject matter experts from Finance, Law, ICT and New Media to ensure that todays complex media environment is regulated and managed with the relevant expertise.

The Authority, will ensure adherence of media to a Code of Conduct, hold inquiries on complaints received and of its own observation, issue broadcasting and content licences, registration of media, impose relevant fees, impose licence term, ensure conformity to content licenses impose fines and penalties based on inquiry.

The inquiries based on complaints or on observations of the Authority will be handled through a conciliation, mediation and arbitration process.

The Arbitration process will be in accordance with the Arbitration Act No. 11 of 1995 in particular Part V on conduct of arbitration proceedings. Any directives from these processes by the Authority could be appealed in the court of appeal.

The Minister said that he will include SLPI and all stakeholders who have engaged in this process to arrive at an outcome suitable to the media and public.
Burqa-niqab ban will be a gradual process: Public Security Ministry Secretary By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s):

A decision to impose a ban on Muslim women clothing burqa and niqab will be taken only after a debate in parliament, the Public Security Ministry has said.

Ministry Secretary Retired Major General Jagath Alwis said he could give no time frame as to when the ban would be imposed, but it would be a gradual process.

Once the law was enacted, the Attorney General would advise the police on how it should be implemented, Maj. Gen. Alwis said.

He said the recommendations of the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on national security would also be taken into consideration when drafting the law. The recommendations include measures to prevent a recurrence of the 2019 Easter Sunday massacres in which more than 260 people were killed when Islamic extremists blew themselves up in churches and hotels.

The report presented to Parliament in February last year by the 16-member sectoral committee headed by Malith Jayatilake recommended the banning of all types of face covering attire, including burqa, a dress that covers the body from head to toe, and niqab which shows only the eyes of the wearer.

It recommended that the police be given given powers to demand those who wear face covering attire in a public place to reveal their faces to establish their identities.

It also proposed that the police be empowered to arrest any person who refused to comply with such a request.

Together with the burqa ban, the Public Security Ministry also announced last week that moves were underway to close down around 1000 unregistered Madarasas or Islamic relgious schools in the country.

The ministry said the madrasas would be taken over and integrated with the mainstream schools.

Last week, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera said he had signed a cabinet paper for the burqa-niqab ban. But the matter was not taken up at this weeks Cabinet meeting in what was seen as a move connected with tomorrows United National Human Rights Council vote on a resolution on Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colomboge said the announcement of the burqa ban was merely a proposal and no decision had been taken yet.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 14:51:57|Editor: huaxia

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COTONOU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Health Minister of Benin Benjamin Hounkpatin said Saturday his country plans to launch a nationwide immunization campaign against COVID-19 in the coming week with AstraZeneca vaccines, the national radio reported.

"It is now time to go for immunization," he said.

On March 10, Benin received 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the country had delayed its immunization campaign because of concerns over side effects.

Earlier, the government said in a news release that 20 percent of the population is expected to take jabs distributed via COVAX, an international vaccine campaign co-led by the World Health Organization and its partners. Enditem
By Catherine Lee

Two days after the horrific killing of eight people, including six Asian women, in Atlanta-area massage spas, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights held a previously scheduled hearing on Thursday regarding the rise in anti-Asian violence in the United States.

At the hearing, advocates and scholars of Asian America recounted the history of anti-Asian racism, increased reports of discrimination and hate against Asian Americans, and ideas for combatting them. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) questioned the claims of the witnesses and his Democratic colleagues.

If America was such a hate-filled, discriminatory, racist society filled with animus against Asian Americans, how do you explain the remarkable success of Asian Americans in our country? he asked, noting that Asian Americans represent the lowest number of hate crimes as reported by the FBI as well as the highest median income of any racial group in the United States.

By noting their supposed economic success and the FBI statistic, McClintock conjured the model minority myth: the belief that Asian Americans are the good minority because they dont get into trouble and have assimilated into American society without government support, unlike Black Americans and Latinx immigrants. Its oft-repeated rhetoric, which historians and social scientists have shown to be used to pit minority groups against each other, to deny the history of white supremacy and to absolve the government from having to take action.

Its also a well-trodden approach for ignoring the diverse and complicated experiences of Asian Americans. Although Korean Americans may report a higher median household income than the average U.S. household, poverty rates among southeast Asian groups such as Cambodian, Vietnamese and Hmong Americans are higher than the national average. In fact, income inequality is rising most rapidly among Asian American groups. Theres also crucial gender variation in labor participation and income. For example, the staggering job losses of the past year have been disproportionately felt by Asian American women.

Race, ethnicity, gender and class all matter for understanding Asian American diversity. Their intersection and history also explain the violence in Atlanta and rising hate. Police officials and some legal commentators have questioned whether the murders were a racial or gender-based hate crime. The killer attacked Asian-owned businesses. He killed Asians. They were women. And they worked in a service industry that many associate with illicit sex work, whether true or not. The murders were not only about race and gender and class but about their intersection. The victims, particularly the six Asian women, were attacked because of all three factors, and none of them nor their killing can be reduced to any one identity marker.

To see why this intersectionality matters for understanding anti-Asian violence, we have to recognize the history of racism against Asians here in the United States and abroad during its wars throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. From their first arrival, immigrants from Asia, beginning with the Chinese in the mid-1800s, were targeted racially for being different and unassimilable. The rhetoric used to justify their exclusion hinged on claims that the women, in particular, were sexually deviant and the source of disease that would threaten the lives of white boys, men and their families, eventually imperiling the nation. In wars and occupations throughout Asia, U.S. military men found easy access to Asian women sex workers, whose sexuality is fetishized repeatedly in U.S. culture.

To address anti-Asian racism and violence, we need action, including better data collection of hate crimes. Because not all law enforcement agencies are required to report hate crimes to the FBI, we have, at best, an incomplete picture of the violence that Asian Americans experience. Even when there are anti-hate crime laws on the books and regular record-keeping, many Asian American victims are unwilling to report the attacks. We also need data collection that disaggregate Asian ethnic groups. This is important for understanding bias crimes but also social and economic indicators. Without such diversity, monolithic representations of Asian American success get packaged in service of the model minority myth.

We also need more education and training in our schools and workplace that recognizes the history of the intersection of racism, misogyny and imperialism. We need something McClintock and his fellow Republicans have attacked elsewhere  anti-racism education and training, specifically Critical Race Theory. Begun as a critique of the racism and sexism inherent in U.S. law, its founding legal scholars anticipated the very question police officials asked regarding the Atlanta killings: was it a race or gender-based attack? These scholars understood a crime could be about both racism and misogyny, and the explanation for how lies in the history of their intersection.

No doubt, someone will question whether the killers true motivation could have been fueled by this history and culture if he didnt know them. Do we need confessed mass murderers to leave a crumb trail to their heart that details racist and sexist motives? We know the killer targeted three Asian-owned businesses, and six of his victims were Asian women. The womens reasons for being there were complex and complicated, like the diversity of Asian American lives.

Catherine Lee is an associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University-New Brunswicks School of Arts and Sciences, and a faculty associate in the Rutgers Institute of Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research.

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In what The Associated Press described as a "sharply worded" letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for urgency in the government's peacemaking process with the Taliban ahead of a May 1 American troop withdrawal deadline that the Biden administration may wind up extending. On Sunday, however, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who made an unannounced visit to Kabul on his way back from India, appeared to strike a different tone while meeting with Ghani.

"I didn't ... convey a message to [Ghani]," Austin, who is the first Biden Cabinet member to visit Afghanistan, told reporters after the meeting. "Again, I really wanted to listen to him and to understand what his concerns were, see the landscape through his eyes. That's what we did. I really had a chance to hear from him. And it was very helpful to me."

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Austin didn't provide any updates on whether the U.S. will adhere to the May 1 deadline, which was set in an agreement reached by the Trump administration and the Taliban, saying only that the decision will be up to President Biden.

Afghanistan's TOLO Television reported that Ghani and Austin expressed a shared concern over the increase in violence in Afghanistan and agreed a lasting peace in the country remains the goal for both the American and Afghan governments.

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Colombo Girl Guides come together virtually for Womens Day By Shannine Daniel View(s): View(s):

Due to the prevailing pandemic situation schools in the Western Province, especially, have seen their academic and extra-curricular calendars curtailed. Schools were closed on and off, extra-curricular activities were put on hold and academic activities were held online since last March, through platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

However, undeterred by the restrictions, the 5th Colombo Girl Guides came together online to celebrate International Womens Day (IWD) 2021.

Marked annually on March 8, IWD is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate womens achievements and raise awareness about womens equality. It is a day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide, as groups come together to celebrate womens achievements or rally for womens equality, the Girl Guides who organised the event said.

Each patrol of the Girl Guides was given a certain task and had to represent it in an interesting manner to the rest of the company. The tasks included: research on empowering women, a mind map on how to create an environment safe enough for women, gender stereotypes in advertisements, a quiz about dignified women and interview questions for famous women.

Women all around the world invite and encourage us young women to stand up for our rights and to be an example to others. Rosa Parks from Alabama believed that There is only one race, the human race, spreading unity and love across the globe. Mother Teresa from Albania came to India with love, kindness and compassion proving to us all that Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love. Women like Florence Nightingale in the past and Malala Yousafzai today worked towards giving young women the chance to educate themselves just as well as men, the organisers said.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who was the worlds first female Prime Minister said, Most people who are not on time, have not been Girl Guides. Girl guides work on time. Mrs Bandaranaike showed her good training of being a Girl Guide all along and encouraged us to follow. We as Girl Guides and the future of tomorrow believe that it is us who can make a difference. Thank you to all the women around the world for creating peace among us, they added.

Girls aged between 14 and 16 years took part in the event while the organisers were between the ages 17 and 18 years. The event was organised online via Microsoft Teams, and the girls hope to host more events like this online in the near future.
A great son of Africa. An independent leader who refused to bow to foreign powers. An anti-corruption crusader. A COVID-19 denier. A budding authoritarian.

Across the African continent and the world, reactions are streaming in  both loving and searing  over the death of Tanzanian President John Magufuli.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa was one of the first to express his deep sadness in a short statement Thursday morning after receiving the news that Magufuli had died.

South Africa is united in grief with the government and people of Tanzania, Ramaphosa said.

Magufuli was only 61 and died under mysterious circumstances. Officially, according to Tanzanian government sources, the Tanzanian president died of heart disease. He had not appeared in public for more than two weeks, and opposition politicians claimed he had contracted COVID-19.

Magufuli stood alone among African leaders in denying the existence of the virus in his country. Last June, he declared his coastal nation free of the virus  a claim that many African health experts questioned.

As one of the continents most respected leaders, Ramaphosa set the tone for much of the comment from the continent in the wake of Magufulis death. Leaders and luminaries from Nigeria, Uganda, Somalia, Zimbabwe and former African power Britain were quick to issue statements mourning his death.

Ghana-based Sarfo Abebrese, founding president of the Coalition of Supporters Unions of Africa, which promotes African cooperation, said Magufulis reach extended across the continent.

It is not just the citizens of Tanzania that he ruled over, he said. We all received the news with a lot of sadness, especially because we all knew him as a great son of the continent of Africa. And you know, he is one of the few leaders that believed in his continent's abilities, despised and acted against corruption, and chose to be a true African statesman.

Activist Daniel Mwambonu, who heads the Global Pan Africanism Network, described Magufulis death as a terrible blow.

He has demonstrated the selfless leadership and people-driven leadership that continues to inspire the young generation, Mwambonu said. And utilizing the natural resources that Tanzania has, he has been able to develop Tanzania from a Third World country into a middle-class economy within just a short period of time. He has built the railways, utilizing Tanzanians taxpayer money, without begging for foreign aid. And these are the kind of leaders who we need in Africa.

But Magufuli was not without his critics. Also on Thursday, opposition leaders and analysts from the continent and beyond criticized him for his increasingly tight grip on civil liberties and the media in Tanzania, and on his denial of the pandemic.

Nic Cheeseman, professor of democracy at the University of Birmingham in Britain, said Magufulis legacy is complicated.

On the one hand, there will be those who cite him as a transformational leader who reduced corruption and strengthened the Tanzanian state and government, he said. On the other hand, there are going to be people who point to his legacy on COVID-19 and suggest that ordinary Tanzanians died when they didn't have to as a result of his neglect.

One of the key issues I think that's going to come up will be whether or not in the wake of his passing, Tanzania will move back onto a kind of democratizing pathway after what's often perceived to be a significant authoritarian turn under his leadership.

On that, Cheeseman is not holding his breath. He believes Tanzania will more likely see more continuity than change.

Perhaps the most telling reaction from outside of East Africa came from the U.S. State Department, which released a brief statement, saying little about Magufuli.

We extend our condolences to Tanzanians mourning the passing of President John Pombe Magufuli. ... The United States 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, the statement said.

Those condolences were a contrast to the U.S.s empathetic message last week marking the death of South African ceremonial leader King Goodwill Zwelithini, in which the State Department said we mourn the loss of King Zwelithini, and our thoughts remain with the royal family and all who mourn him.

The U.S. is the largest bilateral donor to Tanzania.
David Belle Isle, an attorney, former mayor of Alpharetta, and runner-up in the previous Republican Primary for Secretary of State, has announced his intention to challenge Brad Raffensperger in the 2022 Primary Election.

All supporters are invited to the official campaign Kick-Off Event on Monday, at 5:30 p.m. at Alpharetta City Hall Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009.

I am running for Secretary of State to clean up the mess, secure the mail-in ballot, and restore voter confidence, said Mr. Belle Isle. In the recent elections, we witnessed voter suppression on a massive scale, triggered by voter uncertainty and made worse by the Secretarys poor decisions, carelessness, and failure to lead. In the Senate runoff, thousands of Georgia voters chose to stay home rather than condone a process that appeared uninterested in the difference between valid votes and invalid votes. Mr. Raffensperger single-handedly bargained away our election integrity and skewered the credibility of our mail-in ballots. Then, he looked us in the eye and told us that the 2020 election was the safest, most secure election in our history. It was not, and its time to hold the Secretary of State accountable.

Mr. Belle Isle points to the Compromise Settlement Agreement signed by Mr. Raffensperger and Stacy Abrams as the biggest obstacle to voter confidence and election integrity in Georgia. He said, The Compromise makes it very difficult for counties to reject invalid mail-in ballots, which likely resulted in thousands of invalid ballots being fully counted. The integrity of our State depends on the integrity of our elections. As Georgias next Secretary of State, I will reject the Compromise Settlement Agreement and work to better secure the mail-in ballot process. I will work to clean up the voter rolls and call for a true independent audit of Dominion. Most importantly, I will put fresh eyes on our entire election system, from top to bottom, with the goal of delivering to the people of Georgia fair and provable elections.

Georgia has been the focus of national attention during the election process, and Mr. Belle Isle believes there is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how common-sense conservatism can solve a states problems. He said, However, It wont be easy. Conservatives are under attack. We are being banned, censored, and cancelled. Georgians know that our shared conservative values are at the heart of our States success. The way we lead and the policies we have championed have attracted new businesses and lured new citizens to our State. Yet, there is national pressure on our citizens to vote against the very principles that got us here.

Mr. Belle Isle knows that Republicans are seeking to support the right leaders who will help Georgians flourish. Before those leaders can be successful however, he said, we must fix the mess at the ballot box and restore voter confidence in Georgia.
...Well be back.  Frank Scavo

As idioms go, few are more apt than on pins and needles. The phrase viscerally expresses the creeping dread of stressors like public speaking, flunking a big test or facing possible indictment for joining a murderous mob bent on overturning a free and fair election.

Frank Scavo stopped taking my calls about a week after the Jan. 6 domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol. When the FBI reached out, the Old Forge insurrectionist apparently answered.

I was on pins and needles for the first couple weeks, Frank told Bob Kalinowski, a staff writer at The Citizens Voice, The Times-Tribunes sister paper in Wilkes-Barre. Frank was quoted in Bobs Wednesday story about a Luzerne County woman indicted for her role in the riot.

Ive talked to and cooperated with the FBI, Frank said. Ive just been having my attorney watch the situation. I havent seen or heard anything, so who knows?

We know. If Frank told Bob the truth, we now know that federal investigators have at least questioned him about his stroll inside the Capitol building as treasonous thugs assaulted police, hunted lawmakers and desecrated the temple of American democracy. Five people  including a Capitol police officer  died as a result of the attack.

Frank filled five buses with more than 200 Northeast Pennsylvania Patriots for a dead-end day trip to D.C. He breached the Capitol and lied to me about it even after he was confronted with photographic evidence from multiple sources that he apparently committed a federal crime.

The fbi.gov website displays 253 images of insurrectionists it hopes the public can help identify. Photograph #27 shows a rioter in a Trump T-shirt bounding up a stairway inside the Capitol. Its a cropped version of a Getty Images photo that shows Frank about 20 feet behind that rioter, and directly behind a goon in an orange hat and purple sweatshirt who was photographed in the Senate chamber with Zip Tie Guy.

I reached out to Bruce Brandler, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, to get confirmation of Franks claim of cooperation. Once again, Brandler adhered to DOJ policy prohibiting public disclosure of ongoing investigations  the same policy his predecessor, David Freed, violated in helping the Trump campaign gin up a phony voter fraud scandal in Luzerne County.

So far, Franks name doesnt appear in the DOJs running list of indictments related to the insurrection, which includes more than 300 alleged Americans and almost 30 Pennsylvania Patriots. The latest booby prizewinner is Annie Howell, 30, of Swoyersville, who was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct, violent entry, obstruction of Congress and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building.

That last one was new to me, but its a real federal crime and obviously applies to the insurrection. Like many who crossed the line between protestor and perpetrator, Howell publicized her crimes with videos and real-time boasts posted on social media. She is innocent until proven guilty, but no evidence is more damning than video footage of the defendant committing the crimes charged.

Howell was there. Inside the Capitol. So was Frank. Both chose to cross the line. Only one has been charged. The Feds allege that Howell  a volunteer for the Trump campaign  appeared to be inciting the crowd in order to storm the building. She also appears in a video shot inside a trashed conference room and is heard chanting Whose house? Our House! and Fight for Trump, according to the indictment.

Weve seen no evidence that Franks entry was violent or that he damaged any property. But he did enter the Capitol. He chose to stand with a mob that tried to stop Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence from performing their Constitutional duty to certify the results of a free and fair election. Franks real-time Facebook posts  still public on his page  reveal which side he was on:

1:26 p.m.: V.P. PENCE FAILS AMERICA...

2:09 p.m.: (about 10 minutes after the Capitol was breached): Its going down...

2:43 p.m.: No certification Today!!!

The certification did happen, hours after the Capitol was cleared of treasonous cretins. Frank came home and told anyone who would listen that the rioters were members of the largely imaginary ANTIFA. Frank told WNEP-TV he was too far away to see the riot unfold.

How could the Capitol fall within 5 minutes to a bunch of unarmed people? he said. And, thats what Im saying. We werent even really aware of the fact that this was all going on...

That aged like milk. We know Frank lied to me and WNEP, but what did he tell the FBI? What did he mean when he said he cooperated with the FBI? If I was one of the Northeast Pennsylvania Patriots on Franks cuckoo caravan to the Capitol, Id sure want to know.

Frank wont talk to me, but something he said to Bob Kalinowski begs clarification.

On my end, its been very quiet. Ive taken myself out of the loop and devoted myself to my family and business, Frank said. But well be back.

Whos we? And where will they be back to? The insurrectionist mob? The Capitol? Some other shrine of American democracy?

What did Frank mean by well be back?

The FBI has Franks number. In the spirit of cooperation, someone in the Bureau should call and ask him.

CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, makes a living on pins and needles. Contact the writer: kellysworld@timesshamrock.com, @cjkink on Twitter. Read his award-winning blog at times-tribuneblogs.com/kelly.
Over 200 Chinese vessels at disputed reef: Manila

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered. Image: Shutterstock

The Philippines expressed concern about hundreds of Chinese military vessels it said were spotted this month in the disputed South China Sea, the latest example of tension in the crucial waterway.



The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored in line formation at a reef on March 7, a cross-government task force said late on Saturday.



Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the ships' presence, told a journalist on Twitter: "Only if the generals tell me. In my watch foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces."



The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea expressed concern about overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation.



China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered.



An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China's claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling.



China in recent years has built islands in the disputed waters, putting air strips on some of them.



Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei all claim parts of the sea.



In January, the Philippines protested a new Chinese law allowing its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a "threat of war".



The United States has repeatedly denounced what it called China's attempts to bully neighbours with competing interests, while Beijing has criticised Washington for what it calls interference in its internal affairs.



The Chinese vessels were at the Julian Felipe Reef, also called Whitsun Reef, in Manila's exclusive economic zone, the task force said, describing the site as "a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs."



"Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time," it said in a statement.



The Philippines vowed to monitor the situation and "to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea. (Reuters)
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the high stake election in West Bengal promises to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in all state government jobs if voted to power.

The manifesto was released by Union Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. He said the core of BJP's manifesto is based on 'Sonar Bangla' and if voted to power the party will ensure a state free of violence.

Amit Shah slammed the West Bengal government for turning the state into one of the 'most unsafe states for women'. He further announced that women will be given 33% reservation in state government jobs.

Apart from this, the home minister emphasised infra development, health, industry and promised that every household in Bengal will get at least one job in the next five years.

He said that CAA will be implemented in the first Cabinet and refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship. Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for 5 years.

According to the manifesto, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will be extended to Bengal and Rs 18,000, will be transferred to 7.5 million farmers' bank accounts. Three new AIIMS hospitals will be built in North Bengal, Jangalmahal and Sundarban.

"Locals don't have to travel to Kolkata to avail healthcare facilities, said Amit Shah.

The party also promised free KG to PG education for all women and free travel for them in public transport.

Further, Shah slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "politicising administration, criminalising politics and institutionalising corruption".

The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, have stepped up its attack on the opponents in the poll-bound state.

The West Bengal assembly election will 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.
The impending loss of the Bank of Ireland ATM in Manorhamilton will result in an estimated annual loss to the local economy in the region of 24m.

At this week's Manorhamilton Municipal District meeting, two motions were raised highlighting the need to retain an on-street ATM in the town.

Cllr Frank Dolan and Cllr Padraig Fallon both proposed that the Municipal District write to the Bank of Ireland asking them to consider leaving the ATM operational after the branch closes this September.

Cllr Fallon also proposed that the MD also engage with Allied Irish Bank and Manorhamilton Credit Union to ensure an on-street ATM is made available if Bank of Ireland do not keep theirs operational.

Cllr Dolan described attempts to organise protests against the closure of the branches as a bit foolish and said that people had told him the real issue wasn't the closure of the branch but the loss of the ATM.

He said the closure of the town's only on-street ATM will be a huge loss but pointed out it is no big ask to expect Bank of Ireland to provide the ATM and continue to service it (after September's closing date).

Cllr Padraig Fallon acknowledged there was not a great deal of sympathy for the Bank of Ireland because of their moves to constantly reduce the services on offer to customers. However he said the ATM was vital for the town and in particular to shops and businesses.

He accepted it was unlikely that the Bank of Ireland will delay the closure of the Manorhamilton branch but said that something needs to be done to ensure an on-street ATM remains.

He said he asked Sligo-Leitrim Deputy Martin Kenny to speak with AIB about the prospect of putting an on-street ATM in Manorhamilton and this proposal has been passed on to the AIB ATM team.

Presenting figures to the meeting, Cllr Felim Gurn said that in the catchment area of some 1,100 to 1,500 people, the ATM provided an important service. He estimated the presence of the ATM generated 24m in revenue for the local economy and pointed out that the remaining ATMs in the town were all located inside businesses and were not available to customers outside of opening hours.

There would be no problem with the closure of the Bank of Ireland ATM if AIB or the Post Office were providing an on-street ATM but this isn't the case. Once the Bank of Ireland ATM is closed people will have to go to Sligo to take money out at night and that's unacceptable, he said.

He admitted it was difficult to understand the impact the loss of the on-street ATM will have on the town until it goes, then we'll know how important it was.

At the moment much of the hospitality and retail sector is closed and we don't know when we will be allowed to reopen. But, if there is no on-street ATM when that happens it will have a serious impact on businesses, he warned.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Sean McDermott pointed out that, along with providing cash, the on-street ATM also allowed people to make deposits and get balances.

These services will also be lost when the ATM goes from Bank of Ireland, he said.

Cllr Mary Bohan said the onus is now on AIB to provide an on-street ATM from September but she also backed the previous call to see if Bank of Ireland would consider leaving their ATM operational.

Cllr Justin Warnock acknowledged that he was very worried for businesses in the area reliant on the night time economy.

Councillors unanimously agreed to write to AIB and Bank of Ireland to secure on-street ATM services.
Bob Goray of Cary is owner of JS Goray Inc., a building-facade restoration and repair company in Wauconda. He wrote this for The Center Square.


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Taking chances has always worked in Michele Politos favor.

After she switched her plans from pre-med to fashion, Polito set out for New York City at 18 to pursue her dream. She began a career in retail as an assistant buyer and worked her way up the luxury ladder with big-name brands over the next 13 years.

In 2015, Politos knack for fashion and trends led her to take a leap of faith to develop her own brand, HYD NYC, which sells handbags, totes and more that give each owner a sense of feeling effortlessly chic with a downtown edge. Then, after making her way in New York, Polito moved back to Northeast Pennsylvania last year, from where she continues to run her company.

Shes also embarking on a new adventure, Electric City Sweets, a candy brand that offers sweet treats and decadence through a playful, stylish lens.

If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I would be moving back, I would have said youre crazy, she said with a laugh during a recent phone interview from her home in the citys Green Ridge section. New York City is a city you love to love and love to hate (sometimes). Once youre in your career there, you never think, Can I actually do what I love and live somewhere else? because, especially in the fashion industry, you feel kind of stuck because New York is (huge) for fashion.  COVID gave me a way to get out of the city and showed me I can still pursue what I love.

Fashion was always a constant in Politos life. At Dunmore High School, she was known for her style (even voted best dressed by her classmates) and loved putting together outfits. She initially attended University of Scranton for biology/pre-med and also started working for United Colors of Benetton downtown. Her part-time gig offered her experiences from traveling on buying trips to meeting different kinds of people. When she started to look at her life and future, it was clear that fashion was where she most saw herself.

I loved what I was doing, Polito said. When the questions come up, Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What makes you happy?, I saw (myself) working in fashion, and I knew I needed to make a change.

She transferred to Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, which felt like a better fit. After graduation, she was tapped by Dylan Lauren, fashion designer Ralph Laurens daughter, to be an assistant buyer for the fashion heiress candy store, Dylans Candy Bar. The boutique candy shop, which eventually became a chain and candy supplier, is a colorful, fantastical place where fashion, art and pop culture meet confections. It also was featured in films such as Hitch, starring Will Smith, and television shows including Gossip Girl, Project Runway and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Working with Dylans let Polito use her love of fashion and aesthetic while learning the ropes of the retail industry.

After that, Polito moved back home for a bit and worked as retail manager for Lackawanna County, implementing an inventory management system at county stops including the Electric City Trolley Museum and Lackawanna County Visitors Center. She then relocated to Miami, where she began working on the corporate side of fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue in Bal Harbour. Polito missed getting her hands on merchandise, however, and switched back to a buyer role for Saks, first in intimate apparel and then designer mens shoes.

After nine years with Saks, Lauren asked Polito if shed like to come back, this time as a senior buyer for Dylans. Polito jumped at the opportunity, which let her travel to England and expand into several new locations.

Working in retail also led Polito to encounters with big names. She worked with Chris Pratt at Ronald McDonald House for Dylans as well as met fashion designer Oscar de la Renta at Saks. Also when she was buying for Saks, shoe designer Giuseppe Zanotti created an exclusive collection for the brand.

That was pretty epic, sitting at a table with him while he was sketching the collection, Polito said of the designer, whose clients have included Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Kanye West.

In 2015, during a trip to Calistoga in Napa Valley, California, she was having a hard time finding the right crossbody bag to hold all of her belongings and her phone so she could keep a free hand for holding a wine glass. Polito knew she couldnt be the only one struggling with fashionable bags being too small or larger bags being too casual for the setting. She felt she needed to design her own bag that could work for any person, for any setting, that was large enough to hold everything but also still transition from a day bag to an evening one.

Polito worked closely with Lauren while developing Dylans, and Polito also had years of experience working in both retail and fashion. She took design classes at FIT but had never considered herself a designer, per se. To design and create her own handbag, not to mention a whole brand, was a risk she weighed taking.

While her parents, Michelina and Nicholas Polito, have offered their daughter unwavering support since she was a child, entrepreneurism also is in her blood. Politos uncle and godfather, Joseph Macciocco, owns Villa Maria in Dunmore. Her mom, meanwhile, owned and operated Mickis Hair Salon in downtown Scranton, one of the first full-service salons in the area, offering everything from cuts and color to tanning and manicures.

Michelina Polito, who worked for 37 years, is her daughters biggest role model. She showed both Polito and her brother, Nick, the passion, hard work and grit it takes to own a successful business. Though she ran her salon on top of working there full-time, Polito said, her mother never missed a beat. From sporting events to school activities, her mom always was there for her kids.

She was an original boss babe, Polito said.

With a business-minded family and her parents constant support, Polito never doubted her talent and experience, because she witnessed it firsthand while growing up.

It was a moment where I asked myself, Can I do this on my own? she said, adding she still maintained a full-time job while doing so. Its definitely nerve-wracking to strike out on your own, but it was something I felt drawn to. I just decided to bet on myself.

Polito started to sketch handbag designs and took them to several factories in New York City. Finally, she found the right fit to create the bag. She was there every step of the way, choosing materials and looking over every inch of the bag until it was perfect. Polito also worked with a friend on the graphic design for her brand, HYD NYC. In 2018, she launched her first collection.

I was so excited and proud, she said. It was nice to see all my friends and family with bags but also to see people who I dont know loving my handbags. It was amazing.

Since debuting, HYD NYC has expanded into some apparel, candles and accessories, with multi-purpose everyday bags at its center. The Classic Skull Collection, launched this past winter with a run at New Laundry, 127 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, is made with the same super-soft leather HYD NYC is known for, but its also defined by its emblematic skull hardware, which has become a hallmark of the brand, Polito said.

Polito felt it was a sweet way to tie HYD NYC into her roots in NEPA, which shes also rediscovering as home.

Last year, living in New York began to take a toll on her. As the coronavirus pandemic began, it seemed like a sign that it was the best time to head back to her hometown. She couch surfed through her families homes for a while before finding her own place in Green Ridge, only about five minutes from her parents house.

Polito hasnt slowed down in business, either. Shes kept busy with HYD NYC, including making custom pieces and collaborating with local artist JFo aka Jennifer Forgione, which is in its concept stages. She also plans to launch Electric City Sweets this spring. Offering gifts, chocolates and gummy candies, its a way to get back to her roots in candy, which Polito said will immerse candy-lovers in an indulgence of sights, smells and tastes. Electric City Sweets will debut with 10 candy bars that range from favorites such as dark and milk chocolate to decadent flavors like salted caramel brownie and red velvet cake.

In a lot of ways, Polito is going back to her beginnings with all of the knowledge, skills and tenacity shes learned along the way. It feels good to be back, she said.

Its funny and a little bit surreal to come back to where it all began, she added.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 21) will address a public rally in West Bengal's Bankura. The rally is going to be held in Tilabedya Maidan near Bankura University in the poll-bound state.

The BJP leader is going to address four rallies in the poll-bound state in the next 10 days.

In his last rally in Kharagpur on Saturday (March 20) PM Modi took a jibe at the TMC leader Mamata Banerjee. PM Modi mocking the Didi-Bhaipo duo said, Only a single window exists in Bengal today, which is the window of 'Bhaipo' (nephew), no work gets done without crossing it.

Targeting the TMC government, the prime minister alleged that Mamata Banerjee stands like a wall to block the benefits of central schemes to the people of Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also cited the global outage to attack West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, "Yesterday WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook were down for 50-55 minutes, everybody got worried. But in Bengal, development, and dreams have been down for 50-55 years."

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.
New Delhi, March 21 : Rise in input costs have exerted pressure on the profitability of cement manufacturers, which is bound to adversely reflect in its Q4 FY2021 performance, ICRA said in a note.

Input costs have risen over the last few months as the prices of major input materials - coal, pet coke and diesel - are on an upward trend, resulting in higher power, fuel and freight expenses.

"The rise in these costs, which account for 50-55 per cent of total costs, has been exerting pressure on the profitability of the industry players," the note said.

On the input costs front, the note cited that the increase in coal prices in recent months is majorly driven by higher demand from China and other Asian countries.

"The prices of diesel and pet coke increase in line with crude oil prices. The recent surge in oil prices led to an increase in pet coke prices by 73 per ceny YoY and 29 per cent QoQ in Q4 FY2021 and diesel prices by 20 per cent YoY and 10 per cent QoQ," it said.

Consequently, cement companies have undertaken price hikes by around 7 per cent YoY in March 2021 to pass on the increase in the power, fuel and freight expenses.

According to the note, the recent increase in cement prices are likely to sustain in the near term supported by significant uptick in construction activity driven by healthy rural housing demand and infrastructure led demand.

Besides, in an attempt to preserve liquidity during the Covid-19 pandemic, players have deferred capacity additions in FY2021 as against the earlier estimates of around 20 million MT, and actual addition is estimated to be in the range of 14-16 million MTPA, the note said.

"The capex is likely to get back to around 21-22 million MT in FY2022 which will increase the aggregate debt levels for the industry," it said.
Tennessee Senate Advances 'Permitless Carry'

By West Kentucky Star Staff

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Senate has advanced legislation that would allow most adults 21 and older to carry firearms, concealed or openly, without a license that now requires a background check and training.According to KYTN, the proposal must now pass the House, which is likely in the GOP-dominant chamber.Republican Governor Bill Lee has backed the bill and is expected to sign it into law.Republican senators on Thursday tweaked the original bill to ban those who had been convicted of stalking or driving under the influence from being able to carry a firearm.Those who had been hospitalized or judicially committed in a mental institution would also be banned.
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Mumbai, March 21 : Sending alarms bells ringing, Maharashtra's Covid-19 cases jumped to a new high of over 30,000 on Sunday, with deaths also shooting up in the "second wave" that has gripped the state, while Mumbai recorded 3,000 plus fresh infections, health officials said.

The state saw 30,535 new infections, up from Saturday's 27,126, and 99 deaths, taking up the state tally to 24,79,682 and toll to 53,399, respectively - both highest in the country.

For the first time, Mumbai figures have shot up over 3,000 to 3,779, and this is attributed to the rapid antigen tests being conducted at malls and public places to trace infectees as the city reels under the surge.

The state's recovery rate came down from 89.97 per cent to 89.32 per cent, while the death rate stood at 2.15 percent, as compared to 2.18 per cent a day earlier, while the number of active cases jumped up sharply from 191,006 to 210,120.

The number of people sent to home isolation shot up to 969,867 while those shunted to institutional quarantine increased to 9,601 on Sunday.

Pune saw the maximum fatalities, 25, while there were 17 deaths in Nagpur, 11 in Jalgaon, 10 in Mumbai, seven in Akola, four in Thane, three each in Nashik, Nandurbar, and Aurangabad, two each in Raigad, Satara, Ratnagiri, Beed, Nanded, Wardha, and Chandrapur, and one each in Sangli and Latur.

The developments came two days 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 surpassed all previous records.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, March 22 : With 823 new Covid-19 cases reported on Sunday, the total tally in the national capital has gone up to 647,984 while the death toll has reached to 10,955 as two more succumbed to the deadly virus, according to the data of the Delhi government.

The positivity rate was reported to be 1.03 per cent on Sunday, as compared to 1.07 percent on Saturday and 0.93 per cent on Friday, while the cumulative positivity rate went up to 4.69 per cent. As per the report, a total of 613 patients recovered from the infection taking the total recovery to 633,410 and the active cases were reported to be 3,618.coronavirus affected people get recovered or discharged with one death report on Saturday.

A total of 75,888 new samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of tests conducted in the city to 1,37,42,763.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Married At First Sight's Joanne Todd and James Susler's troubled 'marriage' came to an explosive end during Sunday night's commitment ceremony.

After a turbulent past few weeks on the experiment, the Melbourne based mother-of-three, 39, and the luxury car dealer decided to leave the experiment.

But before announcing their mutual decision to quit, James, 45, was called out by his wife and the show's experts.

It's over! Married At First Sight's James Susler, 45, (right) and Joanne Todd, 39, (left) sensationally QUIT the experiment on Sunday night after the millionaire car dealer was called out by expert John Aiken for 'gaslighting' his wife

While sitting on the couch alongside his wife, James claimed he went all out to make his 'marriage' work.

But wife Joanne said that was further from the truth, 'You're full of sh*t. Please stop your sh*t,' she urged.

'You are talking rubbish. You are making yourself look so much better than what you are. You didn't try. You weren't trying. You blatantly lied to my life,' she snapped.

Jo continued: 'You haven't spoken to me for days. You've gone missing. You haven't come back. You didn't reply to any of my text messages.'

Trying: While sitting on the couch, alongside his wife, James claimed he went all out to make his 'marriage' work

Lies! But wife Joanne, said that was further from the truth, 'You're full of sh*t. Please stop your sh*t,' she urged

'You are talking rubbish. You are making yourself look so much better than what you are. You didn't try. You weren't trying. You blatantly lied to my life,' she snapped

Jo turned to the show's experts and explained James went missing for several days without explanation and didn't feel like he was making any effort.

She went on to say that she feels that she is being manipulated by James and feels like he always turning things around to blame her.

To the room's surprise, John, 50, then said that while observing the show's dinner party, he and his fellow experts felt that he was 'gas lighting' his bride.

'There is the issue, and this has got to do with a behavior James, which is classic, stereotypical gaslighting behaviour, and it's something that has to stop,' he began.

To the room's surprise, John, 50, then said that while observing the show's dinner party, he and his fellow experts felt that he was 'gas lighting' his bride

'There is the issue, and this has got to do with a behavior James, which is classic, stereotypical gaslighting behaviour, and it's something that has to stop,' he began

'You start talking in circles, you start to deflect and dodge, put it back on to Jo,' John continued.

'We got a close up look at it last night. We watched it for hours and hours, that behavior is gaslighting and it is toxic and it hurts people that are close to you.'

Both James and Joanne then decided to 'leave', ending their time on the experiment.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Nine
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 23:25:09|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Omani health ministry on Sunday announced 1,665 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the sultanate to 150,800, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

Meanwhile, 1,229 people recovered during the past 72 hours, taking the overall recoveries to 139,100, while two deaths were reported, pushing the tally up to 1,622, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA.

The ministry urged everyone to adhere to social distancing instructions issued by the Supreme Committee entrusted with handling the coronavirus pandemic. Enditem
(Natural News) Spains highest sanitary authority, the Agency for Medicine and Health Products (AEMPS), has banned the sale of a 51 nasal spray that claims to protect against COVID-19. The agency said there was not enough evidence of the products efficacy against the coronavirus despite clinical trials showing otherwise.

Nasus Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company based in Israel, created the nasal spray in question called Taffix. It was credited with preventing dozens of Jews from contracting COVID-19 at a religious festival last year.

The United Kingdoms Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it was also reviewing the product. A spokesman for the agency said they have taken the appropriate steps in response to inquiries raised regarding Taffix. Patient safety remains front and center in all our actions, the agency spokesman said

Health experts warned that medical products like Taffix could give people false confidence and embolden them to take more risks. For instance, some people who have used Taffix might feel safe visiting a relative with COVID-19 and unknowingly put themselves at risk of contracting the disease as a result.

Taffix claims to prevent COVID-19 infection

Taffix prevents infection by capturing the virus in the nose and coating it. Dalia Megiddo, director and co-founder of Nasus Pharma, said the products unique, thin gel has particles small enough to cover the nasal membrane but not small enough to enter the lungs.

This thin, acidic gel prevents viral particles from penetrating the nasal membrane. In other words, the gel traps the viral particles and renders them inactive. Each spray can provide up to 200 pumps. Taffix can be used up to four times a day for general protection. Nasus Pharma claims the effects last for about four to five hours.

Nasus Pharma also claims that Taffix has no known side effects. But according to its website, the application of the spray may cause a tingling or burning sensation in the nose. This may be due to the sprays menthol scent.

In July last year, the company released a study it conducted with researchers from the University of Virginia. Barbara Mann, an associate professor of infectious diseases at the university, led the study. She and her colleagues were able to demonstrate that the spray blocked SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from penetrating the nasal membrane.

The spray also reduced the amount of live viruses by over 99 percent. Megiddo said the results agree with those of previous studies performed with Taffix. She added that the results showed how Taffix can become the first line of protection against viruses that attack the respiratory system, including SARS-CoV-2.

Megiddo said Nasus Pharma intends to pursue Emergency Use Authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Taffix in the hopes of increasing the products global availability.

Meanwhile, Mann said Taffix could provide a valuable protective measure that would help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and complement worldwide efforts to fight the pandemic.

Nasus Pharma also conducted another study with scientists from the University of Virginia and the University of Haifa in Israel.

In this study, they followed 243 people who attended the Jewish New Year festival last September in Bnei Brak, a city just four miles east of Tel Aviv, Israels capital city. None of the 81 people who used the spray properly got infected with COVID-19, while 16 people who did not use the spray properly did get infected.

Even though the study was not as rigorous as a standard scientific study, it still provided one of the largest real-world tests of Taffix.

But despite its apparent efficacy, Nasus Pharma officials warned that the spray should not be used in place of face masks or social isolation. Megiddo said Taffix should only be used as an additional layer of protection. (Related: INHALE the COVID: Beijing has approved a nasal spray vaccine for clinical trials.)

Go to Pandemic.news for more stories and updates on the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

BusinessInsider.com

GlobalNewswire.com
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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Doctors protest in Myanmar as crackdown claims more lives View Photo

MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP)  Health care workers marched through Myanmars second-biggest city Sunday as part of a broad civil disobedience movement against last months coup. While their protest was left alone, security forces used violence elsewhere and shot dead at least one person.

About 100 doctors, nurses, medical students and pharmacists, wearing long white coats, lined up on a main road in Mandalay to chant slogans and voice their opposition to the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mandalay has been a major center of opposition to the takeover, and later in the day engineers there held what has been dubbed a no-human strike, an increasingly popular tactic that involves lining up signboards in streets or other public areas as proxies for human protesters.

Video recorded in Mandalay showed a motorcyclist apparently being shot off his motorbike by police on an empty street.

As the people who recorded the video shout Hes been hit! Hes been hit! Go and rescue him! police quickly appear and swarm around him just after he slumps to the ground. Police led him away on foot while another officer rides off on the motorbike. It isnt clear how badly he was hurt or what happened to him.

The civil disobedience movement has used widespread boycotts, strikes and other actions with the aim to restore civilian government and return Myanmar to its slow march toward democracy that began nearly a decade ago after a half-century of military rule.

In recent weeks, street protests have faded as a tactic in the face of rising deaths as police and soldiers have shot live fire into crowds and indiscriminately detained people. The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners had verified 247 deaths nationwide but says the actual total, including cases where verification has been difficult, is probably much higher.

At least one protester was shot dead Sunday in Monywa, another central Myanmar city, according to the online news site Myanmar Now and numerous social media posts.

Myanmar Now, citing a doctor in Monywa, identified the victim as Min Min Zaw, who was shot in the head as he was helping assemble barricades for a protest. Virtually all the dead since the coup have been shot, many of them in the head.

Elsewhere, students, teachers and engineers marched in Dawei, a city in southeastern Myanmar that has become a hotspot for opposition and has seen at least five killings by security forces.

On Sunday, protesters broke into small groups and varied the timings of their marches in an effort to avoid confrontations.

In a more rural outlying area, protesters from several villages in Launglone Township held their protest on motorbikes.

In Yangons Thaketa neighborhood, a funeral was held Sunday for 15-year-old high school student Aung Kaung Htet, who was killed a day earlier, Myanmar Now reported.

According to posts on social media, Thaketa was one of several areas where police fired their guns Sunday, the others including Tachileik and Taunnggyi in Shan State in eastern Myanmar, and Gangaw, a town in Magway Division in the west-central part of the country.

The protesters cause over the weekend received support from demonstrations in several places abroad, including Tokyo, Taipei in Taiwan and on Times Square in New York City.

In addition to deaths since the coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has confirmed 2,345 people have been arrested or charged since the coup, with 1,994 still detained or sought for arrest.
U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York, is accused of rubbing a female lobbyist's back and unhooking her bra, without her consent, at a networking event in a Minneapolis pub in 2017.

The lobbyist, Nicolette Davis, told The Washington Post that Reed appeared to be drunk as he pawed her back and leg as the two were seated next to each other during a networking trip.

Reed fumbled with her bra before pinching the clasp through her blouse and unhooking it, then moved his hand to her thigh, she said.

A frightened Davis, who was 25 and on her first trip as a junior lobbyist for insurance company Aflac, texted a friend and co-worker that a drunk congressman is rubbing my back.

"HELP HELP, she texted, before the person seated on her other side responded to her request by pulling Reed out of the restaurant, according to her account, published Friday.

Reed, elected to Congress in 2010, declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press. In a statement released by his office, he said, This account of my actions is not accurate.

Reed has been among the members of Congress calling for the resignation of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations. In late February, Reed said he was seriously considering running for governor against Cuomo.

Davis, now a 29-year-old second lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, contacted The Post through a tip line Feb. 11, the newspaper said.

Related: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the coronavirus pandemic

Davis said she is speaking out as she thinks about the kind of platoon leader she wants to be after graduating from field artillery school later this month.

I need to always act in good conscience and set the right example for the soldiers I will lead, including younger females, she said. I hope it will allow people who have endured similar experiences to feel confident enough to say something.

Her story was corroborated by the friend whom Davis texted from the restaurant, Jessica Strieter Elting, who runs Aflacs political affairs team in Washington, D.C.

Strieter Elting told The Post that Davis was shaken by the encounter.

I felt horrible for her, being in that position while trying to do her job, said Strieter Elting.

Davis also reported the incident, at the time, to her supervisor at the company, then-vice president and counsel Brad Knox.

Knox said he recalled Davis telling him that Reed had been drinking and had undone an article of her clothing. He said she declined when he asked if she wanted to file a complaint with the House Ethics Committee.

Reed is a former mayor of Corning, New York. In Congress, he co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus, whose 24 Republican and 24 Democratic members meet weekly on issues.

In response to the #MeToo movement, Reed said sexual harassment training was a basic requirement in his office, and that he had taken it. He also backed bipartisan legislation in 2018 requiring lawmakers to be personally liable for settlements resulting from harassment.

The statement provided by Reed's office said: I stand by my record.

Commenting on the allegations against Cuomo last month, Reed had said, these incidents of sexual harassment and pattern of abuse are abhorrent and have absolutely no place in our society, let alone the highest rungs of government.
The Ministry of is deliberating on measures to increase the number of international students coming to India for higher studies.

In a review meeting of the Ministry's Study in India Programme with partner institutions on Friday, Secretary Amit Khare said that the criteria for institutions partnering under the programme will soon be revised so that more institutions that have the necessary infrastructure and academic quality can join the programme.

He also said that no distinction will be made between private and public institutions in matters of supporting internationalisation.

According to the Ministry of Education, Study in India is a programme of the Government of India that aims to attract international students to institutions in India.

Select 117 institutions are partners under the programme that was launched in 2018. Admissions are merit-based and done through a common portal. Around 7500 students from over 50 countries have come to Indian institutions so far under this programme.

The Government has also recognized the importance of creating a conducive, on-campus ecosystem for international students, where they not only get quality academic inputs but can also feel safe, welcome, happy and hassle-free.

In this regard, the Secretary 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 single-window support for anything that the international students may need, right from the day they get selected to join the institution.

Besides this, avenues like networks of families, mentors etc should be developed, who can help the students to socialize 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.

In addition to this, the Ministry has also asked institutions that they should consider organizing 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.

"The Ministry is also 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," read a release by the ministry.

The Ministry has 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.

All institutions have also been asked to activate their Alumni network and use this connection to draw more students to Indian institutions.

(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 administration of President Joe Biden is moving forward with its plans to help schools reopen this spring.

The administration is making money available to expand coronavirus testing for teachers, students and other school workers. It is also planning an event for educators to share best practices, or good methods, for returning students to the classroom.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Wednesday: The time is now, and schools must act immediately to get students safely back into school buildings.

Biden promised to have most elementary and middle schools open by the end of his first 100 days in office. The administration has been pointing to legislation passed by Congress that provides $1.9 trillion for COVID-19 assistance as a way to reach that goal.

The Education Department said American states will share $122 billion for K-12 schools to reopen. The money can be used to reduce the number of students in each class, change classrooms to improve social distancing, put in air cleaning systems and buy personal protective equipment. The money also can be used to pay for more health workers, counselors and cleaners, as well as for summer school.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also recently announced $10 billion for states to support school COVID-19 testing programs.

Randi Weingarten is president of the American Federation of Teachers. She said most public schools in the country have not been able to pay for a lot of testing. Some experts consider testing an important step toward reopening.

Speaking of the $10 billion, Weingarten said in a statement: With this investment, help truly is on the way to aid school systems in implementing a testing system that will help keep students, educators and staff safe inside school buildings.

Cardona said a meeting planned for later this week will give education leaders, teachers and students a chance to share their experiences related to reopening schools. The Education Department said first lady Jill Biden will give opening comments at the event. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also will speak.

Cardona told reporters that he expects schools will fully open in the autumn if vaccinations continue and health officials provide guidance.

School leaders say the flow of money will be a big step toward the goal of reopening public schools and keeping them open. The Education Department is expected to begin making the money available this month.

Schools need money to pay for unexpected costs that include computers and internet services for distance-learning students.

Money also is needed to help students learn what they missed while away from classrooms. That could mean paying teachers or other workers to keep school open through the summer or continuing distance learning in addition to learning at school.

Cardona recently told reporters that the education department would receive reports from states on how they are using the money.

Its critically important that we use the funds to support our students, he said, especially those students who have had gaps exacerbated as a result of this pandemic.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

elementary adj. describing schools in the U.S. that are for young children

K-12 n. schools from Kindergarten to 12th grade

implement v. to begin to do or use; to make active or effective

staff n. a group of people who work for an organization or business

funds n. (pl.) money for a specific purpose

gap n. a difference between two people, groups or things

exacerbated adj. to make something, such as a situation or problem, worse


By Scott Shepherd





A lot of anger has come about as a result of the recent announcements by the governments of Gyeonggi and Seoul that all foreign residents working in those regions must be tested for COVID-19.







There is obviously justification for the testing of workers in crowded workplaces where the virus can and does spread easily. Indeed, there have been a number of outbreaks in factories and crowded dormitories; testing workers there is of course a sensible policy.





That, however, is not what's being required. Plenty of people

the inconsistencies in the logic behind this mass-testing of foreigners, when the Koreans working side by side in the very same jobs have no obligation to get a swab up the nose. At the same time, there are plenty of foreigners working from home who have had little contact with the outside world for weeks or months.







Most disturbing of all is the fact that the Gyeonggi government ordered that employers must have foreign employees undergo

while there are no such restrictions on hiring Korean workers for exactly the same positions. As a preventative measure it is inconsistent and simply stokes understandable anger and resentment.







Have no doubt: if any Western government suggested these kinds of measures, even the most popular leader would be immediately toppled among shouts of racism, bigotry and xenophobia.





Korea, of course, isn't a Western country, despite its development and wealth. As David Tizzard quite rightly wrote in his Korea Times column last week, "Korean racism must be understood differently from

." The country has its own set of norms and traditions based on completely different axioms from the West. This is right and good; and, as I've written before, Korea has no obligation to become a multicultural nation on the model of Europe and North America.





But, as I've argued, it does need to protect those living here, and it does need to treat them fairly. And credit is surely due to President Moon and his administration for making a number of steps in the right direction. With recent revisions concerning

and

, it is clear that Moon and his administration are making serious efforts to redress the problems faced by foreigners here. It was all the more surprising, therefore, to read that this testing decision was made not on the local level by the leaders of Seoul and Gyeonggi, but on advice from the central government.







The tests in and of themselves are unlikely to have much of a direct detrimental impact on the hundreds of thousands of foreigners living in Korea  aside, of course, from the deeply unpleasant experience of having a giant swab thrust far up the nose and down the back of the throat.







But that is only temporary, if rather intense, discomfort. The problem is that this mandatory testing fiasco is a symptom of a wider disregard for minorities in Korea, a symbol of their disenfranchisement and neglect. In fact, Korean law may prohibit me from even writing this article, since it can be seen as a "political act," prohibited by Article 17 of

.







I'm under no illusions, by the way, that I'm anywhere near the worst affected by discrimination. As a white professor working from home, I have a lot of privilege even as a minority. I'm in a very different situation from the workers who sleep cheek to jowl in packed dormitories, or from the Cambodian woman found dead this past winter who had been living in a greenhouse provided by her

. The testing mandates pale in comparison to the discrimination that some here face daily.







As part of the bigger picture, these tests aren't a big deal. Ultimately, I'm happy to get tested as many times as necessary if that will help control the spread of COVID-19 in Korea. Well, maybe "happy" is pushing it; the bit up the nose really doesn't feel good. But I'm willing to do it, and I imagine that most of the foreign workers standing in lines across the region right now are willing to do their part too.







We can probably see the enforced testing in a positive light if we squint hard enough. At least it gives all foreigners the opportunity to find out if they are unknowingly carrying the virus. It could well save lives  and presumably it is this hope that inspired the government to impose these mass tests, rather than simply some kind of hatred or fear of foreigners.







It's all too easy to run around shouting "racist" every time a minority is treated differently. Living in Korea as visible outsiders, foreigners can really feel like outsiders sometimes. While it's so easy to get offended every time someone's rude, it's probably better for everyone involved not to. There are definitely plenty of examples of racism in daily life, but I find it's better to assume that a person hates me not for the color of my skin, but because of the content of my character. Plenty of people are just jerks.







For example, when I got a coronavirus test this week, the bureaucrat who was registering people was pretty rude to me. Given the context, it would have been easy for me to get angry and assume he was acting like this because of my race. The nice thing to note, however, is that he was simply a rude man: while queuing up, I had watched him as he scowled one by one at the people in front of me, and after I had filled out all the paperwork, I could hear him continue to grumpily register others, both Korean and foreign. Such inclusive misanthropy: how wonderful.







So is the decision to test foreigners racist? It's discriminatory for certain and doubtless based on flawed reasoning, but probably not racist: it's too broad for that. If anything, it's a well-meaning if illogical and poorly executed attempt to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Even while we acknowledge its stupidity and unfairness, let's not let this mandate cause yet more anger and division in a world already so divided and so angry. Let's just brace ourselves, flare our nostrils and open wide. The test itself only takes a few seconds. Oh  and don't forget to blow your nose before you go.







Since this article was written, Seoul has withdrawn its testing order, and Gyeonggi has rescinded the requirement for new foreign workers to submit a negative test result before being hired.











Dr. Scott Shepherd is a British-American academic. He has taught in universities in the U.K. and Korea, and is currently assistant professor of English at Chongshin University in Seoul. The views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.


The tale of the goose that laid the golden eggs is the best moral warning we have about greed, the importance of patience and why one shouldnt be tempted by get-rich-quick schemes.

In what is one of the best known of the hundreds of Aesops Fables, a cottager and his wife own a goose that lays one golden egg. Rather than be happy with this miracle, the couple instead become fixated on the belief the goose must have gold inside of her. They kill the goose only to realise there is no gold and they have destroyed the source of their wealth.

Defining the objective of superannuation in law would be a strong step for stability. Credit:Photo: Jessica Shapiro

Today, youre most likely to see an image of a golden nest egg when reading about the superannuation industry. The image has become so synonymous with the industry that even the 600-page Retirement Income Review, released in late-2020, warns about the conservative impact this framing is having on retirees spending.

In the past few months the concern from Labor, the unions and the super funds about what the Morrison government is planning for the superannuation system has started to sound remarkably like the 2500-year-old Greek tale.
File photo of grape vines seen at dawn on May 8, 2008 near Bakersfield, California. An Indian American woman in California, Jyoti Sihota, was arrested on charges of filing fraudulent crop insurance claims. (David McNew/Getty Images)
TRAGEDY: Ken Flanagan is understood to have stabbed his mother Karen and his girlfriend Stacey Knell

Police in Northern Ireland launched a double murder investigation after the deaths of two women and a man in an apparent murder-suicide north of Belfast on Friday night.

It is understood Ken Flanagan stabbed his mother Karen to death, then attacked and killed his girlfriend Stacey Knell before taking his own life.

Neighbours heard mother-of-two Karen call out, "I'm dying, I'm dying, it's my son!" as Flanagan stabbed her at an address in the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. He is then believed to have left his mother as she lay dying and travelled to a nearby family-owned property on Glenville Road, where he stabbed his girlfriend Stacey Knell to death before taking his own life.

Flanagan's mother Karen had posted on social media recently, praising her son over his battle with drug addiction, saying: "My handsome son, love you unconditionally. If you only realised your self worth. You're better than any of them."

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It is understood Ken Flanagan had previously been ordered to stay away from his mother's house by authorities over his violent behaviour. Neighbours at both addresses in Co Antrim yesterday spoke of their shock and horror at the killings. One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "I'm still in shock. It's so awful I just can't believe it. As a parent it's your worst nightmare. I would have seen Stacey around here with her wee pup sometimes, it's just so sad.

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"It's just really horrific but there has always sort of been trouble at that wee house. Generally it's just really quiet around here apart from that place."

Mother-of-one Stacey Knell is survived by a nine-year-old daughter, while Karen Flanagan is also survived by a daughter.

The double murder-suicide has left the community reeling, with political representatives saying the incident highlighted the scourge of violence against women.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left "absolutely shocked and stunned" by the news.

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He added: "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.

"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."

Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Jim Montgomery echoed Mr Finucane's sentiments, posting 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."

Deputy mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, added: "My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

"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?"

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole, where Karen Flanagan was found dead.

A short time later police discovered Ken Flanagan and Stacey Knell dead at a property on Glenville Road just under two miles away.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and NIAS ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night. He 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 was 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."
Noting that there is a potential of an upsurge in COVID-19 cases during the Kumbh Mela, the Centre has written to Uttarakhand strongly highlighting the concerns raised by a high-level central team about the need for stringent measures to control the spread of the disease.

The central team led by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director visited Uttarakhand on March 16-17 to review the medical and public health measures undertaken by the state for the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

In his letter to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has observed that more than 12 states in India have shown a surge in COVID-19 cases during the past few weeks, and pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela could also be from these states.

"It has been noted that there is a potential of an upsurge in cases in the local population after the auspicious Shahi Snan days during the Kumbh Mela," the ministry said.

"The secretary also noted that as per the report of the central team, 10-20 pilgrims and 10-20 locals are being reported positive every day.

"This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh," the ministry said in its statement.

The state has been informed that the daily testing numbers reported in Haridwar -- 50,000 Rapid Antigen tests and 5,000 RTPCR tests -- are not enough to effectively offset a huge number of expected pilgrim footfall.

It has been advised that the share of RTPCR tests being conducted at present needs to be significantly increased as per the ICMR guidelines to ensure that the pilgrims and local population is appropriately tested.

The state government has been advised to follow scrupulously the SOPs issued by the ministry and display signage to disseminate the main points of these SOPs; increase awareness of self-reporting, especially among local population, in case of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19; and set up system for generating early warning signals in areas with susceptible population by monitoring trend of ARI/ ILI cases through Emergency Operational Centres.

It has also been urged to target significantly enhanced testing in potential high transmission areas, continue periodic testing of frontline workers before and after auspicious bathing days of the Kumbh and ensure operationalisation of adequate critical care treatment facilities.

It has also been asked to ensure effective risk communication, by using all forms of media platforms, for strict adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour.

"In case of surge in cases/super spreader events, promptly send samples for genome sequencing in consultation with NCDC," the ministry said.

The Union Health Secretary has urged the Uttarakhand government to take a stock of the public health measures being undertaken by the state in consonance with the aforesaid recommendations of the Health Ministry, 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.)
CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A man is dead after a shooting in Clay County that took place Saturday night.

The shooting happened near Poland in the area of North County Road 850 East.

The Clay County Sheriff's office told News 10 that when they got to the scene, they found Ronald Williams had been shot several times in his pole barn and died.

Indiana State Police arrested 44-year-old Teddy Gibson Jr.

He faces charges of murder, attempted arson, and obstruction of justice.

Gibson is being held in the Clay County Jail without bond.

The investigation is still ongoing.
Brothers Ames, 17 (2nd L) and Amiel, 19 (2nd R) arrive to receive their first 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)

About 1 in 6 US Adults Are Fully Vaccinated Against CCP Virus

Approximately 43 million adults in the United States have been fully vaccinated against the CCP virus, the disease that causes COVID-19, according to newly updated federal data.

As of March 20, nearly 43,036,820 adults had been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thats equal to about 13 percent of the U.S. population, or about 1 in 6 adults in the country.

Three COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for use by drug regulators in the U.S. Two require separate doses spaced several weeks apart.

Of those fully vaccinated, 22.3 million are 65 years of age or older, which is 40 percent of the elderly population.

The elderly and those with underlying serious medical conditions are most vulnerable to experiencing severe symptoms from COVID-19, according to the CDC.

In addition to those who have been fully vaccinated, roughly 36 million have received one dose but not the second. That includes nearly 15 million in the upper age group.

The federal government and its partners have delivered more than 156.7 million doses. Of these, most, or 121.4 million, have been administered.

The vast majority of the doses delivered and administered are from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, which require two doses.

The Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine makes up 2.1 million of the doses administered, with another 2.1 million distributed but not yet injected. Regulators authorized that vaccine last month.

Only Pfizers vaccine is currently allowed to be used for anyone under the age of 18. It is authorized for use in 16- and 17-year-olds.

Only about 57,000 16- and 17-year-olds have been fully vaccinated.

Delores Renteria, 54, receives a COVID-19 vaccination at a mobile vaccination drive for essential food processing workers at Rose & Shore, Inc., in Los Angeles on March 17, 2021. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

President Joe Biden, before entering office, announced a goal of getting 100 million shots administered in his first 100 days in office. That was achieved by day 60. Biden has said he believes the United States can double his original goal.

Critics note that the trajectory of doses administered was already heading toward 1 million per day on average before the president was sworn in.

Eight weeks ago, only 8 percent of seniors, those most vulnerable to COVID-19, had received a vaccination, Biden said in a speech at the White House last week. Today, 65 percent of people aged 65 or older have received at least one shot, and 36 percent are fully vaccinated. And thats keybecause this is a population that represents 80 percent of the well over 500,000 COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in America.

Tomorrow, we will hit 100 million doses our administration has administered. But Ive always said: Thats just the floor. We will not stop until we beat this pandemic. Next week, I will announce our next goal to put shots in arms.

Fully vaccinated people can eschew wearing masks and social distancing when gathering with others who are fully vaccinated, or people who arent but who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease, according to the CDC.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump step out of Marine One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Out of the White House, Banned From Twitter, What Can Trump Do to Stay Popular?

Ever since he announced a run for the White House in 2015, former President Donald Trump dominated headlines in the United States and around the world.

Many attributed Trumps surprise victory in 2016 partly to the medias obsession with the real estate billionaire and reality television star. His popularity continued to grow throughout the four years in office, evidenced by the tens of millions of followers on social media and the record number of votes74 millioncast for an incumbent president.

But in the aftermath of the election, Trump lost his social media megaphone and the media attention that comes with being the president of the most powerful country in the world. The former president committed to continuing his involvement in politics, raising the question of what, if anything, he should do in order to stay top-of-mind with voters, influential with the Republican Party, and of interest to the news media.

Some argue the former president doesnt have to do much to remain popular due to the success of his agenda, which will inevitably be viewed in contrast with the policies of the administration of President Joe Biden.

He is going to remain popular because his agenda and his policies were successful, Jim McLaughlin, Trumps former pollster, told The Epoch Times.

I dont think he has to do a lot. I think in a lot of ways, sometimes less is more. Heres a guy whos been out of office now since January 20, almost two months now, and the media is obsessed with him.

Cable news ratings have declined across the board after Trump left office, with the only bump in viewership occurring due during the impeachment trial in February. As a result, the medias interest in Trump may not be limited strictly to his newsworthiness.

While some believe that less is more, others think that in order to stay popular, relevant, and influential, the former president will have to continue to be actively engaged, including by commenting on the policies of the Biden administration.

Barack Obama killed the old tradition of being silent, Rich Baris, the director of Big Data Poll, told The Epoch Times. He opened the door for Trump, and people expect that now from him.

Baris referenced Trumps response to Bidens pandemic anniversary speech, in which the former president urged people to remember that it was his administration that fast-tracked the discovery, approval, manufacture, and distribution of the CCP virus vaccine.

Baris believes Trump needs to go beyond merely staying engaged, and change some of the people he seeks advice from.

Theres really no polite way to say thished better have some better people around him than the people he had before the election and in the immediate aftermath of the election, Baris said. Any leader is only as good as the people that they surround themselves with and the data that they deliver to the leader.

Baris recommended that Trump not waste the political capital he now has by doling out endorsements indiscriminately.

The power of endorsement will get diluted after a while, Baris said. Wasting an endorsement on a certain senator that probably was going to be reelected anyway, doesnt particularly like you  that is a waste of an endorsement. Its a waste of political capital.

Whichever path Trump chooses, he will have to deal with a handicap he didnt have on the campaign trail for the 2016 election or during most of his term at the White House: the account bans by Twitter and Facebook, which severed a direct line of communication with tens of millions of followers.

According to Andy Surabian, a Republican strategist and former Trump White House official, the social media bans are inconsequential because Trump wont have trouble connecting with voters once he is ready.

I dont know how much that matters at the end of the day. Because when he so chooses, hes obviously going to be able to get his message out, Surabian told The Epoch Times. While annoying, I think its a little bit overstated how much the social media stuff matters.

Hes always going to get media attention. No matter how much the media hates him, theyre always going to cover and nothing will change that. He got an outsized amount of media attention before he was president. He got it before he ran for president. And hes going to get it post-presidency. Thats just a reality.

Trumps signature rallies could be one way the former president cuts through the social media blockade. The popular events are a media magnet to generate a chain reaction of social media activity as attendees share their clips and photos of the event.

Surabian said hed be shocked if Trump doesnt get the rallies going again. The former presidents speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 28 resembled a typical rally and generated the kind of media ratings no other Republican can lay claim to. Fox, which aired the entire speech, set a Sunday ratings record. More than 30 million people streamed the speech online, by one estimate.

The press is going to be craving for Donald Trump a lot more than Donald Trump will be craving for the press, McLaughlin said.

He has all the right enemies. Hes got the radical left. Hes got the establishment. Hes got the news media. Hes got Big Tech. Those people are not popular on the right and in the center-right coalition.
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Incredible satellite images show the devastating caused by floods spreading across the NSW coast as days of torrential rain cause rivers to burst their banks and destroy homes.

Swollen rivers in Sydney will peak at their highest levels in 60 years on Monday morning with flood warnings issued for the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers.

But the effect of the once-in-50 years storms were already clear on Sunday through stark before and after satellite images showing how far the flooding spread.

Many areas across eastern NSW recorded more than 100mm of rain on Sunday, including the Sydney CBD which copped a 110mm drenching. Picton received 159mm and Oakdale recorded 139mm.

More than 700mm of rain has fallen on Kendall, 35km southwest of Port Macquarie, since Thursday.

Incredible satellite images show the devastating caused by the floods. This shows the Manning River near Taree on the NSW mid-north coast before the storm

This floods spreading across the area as days of torrential rain cause rivers to burst their banks and destroy homes

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

Rivers on the north and mid-north coast that were once just thin lines on the map were turned into thick raging torrents as the excess water spilled across the countryside.

The images covered two of the hardest-hit areas around Taree and Port Macquarie where entire towns are literally underwater and refugee centres are stuffed with now-homeless families.

Water spreads across basins on either side of the Manning River near Taree and the Hastings River near Port Macquarie, covering several times more area than usual.

Joshua Edge and his fiance Sarah Soars, from Taree, thought they were waking up on Saturday morning to celebrate what should have been the happiest day of their lives.

But the wedding didn't ahead due to a catastrophic once-in-a-lifetime storm wreaking havoc on the region.

Their home was filmed as it was washed away due to rising floodwaters and the couple had several pets who all disappeared - and presumably died - in the carnage.

Rivers on the north and mid-north coast that were once just thin lines on the map (pictured) were turned into thick raging torrents as the excess water spilled across the countryside

Water spreads across basins on either side of the Hastings River near Port Macquarie, covering several times more area than usual

Port Macquarie is now almost underwater as the Mid North Coast town is lashed with torrential rain

The Hastings River in Port Macquarie, NSW is pictured on Saturday morning - as millions brace for a weekend of endless wild weather

Flooding will only get worse on Monday as even more rain is expected to fall, and other areas will be inundated as more rivers dramatically burst their banks.

The worst of the new flooding will be in Sydney's north west, where Hawkesbury River is expected to peak at 15m at 7am Monday in North Richmond and later in the day in Windsor.

Thousands more homes could be flooded in the next two days as enough water spills out of the Warragamba Dam to fill Sydney Harbour every day.

Water spilling from the dam in Sydney's south-west began flowing into the Nepean-Hawkesbury River catchment, now on track to see flood levels even worse than the catastrophic 1961 disaster.

Rising floodwaters in Sydney's west and north-west are now higher than the disaster 60 years ago, where residents in low-lying areas were ordered to leave their homes on Sunday night before floodwaters peak.

Joshua and Sarah lost their house on the very day they were supposed to be celebrating their wedding

The young couple's home was seen floating down the Manning River in Taree

The Warragamba spillway is releasing water at the rapid rate of 450 gigalitres a day, almost enough to fill the size of Sydney Harbour which holds about 500GL.

Late on Sunday evening the Bureau of Meteorology issued major flood warnings for the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers, warning of major flooding at Windsor, Sackville, Lower Portland and Wisemans Ferry.

The Hawkesbury at Richmond is forecast to reach 15metres by 7am Monday, with further rises possible. The river is expected to reach the same level at Windsor by 3pm.

Further evacuation warnings were issued for the western Sydney suburbs of Eastern Creek, Stonecutters Creek and Marsden Park, where residents were told to prepare to leave their homes by 3am.

Residents of parts of Wilberforce north of the Hawkesbury were told to be ready to evacuate by 9am on Monday.

Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago as parts of the town have flooded (pictured)

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

A severe weather remains in place for much of the NSW coast all the way up to Queensland for life-threatening flash-flooding with 137 schools closed and workers urged to stay home on Monday.

In total, emergency services have responded to 6,700 calls since Friday and rescued 670 people.

Footage shared to the NSW Rural Fire Service Twitter page showed a person being rescued from their home in Taree - which was entirely surrounded by water - by helicopter.

The federal and state governments on Sunday morning announced 16 national disaster declarations from Coffs Harbour and Grafton areas in northern NSW into the west to Cessnock and Dungog, and to the Central Coast.

The regions include 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.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

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Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

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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?

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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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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

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Chinese business people's perseverance amidst COVID-19 saves jobs for Batswana

Xinhua) 09:34, March 21, 2021

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.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 01:15:17|Editor: huaxia

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A Palestinian girl buys flowers on the occasion of Mother's Day in the West Bank city of Nablus, March 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Ayman Nobani)

CAIRO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Many Arab countries celebrate Mother's Day on March 21.

People in this part of the world are showering the special women in their lives with flowers, cards and gifts to celebrate their love, care and sacrifices.

May peace prevail in this region and the Arab mothers be surrounded by happiness and love all year round!

A Palestinian boy buys flowers on the occasion of Mother's Day in the West Bank city of Nablus, March 21, 2021. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

People buy flowers to celebrate Mother's Day in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 20, 2021. The locals celebrate Mother's Day on March 21. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

A woman buys flowers to celebrate Mother's Day in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 20, 2021. The locals celebrate Mother's Day on March 21. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

People queue up to buy flowers to celebrate Mother's Day in front of a flower store in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, March 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Asad) 






Sri Lankan-born Creately lauded by top software reviewer View(s):

Sri Lankas own Creately was recently tapped as a top five contender in the List of Best ANZ Sellers for 2021 by industry benchmark site G2. Additionally, G2 also tapped Creately as a Leader in the Diagramming segment.

The worlds largest software marketplace and review platform, G2.com features over 100,000 reviews and over five million visitors. G2s Best Software Awards rank the worlds best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users, the Sri Lankan company said in a media release.

A visualisation and collaborative software company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, which runs most of its research and development and operations out of

Sri Lanka, Creately was founded by a small team led by Chandika Jayasundara in 2008. Since then, Creately has grown to become a leader in the online diagramming and visual collaboration segment. The platform currently has over 5 million users worldwide and is used by some of the biggest organisations across the world, including Netflix, Amazon, NASA, Disney and many more.

What started out as a small team in Colombo has now transformed into a global operation with distributed teams in Sri Lanka, Australia, UK, India and Singapore. Creately competes with tech behemoths like Microsoft in the online visualisation space and has established itself as a major player in the market that is constantly innovating and disrupting the industry.

We are thrilled to be recognised by G2 and others for our growth and innovation in this space. As we move forward, we focus on moving up the value chain in providing even more value for our customers who use Creately as their central visual command centre for projects they run. Even now, most organisations suffer from miscommunication and collaboration blocks that we can easily unlock with visual tools like Creately. We are super excited for whats next, said Chandika Jayasundara, the CEO of Creately, in response to this award.

2020 has been transformational for Creately, with the sudden increase in remote teams brought about by the remote working challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Creately saw an opportunity to significantly improve the experience of distributed teams and decided to reimagine how teams communicate and collaborate with each other.

Envisioning this new challenge, in July 2020, Creately introduced several major new features to its platform including, in-app video conferencing, live mouse tracking and synced change previews to enable teams to succeed in the new reality of working from home, especially in terms of real-time collaboration.
South Africa: Home Affairs offers birth registration services during long weekend

The Department of Home Affairs will over the long weekend offering birth registration services at health facilities throughout the country.

Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said the registration weekend is held to assist parents to register their children within 30 days of birth, as required by the law.

This is the second weekend that the Department of Home Affairs is celebrating the Human Rights Month by extending services which can help parents and their children to access key government and other services.

By registering births immediately or within the first 30 days of such births, parents contribute in promoting their childrens human rights. Birth registration marks the beginning of the fulfilment of the constitutional right to citizenship and protects the childs right to a name and a nationality at birth. Failure to register the child is tantamount to denial of the childs right to citizenship, Qoza said.

Qoza said that during the first weekend registration drive on 13 March 2021, 2 060 births were registered.

Home Affairs officials will be at offices at health facilities from 8am until 3pm daily, on 20 to 22 March 2021.

We urge everyone who come to register their child to observe social distancing, sanitise their hands regularly and to wear their masks properly, covering their noses and mouths. Nobody will be assisted if they are not wearing their masks properly, Qoza said.

This years Human Rights Day is commemorated under the theme: The year of Charlotte Maxeke: promoting human rights in the Age of COVID-19.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
While Mr. Obama issued nearly 1,700 more clemency grants than Mr. Trump, he selected mostly cases that came through a Justice Department process for identifying and vetting recipients.

The overwhelming majority of Mr. Trumps pardons and commutations bypassed that process, and were instead awarded through an ad hoc system run by a handful of White House aides, with assistance from outside advisers.

In the world of criminal defense lawyers and clemency seekers, Aleph, Tzedek and the people working alongside them came to be seen as among the most effective avenues to clemency, including for financial crimes of the sort that are usually less likely to garner support from criminal justice activists.

A spokesman for Aleph said the group selected candidates based on factors including humanitarian concerns, clear demonstrations of remorse and its commitment to addressing what it often sees as excessively long sentences.

He acknowledged that Aleph had accepted donations from people whose clemencies its officials later supported to one degree or another, but said the group did its clemency work at no cost, and would not accept donations from people while working on their clemencies. In two cases in which the White House credited Aleph with supporting clemency grants to people who had donated to the group, the spokesman said rabbis at Aleph merely expressed support for the petition.

Those donations represented a tiny fraction of its overall budget, which totaled nearly $6.9 million for the 12 months ending in fall 2019, the spokesman said, adding that neither money nor religious affiliation played any role in its decisions about clemency cases.

Aleph minimized its connection to Tzedeks clemency work and said it was misleading to describe the organizations as part of a clemency network, while noting that clemency was only a small part of the groups work.
TAKE OUR SURVEY ~~TELL US HOW WE ARE DOING
By Jose Luis Gonzalez, Mica Rosenberg and Ted Hesson

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) - The United States is expelling migrants to Mexico far from where they are caught crossing the border, according to Reuters witnesses, in a move that circumvents the refusal of authorities in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas who stopped accepting the return of migrant families with younger children.

The practice is a sign that President Joe Biden is toughening his approach to the growing humanitarian crisis on the U.S.-Mexican border after his administration's entreaties for Central American migrants to stay home have failed to stop thousands from heading north.

Some families caught at the border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley said in interviews they were flown to El Paso, Texas, after being held in custody just a few days. From there, they were escorted by U.S. officials to the international bridge to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, around 800-miles (1,300 km) away from where they were first picked up by U.S. border patrol agents.

A Reuters photographer saw planes landing in El Paso this week that were loaded with dozens of migrant families with young children, including babies in diapers, and then saw the same families crossing the international bridge.

Some passengers interviewed by Reuters once they crossed into Mexico said they had been awakened in their holding cells at night by border agents and not told where they were going as they were loaded on buses and taken to the airport.

Related: Scenes from the U.S.-Mexico border during coronavirus pandemic

Landon Hutchens, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman, said that due to a lack of capacity in the Rio Grande Valley, migrants have been sent to El Paso for processing, as well as Laredo, Texas, and San Diego, California.

Gloria Chavez, the U.S. Border Patrol chief for the El Paso Sector, said that El Paso had been receiving families from the Rio Grande Valley since March 8. Chavez said the priority was to expel them to Mexico, but that Mexico could only receive a limited amount of families from the region per day. She said some families were still being released to shelters in the United States.

The shuttling of migrants to El Paso was first reported by the Dallas Morning News.

While the United States has been expelling thousands of people crossing the border illegally, Tamaulipas, which sits across the border from Texas, has not been accepting families returning with younger children, presenting a conundrum for the Biden administration.

U.S. authorities have been releasing hundreds of families to shelters and giving them notices to appear in immigration court to reduce overcrowding at border facilities.

Dylan Corbett, the director of the Hope Border Institute, an advocacy organization, said the majority of families expelled to Ciudad Juarez after crossing in south Texas have children under 7 years of age.

"They have been returned to Juarez to a situation of extreme vulnerability," facing dangers from human traffickers and organized criminal groups, Corbett said in an interview, adding that shelters in Mexico are full due to the pandemic.

Edna Sorto, who came from Honduras with her two young sons, sat on the floor in a state government immigration office in Ciudad Juarez shortly after walking over the bridge from El Paso. Dozens of families milled around the office with some toddlers and babies sleeping on blankets on the floor.

"They didn't ask us anything about why we came or where we were going or who could receive us in the United States," Sorto said through tears and over the cries of children in the background who said they were hungry. "We are just going to wait here and see what they tell us, see if we can find a place to stay."

UNDER PRESSURE

The new practice of expelling families to a different part of Mexico comes as the Biden administration faces pressure by both critics and some supporters for its handling of the crisis on the border.

Opposition Republicans blame the increase in illegal border crossings on Biden's immigration policies and what they say is his mixed messaging to would-be migrants.

Biden administration officials' warnings to migrants not to make the journey north appear to be ignored, as people smugglers point to some families being allowed in to persuade would-be migrants that the border is open.

"We have been clear from all levels of government that the border is closed and the majority of individuals will be turned away or expelled under Title 42," a White House spokesman said, referring to a public health order instituted under former President Donald Trump amid the pandemic. The order allows migrants, including families, to be "expelled" to Mexico or their home countries.

Gil Kerlikowske, who was CBP commissioner for three years under former President Barack Obama, said the Biden administration's heavy reliance on messaging was "a huge mistake."

"We have 25 plus years of messaging in Mexico and Central America, from placards on buses and bus shelters to radio spots and more, saying, 'Don't come, it's dangerous,' and for 25 years that message has been completely unheard."

Democrats and activists meanwhile say children are being kept in border patrol custody for too long and should be released more quickly to family members or other sponsors.

More than 500 of the roughly 4,500 unaccompanied children being held in sparse border patrol facilities as of Thursday have been there for more than 10 days, above the legal three-day limit, according to U.S. government data shared with Reuters.

(Reporting by Jose Luis Gonzalez in Juarez, Mexico, Mica Rosenberg in New York and Ted Hesson in Washington; Additional reporting by Paul Ratje in El Paso, Texas; Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey, Mexico and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco, editing by Ross Colvin and Aurora Ellis)
Jerusalem, March 21 : Israel is expected to develop a national artificial intelligence (AI) control room that manages all the country's drone traffic by the beginning of 2023.

On Wednesday, Israeli authorities demonstrated the first national air test in which a group of drones, operated by their respective companies from a control room about 50 km away, flew simultaneously at a distance of a few meters away from each other, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

The flight tasks performed at the same time by the drones in shared small air space included lifting equipment, shooting videos, and delivering goods to a designated distribution station.

Israeli authorities stated that the pilot would be run for two years, and it will be a significant global breakthrough in the ability to manage drone operations at scale.

In early 2020, a government steering committee was established to support and promote a national drone network operation titled the NAAMA Initiative.

The project is supported by the Innovation Authority, Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transportation, private companies and others.

In recent years, more and more Israeli companies, as well as amateurs, have begun to use drones for a variety of purposes such as photography, monitoring crops and securing properties.

Israel is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and has thus one of the most packed skies. Israel's busy sky necessitates the regulation of all air users to prevent fatal air accidents.

Eyal Zor, CEO and co-founder of Airwayz, one of the companies that participate in the Israeli AI drone control pilot, told Xinhua that the AI control room will work like a road navigation system to facilitate the airways by providing each sky user its own safe route.

"I think it is one of the first worldwide drone experiment that tests multiple drone operations over the urban skies," said Zor.

In case of a potential collision, the system will give alerts to drone operators to change their routes.

"In two years, we will start seeing hundreds and hopefully, thousands of drones flying over our heads" across cities with food deliveries, medicine supply and industrial deliveries, said Zor.
CEB felicitates innovators Letter View(s): View(s):

Recently the annual innovation award ceremony of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was held at the BMICH with the participation of Power Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and officials of the CEB.

At this event, Mr. Chathuranga Wickramasinghe (seen in the picture) won the best innovator award (silver category). He has invented an Image-Based Insulator Condition Monitoring System which identifies the surface changes due to the growth of the leakage currents using an image processing tool. He has developed it into an Android app that can be used as an online condition monitoring system.

Mr. Wickramasinghe was educated in Uva College and then Badulla Central College. He was selected to the University of Ruhuna and at the moment he works at Kundasale CEB Depot as an engineer.

It has been proven that left brained people have contributed to most of the worlds significant innovations. Even Albert Einstein had never got through an examination, but he invented things that could turn the world upside down.

Now the government has appointed an able Professor as the Education Minister and he has shown his efficiency in this short period with a lot of difficulties. We expect him to improve the education system by appointing the right people to make right decisions in order to ensure that the education opportunities are granted for the students from all walks of life, so that they can contribute to countrys development with innovations of this nature.

This letter provides an opportunity to wish all the best for future endeavours of professionals of Mr. Wickramasinghes calibre to contribute to more innovations and become an exemplary to the generations to come, whilst making lagging districts such as Badulla proud.

(Mr. Kapila Kalansooriya Badulla)
New Delhi, March 21 : As several key questions remain unanswered in the SUV case related to the explosives-laden Scorpio parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month, former police chiefs have suggested that in the interest of justice, a Supreme Court monitored probe is necessary to investigate the police-criminal-politician nexus, which ostensibly exists in India's commercial capital.

As the case snowballs into a huge political controversy that could upset the equations in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, several former DGPs have suggested that it would be better if the probe is handed over to a senior officer of high integrity, monitored by the apex court, instead of a state or Central agency.

"As relations between the BJP and the Shiv Sena are at loggerheads, the state agency (Anti-Terrorism Squad) and the Central agency (National Investigation Agency) cannot work in close coordination. In a situation where the relations between the state and the Centre have turned sour, a Supreme court monitored probe remains the only option to ensure a free and fair enquiry," said celebrated police officer Prakash Singh, considered as the key architect of police reforms in India.

Voicing the concern of the IPS fraternity, Singh, the former DGP of BSF in Uttar Pradesh and Assam, said that when a Home Minister (Anil Deshmukh) has been accused by his former Commissioner (Param Bir Singh) for exploiting policemen to extort money from businessmen and industrialists, it becomes clear that the rule of law in the state is being blatantly abused by those in power.

"We do not know the entire details and the breakup of the monthly collections of Rs 100 crore, as alleged in the former Commissioner's letter. But it seems that a large amount of the extortion money was going to the party, the minister concerned, and a percentage could as well be pocketed by the police. Now the question is whether the Chief Minister was involved in the extortion racket, or he just failed to take action," said Singh, the Chairman of the Indian Police Foundation and Institute.

In a sensational twist to the SUV case on Saturday, Param Bir Singh 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.

On the role of suspended Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze in hatching the plot to scare the country's richest businessman, another celebrated cop and former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, O.P. Singh, said that an API level officer is too junior to execute a plot at the behest of the state's Home Minister.

"The question is how an API level policeman got access to the Home Minister? Moreover, when Vaze bypassed the police hierarchy to report directly to the Home Minister, what were his seniors doing? The supervisory officers should have intervened," said O.P. Singh, a 1983 batch IPS officer of UP cadre.

When asked how despite objections by previous Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Vaze was reinstated by incumbent Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, O.P. Singh said that an enquiry should be initiated to ascertain the motive of reinstating Vaze and posting him at such an important place (Mumbai Crime Branch).

"What makes me wonder is the fact that though Vaze was Shiv Sena's man, how did he enter into a conspiracy with the Home Minister who comes from another party (NCP). Was Vaze working for both the Shiv Sena and the NCP, or was there a tacit understanding between both the parties to back Vaze's extortion racket," asked O.P. Singh, known for his proactive role against top underworld gangs of Uttar Pradesh.

On giving unlimited power to an API rank officer like Vaze, former BSF DG and Joint Director in CBI, Rajnikant Mishra, said that such blunders do happen when a police officer is asked to do extra-legal work on behalf of the ruling party.

"When subordinates deviate from their prescribed charter of work and indulge in such activities (extortion), they often cross the limits. Vaze deviated from the given standard operating procedure (SOP) and got involved in all sorts of work (criminal activity). The question is who was at a much bigger fault, Vaze or his masters," asked Mishra, who investigated several high-profile cases of political corruption during his tenure in the CBI.

Why did the vigilance and anti-corruption wing of the Maharashtra government turn a blind eye on Vaze's nefarious operations? On this question, Mishra said: "Vigilance agencies of the state have their limitations. They do not have the infrastructure and liberty of initiating suo-moto action against corrupt officials in the CBI or the ED. State intelligence agencies also do not have the mandate and resources that the IB at the Centre has in keeping a tab on such shady operations. The system has to be thoroughly reviewed and sorted out." The police fraternity also fails to understand the motive of scaring the country's top business house.

"Was the motive of planting an explosives-laden SUV (near Antilia) to threaten the Ambanis or was it related to extortion or maybe something more vicious? Besides this, the plot to plant the explosives was hatched by Vaze or some higher ups were also involved, including the state's Home Minister? These questions beg for an answer... and the answer must be backed by evidence," said O.P. Singh, who led several central police organisations.
CALGARY - Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.'s deal to buy U.S. rival Kansas City Southern for US$25 billion will create the first single-owner rail network linking Canada, the United States and Mexico, the companies said Sunday, touting the deal as mutually beneficial.

A Canadian Pacific Railway employee walks along the side of a locomotive in a marshalling yard in Calgary on May 16, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.'s deal to buy U.S. rival Kansas City Southern for US$25 billion will create the first single-owner rail network linking Canada, the United States and Mexico, the companies said Sunday, touting the deal as mutually beneficial.

On a conference call to discuss the deal, executives described it as "historic" and "unparalleled" and said it will result in US$800 million in annual revenue growth within three years after U.S. regulatory approval is received, expected in mid-2022.

"A deal like this, the stars have to align and I would suggest that the stars have aligned to make this deal happen," said CP Rail chief executive Keith Creel, noting the two smallest North American Class 1 railroads have had among the top growth profiles over the past three years.

"If you take the power of the two and put it into one extended network, what that opens up is compelling. The value it creates for competition, the value it creates for additional service options for our customers, the reach that it creates. The value it creates for our employee bases given the growth it attracts will drive their growth."

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought home the value of risk-free supply chains, and the passage of the free trade deal between Canada, the United States and Mexico last year offers "certainty and stability" for a combined company with operations in all three countries, said KCS CEO Pat Ottensmeyer on the call.

"The operational and cultural alignment between our two companies makes this a natural fit," he said.

On Twitter, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he'd been briefed by the companies and assured there would be no job losses in Calgary, which will remain the global headquarters for the merged firm while Kansas City, Mo., will house its U.S. headquarters.

"The combined rail network will give CP direct access to the U.S. Gulf Coast and beyond, allowing it seamlessly to transport Alberta energy directly to Gulf Coast refineries, improving the economics of crude by rail," Kenney tweeted.

Under the deal, shares of Kansas City Southern will be valued at US$275 per share, representing a 23 per cent premium over Friday's closing prices, the companies said in a joint news release.

KCS shareholders will receive 0.489 of a CP share and US$90 in cash for each KCS common share held. The resulting company will be 75 per cent owned by CP Rail shareholders.

The merger must be approved by the Surface Transportation Board, a U.S. federal regulatory agency, to proceed, executives said. They said it doesn't require regulatory approvals in Canada or Mexico.

The merger will likely be welcomed by investors of both companies in the form of higher stock prices on Monday, analysts with Credit Suisse said in a report, adding they expect it will win approval from the U.S. regulator.

"There is little overlap between the CP and (KCS) networks, with the one major connection point in Kansas City (where the two rails share a yard)," they said. "...We dont think the combination will set off any major alarms concerning significant competitive harm to shippers or other railroads."

The combined company is to operate more than 32,100 kilometres of rail in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, employ about 20,000 workers and generate total revenue of about US$8.7 billion based on 2020 figures.

KCS said it earned about 47 per cent of its 2020 revenue in Mexco, where it operates under a 50-year renewable concession with the federal government that expires in 2047.

The combined railroad is to be renamed Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Creel is to continue as CEO.

CP Rail also announced Sunday that it had amended Creel's incentive compensation under his contract to ensure he leads the company until at least early 2026 to oversee completion of the deal.

The company expects to realize US$180 million in annual cost savings from fuel efficiency, administration, equipment rents, facilities, information technology and licensing, but that doesn't mean it will have fewer employees, said Nadeem Velani, chief financial officer for CP Rail, on the call.

"Although there will be rationalization of some redundant functions, our expectation is that head count across the network will grow when the synergies are realized in 2023 to 2025," he said.

John Brooks, chief marketing officer for CP Rail, said the company expects to grow revenue by US$800 million per year and adjusted earnings by US$600 million in the same time frame by taking market share from trucking, attracting new customers and offering new routing options to existing clients.

To fund the stock consideration of the merger, CP will issue 44.5 million new shares. The cash portion will be funded through cash and taking on about $8.6 billion in debt, it said.

As part of the merger, CP will assume about US$3.8 billion of KCS' outstanding debt. Following the close, CP expects its outstanding debt will be US$20.2 billion.

The deal with KCS follows failed attempts by CP Rail to merge with American railway CSX in 2014, and a few years later with Norfolk Southern.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2021

Companies in this story: (TSX: CP, TSX:CNR)
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GERRY Adams has urged people stuck for Easter eggs to get in touch with their local Sinn Fein representative in a bizarre Twitter video.

Yesterday, the Louth TD and former party president used his latest eccentric Tweet to warn of a possible chocolate egg shortage due to Covid-19.

"Well folks, it's Gerry Adams here, St Patrick's Day is over and myself and Richard McAuley have not stopped," he said.

"You know as part of the United Ireland we brought out a special Valentine's card and then a Paddy's Day card and now we have a seaclaid na casca.

"Now this is a very, very, very special package that we have put together at considerable expense and really, when you think about it, when we honour our patriot dead...particularly the men and women of our own time and the men and women of 1916, Easter is also about Easter eggs.

"So what better thing to unite the people of Ireland than a uniting Ireland Easter egg. Let me tell you, even the unionists like Easter eggs."

Mr Adams goes on to explain that it is no ordinary Easter egg but one made with chocolate containing milk from cattle which graze on the "green, grassy slopes of the Boyne".

"This is a cross community, all-island, all-Ireland Easter egg and we have put in other little artefacts like a proclamation, an Easter lily for yourself," he explained.

Mr Adams then concludes by vanishing from the video Star Trek-style.
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MYRTLE BEACH  A million dollar figure for renovating downtown historic buildings in the arts and innovation district could be offset by up to 70 percent for potential investors and business owners, thanks to historic tax credits.

For Grand Strand Brewing Company, its owners and investor benefited from a 40 percent offset after taking advantage of the tax credits for the brewery and 10 lofts upstairs used for short-term rentals.

But, when going through the construction process to restore a building to highlight its previous state, you cant just do whatever you want, said Clayton Burrous, an owner of GSBC.

We had to follow a lot of guidelines, he said, adding those guidelines are overseen at the state and federal levels.

Those rules boil down to decisions like the color of trim work and flooring. And if the guidelines are not followed, the tax credits will no longer be an option.

Each project must follow the 10 standards for rehabilitation, meaning "criteria used to determine if a rehabilitation project qualifies as a certified rehabilitation," required by the National Park Service, which oversees these projects through its Technical Preservation Services department.

A business is also required to refrain from making any changes for five years to the structure.

It is a process, said Lauren Clever, the citys director of downtown development. The city made it easy to start by creating a district (in 2019)."

So far, Grand Strand Brewing and Mashburn Construction have taken advantage of the credits downtown. Myrtle Beachs historic district is located near 9th and 8th Avenues North in the area mostly between Broadway Street and Kings Highway.

There are about 26 buildings in the district, with 18 currently on the historic registry.

Buildings must be at least 50 years old and historically significant to qualify.

Though taking advantage of the credits is not required, it can offset the cost of construction by up to 70 percent, said Janie Campbell, a preservation consultant with Rogers Lewis Jackson Mann & Quinn, LLC.

The credits also include an abandoned building credit, which is up to 25 percent, and applies to buildings that have been 66 percent vacant for the past five years, Campbell said.

The city is in the process of registering three of its buildings downtown as historic properties.

One was the original Broadway Theater, and on either side are the former J&J Drugstore and a department store. The city plans to make all three buildings into a theater and partner with Coastal Carolina University to use as a satellite theater.

The HTC Aspire hub, at 509 9th Ave., is currently under construction. And its possible the citys library could move to this downtown district at some point.

Burrous said he encourages those interested in taking advantage of the tax credit incentive to know that it works.

You can get equity, he said. You just need a really good advisor.

Clever said the city receives a lot of phone calls and people walking in, asking questions about the downtown area.

Developing those kinds of experiences and connectivity throughout the district is what the plan is, Clever said, adding the city hopes it becomes a place where people visit for an afternoon instead of it being a one-stop area. Now that the brewery is here, its going to start generating that energy.

Youre renovating buildings that didnt have a purpose, and now they have a purpose, Clever said.

Other areas take advantage of credits

The arts and innovation district isnt the only area in Myrtle Beachs city limits where business owners have taken advantage of historic tax credits.

Spots such as the Waikiki Hotel, Holiday Shores and Charlies Place have all benefited from the credits, Clever said.

Across South Carolina, other areas offering the credits include Aiken, Greenville, Columbia, Lancaster and Chester.

Most downtown areas in South Carolina cities have some kind of downtown historic district, Campbell said.

Beyond the tax incentives available, Campbell said with much corporate architecture currently, historic districts are important to towns and cities because demolishing buildings takes away the character in an area.

It provides a sense of place for some people, Campbell said. Its a way to preserve the uniqueness of each area.
The delays in deliveries of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have been hugely disappointing, EU financial services commissioner Mairead McGuinness said today.

Ms McGuinness also added that there must be a global focus on the production and supply of vaccinations.

European citizens are growing angry and upset that the vaccine rollout is not happening as rapidly as we had anticipated, she said in an interview on BBC's Andrew Marr programme.

Both the UK and the EU have separate contracts with AstraZeneca, and Ms McGuinness said its her understanding that theyve been supplying the UK with vaccines, but not the trading bloc.

We are supplying the UK with other vaccines, she said. So I think this is about openness and transparency and addressing citizens concerns. It is about nothing else.

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This idea of wars and nationalism, I really want to stress to take that off the table. Europe has been international in its approach on vaccines.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has previously threatened to stop exporting vaccines to the UK. In response to this, Pfizer has warned the EU that they should back down from such threats, saying they depend on the UK heavily for some of the vaccines vital ingredients.

UK defence secretary Ben Wallace similarly warned that this may be counterproductive.

The one thing we know about vaccine production and manufacture is that it is collaborative, he told Sky News.

They would undermine not only their own citizens' chances of having a proper vaccine programme, but also many other countries around the world with the reputational damage for the EU which they would find very hard to change over the short-term.

Ms McGuinness defended the EU, saying again the EUs decisions as of late have nothing to do with vaccine nationalism. Moreover, she discussed the EUs shaky response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Frankly none of us have had a great Covid, she told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme.

I think all of us should put our hands up and say we were not prepared for this global pandemic, we did not do our best at the beginning but we are doing our best now to protect our citizens. That is exactly where Europe is focused on.

That the world has literally stopped turning. And all the things we took for granted like a meal out, summer holidays, seeing family have been destroyed because of an invisible virus. And we were not ready for it, globally, not just in Europe.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21)  Instead of blaming Filipinos for the rising COVID-19 cases, the government must consider allocating additional cash aid for them to sustain their needs as the pandemic drags on, Vice President Leni Robredo recommended on Sunday.

In her radio show Biserbisyong Leni over RMN-DXL, Robredo lamented how some public officials still put the blame on Filipinos who have not been compliant with health protocols, which supposedly led to another COVID-19 surge in different parts of the country.

"Naririnig na naman natin ito sa ibang officials. Ang sisi na naman nasa tao, matigas 'yung ulo, hindi sumusunod," she said.

[Translation: We often hear this from different officials. They put the blame on the people who are supposedly hard-headed, non-compliant.]

"Madali lang sabihin dahil halimbawa kung ikaw ay nasa bahay, kahit hindi pumasok may kakainin ka, nanonood ka pa ng Netflix naka-aircon ka pa siguro, madali yung sabihin," she added. "Pero sa ordinaryong Pilipino na nakikipagbaka araw-araw, kahit pa sabihin mong grabe yung pandemic, kung walang kakainin ang pamilya, lalabas at lalabas 'yan."

[Translation: It's hard to say especially when you're at the comfort of your own home, you have something to eat, and you're probably just watching Netflix in an airconditioned room, that's probably easy to say. But for an ordinary Filipino who has to work every day, even if they say the impact of the pandemic has become severe, if his family has nothing to eat, he has no choice but to go out.]

Last year, the government disbursed cash aid ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 through its social amelioration program devoted to low-income households in areas under hard lockdown to help them cope with the effects of the pandemic.

However, some four million Filipinos or 8.7% of the workforce were still unable to find jobs this January even with government's efforts to reopen the economy, the Philippine Statistics Authority recently reported.

READ:4M Filipinos unemployed in January, slightly up from Octobers 3.8M  PSA

Senator Risa Hontiveros said last week that another round of emergency cash assistance must be prepared, especially for workers who will be the most affected by the reinstatement of curfews and stricter health protocols when granular lockdowns are imposed and when some business operations will once again be put to a halt.

"Matagal na natin 'tong kinakampanya na 'yung tulong sa mahirap, sana madagdagan. Nagbigay tayo noong April pero ngayon na grabe yung surge, kailangan na kailangan ito," Robredo also said.

[Translation: We have long been appealing that the aid for the poor must be increased. We gave some in April, but now that the surge has worsened, we need this more.]

The proposed 420-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3, which hopes to be a continuation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Bayanihan to Recover as One Act that were passed last year, seeks to provide another wave of cash aid for poor Filipinos. However, Malacanang said that other stimulus measures that are already in place must be finished before this can be carried out.

READ: Palace wants 'Bayanihan 2' carried out before new stimulus bill

As of Saturday, the Philippines recorded its biggest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases in pandemic history with 7,999 new infections. It was the second consecutive day that the country confirmed more than 7,000 cases, beating the 6,968 infections recorded on August 10, 2020.
"There does not appear to be a health justification" for the current travel restrictions imposed on COPR holders, says federal MP Christine Normandin.

Canadian immigration: Politician calls for action on approved permanent residents "There does not appear to be a health justification" for the current travel restrictions imposed on COPR holders, says federal MP Christine Normandin.

Canadian immigration: Politician calls for action on approved permanent residents "There does not appear to be a health justification" for the current travel restrictions imposed on COPR holders, says federal MP Christine Normandin.

Canadian immigration: Politician calls for action on approved permanent residents "There does not appear to be a health justification" for the current travel restrictions imposed on COPR holders, says federal MP Christine Normandin. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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A Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) is calling on the federal government to address the plight of foreign nationals with COPRs who cannot enter Canada.

In a letter to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, Christine Normandin, Bloc Quebecois immigration critic, expresses concern over the difficult situation faced by recently approved applicants for permanent residence who are not exempt from travel restrictions and the future processing of their files.

The Bloc Quebecois is one of the federal parties with elected officials in Canadas Parliament. Each party appoints MPs to critique the policies of the governing party.

As previously reported by CIC News, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is leaving thousands of new permanent residents already selected by Canada in limbo, particularly those in the economic class.

Learn about Canadas immigration system

These are individuals who have gone through the entire permanent residence process, have been approved by the IRCC and therefore hold a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). The approval process includes passing medical exams, as well as federal security and safety checks. Under normal circumstances, these individuals would enter Canada and officially become permanent residents.

Current travel restrictions, however, do not allow foreign nationals with COPRs to enter the country if their documents were issued after the Canadian border closed on March 18, unless they are exempt under other circumstances, or are residents of the U.S.

In her letter, Normandin states that this situation is unjustified: There does not appear to be any health justification for this, especially since COPR holders have long expressed their intention to comply with all quarantine measures put in place upon their arrival.

While permanent residents going through the family reunification and sponsorship process are exempt from travel restrictions, there is no exemption for skilled workers and immigrant investors who hold COPRs so many are currently stuck in their country of origins and living in limbo.

Many fear the expiration of their COPRs and the need to start the process all over again, with the costs of medical examinations and criminal background checks that this entails, which can be costly, especially for a family, writes Normandin, in her letter, referring to the fact that no clear plan has yet been put forward by the Canadian government to deal with the situation.

In several recent statements, IRCC has indicated that recently approved applicants will eventually be able to come to Canada, but only when travel restrictions are lifted. The government has also stated that these individuals will not have to go through the application process again if their documents expire while they are waiting for the borders to open.

An untenable situation for the department

But, according to Normandins letter, this could create an untenable situation for the department.

Unless the restrictions for COPR holders begin to be lifted soon, we understand that with the existing admission thresholds, it will be difficult to make up for the lost time when the borders finally open, resulting in delays in the admission of files that are still pending, she writes.

We are also concerned that this will place an additional burden on immigration officers if, while waiting for the restrictions to be lifted, applicants are required to undergo repeat medical examinations and criminal background checks, which officers will then have to reassess.

To remedy the situation Normandin proposes that all those whose COPRs were issued after March 18, 2020, be exempt from travel restrictions to Canada and that the validity of all COPRs be extended by 12 months from their expiry date.

The COPR holders for whom we are requesting a lifting of the restrictions are mainly skilled workers and immigrant investors who will be called upon to participate in the economic recovery through their contribution of labour, through job creation in the case of immigrant investors, and through the expenses that will be made for their settlement in the country, said Normandin.

We believe that this situation sends the wrong message to immigrants, Normandin concludes in her letter.

Learn about Canadas immigration system

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 00:01:09|Editor: huaxia

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Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani (C) meets with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (7th L) in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 21, 2021. Ghani and visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin exchanged views on peace talks with the Taliban, the office of the president said on Sunday. (Afghan Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

KABUL, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin exchanged views on peace talks with the Taliban, the office of the president said on Sunday.

The two sides expressed concerns over continued violence in Afghanistan and emphasized that the fundamental solution to the "current situation in Afghanistan is to achieve a just and lasting peace," it said in a statement.

Austin, who arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul earlier in Sunday, was quoted in the statement as saying that the U.S. was ready to cooperate with Afghanistan to achieve peace and stability in the country.

Ghani said during the meeting that there is a consensus at all levels inside Afghanistan for peace process, and the Afghan government will make full use of the consensus and the opportunities that have arisen to bring about peace, according to the statement. Enditem
(Natural News) A Marine Corps unit has apologized to Fox News host Tucker Carlson after its Twitter account made negative and pejorative comments about anchors recent statements on how the military should not focus on being politically correct.

Carlson made his statement in response to remarks that President Joe Biden made for International womens Day. Here, Biden called for more women to be elevated into positions of authority within the military. He highlighted how he had nominated two women to become four-star generals. The president believes this action will be an inspiration to young women just beginning their careers in the military.

On Mar. 9, Carlson played a clip of Bidens statement regarding women in the military. He then compared it in a less than favorable light to Chinas own military build-up, saying that the latter was doing a better job at gaining strength while the U.S. military was being made to focus on the wrong things. (Related: As Chinas navy gains in combat power, Americas Navy gains in wokeness  new regs put political correctness over competence.)

While Chinas military becomes more masculine as its assembled the worlds largest navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine, whatever feminine means anymore since men and women no longer exist, Carlson exclaimed. The bottom line is, its out of control, and the Pentagon is going along with this.

The official Twitter account of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) Information Group responded by sharing a picture of two soldiers on a beach  a female soldier carrying a male one  and writing the caption: What it looks like in todays armed forces @TuckerCarlson. Get right before you get left, boomer.

Boomer is widely considered to be a pejorative term meant to insult older people or people who todays generation may see as close-minded or resistant to change. It is also used as a way of shutting down a conversation.

Marine unit quickly apologizes after intense backlash

The II MEFs Information Group quickly deleted the tweet after it came under extreme scrutiny.

We are human and we messed up, said the group in a follow-up tweet. What was intended as a tweet in support of our female Marines and sisters serving in uniform was clearly not aligned with our standard practices or an appropriate representation of the Marine Corps. We will do better and serve the people.

We can do better and we will collectively take a knee, review our procedures and get back in the fight, the group added in another tweet. Our focus is to train, fight and win and we have a hard time doing that without your support.

This recent incident is the latest in an ongoing clash between Carlson and the military. Many other individual members of the military and organizations within the armed forces have criticized Carlson, albeit without using pejoratives.

John Kirby, press secretary for the Pentagon, told reporters that the diversity of our military is one of our greatest strengths.

We pledge to do better [for female servicemembers], and we will, he said. What we absolutely wont do is take personnel advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military. Now maybe those folks feel like they have something to prove; thats on them. We know were the greatest military in the world today, and even for all the things we need to improve, we know exactly why thats so.

Carlson responded to criticisms by saying that his criticisms of the military are not another volley in the culture war, but are interrogations meant to keep the military focused on its objective of making the country safer.

Heres a reminder: The U.S. military exists to fight and win wars. Thats its only purpose, said Carlson on the Mar. 11 episode of his program. The U.S. military is not an NGO. It is not a vehicle for achieving equity. Its not a social experiment. Its definitely not an employment agency. Nobody has a God-given right to work in the military. No one does, and that includes all of us.

Ted Cruz demands meeting with head of Marine Corps to hold him accountable

On Sunday, Mar. 14, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding a meeting with Gen. David H. Berger, a four-star general currently serving as the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Cruzs office said this was in response to multiple leaders of the military and their systematic campaign attacking Carlson.

I am deeply troubled that the commitments you made, and the militarys broader obligation to avoid political endorsements and controversy, are being systematically undermined for the sake of left-wing ideology and political expediency, wrote Cruz in his letter. The last week has witnessed the Pentagon mobilize systematic, public attacks against television host Tucker Carlson that in substance, tone and political resonance are inexplicably inappropriate.

Cruz pointed out that it has taken the country centuries to make sure that the military was not a political force. He said this is why leaders of the military should keep out of domestic affairs, as it undermines the relationship between the armed forces and the general public. Cruz is worried that people might perceive the military as using its institutional power as a weapon against Bidens critics.

This kind of behavior, he said, while perhaps typical in a military-controlled Third World country, is completely unacceptable in the United States of America.

Cruz is demanding that Gen. Berger meet with him to discuss the politicization of the military. He is also asking the Department of Defense for an answer on how it can keep other units of the military from being similarly mobilized against the speech of American citizens or in the service of left-wing political issues.

Learn more about the recent concerns regarding the potential politicization of the military by reading the latest articles at PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NBCNews.com

Cruz.Senate.gov
KALAMAZOO, MI Current and former Western Michigan University took to the runway Saturday evening at Kalamazoo State Theatre to showcase local designs and styles.

WMUs Merchandising Opportunities and Design Association held its Kaleidoscope Fashion Show Saturday, March 20, in front of a limited-capacity, socially distanced crowd. Each model sported custom masks with a full styled outfit as they took the runway.

This is the first time the event has been held at the State Theatre. The show was also available via a live stream.

The show featured nine designers and stylists, organizers said.

Some lines, like Chloe LaPines The Disco Daisy Collection, featured colorful crochet work inspired by the festival scene with a 1970s disco twist.

Another inspiration came from water. Julia Lekanders line was inspired by abstract illustrations of the sea.

Western Michigan students presenting pieces in the show hail from degree programs as diverse as business communications and biomedical science, as well as fashion design and development students. In addition, Kalamazoo Fashion House and Sizo + Perry owned, respectively by Anika Johnson and Jodi Miller, loaned pieces to help style a line for this years show.

The students featured in the show were Brianna Nguyen, Mackenzie Parker, Antione McCoy, Julia Lekander, Chloe LaPine, Maggie Ek, Marshall Bayless and Deisy Calderon. You can see information about each line on WMU Modas Instagram page.

Also on MLive:

Kalamazoo State Theatre private tours offer closer look at 93-year-old landmark

Kalamazoo County has vaccinated over 70% of people 65 and older

Michigan restaurant open, packed after owners arrest over coronavirus restrictions
The centenary of the Headford Junction Ambush near Killarney was marked today, with a single wreath in the national colours laid by the mayor of Kerry Patrick O'Connor-Scarteen, a grand nephew of one of the participants.

Cllr O'Connor-Scarteen, (FG) Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, brought along the rifle used by his grand-uncle 19-year-old Tom OConnor-Scarteen of Kenmare.

Tom had no formal military training, but was a noted marksman, the mayor recalled.

Although there is still some dispute about numbers, upwards of 30 of the IRAs Kerry No 2 Brigade and Flying Column took part in the ambush against 28 soliders of The 1st Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, City of London regiment. It is considered one of the biggest and most successful engagements by the IRA against regular British forces.

Councillor Patrick O'Connor Scarteen, Mayor of Kerry pays tribute to those who died on the anniversary of the Headford Ambush back in March 21, 1921.

The Fusiliers were on their way from Kenmare to Killarney, scheduled to change at Headford, on a packed train as it was a fair day in Kenmare.

Word came through about the troop movement to the column from Cumann na mBan, a short time before the train, which arrived early, pulled in.

Two IRA men died, with another wounded, while nine of the Fusiliers lost their lives with a dozen wounded. Three cattle dealers on their way from Kenmare fair died, and a publican from Loo Bridge and his three-year-old daughter were wounded in the crossfire.

Headford, raised in the British parliament, raised the standing of the Kerry IRA nationally and set the scene for subsequent bloody engagements in Kerry.

The London Times report estimated the ambushers at about one hundred; with between 35 and 50 in the station alone: the IRA claimed a lot more than 12 coffins containing Fusiliers left Killarney; the British military claimed at least 14 rebels died and "hoped" more had.

A major ceremony to mark the centenary had been planned since 2019 with the monument at the disused railway junction substantially upgraded. However, the continued lockdown has seen those plans cancelled.

Derry Healy, chairman of the Headford commemorative committee said it was hoped that event could take place in 2022.

It was important to acknowledge the contribution of those who took part in the fight for Irish independence, Cllr OConnor-Scarteen said on Sunday.

The Headford Ambush near Killarney was one of the most significant events of the War of Independence in the Country. The ambush was not only a significant blow militarily to crown forces but also lifted the spirits of those involved in the fight for Irish freedom, he said.

"It is thanks to the dedication and commitment of people such as the Kerry No. 2 Brigade Flying Column that took part in the events such as the Headford ambush that we have our freedom today, Cllr OConnor-Scarteen said.

"May those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom rest in peace," he added.

Dan Allman (left) and James Bailey (right), two volunteers who lost their lives on that day along with three civilians.

No 2 Kerry IRA brigade was comprised mainly of young men from east and south Kerry, from Ballymacelligott near Tralee and the wider Killarney and Kenmare areas. Led by Dan Allman (30) of Rockfield, and his deputy Tom McEllistrim of Ballymacelligott, the 50-minute shoot-out came to an end only when a second train of British forces arrived on the scene.

Dan Allman died at Headford, after firing the first shot; and command was taken over by McEllistrim. Jim Coffey who had trained the IRA in armaments for in March in a camp in the Gap of Dunloe was wounded.

Jimmy Baily from Ballymacelligott would also lose his life.

A camouflaged Vickers Machine Gun manned by members of the Royal Fusiliers protect the train carrying supplies and personnel near Headford, Killarney in 1921. Picture supplied: macmonagle,killarney

On the Fusiliers side, Lt Cecil Adams, a 30-year-old who had served with distinction in France and Belgium, lost his life.

Most of the British soldiers shot were in their late teens or early 20s.

Lance corporal E Chandler was not yet 17. One soldier, Private A George is buried in Killarney, at the New Cemetery. His funeral with military honours in Killarney took place the same day as that of Allman and Baily.
Thanks to the likes of Australian of the Year Grace Tame and former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, the true scale of what women and girls face in our society is finally emerging. And its not confined to any specific generation or sector of the community or type of workplace.

But what this discussion about sexual abuse, harassment and assault in Australia is making crystal clear is that the problem runs broad and deep.

Despite various attempts at reform, the legal system still struggles with the concept and how to define it. There are good reasons why so few sexual assault victims are prepared to have their day in court and one of them is the difficulty authorities have with questions of consent.

The word consent has been mulled over more in the past few weeks than in a very long time. Rape and sexual harassment accusations within the Canberra bubble, the extraordinary outpouring from schoolgirls about their experiences, and even the NSW Police Commissioners ham-fisted consent app idea have put the issue front and centre in the political debate.

Of particular concern is what is going on in schools. Former Sydney student Chanel Contos petition for consent to be included earlier in sex education now has thousands of testimonies from women subjected to sexual harassment and assault during their time at school.

What is striking is the contemporary nature of these issues. These are not incidents from another time when sexual misconduct may have been explained away as being a result of a different set of standards, or simply kids being kids. Most of the testimonies are from recent years. We should all be horrified that we are not doing better.

This was brought home in Victoria by Wesley College principal Nick Evans, who has had to apologise to students and families after disclosures of more than a dozen instances of alleged sexual assault, harassment and disrespect to girls by male students. In his words: I once would have said relationships in these schools were warm and respectful. Sadly, I dont think I can say that now. I am personally devastated to be able to admit that.

What can explain the present-day machismo and misogyny among school-aged boys? Child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg says water cooler conversations will throw up a range of culprits including teenage brain development, adult role-modelling, the power of peer pressure, abysmal and tardy education around respect and relationships, the influence of social media, violent video games and internet pornography. But what hope of a solution?

While schools have been in the firing line for not taking the problem more seriously, Dr Carr-Gregg has some stern words for parents: Perhaps it is time we named the catastrophic spinelessness of some parents to set intelligent limits, boundaries and consequences when it comes to the behaviour of their boys.
Several people stepped out on streets in Turkey on Saturday protesting against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decision to withdraw from the world's first "binding treaty to prevent and combat violence against women". The treaty was forged by The Council of Europe in Istanbul, in 2011 and is intended at preventing, prosecuting, and eliminating domestic violence that is on the rise in the region, against women. Turkey had signed the treaty in 2011, however, the ruling Adalet ve Kalknma (AK) Party withdrew from the accord recently without stating any specific reason.



The decision also comes during a time when Turkey recorded a rise in femicides since 2020. Protesters were seen holding purple flags and banners that read "We are not scared, we are not afraid and we shall not obey." Family, labour, and social policies minister of Turkey, Zehra Zumrut Selcuk tweeted on the development and wrote, The guarantee of womens rights are the current regulations in our bylaws, primarily our constitution. Our judicial system is dynamic and strong enough to implement new regulations as needed.



Selcuk tweeted "If they think that we are going to step back from fighting violence against women or establishing women's human rights, they should know that they will be disappointed."

Pact promotes violence, undermines family decorums: Conservative

On the contrary, many conservatives residing in Turkey predict that the pact undermines family decorums and promotes violence that further is "hostile to the principle of gender equality in the Istanbul Convention," a leading US daily reported on Sunday. However, those who criticise President Erdogan's decision to withdraw from the pact hinted that this step would further Turkey's positioning in the European Union, which the former is yet to become a permanent member of.

'We don't feel safe anymore': Protesters

Another section of conservatives in the region thinks that the pact is too liberal and that "it would promote homosexuality, given its principle of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation [sic]." The protesters agitating against the withdrawal from the pact said that "We feel it is the end of the road. We are fed up and we do not feel safe. Enough," AFP reported.



The government has not implemented the convention in the right way and now scrapping it is unexpected, said a 43-year-old protester who identified herself as Cigdem Karadag. She arirved in Turkey to give her daughters a better life, to raise them in an educated atmosphere where they would know what living free is. "The convention wasn't implemented in the right manner and moreover was scrapped by the government," she said and added that "She doesn't want to see her daughters murdered."



Meanwhile, the foreign ministries of Germany and France have also condemned the Turkish President's decision to withdraw from the pact. The France ministry in a statement conveyed "This decision will primarily affect Turkish women, to whom France expresses all its solidarity."
The Accra Technical University (ATU), has admitted 8,578 fresh students, the highest in its history, to pursue various courses in the institution.



They are made up of 1,617 Bachelor of Technology, 5,426 full time and part-time Higher National Diploma (HND) and 293 diploma students.



The rest were 928 non-HND and pre-HND students, as well as 314 students from the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS).



All the matriculants were taken through the matriculation oath administered by the Registrar of the ATU, Mrs Sylvia B. Oppong Mensah, to signify their formal admission into the institution.



Addressing the virtual event, the Vice Chancellor of the ATU, Prof. Samuel Nii Odai said, it is such a great joy to welcome into our great university this year the highest number of students in our history.



Increase



He said in view of the increasing number of students, the governing council had directed the immediate development of the universitys second campus at Samsam Mpehuasem near Amasaman along the Accra-Nsawam Highway.



For the first time this year, the engineering students will be having their practical workshops in the ultra-modern workshops on the campus. Our affiliation with MATS keeps growing from strength to strength, he said.



Prof. Odai said the university treasured such a relationship and was putting in strategic measures to offer more studying opportunities to its friends from the Armed Forces.



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

MATS



In an address, the Commandant of the MATS, Major Gen. Charles Kodjo Awity, charged the fresh students to work hard to merit the various certificates that would be earned at the end of their respective programmes.



I urge you to continuously add up to your knowledge base by reading beyond what you would be taught in the classroom to become abreast of time in this fast evolving technological world, he said.



On the students from MATS, he said the purpose of their programmes in the military was to provide them the opportunity to understand vividly the nature of their core mandates in the services.





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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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/21/2021



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Jovi and Yara are still together and whether the couple had a baby.]

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So are Yara and Jovi now married and still together or has the couple broken up?

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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.

's eighth season showed Yara Zaya questioning whether she should return to Ukraine right before her Las Vegas wedding with Jovi Dufren , so did the couple break up or go through with getting married? Do the latest spoilers say Yara and Jovi are still together now?Jovi, a 29-year-old who works in underwater robotics from New Orleans, LA, met Yara, a 25-year-old makeup artist from Kiev, Ukraine, through a travel app.The couple began traveling the world together, and Jovi also visited Yara in the Ukraine multiple times.Yara got pregnant six months into their relationship, and Jovi admitted he was "dumbfounded" at first and worried Yara was trying to "trap" him and get a ticket to the United States."But after the shock wore off, it actually pulled us pretty closer together," Jovi said.Jovi decided to propose marriage to Yara during a trip to Cuba and then apply for a K-1 visa once he returned to America. However, Yara unfortunately experienced a miscarriage.Yara unfortunately experienced a miscarriage, but Jovi still wanted his life to be with her.Once Yara arrived to America, she and Jovi argued a lot over his partying and how Yara didn't feel she could trust Jovi to stand by her through tough times and be around for their future children.Yara also heard from one of Jovi's friends, Sara, that Jovi used to sleep with exotic dancers and had a wild and crazy side.In addition, Jovi's mother Gwen was pushing for the couple to have a big wedding -- but Yara didn't want any family or friends invited since her own loved ones wouldn't be able to attend the ceremony.Yara then discovered she was pregnant again and vented in shock to the cameras, "I am not ready yet. I don't even know if I want to get married and live here."She later added, "I honestly don't even know if [Jovi] wants to settle down with me and [stop] partying all the time. It just makes me feel crazy."As for Jovi, he said he couldn't picture himself living anywhere but New Orleans and raising his kids there.The pair even fought at their engagement party, with Yara calling Jovi "an alcoholic.""If I was not pregnant, I would be already in Ukraine," Yara said in tears."Not so lucky," Jovi responded."Son of a b-tch," Yara said in tears.Yara felt she deserved more from Jovi and questioned whether he really cared for her at all. She didn't feel taken care of, or that she was Jovi's No. 1 priorityAfter the party, Yara gave Jovi and ultimatum and said if he wanted to be with her, he needed to stop his frequent drinking.Yara gave Jovi permission to drink on special occasions but not every day or else he'd be visiting with his child on weekends while living apart from her.Jovi agreed to drink a little bit less and take better care of his wife-to-be, and Yara demanded respect."I just want him to show that me and the baby [come] first," Yara told the cameras, later adding that living in the United States was never her dream.Jovi had another work trip coming up soon, so he and Yara had to get married within two weeks. Jovi felt rushed but said he was going to make things work.A few days after their engagement party, Yara said Jovi was doing more and treating her better. Not only did Jovi try to cook for her one night, but he was also spending evenings at home with her.Jovi said he was beginning to understand the stress Yara was going through of being pregnant in a foreign country without any friends or relatives around, and he intended to be more sympathetic and supportive.When Jovi only had 12 days left in New Orleans before another work trip, Yara was starting to feel a little better about staying in New Orleans long-term.Yara enjoyed herself at a parade and Jovi hoped she would stay in this good mood because they were leaving for Las Vegas in just a few days for their wedding."I hope I can keep her in a good mood the whole way until we get married," Jovi said.With eight days until her wedding, Yara went shopping for a wedding dress with Jovi's mother Gwen, and Yara sweetly decided to let Gwen attend the wedding since it meant so much to her.Yara picked out a beautiful form-fitted, long-sleeve sequin dress with an open back.When Yara had eight days left on her K-1 visa, Yara slipped and fell in the street and landed on her back.A doctor told Yara that she was fine and the baby was fine, but Yara wasn't feeling well after her fall.Jovi also felt guilt because his bachelor party was supposed to be that night and he'd have to leave Yara behind. Yara, however, gave him the "okay" to go as long as he promised not to get drunk and be home fairly early.Jovi promised to keep things within reason and stay in control, and Yara hoped her fiance would take it easy and be responsible.But Jovi ended up at the local stripclub, which was Jovi's "home away from home," according to one of his friends. Jovi apparently had a great time and ignored Yara's phone calls as he stayed out late into the evening.At the stripclub, Jovi flirted with a dancer named Carter and his buddy instructed Carter to take Jovi "upstairs" and show him a good time. Jovi joked that his pal was forcing him to interact with the entertainer, but Jovi didn't seem to mind.Jovi insisted he didn't touch the dancer and just had a good time. Yara had asked Jovi to return home at 11PM since she was pregnant and had fallen that day, but he stayed out until 1:26AM.Jovi then only had a few hours to pack for Las Vegas and get in some sleep. Yara told Jovi that he smelled like alcohol and accused him of being drunk, and she was clearly disappointed and angry.Yara was also frustrated Jovi had invited friends to their Las Vegas wedding when she was pregnant and couldn't drink or party with any of them. Yara also hadn't revealed to Jovi's friends that she was expecting, and so she figured they would view her as lame or boring.Yara didn't want to talk to Jovi because she didn't feel like she was his priority. Yara didn't think Jovi cared about her at all."I feel like I want to go back to home... to Ukraine," Yara cried in a confessional.Jovi and Yara got married within the 90-day period that Yara's K-1 visa allowed and the couple appears to still be together.According to a screenshot posted by Instagrammer John Yates, Jovi and Yara obtained a marriage license on February 13, 2020, In Touch Weekly reported.Yara and Jovi reportedly exchanged vows in a wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, NV, that same month.Yara told Us Weekly in January 2021 she was "so happy" upon learning she was pregnant because she hoped her baby would look as "handsome" or "beautiful" as Jovi, whom she gushed about being in love with "so much."Jovi and Yara reportedly welcomed their first child together only a few months before Season 8 of premiered on TLC in December 2020, according to In Touch.It appears Yara delivered the couple's child in September 2020.Before viewers saw Yara take a positive pregnancy test on 's eighth season, pregnancy rumors began floating around on December 31 when Yara posted an Instagram photo that appeared to show two unique ornaments on a Christmas tree she was posing next to. (Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out the tree looked like it was in Jovi's New Orleans apartment).One of the ornaments was a baby and the other was a pink heart with the word "mom" written on it.Yara also reportedly created an Amazon baby registry last year under the name "Yara Dufren," which seemingly provided evidence she and Jovi had tied the knot during her K-1 visa trip to the United States.The baby registry was posted on January 4, 2020, according to In Touch, and the items Yara listed were for a baby girl due in September 2020.The registry has since been removed from Amazon.The latest evidence indicating Jovi and Yara are still together is that they will be starring on the upcoming sixth season of : Happily Ever After? premiering Sunday, April 25 on TLC, according to the @fraudedmedia Instagram account formerly called @fraudedbytlc.It's also apparent Jovi and Yara's relationship is doing well based on their recent social-media activity. For example, Jovi's Instagram profile picture features Yara.And on Yara's Instagram, her description says, "38 country, traveling with my [love]." Jovi has a similar description on his own Instagram page, saying he's been to 57 countries and is "on an adventure to see the world!"As recently as March 2021, Yara hinted she and Jovi's relationship is still in good standing when she posted a picture of a bedside table decorated with candles and flowers. It appeared Jovi may have served Yara cake and coffee in bed in honor of International Women's Day."Happy International Women's Day, my girls, I hope you made your man buy you flowers," Yara captioned her post."In my country, March 8 is a great holiday when women are treated like queens. Women, be sure your man treat you the right way, buy for you flowers, take you to dinner. I do not feel like this is celebrated enough in America."Jovi simultaneously shared a picture of himself on the same day and advised men to treat their girlfriends or wives the way the women deserve to be treated.In mid-December 2020, Yara posted a picture of herself touching her hair, and an Instagram user noticed an engagement ring and wedding ring on Yara's left hand.But when a fan commented, "Ooooooooo a wedding ring," Yara commented, "Not wedding, this is an ordinary ring, I wear it so that the engagement ring does not get lost, because it is big for me."The fan wrote back that Jovi needs to size the ring for Yara, and she replied, "Hahahahah, i was thinking about that, but I newer have time."In early December of last year, Yara posted a photo of herself filming behind-the-scenes and wrote alongside it, "I want Jovi to look at me with the same loving eyes as this woman looks at me in the first photo."Yara also uploaded a photo of herself drinking wine with a cityscape in the background, and Jovi commented with the following flirty response: "Dayummmm. Are you single??"Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
My response to first seeing the trailer on Twitter was "So....Perfect Strangers but even MORE condescendingly pro-American superiority?"

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I just watched the trailer and your take is how I see it, too.

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Of course this is on CBS

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Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are the Satan and Satan's Mistress of the big networks

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it'll stay on-air for 15 seasons and get at least one spinoff

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Not to mention ALLLLL the awards for all 10+ seasons.

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Obligatory ofc Chuck Lorre is EP

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CBS and chuck lorre making bottom of the barrel, lowest common denominator comedy tv shows? Name a more iconic duo

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Chuck Lorre





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Your newfound Alex Kingston crush is all of our gains imo

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Yes I refuse to watch Doctor Who's because it's too long and the fans are crazy

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Somewhere in the bowels of Florida my redneck dad is queueing this on DVR to watch after American Idol and Storage Wars

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This comment made me laugh so hard. Are you sure we don't hail from the same Pabst Blue Ribbon drinking father? Does he also like going to Apple Bees in his baby boomer tapered leg Lee jeans?

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For your sake I hope not but seems likely, right down to the Lee jeans..if he has a cult-like obsession for white middle America tv programming then yes lol

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LMAOOOOOO America does state sponsored propaganda so well. Like Russia and Chinese could never. Chinese state media and Russia state-media propaganda machine taking notes from CBS and MCU. America really convinced their citizens that shit like this is perfectly normal and I honestly can't.

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Your icon format is the only thing wrong about this comment 

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regine can do whatever she wants!

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Lol I honestly forgot how anything on lj works (also couldn't be bothered) but is this better? It should move but again, I can't be bother to remember how to make the gif move



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i wonder if it's cause the creators/studios actually believe in American exceptionalism so it comes across better than state-directed propaganda like in those countries

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not the main character being the only afghan character of the five not portrayed by an afghan actor...

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There's just something about Chuck lorre sitcoms that makes me want to stab myself in the eyes

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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I don't need to see the trailer to know it's going to be 100% full of US propaganda , the channel and the creator tell me everything

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And i just saw it and i was so right lol , mess

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Good grief

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Adele and Francine are the ones taking me out 

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Wow, my expectations were so low when I read Chuck Lorre but apparently they weren't low enough.

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Cannot wait for 50-99 yrs old to turn this on eat up the Pro Military,'Murica and wipe tears away that it's not bad for "all you brown/black people see you can make it too" praises

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Hollywood always does this shit. We tried to cast authentically but someone else was the best person for the job. And Adhir Kalyan is a repeat offender. He played a devout Pakistani Muslim in Aliens in America. The coward privated his Twitter account. Fuck him

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Oh that's him?! I had forgotten about that show.

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The touching moment a dog was reunited with her owner after being snatched from her dog walker's van has been captured in a heartwarming video.

Melina Georgiou, 27, was left devastated when her beloved Maltipoo puppy Nala was stolen in Barnet, north London last month, and launched an appeal on Facebook for the return of her pet.

She had entrusted a professional dog walker with Nala's care but as the dog walker went to another client's house, thieves struck and drove off in their van, which was parked outside.

After weeks missing from her family, Nala has since been returned safe and well and footage shows an emotional Melina laughing and crying as she cradles the excited puppy. It's not clear yet how the puppy came to be returned safely.

Melina Georgiou, 27, (pictured) has been reunited with her beloved Maltipoo puppy Nala who was stolen in Barnet, north London, last month

Nala has been found safe and well and footage shows an emotional Melina laughing and crying as she cradles the excited puppy

A second dog, Chester, was also in the van but has since also been reunited with his owners.

Melina wrote in February: 'Our beautiful little one-year-old maltipoo called Nala was stolen this afternoon while the dogs were being dropped home from a walk by our dog walker.

'As the dog walker walked out of the car to drop one of the dogs home, in Barnet, north London, someone jumped in her van and drove off with Nala and two others.'

She told The Star: 'I cannot BELIEVE the support not only from locals but from the whole entire country.

Melina Georgiou, pictured, was left devastated by the theft of her pet and launched a campaign in February for her safe return

Nala, pictured, was taken from the back of the dog walker's van in Barnet, north London

'Its been absolutely overwhelming, weve had over 11k shares on Facebook alone, hundreds and hundreds on Instagram and Twitter and floods of loving messages or support and kind words which has been so motivating to never give up hope that well find her.

'Its been a horrible day but everyones local support has been a beautiful thing.'

Organised criminals are turning to dog theft amid a rise in demand for puppies during lockdown, police have warned.

Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), said the increase in potential profits had made the illegal trade more attractive to hardened lawbreakers.

The charity DogLost saw reported pet thefts rise from 172 dogs in 2019 to 465 in 2020.

Melina released an appeal on Facebook for people to help her find her stolen dog

Ms Blackman, who is the NPCC lead for acquisitive crime, said: 'Dog theft can be a devastating crime for families and causes considerable distress to owners.

'Whilst it is still a very rare crime, its sadly something we have seen increasing recently.

'During the coronavirus pandemic, criminals have adjusted their activities and are taking advantage of the big demand for pets over the lockdown period.

'The cost of a puppy has considerably increased over the past year making this a lucrative market for organised criminals to exploit.'

At the time of her theft, Nala, pictured, was wearing a distinctive-looking pink coat

She warned pet owners to be careful posting pictures of their new puppy on social media, and for buyers to consider where the animal had come from.

Recent cases of suspected dog theft include the discovery of several English bulldog puppies at a home in Wigan.

Greater Manchester Police arrested three people after a member of the public saw someone carrying seven puppies into the house.

In Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police found 80 dogs at a property in Carmarthenshire that are thought to have been stolen.

Two people have been arrested and so far 30 of the animals have been returned to their owners.
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The number of migrant children in US custody has ballooned to nearly 15,500 as border officials struggle to find space to house them.

As of Saturday the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was housing nearly 10,500 children and teens in state-licensed emergency facilities and shelters, spokesman Mark Weber told CBS News.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was also housing more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors at a tent holding facility in southern Texas and other stations along the Mexico border, records showed.

The records indicated that the children are spending an average of 136 hours - over five days - in CBP custody, well beyond the 72-hour limit allowed under US law, CBS reported.

Housing facilities for unaccompanied migrant minors have been pushed to the brink as border officials encountered an average of 500 children and teens per day over the past three weeks.

It comes after February saw a record high number of minors enter US custody with more than 9,400.

State-licensed facilities filled up so quickly that the refugee agency within the HHS has been forced to open a number of makeshift housing facilities where children can be kept until they're turned over to family members or other sponsors in the US.

'The staggering number of children in CBP custody is both heartbreaking and profoundly concerning,' Neha Desai, a lawyer for the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), told CBS.

The number of migrant children in US custody has ballooned to nearly 15,500 as border officials struggle to find space to house them. Pictured: Two young boys who were separated from a large group of migrants wait to be taken to a special facility after illegally crossing into the US in Penitas, Texas, on March 12

A US Border Patrol agent processes asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors as family units sit on the sideline after about 70 migrants crossed the Rio Grande river into US from Mexico on a raft in Penitas, Texas, on March 17

Desai described harrowing conditions that she and her NCYL colleague Leecia Welch witnessed when they visited a tent holding facility for unaccompanied minors in Donna, Texas, last week.

She said the tent was so overcrowded that migrant children had to take turns sleeping on the floor and could only shower one time a week. The children also reported being unable to call family members, Desai said.

Desai said she believes 'the Biden administration is committed to humanely addressing the humanitarian situation we now face'.

But she added: 'Time will tell whether the government's good intentions and hard work will translate into the changes that are urgently needed.'

The HHS on Saturday announced plans to open a fourth influx facility for unaccompanied minors in Pecos, Texas, that will house about 500 to start and could be expanded to up to 2,000.

CBP apprehended more than 100,000 migrants at the border in February, compared to just 16,182 in April 2020 when migration slowed drastically amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Migrant children and teenagers relax in the sun outside of their housing units at a temporary holding facility south of Midland, Texas, on Saturday

Migrant children and teenagers are processed after entering the site of a temporary holding facility south of Midland, Texas, on March 14

Biden officials are blaming the former Trump administration for the burgeoning border crisis.

But critics say that Biden invited the influx of migrants by rolling back a number of stringent Trump-era immigration policies. During his campaign promised that all those seeking asylum in the US would be granted, which led to a surge of caravans heading from Central American to the US-Mexico border.

Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the crisis on Sunday and sent a clear message to migrants: The US border is closed.

'Our message has been straightforward and simple, and it's true  the border is closed. We are expelling families. We are expelling single adults,' Mayorkas told NBC's Meet the Press.

'I think we are executing on our plans and, quite frankly, when we are finished doing so, the American public will look back on this and say we secured our border and we upheld our values and our principles as a nation,' he added.

Mayorkas said that the administration, however, is committed to not turning away unaccompanied minors who arrive at the US border.

'We've made a decision that we will not expel young, vulnerable children,' he said.

Newly-confirmed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday: 'The border is closed'

A donated campaign flag for President Joe Biden flies over tents at a makeshift camp of migrants at the border port of entry leading to the US last week

Host Chuck Todd asked Mayorkas: 'Are you concerned that the word will go out, and you'll get unaccompanied minors from all over the world trying to come to our southern border?'

The official replied: 'We are safely processing the children who do come to our border. We strongly urge, and the message is clear, not to do so now. I cannot overstate the perils of the journey that they take.'

'Regrettably, I am all too aware of the tragedies that have occurred and continued to occur along that journey,' he said of children who arrive  or attempt to arrive  at the border alone.

Mayorkas did the rounds Sunday morning, appearing on five different shows to do damage control on the growing southern border crisis  even as the administration refuses to call the situation a 'crisis.'

He continued to deflect blame for the situation on Trump.

'Please remember something  that President Trump dismantled the orderly, humane and efficient way of allowing children to make their claims under United States law in their home countries,' he said.

CBP is now considering a plan to release migrants who crossed the border illegally without first giving them a court date to reappear.

President Biden is said to be disappointed in his officials for not being able to adequately shelter and process the massive increase of migrants at the southern border

A senior CBP source told Fox News that Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector are considering releasing migrants into the United States without an official Notice to Appear, a process that normally takes hours for each individual or family.

The move means migrants who crossed the border illegally would be released from custody into the United States - and it would place the responsibility of returning for an asylum hearing on the migrants themselves, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement or legal assistance, Fox News reported.

As this information came to light and the press continued to be blocked from gaining access to detention facilities, reports emerged that Border Patrol agents were issued a gag order on what they can share with the media.

Mayorkas claims these reports are not rooted in reality.

'Right now, we have no access to or photos of the conditions in the facilities. There have been no ride-alongs with agents. All inquiries are routed through Washington. There have been strict controls on sharing data. Local Border Patrol folks feel like they can't even talk to our folks down there. Is there a gag order?' Todd pressed on Sunday.

He insisted: 'There is not.'

'That is unequivocally false,' Mayorkas added. 'And let's be clear here  We are in the midst of a pandemic. We are, because of the extraordinary leadership of the president, climbing out of it more rapidly than ever before. But we are still in the midst of the pandemic. There is CDC controls in place. And Border Patrol agents are focused on operations, on securing the border, on addressing the needs of vulnerable children. We are not focused on ride-alongs right now.'

Previously, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said there would be organized trips for press to gain access to detention facilities. Later, she walked back on those comments, but promised photos to show conditions.

Then on Thursday, Psaki said the White House would not be releasing to the media photos that advisors shared with President Joe Biden to brief him on conditions on facilities housing childhood migrants on the border.

Psaki had kept open the idea of sharing them at a press briefing a day earlier after she revealed that advisors to Biden who had been to the border spoke to him 'with photos' about the facilities where unaccompanied children were being housed.

Migrants are seen in custody at a US Customs and Border Protection processing area under the Anzalduas International Bridge on Friday in Texas

A woman and two children receive an examination at the El Paso Service Processing Center in Texas on March 8

The Biden administration is also considering flying migrants to states near the Canadian border for processing, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

President Biden is said to be disappointed in his officials for not being able to adequately shelter and process the massive increase of migrants at the southern border, CNN reported.

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Biden thinks his officials are not moving fast enough in setting up better conditions for migrants stuck in jail-like facilities for longer than the 72 hours allowed by law.

'He was disappointed that we hadn't gotten answers from other agencies faster or that [the facilities] wouldn't be ready for children faster,' the official said.

'He made it pretty clear that there were times when he didn't think we were moving fast enough.'

Biden officials claim Trump officials did not fully cooperate with his transition team, hindering their ability get a realistic view of potential migration, and that Trump deconstructed the immigration and asylum system - which they then inherited.

Blanca Lopez Carranza (center) a migrant from El Salvador, talks with Jeydy Oseguera (right) and her eight-year-old son, Justin Melendez Oseguera, after their expulsion from the US

Migrants are seen in custody at a CBP processing area under the Anzalduas International Bridge on Friday

One official told CNN that Trump prevented Biden's team from getting 'under the hood in the time frame that other administrations would have been able to.'

'Were we prepared? Yes,' the official said.

'Everyone wants to be like 'crisis, crisis, crisis, crisis' - but it's like, you know what, actually, things are going really well. Yes, we brought in FEMA, but you know what? That was the responsible thing to do.'

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the director of the White House's office of intergovernmental affairs, told CNN that the Biden administration knew it was inheriting 'an absolute mess.'

'As we were coming into the administration, we knew we were inheriting an absolute mess from the previous administration,' she said.

'There were aspects of our legal immigration system that had been gutted and a department that lacked the personnel to administer our laws.'

Another administration official said: 'When we came into office, like, it was a disaster. I mean, really. The staffing wasn't in place, the structures weren't in place.'
The current Parliament is much more finely balanced than people think, and the last election was much closer than many people think, Mr Bandt said. On current published polling, a minority government after the next election is a likely outcome. The targets include five seats held by Labor: Griffith in Queensland, Richmond in NSW, Canberra in the ACT and Macnamara and Wills in Victoria. The others are four held by the Liberals: Brisbane and Ryan in Queensland and Kooyong and Higgins in Victoria. But the strategy assumes swings against the Liberals and Nationals, based on surveys from Newspoll and Essential, without conceding that Mr Morrison could capitalise on his strong personal support to gain seats.

The Coalition could gain four seats and hold a narrow majority with a swing to the Liberals of less than one per cent in Macquarie, Lilley, Cowan and Eden-Monaro, on calculations before the redistribution. It would gain Corangamite as well with a swing of 1.2 per cent. For all the ambitions in the strategy, the Greens have struggled at the last three federal elections to gain seats in the lower house, after Mr Bandt won the electorate of Melbourne from Labor in 2010. Mr Bandt said the policy message at the next election would focus on climate change and inequality, such as measures to make big companies pay more tax and fund government spending. We will help push the next government to go further and faster on climate change and make billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax, he said. Left to their own devices, neither Labor nor the Liberals will do that by themselves.

Former Labor minister Joel Fitzgibbon has warned his party against becoming too close to the Greens while other MPs are wary of the minor party after the alliance formed in 2010 to help Julia Gillard remain prime minister in a minority government. Mr Bandt said there were lessons from that period in the creation of the carbon price before it was repealed by Tony Abbott and his government after the Coalition won in 2013. The longer time goes on, the better the record of that period, he said. If we had kept the carbon price, then we wouldnt be having carbon tariffs imposed on us by other countries, for example, so that was actually a good government. One lesson learned was that we got the policy right on the carbon price but, once we got the laws through, there was probably not enough time continuing to talk about the problem and explaining why we took the action we did.

That left open the door for Tony Abbott to reframe it as a tax and cost issue. Loading The strategy is based in part on work by the Parliamentary Library, in response to a Greens request, that estimates a small swing against the Coalition would be enough for it to be forced to negotiate to form minority government. Mr Morrison can call a standard half-Senate election at any time between August 7 this year and May 21 next year, according to the Parliamentary Library, with Liberals saying privately that a poll in the first months of 2022 is most likely. The analysis concludes the swing would be enough for the Liberals to lose the Victorian seat of Chisholm, held by Gladys Liu, and the Tasmanian seat of Bass, held by Bridget Archer.

But Labor would need a swing of 3.88 per cent in uniform terms to gain a slim majority, highlighting the chance of a hung Parliament. The Australian Electoral Commission issued draft changes on Friday to respond to population changes by removing the seat of Stirling in Western Australia and proposing a new electorate called Hawke in western Melbourne. Based on the AECs proposed electorate borders and estimates of margins in each seat, the government would go to the next election with 75 seats compared to Labors 69. The Greens calculated before the redistribution that they would need a swing of 2.9 per cent to win Macnamara, which extends from Port Melbourne to Elwood and Caulfield and is held by Labors Josh Burns. The partys analysis is that it would have won Macnamara on the boundaries in the redistribution.
Imperial Valley News Center

Former State Department Employee Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods from U.S. Embassy

Portland, Oregon - A former U.S. Department of State employee and his spouse were sentenced today for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic hundreds of thousands of dollars in counterfeit goods through e-commerce accounts operated from State Department computers at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Gene Leroy Thompson Jr., 54, and Guojiao Becky Zhang, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods on Dec. 20. 2020. Thompson Jr. was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Zhang was sentenced to three years of supervised release, the first eight months of which will consist of home confinement. Thompson Jr. and Zhang were also ordered to forfeit a combined total of $229,302.

According to court documents, Thompson Jr. was an Information Programs Officer employed by the Department of State at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea, a position that required him to maintain a security clearance. Zhang resided with him in Seoul. Between September 2017 and December 2019, Thompson Jr. and Zhang sold counterfeit goods on a variety of e-commerce platforms. Thompson Jr. used his State Department computer at the embassy to create numerous e-commerce accounts, including additional accounts under aliases to continue the conspiracy and avoid detection after several e-commerce platforms suspended the couples other accounts for fraudulent activity. Zhang took primary responsibility for operating the accounts, communicating with customers, and procuring merchandise to be stored in the District of Oregon. Thompson Jr. and Zhang also directed a co-conspirator in the District of Oregon to ship items to purchasers across the United States.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Departments Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon; and Assistant Director Ricardo Colon of the U.S. Department of States Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the DSS Office of Special Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Divisions Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Potter of the District of Oregon.
Why didn't you produce more children to get extra ration: Rawat to people

America enslaved us for 200 years: Tirath Singh Rawats historical blunder

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 21: Days after receiving backlash for his 'ripped jeans' comment, Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat has now said India was America's slave for 200 years, in what could be seen as a 'slip of tongue'.

In a major gaffe, Tirath confused the United Kingdom with the United States of America while hailing for its covid plan. "As opposed to other countries, India is doing better in handling the pandemic. America, who enslaved us for 200 years and ruled the whole world... it is struggling at present," he said.

"The US is number one in the health sector and yet, they have over 50 lakh (Covid) deaths," Rawat added. "They are again heading towards a lockdown."

"Who knows what would have happened to India had anyone else been the prime minister instead of Narendra Modi during this time... we would have been in a bad state. But he (PM) gave us relief," he said.

Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat 'apologises' but says wearing torn jeans not right

Rawat further said that PM Modi saved everyone, "but we didn't follow his instructions. Wearing masks, sanitising, washing hands and social distancing -- only some people followed."

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.

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She recently opened up about the emotional experience of trying to expand her family and the fertility issues in her way.

But on Saturday, Khloe Kardashian took a moment to enjoy her adorable daughter True Thompson, as the little girl played with her cousin Chicago West in front of a lavish vanity.

The reality star, 36, uploaded a sweet snippet of the pair to her Instagram stories, underneath the simple caption 'Lifestyle'.

On Saturday: Khloe Kardashian took a moment to enjoy her adorable daughter True Thompson, as the little girl played with her cousin Chicago West in front of a lavish vanity

True, two, was dressed in a cute Disney princess Jasmine outfit in shades of aqua adorned in gold.

Khloes older sister Kims daughter Chicago, three, looked precious as well in a frilly pink tutu worn over a white tank top.

Chicago wore her hair in pigtails, as she held up a stick of lipstick and carefully applied it to Trues mouth.

Proud parents: Khloe shares True with beau Tristan Thompson; the pair seen recently on Keeping Up With The Kardashians talking about their efforts to expand their family

The pair delighted in looking at their reflection framed with vanity lights, laughing sweetly.

Khloe ended the video by zooming in on a shelving unit next to the girls lined with beauty products from Kims cosmetics brand KKW Beauty.

Soon after, the Good American founder shared further video of her darling daughter, as the little one went 'shopping' in a glittery video from just outside the house.

On Mom's Stories: True and Chi delighted in looking at their reflection framed with vanity lights, laughing sweetly

True, wearing a very healthy helping of lipstick, pushed along a shopping cart filled with plastic fruit as she sidled up next to toy supermarket bins filled with more fruit.

Next, the two girls zoomed along on scooters, as Chicagos brother Psalm drove his own toy version of a red GT Mustang convertible.

Khloe recently opened up about the emotional 'struggle' of conceiving a child as she live-tweeted Keeping Up with the Kardashians on Thursday.

Soon after: The Good American founder shared further video of her daughter with Tristan Thompson, as the little one went 'shopping' in a glittery video from just outside

Next: The two girls zoomed along on scooters, as Chicagos brother drove his own toy version of a red GT Mustang convertible

After receiving a tweet from a fan talking about the 'emotionally draining' reality of navigating fertility issues, the Good American founder agreed it's 'tough when there are so many unknowns.'

'It's so so different than my experience with True (obviously) it's so tough emotionally,' Khloe replied. 'Physically it's not fun but thats short term. Emotionally It can be a struggle.'

Kardashian, who shares her three-year-old daughter True with boyfriend Tristan Thompson, recently revealed doctors informed her there is an 80% chance she will miscarry if she gets pregnant again.
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and host of the podcast Deep Background. He is a professor of law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain this morning with thunderstorms by evening. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
NEW YORK  A 68-year-old man was punched in the face by a stranger while riding the train in Tribeca, leaving him in critical condition, police said Sunday.

The victim was minding his business riding an uptown No. 1 train when the assailant, sporting a fedora, black leather jacket, pink hoodie and an elaborate gold necklace, boarded the train at the Franklin Street stop about 2:40 p.m. Friday, cops said.

Without warning, the 6-foot-2 straphanger walloped the victim in the face.

Medics rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan, where he was in critical but stable condition, police said.

The assailant fled the train but not before surveillance cameras captured him walking through the station looking at his cellphone. Police released images of the suspect Sunday and asked the publics help identifying him and tracking him down.

The suspect is believed to be about 30.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

The attack comes as violence has picked up in the underground, despite a roughly 75% drop in ridership since the pandemic.

On Friday, a man slashed a victim in the face on a Bronx train after getting in an argument. The assailant pulled out a box cutter as the train pulled into the Cypress Avenue station around 9:30 p.m. and sliced him above the lip, cops said.

Earlier Friday, a 37-year-old man was stabbed in the arm and the leg in an unprovoked attack onboard a Brooklyn No. 4 train rumbling into the Nevins Street station around 12:10 a.m., cops said.

About 500 additional police officers were deployed in February into the transit system to deal with the alarming amount of attacks.

___

(c)2021 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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(ATTENTION EDITORS: 1 photo accompanies this column. FILENAME: US-NEWS-NY-SUBWAY-ATTACK-MCT.jpg)

Wes Parnell

New York Daily News

(TNS)

NEW YORK  A 68-year-old man was punched in the face by a stranger while riding the train in Tribeca, leaving him in critical condition, police said Sunday.

The victim was minding his business riding an uptown No. 1 train when the assailant, sporting a fedora, black leather jacket, pink hoodie and an elaborate gold necklace, boarded the train at the Franklin Street stop about 2:40 p.m. Friday, cops said.

Without warning, the 6-foot-2 straphanger walloped the victim in the face.

Medics rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan, where he was in critical but stable condition, police said.

The assailant fled the train but not before surveillance cameras captured him walking through the station looking at his cellphone. Police released images of the suspect Sunday and asked the publics help identifying him and tracking him down.

The suspect is believed to be about 30.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

The attack comes as violence has picked up in the underground, despite a roughly 75% drop in ridership since the pandemic.

On Friday, a man slashed a victim in the face on a Bronx train after getting in an argument. The assailant pulled out a box cutter as the train pulled into the Cypress Avenue station around 9:30 p.m. and sliced him above the lip, cops said.

Earlier Friday, a 37-year-old man was stabbed in the arm and the leg in an unprovoked attack onboard a Brooklyn No. 4 train rumbling into the Nevins Street station around 12:10 a.m., cops said.

About 500 additional police officers were deployed in February into the transit system to deal with the alarming amount of attacks.

___

Wes Parnell of the New York Daily News wrote this story.

(c)2021 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  The NBA has fined Toronto coach Nick Nurse $50,000 for throwing his facemask behind the scorers table and toward the stands, plus for directing profanity toward game officials before leaving the floor at the end of a game Friday night.

The league announced the fine Sunday.

Nurse was upset at the end of Toronto's 115-112 loss to the Utah Jazz, a game in which the Jazz took 41 free throws, compared with the Raptors' 14.

After the game, Nurse said it just didnt seem like they were going to let us win tonight, without offering specifics. The 27-shot difference in free throw attempts between the teams was the second largest in the NBA this season, topped by the 28-shot difference Houston had over Golden State on Wednesday.

Entering Sunday, the Raptors were shooting 4.5 free throws per game fewer than opponents this season, the second-largest disparity in the league. Chicago takes 5.0 fewer per game than its opponents.

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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Behold a master class in escape. The rump of the old Davy board seized control of the narrative last week.

On Tuesday evening, Davy issued a mighty press release. Nothing was left to chance. Not a comma would have been unchecked. A message was dispatched to the media: an independent review is on the way; a penitent Davy is on the road to reform.

The first imperative for the review was to demonstrate that it was external and independent. Preferably, it would be directed from outside Ireland to avoid the incestuous nature of the Irish business world, where every cowboy looks after the other.

Very grandly, the release rose to the occasion: "Davy has today appointed Alvarez & Marsal to review..."

A good start, maybe. A&M don't sound Irish. Very external, in fact. The statement went on: "The work will be led by Paul Sharma, managing director of A&M Financial Services in London, and will be conducted by a London-based team. A&M has no prior connection with Davy."

The word "London" appears twice. It even mentions that A&M is a "global" company. Clear blue water is being placed between Davy of Dublin and a London firm. Good optics.

Expand Close Davy chairman John Corrigan. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie / Facebook

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Whatsapp Davy chairman John Corrigan. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Who could quarrel with that? Unfortunately, the first four words - "Davy has today appointed" - were fatal. Davy is in command of the independent review. The project's credibility as being "independent" of Davy was stillborn. Mr Sharma's undoubtedly worthy team will be taking its orders - and its cheque - from Davy, the guys being reviewed. It's over.

Davy has determined who does the job, the terms of reference, the timing and the fee. It has employed Murray Consultants, a top-dollar Irish spinner, to pull the shutters down on the entire escapade. Last week's press release was the spinners' signal that Davy was out of the communications loop. If you want information, you speak to the spinners. Otherwise, it's lockdown.

Davy had pulled an old stunt. Employ experienced spinners. Tell them nothing. Davy told them little more than was in the press release.

I rang them with a few follow-up questions. On one occasion, their spokesman apologised that he was "not privy to the detail", on another that he had nothing further to add to the statement. Like Manuel in Fawlty Towers, he knew nothing, because he had been told nothing. Journalists could beat him up on the phone, but like prisoners of war being tortured to reveal secrets unknown to them, the tongue-tied spinners could do no damage.

Expand Close Alvarez & Marsal managing director Paul Sharma, who will lead the review / Facebook

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Whatsapp Alvarez & Marsal managing director Paul Sharma, who will lead the review

The spinner may have known nothing, but he knew how to spin. Davy's statement was issued late on Tuesday, the day before St Patrick's Day, when news programmes were cut short, the papers thin. Skeleton staff in newsrooms on Wednesday would have little time to do more than print the press release verbatim.

Better still, the Dail was not sitting last week. There would be no Pearse Doherty or Catherine Murphy raising awkward questions in the chamber. With any luck, interest would subside before the Dail returns this week. The tiresome left would move on to another scandal.

Doherty and others will not be put off. The Donegal TD has already proved a scourge of the insurance industry. He is demanding that the Central Bank be given the Davy gig. Alvarez & Marsal, he insists, "has no chance of getting to the bottom of this".

Yet the press release's portrayal of A&M as a global, London-led firm omitted an interesting angle. A&M, while uncontaminated by any "known prior connection" with Davy, actually does have a Dublin office.

For some reason, the press release failed to mention its close connections with the local business world and its address in Harcourt Street, midway between top accountants KPMG and top nightclub Copper Face Jacks.

Irishman Tom McAleese, is its managing director. Mr McAleese, who is a member of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), is also listed as an A&M London managing director and as head of the bank restructuring practice in Europe on its website. He was managing director of Barclays (Ireland). With his 30-year experience of regulation and bankers' problems in Dublin and elsewhere, it would seem likely that he would have encountered Davy.

The masterly press release reveals a diabolically narrow timeline for the review. It will "review matters arising from the Central Bank of Ireland Settlement on March 2". Furthermore, it will "include a forensic assessment, the scope of which will be determined by Alvarez & Marsal, of relevant staff trading from 2014 and 2021". No, no, no. We need to know whether these shenanigans ever happened before 2014 and if they had spread elsewhere in the firm. Were the departed 16 just the tip of the iceberg?

A request to Murray Consultants for a detailed copy of the terms of reference drew a blank, but we know the focus will be on staff dealings from a period only beginning in 2014. A wrong call. The questions about staff antics need to begin about 15 years earlier. We know Davy tried to polish up its rules when it was caught red-handed by the injured party in 2014 and by the Central Bank afterwards. We can be sure there was no repeat, because the Central Bank was crawling all over it at that time. We have less need to know what the staff were doing than what the board was doing over those seven years. We know they never dismissed any of the 16 beneficiaries of the scam.

Chairman John Corrigan and his other independent directors sat alongside promoters of the transaction, Kyran McLaughlin and Brian McKiernan, long after Davy had agreed to hand over millions in a secret settlement.

In particular, we should ask if Bernard Byrne, the AIB chief who joined Davy in 2019 - but recently dubbed himself "the new leader of Davy" - knew about the activities of his colleagues.

There is no time limit on the report's completion. It can be strung out for years. The long pockets of former Davy dealers will enable visits to the Four Courts on the grounds of privacy, defamation, anything. They frustrated the Central Bank despite its wide powers. A&M should be a pushover by comparison.

Will they even agree to cooperate?

In a final piece of chutzpah, the board "committed to sharing the findings of the independent review".

Cleverly, it never said with whom.

Davy is shaping up to be the most skilful undertaker ever to haunt Ireland's financial markets. It has launched a rearguard action to bury the narrative. It has employed spinners to starve the story of oxygen. It is in control of the process.

At every stage, Corrigan and his rump can monitor the review when they should be answering the questions about their own lamentable stewardship.

They have set restrictive terms of reference. Time has been bought. Expect an interim report and plenty of opportunity for anyone mentioned to respond.

Meanwhile, the departed 16 will be lawyering up.
Members of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) protest outside the University Grants Commission in Colombo demanding increase of budgetary allocations for education. Pic by M.D. Nissanka
Vehicles carrying North Korean diplomats and their families leave the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur en route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, March 21, 2021.

North Korean embassy officials and their families left Malaysia on Sunday after Pyongyang severed decades-old diplomatic ties following the extradition of a North Korean national to the United States to face criminal trial.

Malaysia then ordered the diplomats out in 48 hours, and accused North Korea of attempting to meddle in its judicial system, where Mun Chol Myong lost a battle to halt his extradition following his arrest in May 2019.

The action by the Government of Malaysia has become a necessity in order to protect Malaysias sovereignty and safeguard our national interest, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement on Sunday regarding the expulsion of the diplomats.

This action is a reminder that Malaysia shall never tolerate any attempt to meddle in our internal affairs and judiciary, disrespect our governance system, and constantly create unnecessary tensions in defiance of the rules-based international order, he said.

Bilateral ties have been strained since the Pyongyang-linked murder of the estranged half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un at a Kuala Lumpur airport four years ago.

Thirty-three North Koreans including children left the embassy at Jalan Batai in Kuala Lumpur at 11 a.m. on Sunday. A Malaysian police official confirmed the number.

North Korean Charge d'affaires Kim Yu Song addressed the press before leaving the compound, reading out part of a statement issued by Pyongyang two days earlier, but declined to take questions.

[T]he Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK hereby announces total severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia, which committed a large hostile act against the DPRK in subservience of the U.S. pressure, he said, using an acronym for North Koreas formal name.

The Malaysian authority will bear full responsibility for all consequences to be incurred between the two countries, Kim said.

At the airport, the group checked in at Shanghai Airlines, and Kim confirmed to BenarNews that they would be flying to Shanghai. The flight left Malaysia at 4.55 p.m., according to flightradar24, a flight tracker.

Kim did not elaborate on their subsequent travel arrangements.

North Korea has effectively locked down its borders and airspace as part of the regimes effort to keep COVID-19 at bay. CNN in a report on Feb. 26 said that the restrictions also cover North Koreas own Air Koryo, whose flights have been grounded for months.

A due price

Malaysias Federal Court earlier this month dismissed Muns final appeal against the extradition to face four counts of money laundering charges and two counts of conspiracy to launder money.

Hishammuddins office confirmed Friday that Mun had been extradited on March 17. The extradition came as North Korea rebuffed U.S. moves to resume talks aimed at ending the hardline communist states nuclear weapons drive.

We warn in advance that the U.S.  the backstage manipulator and main culprit of this incident  that it will also be made to pay a due price, said a statement carried Friday by North Korean state news agency KCNA.

Through his lawyer, Mun had argued in court that he was the victim of a politically motivated extradition request aimed at pressuring North Korea over its missile program.

A man in his 50s who had lived in Malaysia since 2008, Mun was arrested in May 2019 after the U.S. accused him of supplying prohibited luxury goods to North Korea, in violation of United Nations sanctions.

He allegedly laundered funds through front companies and issued fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments to North Korea, while working in Singapore, prior to moving to Malaysia.

But Pyongyang claimed that Mun had been engaged in legitimate external trade activities in Singapore for many years.

North Korean diplomat Kim Yu Song is escorted by Malaysian police at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, March 21, 2021. [S Mahfuz/BenarNews]





Hoo Chiew Ping, an expert on Korean peninsula political affairs, said that Malaysia was now the only country in Southeast Asia without diplomatic ties with both North Korea and South Korea.

All ASEAN members have relations with both Koreas. Now Malaysia is the only one that doesn't have equal and balanced diplomatic relations between the two, because it just lost North Korea.

Malaysia loses its leverage as a key player on Korean Peninsula agenda at the ASEAN level, Hoo told Benar News, using an acronym for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Asked about North Koreas characterization of Malaysia as subservient to the United States, she said that under the Trump administration, Malaysia and other small countries around the world were subjected to Washingtons maximum pressure campaign on North Korea.

For Malaysia, this was more so after the Kim Jong Nam assassination. Our handling of the case was under heavy criticism, she said.

Malaysias once-close ties with Pyongyang hit rock bottom after the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was killed with a banned nerve agent at one of Kuala Lumpurs international airports in February 2017.

Malaysia suspended operation of its embassy in Pyongyang after it secured the safe return of nine citizens held there, in exchange for the release of Kim Jong Nams body. The embassy has been vacant since then.

Malaysia had always considered the DPRK as a close partner since the establishment of the diplomatic relations in 1973, a Malaysian foreign ministry statement said Friday, adding that Putrajaya had maintained ties with Pyongyang even after the deplorable assassination of Kim Jong Nam.

It called the severing of ties unwarranted, disproportionate and disruptive of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Muns conviction and extradition were based on the principles of justice and rule of law, the Malaysian statement said, adding that the government had rejected a series of diplomatic notes from North Korea attempting to intervene in its judiciary and legal system.

It further added that the extradition was carried out only after Mun exhausted all his legal options, and that his rights were maintained while in custody, including access to defense counsel, consular visits and family visits.
The Torres Strait has recorded no cases of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Now, an expedited vaccination program aims to keep it that way, despite a widespread epidemic sweeping through Papua New Guinea.

In pre-pandemic times, about 100 people a month would cross from western PNG villages into the Torres Strait Islands, with a treaty zone allowing villagers on the coast of remote PNG to enter Australian territory for trade.

Saibai Island councillor Conwell Tabuai is vaccinated by nurse Sue Bowler.

The border was closed early in the pandemic by PNG and has remained shut, but people are still allowed to travel for medical treatment, executive director of medical services for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Dr Tony Brown said.

The Torres and Cape health service will always accept patients from treaty villages, he said, but growing COVID-19 infections in PNG meant there was an increasing concern some of them could also bring COVID-19.
The World Logistics Passport (WLP), the first ever global freight loyalty programme that aims to increase opportunities for trade between emerging markets has expanded into a global network of trade megahubs in 11 nations.



The initiative was launched under the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Economic Forum in Davos last year.



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.



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, he 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.



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.  TradeArabia News Service


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One of 2021s most honored films  nominated for five BAFTAs and a Critics Choice award, as well as the winner of a Golden Globe  and which features a star-studded cast including two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch, will be conspicuously absent in this years Oscars. The Mauritanian is the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (played by Tahar Rahim), a Guantanomo prisoner suffering torture and isolation in the Kafka-esque nightmare of the military prison.

The film also shines a light on the battles of the lawyers working for his freedom (Jodie Foster and Shailene Woodley), as well as Lt. Col. Stuart Crouch (Benedict Cumberbatch), a Marine lawyer charged with keeping Slahi incarcerated but wrestling with his Christian faith and the morality of the job he has been asked to do. The film is one of the first to honestly reckon with our nations role in violating international law, legalizing torture, and desecrating the Constitutional values we say we hold dear in the post-9/11 fervor.

I visited Guantanamo Bay in 2007 to assess living conditions. Upon arrival, I was explicitly instructed not to speak to any of the prisoners, some of whom had been held without charges for years. They paced back and forth like nervous animals in a zoo, some with faces pressed to the glass, their eyes looking far away. The military insisted that they were being fed well and provided religious material, a Quran, and a prayer rug, but they had been deprived of their humanity. Like the infamous Manzanar Japanese internment camp before it, Guantanamo should not only be closed, but it needs to serve as a reminder of a time to which we should never return. The Mauritanian highlights this point  but by shutting out the film for Oscar nominations the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences missed an opportunity to shine a light on the issue.

This is not an issue of representation. In fact, we are proud of the work that MPACs Hollywood Bureau has done collaborating with industry leaders to increase stories by and about Muslims. We are excited that this years Academy Awards nominees include Riz Ahmed and Steven Yeun, the first Muslim and the first Asian American respectively to be nominated in the Best Actor Category.

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Also Read: 'The Mauritanian' Film Review: Jodie Foster Fights for Justice in Sluggish Gitmo Drama

The 2021 nominees in total have been hailed as one of the most diverse groups in the history of the awards, for which the Academy deserves credit. But representation is of little good when the truth of our experience is ignored. The Muslim community worldwide has been vilified on film for years, but particularly since 9/11. The trauma that Muslims have faced at the hands of not only street-level bigots, but by the national defense apparatus of this nation is incalculable. The Academy has struck a chord in the past when honoring stories about the injustices of slavery or gender discrimination, but it continues to turn a blind eye to the suffering of a people that have been part of the fabric of American since the Revolutionary War.

For Muslims, this omission is not a surprise. We have absorbed the shocks of stereotypes for decades  the terrorist, the savage who has to be civilized, the existential threat to America. Films like The Mauritanian tell our story as we have lived it, a point of view that is sorely missing from American film and culture generally. While it is too late for the Academy to recognize this important work, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that films like it continue to be produced and that these stories are told. The Academy might be able to ignore one film, but it cannot ignore reality.

Read original story With The Mauritanian Snub, Oscars Missed an Opportunity to Spotlight Muslim Issues (Guest Blog) At TheWrap
Britons hoping for a summer holiday abroad this year have been dealt a fresh blow after ministers said booking a break now would be 'premature' and 'potentially risky'.

Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, further dampened hopes of a swift return to foreign trips as he stressed the Government 'can't be deaf and blind to what is going on outside the United Kingdom'.

Mr Wallace said 'we can't put at risk' the progress made during lockdown by being 'reckless' and importing coronavirus variants from abroad.

Surging Covid-19 infection rates in some European countries have spooked officials in Whitehall who fear travel restrictions may have to be kept in place for longer than had been hoped.

It came as ministers are reportedly working on a new 'traffic light' scheme which could be rolled out in the coming months to allow the return of non-essential travel to some countries.

Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, further dampened hopes of a swift return to foreign trips as he stressed the Government 'can't be deaf and blind to what is going on outside the United Kingdom'

Ministers are reportedly working on a new 'traffic light' scheme which could be rolled out in the coming months to allow the return of non-essential travel to some countries. Heathrow Airport is pictured in August last year

The Financial Times said the initiative would see high risk countries put in the red category while nations with high vaccination rates would be in the green category.

However, it remains unclear whether travel to a green-designated country would require a period of self-isolation upon return.

One official told the FT: 'Self-isolation can't be ruled out. It is all part of the conversations taking place.'

Non-essential international travel remains banned during the current coronavirus lockdown.

Under the terms of Boris Johnson's roadmap a taskforce will report on April 12 with recommendations aimed at securing a return to foreign travel 'as soon as possible'.

The Government will then determine when international travel should resume but it will be 'no earlier than 17 May'.

The success of the UK's vaccination programme had sparked hopes of a return to summer breaks abroad.

But there are mounting concerns over the dangers of importing coronavirus variants.

Asked if it is likely that people will be able to go on holiday abroad this summer, Mr Wallace told Sky News: 'My colleague the Transport Secretary said only recently that is is highly unlikely we will be able to go on foreign holidays as such this side of May or indeed or indeed in early May.

'But we are going to wait for these task force to report to the Prime Minister in April, they are going to take a look at it.

'We can't be deaf and blind to what is going on outside the United Kingdom, if you look in Europe, increases of infections, and we can't put at risk the huge amount of effort by the taxpayer, by the NHS by our scientists in developing this vaccine.

'If we were to be reckless in anyway and import new variants that put that at risk then what would people say about that?

'We have got a good direction of travel, we are getting there and I think we need to make sure we preserve that at all costs.'

He later told the BBC: 'Well, I havent booked my holiday. I will wait to see what the response is from those task forces in April.

'I think it would be premature to do that, it would be potentially risky. Were seeing growing variants, and I think, you know, we have done a huge amount for the taxpayer, NHS staff, my constituents whove been in lockdown since September, and I dont want us to throw that away.'
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Mr. Gonzalez told Mundo Hispanico that he heard the gunshots but that he was too afraid to open the door to see what was happening. He feared the bullets were flying into the room where his wife was taken.

Once Cherokee County sheriffs deputies arrived, he was detained and held for about four hours, Mr. Gonzalez said, according to Mundo Hispanico.

He said he did not see his wife as he was led out of the spa, and officers did not let him get close to her. Eventually, he said, officers told him that his wife had been killed.

And they knew that I was the husband, Mr. Gonzalez said of the authorities. He held a photograph of himself with his wife as he spoke. They gave me the news that she was dead.

He questioned why it took officials so long to tell him that his wife had died, and wondered why they had detained him in the first place.

Maybe because Im Mexican, I dont know, he said. Because the truth is, they treated me badly. He showed the camera the marks left on his arm from the handcuffs placed on him by officers.

Mr. Gonzalez had met Ms. Yaun at a Waffle House restaurant, where he was a customer and she was a server. Ms. Yaun had been a single mother, raising a 13-year-old son. The couple married last year and had a daughter, who is now 8 months old. What I need most right now is support, Mr. Gonzalez said in the interview.
A woman who is employed by Lyft told police she picked up a man and transported him to Captain D's on Highway 58. Once at the destination, she said the man became angry and told her she went to the wrong place. The woman said she became afraid and asked the man to exit the vehicle. She said he became more verbally aggressive at that point and asked for his money back, but he eventually left the vehicle and was last seen entering the Subway on Highway 58. Police spoke with the man who said the GPS on the woman's vehicle took her to the wrong address, and when he told her it was the wrong address, she asked him to leave the vehicle.

The man said he initially did not leave the vehicle because he felt he needed a refund for the trip. The man had nothing illegal on his person and no active warrants.* * *Police responded to a disorder at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 2148 Chapman Road, between an employee and a customer. The woman customer said that when she brought the car back, the clerk was extremely rude to her and they started arguing. The man said that the woman was supposed to bring the vehicle back a week earlier and owed the company money. He said his manager had instructed him to get the keys from the woman and not let her drive it. He said he offered to get the woman a ride to where she wanted to go, but she did not want to leave until police arrived. The woman returned the vehicle to Enterprise and was transported off the property by police without incident.* * *A manager at America's Thrift Stores, 248 Northgate Mall Dr., told police an employee found a pistol among the donations that had been made to the store and she wanted to turn it over to police. The serial number was run in NCIC and no record was located. The pistol wasturned over to CPD Property for safekeeping.* * *A woman at a residence on Ellington Way called police and said that her son was being disrespectful and she did not want him in her home. The son said his mother was "crazy" and she took his phone. Police told the mother and son that they needed to separate. The woman left the home to cool off.* * *An employee of Tigermarket, 3725 Jenkins Road, reported a man who was released from Silverdale Jail was in the parking lot and she wanted him to leave. Police made contact with the man, who asked for a ride to a bus stop. Police transported the man to the bus stop at the corner of Shallowford Road and Shallowford Village Drive.* * *Police were called to a verbal disorder at a residence on Opal Drive between a grandmother and granddaughter. The grandmother said her granddaughter was being loud with her and seemed agitated. The granddaughter said she had recently been in an argument with her boyfriend, and she had brought an attitude home. The granddaughter seemed to calm down while police were on scene. Both women said they would have cooler attitudes for the remainder of the night.* * *A man on Jersey Pike told police that sometime during the night, someone cut the catalytic converter off of his 2006 Kia Sorento. He said that it will cost him $200 to replace.* * *A woman at an apartment on White Oak Road told police that she got home the day before at about 1:30 p.m. and accidentally left her keys in the outside lock on her apartment door. She said she did not realize this until around 7:40 a.m. that morning, and when she checked, the keys were gone. She remembered hearing what sounded like someone messing with the lock on the outside of her door, but she thought it was just someone mistaking the wrong apartment. She said there were four keys on the set including car, house, etc., worth around $100.* * *The general manager of Budget Blinds of Chattanooga, 5519 Hwy. 153, told police that the catalytic converter had been cut off of one of the company vans while it was parked there overnight. He said his brother discovered this around 8 a.m. that morning and they last saw the van around 3 p.m. the day before when it was left parked. Also, some damage was done to one of the transmission lines on the van as well near where the converter was.* * *An employee of Chattanooga Sewing, 2200 Hamilton Place Blvd., told police the business had a 2019 Cynergy 7x14 enclosed trailer stolen from the parking lot. He said there were no descriptive features or aftermarket parts on the trailer other than it having three padlocks on the tongue. The trailer was entered into NCIC. There is no suspect information and no cameras that police observed nearby that would have captured the theft.* * *Police recovered a vehicle that was stolen from Martin Street. The stolen vehicle was recovered behind a vacant house at 3304 Curtis St. The vehicle was stuck in the mud and was removed and taken to Ford's Garage. NCIC attempted to locate the owner and removed the vehicle from their list.

* * *



Police observed a tent and curtain that were put up in the Boy Scouts indoor meeting hall, 4315 Brainerd Road. Police contacted the owner to verify if the tent was allowed to be put up in the building. The owner said the tent was not supposed to be up. Police entered the meeting hall and made contact with a man and woman, and identified them. Neither of them had permission from the owner to use the property and were told to leave. They got their belongings and left. Police made sure they understood that they are not to go back to the Boy Scouts meeting hall.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The founder of BioNTech, partner with Pfizer in making one of the first coronavirus vaccines to be approved for use, is optimistic that the virus will be under control in most European countries by the end of the summer despite a faltering vaccine roll-out.

In Germany, owners of shuttered shops and would-be holidaymakers are increasingly restive over COVID-19 restrictions. Some 20,000 people protested against lockdown in the central city of Kassel on Saturday.

European Union governments are facing criticism over the slow start to their vaccination campaigns, with supply hiccups leaving the bloc lagging far behind countries such as Israel, Britain and the United States.

But BioNTech founder Ugur Sahin said he was optimistic the problems would prove temporary, adding it was possible to ensure 70% of Germans were vaccinated by the end of September, at which point he said the virus would pose few problems.

"In many European countries and the U.S. we will probably not need lockdowns by summer's end," he told Welt am Sonntag newspaper. "There'll be outbreaks, but they'll be background noise. There'll be mutations, but they won't frighten us."

Almost 9% of the German population had received at least one vaccine shot on Saturday. Meanwhile Britain passed the half-way point with 50% of adults having received at least one dose.

In Germany, the sluggish vaccine deployment and continuing restrictions are weighing heavily on the fortunes of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, who are slipping in the polls in an election year even as rising COVID-19 case numbers look set to force authorities to put the brakes on attempts to gradually reopen the economy.

Incidence is above 100 cases per 100,000 population over a week - the threshold above which authorities say they must impose stricter distancing rules to stop the healthcare system being overburdened.

"Many are simply disappointed," Bavaria's conservative Premier Markus Soeder, a likely candidate to succeed Merkel in the national election, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper.

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"A false move now risks turning this third wave (of the virus) into a permanent wave," he said ahead of a meeting on Monday of national and regional leaders at which they are expected to discuss the next stage of coronavirus measures.

"We have a tool: the emergency brake. It must be applied strictly everywhere in Germany," Soeder said, referring to the possibility of halting the easing of restrictions.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Photo: Contributed Not all rental housing ads are real, say police.

Police are warning about Burnaby residents getting swindled for big bucks by people fronting for rentals that arent theirs to rent out.

Police says the fraud involves the scammer posting an advertisement for a rental property.

An unsuspecting renter responds to the ad and often agrees to meet with an individual who identifies themselves as the landlord. After viewing the property, the renter again meets with the landlord to deliver a sum of money to pay for rent and the initial damage deposit. The renter signs an agreement, is provided a key to the residence and a date to take occupancy. When the renter attempts to move in, they are met by the real owner of the property and told the home is not available for rent.

Alternatively, the landlord answers the renters response to the ad and tells the renter he/she lives overseas. The landlord often reassures the renter by providing copies of their passport and/or drivers license (which are most often believed to be fraudulent). Once the renter has transferred money by internet e-transfer, money order/wire, Bitcoin and other means, the landlord will stop contact.

To better protect yourself from this type of scam:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 00:13:07|Editor: huaxia

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QINGDAO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, have greenlighted local fish farmers to cull starfish en masse that have invaded the seashore, as the swell of the sea creature has led to heavy losses to the clam and oyster industry in the area.

As invading starfish feed on clams and scallops, an area of 6,666 hectares of sea farming has been affected with economic losses estimated at about 100 million yuan (15.4 million U.S. dollars) at Jiaozhou Bay in Qingdao, according to the Qingdao Municipal Marine Development Bureau.

The municipal government reported to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs that farmers are to trap starfish or use trawls to haul them from March 15 to the end of April in order to reduce losses.

As starfish are difficult to catch, city authorities even allow farmers to set up cage nets that are otherwise prohibited to trap them.

With the efforts, local farmers have harvested about 225,000 kg of starfish so far.

"Buyers from other cities are coming to purchase the starfish, which are edible or can be used in traditional Chinese medicine. But the sales cannot make up for the farmers' losses due to the low price," said Zhao Yuchang, a local breeder of sea aquatic products with more than 30 years of experience.

The time has come for the farmers to release the clam seedlings, but they are too afraid to do so in large quantities as there are about 50 starfish per square meter in the release area.

"I dare not invest now, but without the seedlings, I will have no income next year," said Zhao.

Technicians of the North China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center said the invading starfish are mainly spiny starfish widely distributed in the coastal waters of the North Pacific Ocean. Its fecundity is extremely strong, and it usually breeds from October to January of the following year.

Since last autumn, various hydrological factors such as nutrients, pH value and temperature in the seawater have been conducive to the reproduction of starfish. Researchers found that starfish have the tendency to gather in food-rich areas, such as the mariculture farms in the bay area.

According to the monitoring center's latest data, the number of starfish has been reduced to 6 to 8 per square meter by Friday, thanks to the massive netting of the invaders.

Qingdao, the host city of an annual international beer festival in summer, one of the largest in China, produces 150,000 tonnes of clams a year. Drinking beer and eating the local delicacy of stir-fried clams are mainstays at the carnival. Enditem
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There are so many pressing issues in America today, from bills under discussion in Congress to the fears of Asian Americans in light of increasing hatred and violence. There are international issues demanding our attention, including the upcoming Israeli elections and the current conflict between Biden and Putin. And personally, I would rather comment on any of these subjects then the subject of this article. Yet those other issues will have to wait one more day. This weeks outrages are just too outrageous. We must speak out again.

This week, a Canadian father, Robert Hoogland, was jailed for the crime of referring to his 14-year-old daughter as his daughter. Thats right. Because this concerned father referred to his daughter as female, thereby violating a court order, he has been arrested and put behind bars.

You say, Obviously, theres something missing from this story. Did he abduct her? Is she not really his daughter? What else happened?

In reality, the story is worse than you can imagine.

A few years ago, Robert (whom I met and with whom I discussed the situation) learned that his daughters school had been pushing her in the direction of male identity, claiming she suffered from gender dysphoria.

They even changed her name in the school yearbook without informing the parents, encouraging her to get on hormones and to work towards sex-change surgery.

The girls mother sided with the daughter, but Robert opposed the decision. After all, she was a young teen and hardly capable of making such life-altering decisions.

The court sided with the daughter, forbidding her father from trying to impede her gender transition.

But that was only the beginning of the story. The court then forbade him from referring to his own daughter as she. Or using her real (female) name. Or speaking of her as his daughter. If he dared to do so even in the privacy of their home  I am not making this up  he would be put in jail.

This is madness. This is something out of 1984. And it is something that many of us have stated plainly was coming to a city near you.

To Roberts credit, and out of genuine love for his daughter, he continued to speak out publicly. And now, he has been put in jail.

Several years ago, when Canada passed Bill C16, the so-called anti-discrimination, gender identity bill, Prof. Jordan Peterson raised his voice in protest (this was before he shot to international fame), warning that the enforced speech of the bill would lead to situations just like this. His concerns were dismissed as extreme.

In response to Robert Hooglands arrest, Peterson tweeted, This could never happen, said those who called my stance against Bill C16 alarmist. I read the law and saw that it was, to the contrary, inevitable.

I urge every parent to read Roberts words, which follow here, and to feel his pain for his daughter.

Speaking of the court ruling, he said, They've created a delusion, and they're forcing parents to live in this delusion.

And he asked, What happens when the bubble explodes and the delusion ends She can never go back to being a girl in the healthy body she should have had These kids don't understand. What kind of 13 year old is thinking about having a family and kids?"

And then this: What kind of father would I be if, in ten years time she's detransitioning, and she asks me why didn't you do anything to stop this? None of your stuck your neck out for me back then.

He will be able to say that he tried his very hardest, to the point of sacrificing his freedom. (Robert shared his heart in this video before turning himself in for arrest.)

You say, But that was Canada. That could never happen here in America.

Well, isnt it bad enough that this happened to a family in Canada? Shouldnt this concern us as well?

That being said, there is no good reason why things like this could not happen in America, given the direction the country is going.

In fact, in 2018, an Ohio judge gave custody of a transgender teen to his grandparents rather than his parents, allowing them to make medical decisions regarding his transition.

The parents didnt want the teen, a 17-year-old who identifies as male, to undergo hormone treatment and refused to call him by his chosen name, triggering suicidal feelings, according to court testimony. The parents wanted custody in order to make medical decisions for the teen and prohibit the treatment that his medical team had recommended.

As for freedom of speech, on Thursday, a street preacher who was speaking outside of a Drag Queen Story Hour, where these men read to toddlers, was threatened with arrest by a local officer. And what was his alleged crime? His speech might offend others. He was even told that saying that certain people were going to hell could be deemed offensive, since hell could be considered a swear word. (Watch the clip for yourself.)

As for these infamous, truly detestable drag queen events, it is now reported that, The former leader of a prominent gay charity that sponsors Drag Queen Story Time for kids has been arrested on child pornography charges, local media reports.

Brett Blomme, a Childrens Court Judge in Milwaukee, was arrested and charged with seven counts of possessing child pornography Tuesday, the state Department of Justice announced.

Blomme, 38, is accused of uploading 27 terrible images and videos of children being sexually abused on the messaging app, Kik, using the name dommasterbb between October and November 2020, according to the 44-page search warrant.

No surprise that he was a champion of drag queens reading to toddlers.

This is why we must speak out against this madness and work together to stop the child abuse. And thats why people like Robert Newgent, a biological female who now lives as a male and is anything but a fundamentalist Christian, have called for a broad coalition of people of conscience to work against children transitioning. (Having interacted directly with Newgent, I can testify that she is absolutely passionate about raising her voice on behalf of the children.)

Just this week, I was sent a link to an article from 2019 detailing the story of a lesbian couple in England. One of women identifies and lives as male, meaning that these two women live as husband and wife. Their son, then 5, began to identify as a girl, and so they have announced that their son is a girl and are encouraging his gender transition.

But this should hardly surprise us. After all, no matter how loving they may be as parents, a lesbian woman cannot possibly function as the boys father, nor does this child have a fair shot at discovering his true identity.

Do we, then, sit idly by while childrens lives are being destroyed? Do we remain silent while a father sits in jail for fighting for the wellbeing of his daughter?

Certainly not. The least we can do is raise awareness and raise our voices.

I will always grieve over the pain that has been experienced by those who identify as transgender. But I will not collaborate with child abuse.

This is madness. This must stop.
Prof. Rhian Touyz is recognized internationally as an authority in vascular biology and hypertension, a prolific clinician-scientist, generous and inspiring mentor, and collegial leader.
A demonstration about plans to give the police more powers to deal with non-violent protests has turned violent.

Hundreds of people gathered at College Green in Bristol before marching to a police station on nearby Nelson Street.

Pictures showed graffiti being sprayed on an Avon and Somerset Police vehicle and it being rocked side to side by protesters.

Police said missiles had been thrown at them, including a firework, and that they have been verbally abused.

Other pictures showed mounted officers intervening to disperse the large crowd that had gathered outside the New Bridewell police station.

Police horses are deployed as they hold back people outside Bridewell police station in Bristol (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Later, protesters attempted to smash the windows of the glass-fronted police station.

They also tried to set fire to one of the marked police vans parked outside the station but the small flames were quickly extinguished by riot officers.

Other protesters set fire to a police van parked on Bridewell Street, near to the police station.

Protesters set fire to a vandalised police van outside the police station (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Andy Roebuck, chairman of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: Disgusting scenes in Bristol by a mob of animals who are injuring police officers, members of the public and damaging property.

Avon and Somerset Police Federation are attending stations to support officers. We have officers with suspected broken arms and ribs. This is so wrong.

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: Horrendous scenes in Bristol.

Number of officers badly injured, police vehicles damaged and a police station under attack.

This is not protest, its just mindless violence. Thoughts are with my colleagues.

Police outside Bridewell police station in Bristol (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, said: The scenes in Bristol this evening are completely unacceptable.

You dont campaign for the right to peaceful protest by setting police vans on fire or graffitiing buildings.

Avon and Somerset Police were on duty today to facilitate a peaceful protest not to deal with criminal behaviour.

A police spokesman said: The protest is now focused on Bridewell Street so wed advise motorists to avoid this area.

A vandalised police van on fire outside Bridewell police station in Bristol (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Were aware of a small number of incidences of criminal damage during the afternoon, including graffiti, and these will be investigated.

Officers are continuing to deal with a smaller number of protesters in Bridewell Street.

Theyve had projectiles thrown at them, including a firework, and have been verbally abused.

This is unacceptable behaviour and those responsible for offences will be identified and brought to justice.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give the 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 the proposed legislation could face a fine or jail.

People take part in the Kill the Bill protest in Bristol (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Mass gatherings are currently banned under the coronavirus legislation and anyone breaching the regulations could be fined.

Many were wearing face masks and carried placards, saying: Say no to UK police state and Freedom to protest is fundamental to democracy and Kill the Bill.

Avon and Somerset Police had urged people not to attend the demonstration, warning that enforcement action could be taken.

Officers are engaging with a number of people whove turned up at the protest, the spokeswoman added.

Officers are continuing to engage with those attending.

Enforcement action will be taken retrospectively when necessary and proportionate.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 12:36:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the National Health Commission said on Sunday.

Twelve new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday, said the commission in its daily report.

Two new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths related to the disease was reported, it added.

On Saturday, nine COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals following their recovery.

By the end of Saturday, a total of 5,195 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 5,032 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 163 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 90,099 by Saturday, including 165 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 85,298 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 Saturday, and 3,321 close contacts remained under medical observation.

A total of 238 asymptomatic cases including eight newly reported on Saturday, all arriving from outside the mainland, were under medical observation. On the same day, four asymptomatic cases were re-categorized as confirmed cases.

By the end of Saturday, 11,371 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 1,005 cases, including 10 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 10,863 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, 47 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 961 had been discharged in Taiwan. Enditem
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She's set to play Gabrielle in a modern day reimagining of the classic opera, Carmen.

And Elsa Pataky has revealed just how she got the role she was 'dying' to play in a new interview with Sunday Life.

'I met director Benjamin Millepied through his wife Natalie Portman, who was working with Chris [in Thor],' explained the Fast Five actress.

Next gig: Elsa Pataky [pictured last month] has revealed just how she got the role she was 'dying' to play in a new interview with Sunday Life

The mother-of-three continued: 'He told me he was shooting Carmen in Sydney and I told him I wanted to read the script.'

'He had a role in mind for me, she added.

'I also love that my favourite actress, Rossy de Palma, is in it  Ive been dying to work with her,' concluded the Spanish actress.

Origin story: 'I met director Benjamin Millepied through his wife Natalie Portman, who was working with Chris [in Thor],' explained the Fast Five actress. Natalie and Benjamin pictured in 2020

Meanwhile, Chris and Elsa celebrated 10 years of marriage in December.

And three months after celebrating their milestone anniversary, Elsa has shared the secret to their long and happy relationship.

In her interview, the Snakes on a Plane star said that patience, communication and understanding are key for a successful marriage.

Revealed: Elsa revealed the secret to her successful 10-year marriage to Chris Hemsworth [pictured] in an interview with this week's Sunday Life magazine

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage; I don't think every couple is perfect,' she said.

'It requires patience, understanding, a lot of conversation, getting to know the other person, to know yourself and what you do wrong.It's about not letting one's pride get in the way.'

Elsa also explained that it's important to spend time together as a couple without the children.

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage': The Spanish actress explained that patience, communication and understanding are essential for a successful marriage

She said: 'We make an effort to do things together without the kids. We make time for ourselves as a couple.'

Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married shortly after in December that year.

They welcomed daughter India Rose in 2012 and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, later in 2014.
New Delhi: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members including India, Pakistan and China will participate in a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year.

The decision to hold the joint exercise named "Pabbi-Antiterror-2021" was announced by the eight-member bloc on March 18, during the 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The other members of SCO include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The representatives of the member states also approved the draft program of cooperation for 2022-2024 to counter-terrorism, separatism and extremism.

"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," a statement from Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai (RATS) was quoted by PTI.

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 SCO is an economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017.

The next meeting of the Council of the RATS is scheduled to be held in September in Uzbekistan.

In November last year, India strongly raised the issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan at the SCO meet.

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Two leading members of the House of Lords - who are set to battle it out to become speaker - want to axe hereditary peers from Parliament's Upper House.

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town told the Sunday Times hereditary peers were 'not something that would be accepted by the British public today'.

Lord Alderdice told the paper hereditary peers should be allowed to 'wither away'.

The pair, along with Lord McFall of Alcluith, are currently in the running to become Speaker of the House of Lords.

Baroness Hayter (pictured left) of Kentish Town told the Sunday Times hereditary peers were 'not something that would be accepted by the British public today'. Lord Alderdice (pictured right) told the paper hereditary peers should be allowed to 'wither away'

The pair, along with Lord McFall of Alcluith, are currently in the running to become Speaker of the House of Lords (pictured)

Of the more than 800 hereditary peers across the UK, a maximum of 92 selected hereditary peers are entitled to sit in the House of Lords.

The House of Lords: What are hereditary peers? Of the more than 800 hereditary peers across the UK, a maximum of 92 selected hereditary peers are entitled to sit in the House of Lords. The number was slashed to 92 under sweeping reforms introduced by Labour in 1999 to significantly cut the number of hereditary peers allowed to sit in Parliament's upper house. Hereditary peers, who carry the titles of Duke, Marquess, Marchioness, Earl, Viscount, Baron and their female equivalents, are those who have their titles passed down by family their family. They would previously automatically inherit their seat in the House of Lords upon the death of their relatives. But the House of Lords system was replaced in 1999 with one of 'life peerages' - where people are appointed to the House of Lords and given a peerage which lasts until the lord dies. As a compromise in the new system, which saw the total number of lords slashed from 1,330 to 669, Labour allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain. When one hereditary peer dies or retires, a new lord is elected from the pool of hereditary peers by a system of by-election. There are currently four available seats among the hereditary peers. However by-elections have been suspended since March last year due to Covid. Despite Labour's sweeping changes in 1999, clamour for reform in the House of Lords has continued. There are currently 800 seats - including hereditary and life peers - in the House of Lords - making it the second biggest legislature in the world after the National People's Congress in China. The life peerage system has its critics, due to the lords being appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. Labour and Conservative governments have in the past been accused of attempting to 'flood' the house with Labour or Conservative lords. But hereditary peers remain the most controversial element - with claims they are unrepresentative of the UK population. They have an average age of 72, all of them are white, all of them are men and almost half went to Eton College. Opponents are also wary of the influence of their potential to influence Government policy. Though the House of Lords cannot directly block bills from the House of Commons, they can an amend and delay bills. In reality, the Lords' main role is to review and give insight into new laws - with appointed lords often being highly experienced experts in their fields. But the ability to delay bills can become a powerful tool in the run-up to elections, particularly when a Government wants to push through policy in the run-up to a vote. Advertisement

The number was slashed to 92 under sweeping reforms introduced by Labour in 1999 to significantly cut the number of hereditary peers allowed to sit in Parliament's upper house.

Hereditary peers, who carry the titles of Duke, Marquess, Marchioness, Earl, Viscount, Baron and their female equivalents, are those who have their titles passed down by family their family.

They would previously automatically inherit their seat in the House of Lords upon the death of their relatives.

But the House of Lords system was replaced in 1999 with one of 'life peerages' - where people are appointed to the House of Lords and given a peerage which lasts until the lord dies.

As a compromise in the new system, which saw the total number of lords slashed from 1,330 to 669, Labour allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain.

When one hereditary peer dies or retires, a new lord is elected from the pool of hereditary peers by a system of by-election.

There are currently four available seats among the hereditary peers. However by-elections have been suspended since March last year due to Covid.

Despite Labour's sweeping changes in 1999, clamour for reform in the House of Lords has continued.

There are currently 800 seats - including hereditary and life peers - in the House of Lords - making it the second biggest legislature in the world after the National People's Congress in China.

The life peerage system has its critics, due to the lords being appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Labour and Conservative governments have in the past been accused of attempting to 'flood' the house with Labour or Conservative lords.

But hereditary peers remain the most controversial element - with claims they are unrepresentative of the UK population.

They have an average age of 72, all of them are white, all of them are men and almost half went to Eton College.

Opponents are also wary of the influence of their potential to influence Government policy.

Though the House of Lords cannot directly block bills from the House of Commons, they can an amend and delay bills.

In reality, the Lords' main role is to review and give insight into new laws - with appointed lords often being highly experienced experts in their fields.

But the ability to delay bills can become a powerful tool in the run-up to elections, particularly when a Government wants to push through policy in the run-up to a vote.

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, a life peer who was formerly a member of Labour's National Executive Committee and ex-party chairman, is one of those calling for an end to hereditary peers in the lords.

Baroness Hayter, 71, told the Sunday Times she felt the by-election system for hereditary lords was 'wrong' and has called on a vote on whether they should be resumed after Covid.

Meanwhile, Lord Alderdice, who sits for the Liberal Democrats, has also backed their permanent suspension.

The third candidate, Baron McFall of Alcluith, a former Labour lord who currently serves as the Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, told the Sunday Times he 'admired' the work of those advocating reform.

He added that by-elections had become 'absurd'.

All three candidates for the role of speaker of the House of Lords have urged Boris Johnson to accelerate reform of the upper house.

Baron McFall of Alcluith (pictured), a former Labour lord who currently serves as the Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, told the Sunday Times he 'admired' the work of those advocating reform

All three candidates for the role of speaker of the House of Lords have urged Boris Johnson to accelerate reform of the upper house

It comes as an investigation by the Sunday Times, published today, found that hereditary peers have cost the taxpayer almost 50million in expenses in the last 20 years.

Peers can claim 323 a day in tax-free expenses, as well as travel costs.

What did the Sunday Times investigation find? An investigation by the Sunday Times, published today, found that hereditary peers have cost the taxpayer almost 50million in expenses in the last 20 years. Peers can claim 323 a day in tax-free expenses, as well as travel costs. However, the investigation by the Sunday times found that the average hereditary peer has spoken in the House of Lords 50 times in the past five years. This is compared to the 82 times that a life peer has spoken on average over the same period. There are also 60 per cent more likely to mention their own business or personal interests when they do speak, the paper adds. Advertisement

However, the investigation by the Sunday times found that the average hereditary peer has spoken in the House of Lords 50 times in the past five years.

This is compared to the 82 times that a life peer has spoken on average over the same period.

There are also 60 per cent more likely to mention their own business or personal interests when they do speak, the paper adds.

A House of Lords spokesperson told the Sunday Times that the upper house was 'busy and effective' in its role of holding the Government to account and that all of those in the house took their role 'very seriously'.

The upper house took huge criticism from Tory MPs following the Brexit referendum.

In 2018 Conservative politicians, including former Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith accused the House of Lords of attempting to thwart Brexit.

He warned there had to be a reckoning and a complete and total overhaul of the Lords.

The backlash was sparked by peers voting to keep Britain in the Single Market and to remove the fixed date for leaving the EU, as well as repeatedly amending the Withdrawal Bill.

It also caused a negative response from the British public, according to a poll carried out in 2018.

Confidence in the Upper House plummeted as 76 per cent of voters said they felt peers were out of tune with the will of the British people. Even more said the Lords was outdated throwback.

The data came from a Daily Mail poll, carried out by ComRes, which revealed some 58 per cent of voters believe peers would be wrong to try to thwart Brexit, with 24 per cent thinking they should do so.

In February last year it was revealed peers paid themselves almost a third more in 2019 than in the previous 12 months as 31 claimed more in expenses than the standard take-home wage of an MP.

The cost of expenses and the payment of daily parliamentary attendance allowances in the House of Lords rose by some 29 per cent in the 12 months to March 2019, reaching 23 million.

The average tax-free payment received by peers was 30,827 - more than the median salary of UK workers.

Parliamentary authorities defended the payments as they insisted they had risen because peers had been asked to work more days than the previous year.
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Cashed-up inner-city private schools are being urged to open campuses in growth suburbs.

Peter Buckingham, who uses official population and school data to help schools maintain sustainable enrolments, says non-government schools have been slow in opening in outer suburbs where the number of school-aged children has exploded.

Peter Buckingham says many low- to mid-price non-government schools are thriving on the outskirts of cities nationwide. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

Melbournes most expensive schools are predominantly in inner suburbs, such as Kew and Brighton, with stable growth in the number of school-aged children.

This means schools are asset rich with land now worth a fortune, said Mr Buckingham, and students often travel long distances to attend.
The U.S. Army veteran joined the Metropolitan Police department in 1948 when the force was largely segregated

Burtell M. Johnson, the first Black police chief in Washington D.C. has died at the age of 96.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Jefferson joined the largely segregated police force in 1948 as one of few Black officers. He was relegated to certain beats and areas while on duty. After he entered the force, he swiftly moved and worked his way to the top.

Read More: Black woman named acting Capitol police chief

Before becoming an officer, Jefferson spent a year at Howard University in the engineering program. The Washington Post, reported he dropped out of school because he did not want to be a burden on my family. He had assistance from his GI Bill, but needed additional funding. When he was sworn in as chief, he requested it not be mentioned that he was the first Black person in the role.

Image via Twitter

When he retired in 1981 after nearly 33 years in law enforcement, he was recognized for helping to add diversity to the department. Post reporter Eugene Robinson wrote at the time, Jefferson is remembered as the chief who brought other Black officers along in the department, a native Washingtonian who maintained his ties to the community and never embarrassed anybody.

The DC Police Department shared the news of his death on social media.

It is with a heavy heart that MPD announces the passing of former Chief of Police Burtell M. Jefferson, the department tweeted. His service to our city will never be forgotten.

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Jefferson started in the 9th Precinct, but by 1950 had become a detective. He worked in several different investigative units including the Robbery Squad and Morals Division. In 1963, he was named Detective Sergeant and continued to rise up.

Read More: Black mayors are leading the charge to reform the police

In 1968, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and in 1974, he became Assistant Chief in Charge of the Field Operations Bureau. In this role, Assistant Chief Jefferson was again one of few Black people to hold the title. It was in 1978 that he became Washingtons first Black police chief.

Story continues

According to the police department, Chief Jefferson initiated the new rank of Master Patrol Officer, and worked toward better community relations. He was Chief during the Farmers demonstrations when the city was gridlocked by angry farmers protesting in their tractors. His tenure saw a reduction in crime, but he had to contend with restrictions due to the energy crisis, constant threats of personnel cuts, and with outspoken dissension of some of his detectives against their commander.

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East Cost Alert, an unofficial Twitter page that recognizes police work, firemen, and other public safety fields paid their respects to Jefferson.

Rest In Peace HERO Chief of Police Burtell M. Jefferson Metropolitan Police Department Washington, D.C. FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS. the page tweeted.

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Ronan O'Meara has been scouring the TV schedules to find films to watch over the next week as we approach the Easter holidays.

Here are his choices....enjoy!

Land Of Mine: Saturday, BBC4 @ 9pm

World War 2 has just ended. The beaches of Denmark are riddled with landmines after the German occupation. Who better to do the dangerous work of clearing them out than the German POW's themselves. A horribly tense look at the brutality of war and the dehumanising effect it has on all sides involved. Roland Mller as the captain in charge of one group of prisoners does mighty work as a man who realises the enemy aren't what they initially seem.

Love & Mercy: Saturday, BBC2 @ 11.20pm

Brian Wilson, the brains and the heart behind 1960's supergroup The Beach Boys was the very definition of a troubled genius. This unique biopic is a look at his life in both the 1960's and the 1980's and the relationship that could save him from the bad influences around him. Paul Dano (who I usually hate) & John Cusack both put in marvellous performances as Wilson with Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti offering solid support.

I Went Down: Saturday, RTE One @ Midnight

Two criminals travel into the wilds of middle Ireland to carry out a kidnapping at the behest of a man who owns them both. Things don't work out exactly as planned. For my money this is one the the best Irish comedies ever made. Brendan Gleeson is on fire as Bunny Kelly and Peter McDonald is good craic in his film debut. As always with Irish films the laughs come with a healthy dose of pathos and the two blend brilliantly.

Dorian Gray: Sunday, RTE2 @ 12.30am

Based on Oscar Wilde's famous 19th century novel, Dorian Gray tells the story of a young man and the special deal he makes to ensure he stays looking exactly the same as he did the day he gets that infamous portrait done. A lavish and surprisingly bloody take on the story, with a couple of it's own unique twists and turns. This film might offend some but it's an interesting watch led by a decent turn from Ben Barnes.

Manchester By The Sea: Sunday, RTE2 @ 9pm

Lee Chandler's brother has just died, making him to go home to deal with funeral arrangements. The trip home also forces him to revisit the ghosts of his past. Kenneth Lonergan's 2016 drama is a stunning watch, pushing us headfirst into the ongoing effects of grief and loss and all their repercussions. It's brutal, but it's humane and even humorous in places. Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams are both incredible.

Conan The Barbarian: Sunday, ITV4 @ 11.05pm

After the notorious warlord Thulsa Doom destroys his village and kills his family, young Conan is taken and made a slave. As he ages his muscles grow and his skill with a sword becomes legendary. Now he must take his revenge. This blood and carnage packed 1982 sword and sorcery action fest is an 80's classic. It's not a story to think too deeply on but it's depiction of a chaotic, lawless world is impressive. Arnold Schwarzeneggar rocks the lead.

Once Upon A Time In The Midlands: Sunday, Film4 @ 11.45pm

Jimmy is a petty criminal living a crappy life in Glasgow. One day on TV he catches sight of a roomful of faces from his past and he realises that he needs to make a trip home. This early Shane Meadows film is a lighter one than his later work and it's filled with characters you'll be more than happy to spend time with. Western fans will get a giggle from some of the set ups too. Robert Carlyle, Kathy Burke & Rhys Ifans add to the fun.

Dogman: Monday, Channel 4 @ 1am

When his income from his dog grooming services can't keep him afloat a man called Marcello decides to enter the drug business. It's not a life he's cut out for and one of his customers is starting to make things very difficult for him. A harsh watch, that shows a side of criminal life rarely explored on screen, but a first rate, sympathetic performance from Marcello Fonte will keep you watching to the end.

Call Northside 777: Monday, Talking Pictures TV @ 3.40pm

11 years after a seemingly cut and dried murder case wraps up the prisoner's mother, pleading that her son is innocent, puts up a reward for new info, prompting a reporter into the case again. At first it looks like the right verdict was met, until.... The great James Stewart leads this unusual and rather gripping blend of documentary style drama and film noir and does a fine job of course. Kasia Orzazewski and Lee J. Cobb offer nice support.

Copycat: Monday, TCM @ 11.25pm

After an almost fatal attack years before, renowned criminal psychologist Helen Hudson's a recluse, afraid of the world. Now a series of familiar murders see her team up with a San Francisco cop to solve them. This 1995 thriller is a very entertaining watch, one that's kind of brutal in places but the duo of Sigourney Weaver and Helen Hunt will keep you glued to the screen. Harry Connick Jr makes for a queasily memorable bad guy.

Rio Bravo: Tuesay, TCM @ 4.15pm

After he arrests the brother of a violent criminal and sets off a countdown to violence, a sheriff trying to defend his little town enlists an unlikely crew of people to help him do his job. One of the quintessential westerns, this Howard Hawks directed movie is gorgeous to look at and an absolute pleasure to watch and sees John Wayne give a performance that shows just why he was so popular. Dean Martin & Walter Brennan are class as always too.

The Look Of Love: Wednesday, Film4 @ 1.30am

Paul Raymond. Father, business man, porn baron. When he's hit by the biggest tragedy a person can suffer he decides to look back over his life and how he came to be in his place. The always deadly Steve Coogan brings a human touch to the seedier side of London life. The film itself is slightly unfocussed as it tries to fit too much in but splendid work from Imogen Poots, Tasmin Egerton and Anna Friel alongside Coogan will keep you going.

Heist: Wednesday, Sony Movies @ 11.05pm

An aging thief loves his work but a mistake on a job is forcing him to take early retirement, A decision that doesn't sit well with others who rely on him. So they blackmail him to keep earning. David Mamet writes and directs this 2001 thriller and while it mightn't cover any new ground it's still highly enjoyable and carried out in his inimitable style. Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo and Danny Devito head a packed cast.

She's Funny That Way: Thursday, Channel 4 @ 1.55am

Albert's directing a play. His wife Delta is the star. Albert has also promised the starring role to a call girl, Izzy, he's been seeing. Because Albert is a dope. Chaos ensues. Peter Bogdanovich directs this and it feels like something he might have made in his 70's heyday. It's light, it's breezy, it's morally loop de loop and it's filled out with an amazing cast that includes Owen Wilson, Kathryn Hahn, Jennifer Aniston, Imogen Poots and Rhys Ifans amongst others.

The Shape Of Water: Friday, Film4 @ 9pm

A lonely cleaner called Elisa falls for an amphibious being that's been held captive in the facility she works in. Their shared alienation from the world brings them together. Guillermo Del Toro's fishy love story won the best picture Oscar in 2018 and it's easy to see why. It's a beautifully odd tale about the strange places romance can blossom. Sally Hawkins is a knockout lead and Michael Shannon does nasty work as the bad guy of the piece.

The Promise: Friday, RTE2 @ 10pm

Ana, Chris and Mikael are in Constantinople and both men have a bit of a thing for Ana. Overshadowing their love triangle is one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. The romantic stuff is old hat but it's the bigger picture that makes this a worthwhile watch as it's a story that has sadly been ignored in Western cinema. Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale all do a sad story justice.

Green Room: Friday, Channel 4 @ Midnight

A young punk band's night descends into chaos when they unwittingly play a gig at a neo-nazi club and stumble upon the aftermath of a crime. The late and much missed Anton Yelchin headlines this blisteringly violent thriller from director Jeremy Saulnier. It's tough going but stick with it. Blackly funny, excruciatingly brutal and a frightening insight into a scary American subculture. There's effective backup from Patrick Stewart and Imogen Poots too.

As always visit hamsandwichcinema.blogspot.com/ for more film and tv chat.
San Antonio has had a tough year.

The COVID-19 virus has killed nearly 3,000 residents and wiped out more than 140,000 jobs. San Antonians are still shaking from a traumatic winter storm in February that left hundreds of thousands of people in the cold without power and water.

At the national level, residents endured a stressful presidential election  followed by a violent insurrection at the nations capitol.

But the San Antonio mayors race  which could have been a repeat of the bitter and personal contest between Mayor Ron Nirenberg and former City Councilman Greg Brockhouse two years ago  has played out quietly.

There wont be any debates between the two frontrunners. The police and fire unions, who heavily backed Brockhouse in his first bid to unseat Nirenberg, arent getting involved. And hardly any money is being raised.

San Antonio has grown used to contentious mayoral campaigns. Since Julian Castro left for a Cabinet position in 2014, every mayors race has gone to a runoff.

To political observers, this years race is the least fractious in decades  though it may gain more heat as early voting approaches in April.

In 20 years, its the quietest election season for major things facing the city, veteran political strategist Christian Archer said. People are just tuning it out for now.

The quieter it is, the better it is for the incumbent, Archer said.

Neither campaign has been idle. Both men have appeared in candidate forums held by interest groups across the city. Volunteers for both contenders have been knocking on doors. Slowly, campaign signs have begun to appear in front yards and near busy intersections.

Nirenberg holds a stronger position than two years ago. The two-term mayor has gained plaudits for what his supporters call a sober, steady handling of the citys pandemic response. San Antonio voters overwhelmingly approved the mayors four-year, $154 million plan in November to help some 40,000 people receive job training or get into college degree programs  his biggest electoral victory to date.

Brockhouse sees an opening to whack at Nirenberg over the citys response to the February storm  particularly an information blackout from city leaders as the worst of the freeze hit.

When it came to a winter storm, a crisis emergency that comes up on you as a leader, that you have to direct and respond on the spot, Ron Nirenberg crumbled like the paper tiger he is, Brockhouse said. He could not handle it. He couldnt handle it and he fell apart and he disappeared.

Gilberto Ocanas, Nirenbergs campaign chairman and chief political strategist, dismissed that criticism. Though Nirenberg and his family were dealing with the same outages as everyone else, the mayor was in constant communication with other leaders and emergency officials throughout the crisis, Ocanas said.

Nirenberg has opted to blame the crisis on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the states power grid operator  and his team thinks voters will agree.

Obviously he wasnt to blame for it, Ocanas said. The state was to blame for it.

Brockhouse, a former consultant for the police and fire unions, has sought to retool himself as the ideas candidate. So far, hes released lengthy sets of ideas  many of them lofty  on how to revitalize the citys economy, reform public safety and overhaul the citys public-owned power provider CPS Energy.

Im coming at this from a different angle, Brockhouse said. I think were proving to people were a different team.

But some observers see a lot of the old Brockhouse. As he did in 2019, the former councilman is running as a bit of grievance candidate who aims to capitalize on resentment against City Hall, said local Democratic strategist Laura Barberena. That could prove a tough message in a period when the mayor is polling well, she said.

Post-pandemic, people like what the mayors been doing, Barberena said. So what youre selling, there isnt as much of a demand for it.

No debates

San Antonio voters will likely not see the two men spar on a debate stage before casting their ballots in the May 1 race.

Nirenberg has so far refused to debate Brockhouse  part of a larger campaign strategy to not give exposure to a candidate he doesnt see as credible, despite the fact that the former councilman nearly ousted the mayor in 2019.

When KSAT-TV, San Antonio Report and the nonprofit polling outfit Bexar Facts repeatedly pressed the mayor to take part in a three-way televised debate with Brockhouse and Denise Gutierrez-Homer, who previously ran to represent the East Side on City Council, Nirenberg held fast.

He refused to agree to any debate format, saying he would only participate if it was a forum-style event that would keep the candidates separate. The organizers ultimately relented  though through gritted teeth.

I think it drives the average voter crazy that they dont get a chance to see it, said Archer, who heads Bexar Facts. But its a huge advantage to any incumbent to ignore your opponent.

To Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff  once a Nirenberg skeptic, now a close ally  the strategy makes sense.

They went through a major campaign just two years ago, Wolff said. Theyve both been introduced to the public in a very visible manner. I dont know what a debate would change in how either one of them feel about anything.

But the mayors refusal to debate has flummoxed some and outright angered others. Candidates debates are vital to an informed electorate, debate proponents say. On top of that, residents deserve to hear candidates engage in rigorous discussion about the future of the city after a devastating year.

If you have people who are running for the highest office in San Antonio, you need to be able to hear from them, said Trish DeBerry, a Bexar County commissioner and Brockhouse ally.

Among those who had hoped for a debate is Jeret Pena, a prominent San Antonio restaurateur who owns the recently opened bar Hello Paradise. Many restaurant owners, Pena said, feel the city ignored the hospitality industry, including bars and restaurants, in its response to the pandemic and ensuing economic crisis.

The city last year gave out $8.7 million to bars and restaurants whose stools and dining rooms emptied as the virus spread and occupancy restrictions were imposed. Council members in February freed up another $14 million in assistance for the citys ailing hospitality industry  with $9.4 million going to bars and restaurants.

But given that one in seven residents are employed in the hospitality industry, the money was too little, too late, Pena said  something that should be addressed in a mayoral debate.

I just dont understand how one of the largest sectors had not been taken care of and was not protected, said Pena, who backed Nirenberg in 2019.

To the Nirenberg camp, theres no reason to engage with Brockhouse given the mayors polling numbers and Brockhouses lackluster financing. Candidate forums with different interest groups, rather than debates, allow those running to convey their visions and face tough questions without the messiness that usually accompanies one-on-one debates, Ocanas said.

I think were doing a service to people not getting into mud-wrestling and just focusing on the issues, Ocanas said.

Brockhouse, who believes he will benefit from Nirenbergs refusal to debate, has a more biting explanation.

Hes a coward, Brockhouse said of Nirenberg. He cannot stand and talk about the future of San Antonio. He wont talk about his record. And I think people are going to recognize that.

No money

Tom Reel, Staff / Staff photographer

Both men are having a tough time amassing campaign funds to spend on block-walkers, campaign mailers and television ads. Conventional political wisdom holds that a San Antonio mayoral candidate needs at least $1 million to compete. In 2019, the tab for the mayors race  between Nirenberg, Brockhouse and outside groups  exceeded $2.2 million.

Nirenberg has so far managed to raise more at this point in the campaign than two years ago. The mayors team brought in more than $200,000 from December 2018 through March 2019. So far, Nirenbergs camp has exceeded that with more than $300,000 in donations, a source with knowledge of the campaigns finances said.

But Nirenberg started out this year with less in the bank than he did at the same time in the last election. In that race, the mayor had more than $283,000 in cash on hand by the end of March.

Despite assembling a team of more than 100 business and community leaders in February to help him raise money for his re-election, Nirenberg hasnt been able to build that kind of war chest. As of this week, his campaign had about $163,000 on hand, the source said.

Ocanas acknowledged the sluggish financial picture but said donors have been reluctant to give, in part because they believe Nirenberg already has the race sewn up. Still, the campaign plans to hold in-person fundraisers following COVID-19 protocols of masking and social distance, he said.

A lot of people dont assume that theres a competitive race, Ocanas said. They assume the mayors going to win anyway. So why spend any money?

Brockhouse started out the year with nothing in his campaign coffers except a $17,000 loan. His campaign said in January the former city councilman had raised about $20,000 plus another $80,000 in pledges  but hasnt provided updated figures.

Brockhouse argues he doesnt need as much money as he did in 2019  given that campaign boosted his name recognition. He also notes business owners are less likely to donate because of the economic downturn  and its awkward to ask them to.

Its a tough environment to raise money for everybody, Brockhouse said. Im not thrilled with the fundraising but its hard to ask for money in a pandemic environment. Its tough and businesses are struggling.

Putting a dent in Brockhouses financial support is one major fact: the fire and police unions, for which Brockhouse formerly worked as a political consultant, are staying out of the mayors race after heavily backing him in 2019.

The unions spent more than $530,000 during the mayors race two years ago, according to state campaign finance filings, helping Brockhouse bridge a financing gap with the mayor in the form of get-out-the-vote efforts and TV ads. The unions can also help with other in-kind costs such as internal polling.

Exactly how much of that money benefited Brockhouse, a staunch union ally and public safety advocate, is unclear. Brockhouse spent nearly $241,000 during that race.

Both unions have opted to sit on the sidelines in the current contest, at least for now. The San Antonio Police Officers Association has its hands full trying to defeat a ballot initiative pushed by police reform activists to strip the union of its most powerful asset: the right to collectively bargain its contract with the city. The unions leader Danny Diaz has said its likely the union will at least endorse in the mayors race. But it hasnt yet.

No endorsement

The firefighters union, on the other hand, is staying out of the mayors race altogether. Last week, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association announced it would not endorse in the race  though a survey of the rank-and-file showed an eagerness to back Brockhouse and some leaders thought the union ought to throw its weight behind the former union consultant.

Not getting the fire unions endorsement carries ramifications beyond money matters, though those are still crucial. Firefighters are extremely popular with the public, so their word of support alone carries a lot of weight, local Democratic political strategist Laura Barberena said.

Without that financial support to become a legitimate candidate and get your message out, it becomes extremely difficult, Barberena said.

For former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the fire unions backing proved indispensable in her 2015 bid against then-Mayor Ivy Taylor. Van de Putte lost to Taylor in a runoff by a 3.4 percentage-point margin. Without the unions endorsement, she said, she probably wouldnt have made it to the runoff.

I think that I wouldnt have been in the ballpark, Van de Putte said.

Brockhouse has tried to downplay the magnitude of the fire unions decision to stay out of the race. Not getting their endorsement means that the mayors allies cant accuse Brockhouse of being in the unions pocket, he said  an allegation levied at him during the 2019 campaign as the fire union battled city leadership over its contract.

It doesnt bother me in the least that the fire union said no or theyre sitting it out, Brockhouse said.

But Brockhouse is still keen to point out that more than two-thirds of the unions membership signaled in a February survey they would back him.

jfechter@express-news.net
Nationals MPs are on a collision course with federal ministers over a backbench proposal to offer temporary help to 40,000 workers so the travel industry can survive the looming halt to the JobKeeper wage subsidy.

The Nationals party room has backed a plan to adjust $180 million in federal funding in a bid to protect workers who could be forced onto unemployment benefits when JobKeeper ends.

Tourism has taken a massive economic hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Angry the government has left some regions out of its $1.2 billion plan for half-price flights to 13 destinations, the Nationals will meet on Monday to decide how to force change to a related scheme to save travel agents.

Nationals MP Pat Conaghan has formal support from the federal party room to demand a $180 million lifeline so travel agency workers can supplement their unemployment benefits, retain their skills and stay with their employers.
Ban on vehicle imports from Japan not a good move, says Japanese Ambassador By Jayampathy Jayasinghe View(s): View(s):

Restoring traditional exports such as apparel and agriculture products by diversifying exports provides new business opportunities to Sri Lanka. There are good opportunities available to Sri Lanka to export electronic devices and software to Japan, said Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama at a webinar on After the pandemic: The way ahead.

It was a meaningful message as Japan was once the biggest exporter of electronics goods and is now also importing these products.

The webinar was organised by the Sri Lanka Japan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce this week. The export of lap top computers to Japan from April to June in 2020 had increased significantly.

The ambassador said that trade is a two way process and imposing trade restrictions on exports of vehicles from Japan to Sri Lanka by the Sri Lanka government has impacted businesses of Japanese companies in Sri Lanka.

Referring to tourism, he said he will encourage Japanese tourists to visit Sri Lanka. He said the pandemic has infected the richest to the poorest including business tycoons, small entrepreneurs and the daily wage earners and brought business activities to grinding halt. The education institutions too were shut down to protect the future generations from the pandemic. The challenges we face today are multi- faceted. Both Sri Lanka and Japan are struggling to re-build their battered economies following the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Resident Representative Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Colombo Office Masatomo Itonaga said that JETRO last year launched several online platforms to implement its activities. With regard to the agriculture sector, Sri Lanka can export black tea, pepper, spices to Japan and

Sri Lankas Embassy in Japan and the Export Development Board (EDB is working closely in this regard.

But there are also rival competitors from countries like Kenya, Malaysia and Indonesia and therefore factories that produce black tea in Sri Lanka has to be modernised to enhance productivity. Japanese companies together with Sri Lankan companies can modernise factories. State- of- the- art technology should be used to harvest agricultural products and Japanese companies can assist such endeavours. He said the Sri Lankan governments policy on manufacturing 50 per cent of the drug requirement domestically is timely. We have had a dialogue with local pharmaceutical companies on setting up of joint ventures in this regard. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Ayurveda products has a niche market in Japan, he added. Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Fusato Tanaka said that JICA started its operation in Sri Lanka 60 years ago and in 1982 JICAs office was set up in Sri Lanka.
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to disintegrate the country through banditry and electoral violence.

The party, in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, hinged its reason on the silence of the APC on the recent attack on the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, and the bloody disruption of last Saturdays bye-election in Ekiti State.

While Mr Ortom, a PDP governor, narrowly escaped attack allegedly launched by suspected bandits on Saturday, three voters were not as lucky as unidentified gunmen unleashed mayhem during the voting in Ekiti on the same day.

No comment has been made on the two incidents by the APC at the time of filing this report.

The PDP said the silence of the ruling party and the Buhari presidency underscored a plot to undermine Nigerias democracy and the countrys fragile unity.

The PDP also stressed that the silence of the APC and the Buhari Presidency to the violence unleashed by APC thugs, leading to the killing of two innocent Nigerians and a police officer, in the Ekiti State bye election at the weekend and the postponement of the election, only goes to show that the APC is all out to derail our democracy just because they have been rejected by Nigerians, the statement said.

Our party holds that such disposition in the face an assassination attempt on a democratically elected governor by bandits as well as killing of innocent Nigerians and a law enforcement officer by suspected APC thugs, amounts to endorsing acts of violence and assault against our democratic order, sovereignty and corporate existence as a nation.

It is the belief of our party that such silence on an assassination attempt on Governor Ortom is portentous given that the attack came on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly behind the incessant attacks on communities in the state and demanding that the Federal Government should live up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property in the state.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A story about freezing turtles warmed the hearts of the first through third grade class at Escuela del Sol Montessori and spurred students to raise nearly $300 by selling handcrafted turtles.

The students in Jr. Elementary East were captivated by the hurdles the cold-stunned turtles faced following the winter storm that left Texans without power for nearly two weeks in February.

As part of a lesson on current events in Inga Tomlinsons class, she read a news story and showed photos of hundreds of turtles being sheltered from the storm.

I think the number of turtles is what impacted (the students) Tomlinson said. There were just so many of them.

Tomlinson then asked the students how they would like to explore the plight of the turtles, and the students said they would like to hold a fundraiser. After a brainstorming session, the children took out clay and started crafting handmade turtles.

Along with raising $273 to support Sea Turtle, Inc. in its effort to save the turtles, the students also wanted to raise awareness. They drew posters, each student vowing to hang one or more around their home neighborhood to get the word out.

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The experience of doing this fundraiser has fostered a deep interest in the natural world. Their empathy for these turtles is beautiful, said Tomlinson. We are hoping to keep in touch with Sea Turtle, Inc. and to learn more about the turtles in Texas.

For these students, finding a way to help the Texas turtles was as integral to their classroom curriculum as learning how to read and do math. By planning the sale, answering email orders and creating a workflow to increase handmade turtle production, due to the overwhelmingly positive response from Escuela families, the students used organizational, problem solving, math, language and reading, and fine art skills they have been developing throughout the school year. They also learned about turtle anatomy while crafting both realistic and whimsical depictions of turtles.

Escuela del Sol Montessori reopened to in-person learning in June by following a detailed and carefully coordinated COVID safety protocol that includes keeping doors and windows open for ventilation, outdoor workspaces for each class, and specially crafted outdoor hand-washing stations, along with mask wearing and social distancing when possible.
I saw my sisters face and I had a physical reaction. Ive known her all of her life, but I hadnt seen her like that in quite some time. I was shocked, surprised, stunned.

As I was doing whatever in the kitchen, she was standing only feet away  without a mask. That hadnt happened in about a year.

That might not seem strange to some of you, but it was a wild experience since Ive been in the Sutton Slow Phase for months. Weve been staying in separate family pods. If anyone visited, they had to be socially distanced, masked up and visits had to be brief. Or, they had to be outside.

Ive missed casual in-person interactions at the office, in stores, at coffee shops and in restaurants. Human touch is what I long most. Other than my wife, I havent been touching people. I know some of you have enjoyed a gentle skin swipe, hand holding, an arm around a neck and perhaps forehead kisses with family and some friends. Not me. Ive worked hard to keep Rudy Rona away.

Ive been in my Sutton Slow Phase as others moved to Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. Its been a safe place. Some of you urged me to stay inside if I wanted to, saying you were going to live your lives. I hope you havent experienced the pain of having loved ones suffer from COVID-19, or, worse, losing loved ones. I pause with grief every day I hear Gov. John Bel Edwards announce more deaths.

Too many have caught COVID-19, and, unfortunately, some caught it because they didnt do one little thing and Rudy Rona saw the moment and latched on. Weve lost more than 10,000 family, friends and neighbors in Louisiana. We needed desperately both health and economic help. The latter is on the way. The former is here, and more is coming.

Moderna to begin COVID vaccine trials in children; see where to sign up in Louisiana Children under 12, including babies as young as six months, will be able to participate in clinical trials in Louisiana for Modernas two-dose

Vaccine opportunities are popping up in lots of places, though we dont have enough. We dont have enough vaccine distribution points easily accessible to Black, Brown, Native and poor people. Were told there will be enough vaccine doses for every American adult who wants the vaccine in May.

Some are literally jumping for joy as they get the vaccine. Some say they wont get it, period. Others are skeptical and waiting.

The federal government jumped in and worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and major pharmaceutical companies to produce vaccines  at warp speed, they say  that it looked suspect to some.

+11 After a wrenching year, heres why New Orleans restaurants see better times ahead In March, Marna and Frank Brigtsen renewed the lease on the Riverbend cottage that their Brigtsens Restaurant calls home. It was an affirmati

I, too, have suspicions. I've decided there's too much at risk: Im happy about the speed. Im suspicious of the naysayers.

Im not waiting to see whether vaccines are safe and effective. That matter has been settled. They are. We have vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, influenza and measles and I dont hear many people fussing about those because they want to take their chances.

Im waiting to see how many get vaccines. Among other things, vaccines significantly reduce the likelihood of illness, hospitalization, spread and death. I really dont want to be around people who dont respect themselves, and others, enough to get vaccines.

While I figure that out more, the first part of my wait is over. I got vaccinated. Im all juiced up. I got Pfizer Dose 1. I got Pfizer Dose 2. My waiting period is over.

I tested it out recently. I went to a restaurant with outdoor seating and ordered. I went to a job meeting with several people at socially distanced tables. I saw one of my sisters, indoors, without a mask, and I only paused because I know she, too, is vaccinated.

Im slowly moving into Sutton Phase 1. Thats a big deal for me. I think Ill get out more. Slowly. Masked.

Marlowe playing with bubbles Marlowe plays with bubbles outside his residence in California. He's grown a lot since columnist Will Sutton last saw his grandson more than a

I cant wait to touch and hug more people, especially my grandson, Marlowe. Its been more than a year, and I miss the little guy. Hes gotten much bigger now that hes one and finding his footing in California. Hes gone from a warm lump in my hand and sleeping on my shoulder to crawling, walking and running since I last saw him. FaceTime and Zoom are virtual substitutes. But its not the real thing.

I hope more of you will get vaccinated. Lets get to herd immunity. GiPop cant wait to hold, hug, kiss and snuggle with Marlowe. XXXOOOXXX
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.

Source:The Christian Post
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The founder of Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside, has decried the attempt by the Nigerian government to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery.

Mr Peterside, co-chair of the Nigerian governments Vision 2050 committee, called on the government to halt the plan.

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved $1.5 billion (about N600 billion) for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

The FEC approved the amount at its virtual meeting held Wednesday and presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The approval comes amidst a controversial price increase in the pump price of petrol that was later reversed.

Although Nigeria has four refineries, all government-owned, it currently imports virtually all its refined petroleum products.

The approval has expectedly been greeted with mixed feelings as the country has in the past spent billions of dollars on refinery maintenance.

Despite such expenditure, however, the refineries have not worked with many experts calling for their privatisation.

Mr Peterside, who was on the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) between 2010 and 2015, said the decision should be subjected to an informed national debate.

FG should halt $1.5bn approval for repair of Port Harcourt refinery and subject this brazen & expensive adventure to an informed national debate, he tweeted Sunday morning.

FG should halt $1.5bn approval for repair of Port Harcourt refinery and subject this brazen & expensive adventure to an informed national debate. Many experts prefer that this refinery is sold "as is" by BPE to core-investors with proven capacity to repair it with their own funds  Atedo Peterside (@AtedoPeterside) March 21, 2021

Many experts prefer that this refinery is sold as is by BPE to core-investors with proven capacity to repair it with their own funds.

Earlier, a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had described the decision as suspicious.

The PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections had wondered if there was a public tender before the cost was announced, or if any due diligence was performed.

We cannot as a nation expect to make economic progress if we continue to fund inefficiency, and we are going too deep into the debt trap for unnecessarily overpriced projects, he said.

Our national debt has grown from 12 trillion in 2015 to 32.9 trillion today. Surely that is shocking enough to cause us to be more prudent in the way we commit future generations into the bondage of bonds and debt.
Amid the Ethiopian crisis, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on March 19 issued a final notice to the fugitive leaders of the countrys embattled Tigray region. Ahmed said that the fugitive leaders should surrender peacefully in a bid to avoid severe punishment and prevent the misery of their people. The Prime Minister also went on to urge the untold hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans who have fled their communities over the past four months to return to their homes within a week and resume normal lives.

Ahmed alleged that some civilians took up arms, perhaps under threat of force, however, he also added that they are not the main culprits. His statement does not say exactly what will happen if Tigrays fugitive political and military leaders do not turn themselves in. However, it reminded them to do their part by learning from the devastations and damage so far and preventing further bloodshed.

His latest warning came as people described seeing a larger presence of Ethiopian forces on the way to the place that Tigrayans have used to flee the region, the border crossing into the remote town of Hamdayet in Sudan. It is worth noting that the Ethiopian and allied forces for months have allegedly blocked people from crossing, but more than 60,000 have made it into Sudan. Moreover, no one knows how many thousands of civilians or combatants have been killed since months of political tensions between Ahmeds government and the Tigray leaders who once dominated Ethiopias government exploded in November into war.

The conflict

Last year, a civil war displaced tens of thousands of refugees, including residents of the Tigray region that garnered condemnation from across the globe. The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies had accused Ahmed's government of blocking assistance to the Tigray region since it managed to overpower the local Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) forces late last year. The United Nations had described the situation in Tigray as "extremely grave", saying many people in the region have been forced to eat leaves to survive.

The conflict in the region was sparked after the ruling TPLF party, a minority party at the centre but a strong and powerful group in the region, allegedly attacked a military base of the federal forces on November 4 following which Ahmed's government launched a military offensive. But relations between the two political groups had already started to sour way before the November attack, particularly after Ahmed announced reforms to end ethnic federalism in the country, from which TPLF was benefiting the most.

(Image: AP)
Brazil on Saturday reported 2,438 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 292,752, as healthcare systems continue to collapse across the country, the ministry of health said.

Meanwhile, the country also registered 79,069 new cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 11,950,459.

Oxygen consumption in hospitals grew 121 percent in two months, and the local government has asked the local Federation of Industries to intervene to guarantee the supply of oxygen tanks, Health Secretary of Sao Paulo Edson Aparecido said.

The South American country is experiencing a new wave of infections generated by the P.1 strain that emerged in the northern state of Amazonas in November last year and the movement of people during the summer vacation.

(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.)
Thousands of people took to the streets throughout 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, 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.

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.

(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.)
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Much has been said about Australias Prison Policy. Sure: its helping us keep relatively Covid-free, which is great for the economy, public health and (morbid) international bragging rights. But its also stopping perennial travellers from living their best lives.

Sad.

On that note, we think it is our moral duty to point out there has never been a better time to leave Australia and never come back. This is thanks to a variety of tantalising factors (i.e. theres more to it than the ongoing influencer ambush on Byron Bay).

RELATED: I Moved To Byron Bay; Heres What I Learned In My First 30 Days Of Being A Cliche

First of all: flights leaving Australia are cheap. Thats right: though flying here is expensive and unreliable (to the point where returning expatriates are booking business class tickets because so many economy passengers are being bumped), leaving will sting your wallet remarkably little.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by This is Byron Bay (@this_is_byron_)

One way flights in April and May from Sydney to London are being slung for as little as $600 (on airlines like Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Malaysia Airlines).

Even if youre looking for a more upmarket experience on both legs, as Traveller recently pointed out, the prices are still reasonable  providing you are not coming back.

Last weekend, If you were looking to book a one-way fare from Sydney to London on Qatar youd get economy for around $1000 with business class about $3000, Traveller reported.

On the other hand, If you wanted to book a one-way flight from London to Australia leaving in two weeks with Emirates, youd be having to pay about $11,000 at the cheapest. With Qatar, youd have to fork out almost $14,000, (Traveller).

While some people in the comments of the aforementioned Traveller article were quick to point out this information is bit irrelevant really as were not allowed to leave the country, they forget a crucial point. You can leave the country  if you have a good reason.

RELATED: I Visited Australias Northern Lights. It Completely Blew My Mind

Score a business opportunity, or have family or personal reasons to move overseas, and you have a shot at requesting an exemption to break Australias no travel rule from the government (theres no guarantee youll be approved, but you can at least try).

The only catch is that you have to leave, DMARGE understands, for a minimum period of three months. And of course, in returning you will have to go through the administrative nightmare that is booking a flight to Australia (and then pay for your own hotel quarantine when you arrive).

But if you plan on leaving and never coming back, thats not a worry.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Nautilus Maldives (@thenautilusisland)

The Sydney Morning Herald reported in August 2020 that 3 out of every 4 requests were being denied.

If youre one of the few to be approved, however, and have no health or moral qualms about gallivanting the globe, then there are plenty of countries accepting Australians right now.

The list includes: the USA, the Maldives, the EU, the UK and Cambodia, Traveller reported in September 2020 (there may be more on that list now, and more added to it as we progress through 2021).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit Argentina (@visitargentina)

Another reason to bail from Down Under, DMARGE reported earlier this week, is some interesting research recently conducted at Purdue University in the United States. The boffins have come up with a metric called income satiation  basically, the point at which you have enough money to be happy.

Money and business blog Expensivity then used Purdues research to come up with a happiness premium for every country in the world using purchasing power ratios sourced from the World Bank and comparing that with local cost of living data.

RELATED: Incredible Photos Australians Really Shouldnt Look At If They Miss Travelling

The result is something few Australians will find surprising: Australia is the most expensive country in the world to be happy (excluding Bermuda). Expensivity calculates Australias happiness premium as 135,321 USD (~174,970 AUD)  almost 20 times more than the least expensive country in the world, Suriname. (The global average is $85,000, by the way.)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Buenos Aires  (@buenosaires)

After Suriname, Argentina was the country with the second cheapest happiness premium. You know: the place with cosmopolitan cities, ravishing restaurants, mega museums, hectic hiking, beautiful beaches, scintillating shopping, magic music, world-class wine and next-level nightlife.

A European lifestyle at one-fith of the price, indeed.

Skyscanner puts one way flights from Sydney to Buenos Aires at $1,353, at the time of writing.

Unfortunately, Argentina remains one of the countries not accepting Australians at the time of writing, with SmartTraveller stating: Argentinas borders, airports and sea ports remain closed to most foreign nationals and non-residents, including Australians until further notice.

Its also worth noting, as a counterpoint to everything written above, that one third of all countries in the world are currently closed to tourists, and even if you are accepted by an overseas country right now, the experience wont be a walk in the park.

Not only are there many questions over travel insurance (as far as we understand it, insurance doesnt cover Covid now its a known event) but depending on how the country you visit copes with the pandemic, you could end up far more limited in what you can do than you would have been in Australia.

Videos like the following, also show how good Australians have it right now, compared to many other places (something which has many Americans up in arms).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by COMPLEX (@complex)

Moving forward tourism operators (and national tourism PR teams) must strike a balance between instilling (sensible) levels of bravery in travellers as well as cautiousness  helping them keep in mind the realities of the situation we now all find ourselves in, and not moving too quickly.

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PORT CHESTER  As a researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Miguel Chavez starts his days forming tissues from stem cells at 4 a.m. so he can get home in time for his virtual medical school interviews.

In the back of his mind, Chavez is terrified of infecting his family with the coronavirus. Of not having enough money to feed them. Of waiting longer to visit his father at the nursing home.

But another worry has plagued Chavez for much longer than the pandemic-related fears: Depending on the political climate, he could be deported from the country hes known his whole life.

Chavez is among 29,000 health care workers who are in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, according to the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy institute. Immigrant advocates at New American Economy and United We Dream said DACA health care workers like Chavez, who are often the main source of income for their families, long for a permanent status that would end the uncertainty and make them eligible for government assistance at a time when they are risking infecting themselves and their families with COVID-19.

That's really important for folks who are working on the frontlines of the pandemic to be able to have certainty that they're able to stay and not have to simultaneously worry about the pandemic as well as their status expiring, said Dan Wallace, deputy managing director at New American Economy, an immigration research and advocacy organization.

The House on Thursday passed a bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. If it also gains Senate approval, it would allow DACA recipients and other undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. before age 18 to apply for a 10-year conditional permanent residency. To qualify, applicants would need to have earned a college degree or attended a bachelor's program for two years, served in the military for two years or worked in the U.S. for three years.

Ive seen this happen many times so I dont want to be too excited or feel as if something is going to happen, Chavez said. Theres been so many hopeful moments but then they lead nowhere. I am reserving my excitement until something concrete happens.

Originally from Chorrillos, Peru, Chavez, 23, is one of nearly 700,000 Dreamers  unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. Chavez has been able to study and work because of the DACA program created by President Barack Obama through an executive order in 2012, which grants recipients temporary permission to stay in the U.S. and temporary relief from deportation.

Former President Donald Trump took steps to terminate the program in 2017, but that effort was overturned by a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that found, among other errors, the administration had failed to consider the hardship to DACA recipients.

Chavez said he lived in fear during the four years the DACA program was under challenge, and often found himself defending his immigration status because of what many critics have said was Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric.

On his first day as president, Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to preserve DACA. A federal judge in Texas, however, could rule DACA unlawful in an upcoming case.

That's always on the back of our minds that the program can go away at any point because it is temporary, said DACA recipient Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, policy manager at United We Dream, the largest youth-led immigrant network in the country. We are scared because if we are the only breadwinners and working as essential workers but disposable at the same time, and then we lose our work permit, then our entire families will have to go without even the small help that we can provide.

A new life starting

Chavez arrived in the U.S. in 2002 at age 4, when his family fled violence in Peru and settled in Port Chester.

His father, Edgardo, worked as a mechanic and his mother, Maria Isabel, as a housekeeper. But after overstaying their visas, the family was unable to file for green cards.

Chavez said he first realized he wasnt like other kids in fourth grade when he was unable to apply to private school because he lacked proof of citizenship. Afterward, he was afraid that an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer would find him.

In high school, Chavez didnt know if he would be able to go to college until he applied for DACA status at 15, the minimum age to apply. It felt like a new life starting.

In June, he graduated with a degree in biochemistry from the City College of New York.

Chavez plans to renew his DACA status this summer. He hopes to win a scholarship covering the $500 renewal cost.

In prison

In August 2019, Chavezs father, who has a heart condition, suffered two strokes and was in a monthslong coma. Not eligible for health insurance, the family has paid part of his estimated $1 million medical bills through emergency Medicaid and charity care. Left paralyzed, he was moved to a nursing home, but Chavez said his father hasnt completed the physical therapy he needs to recover.

Before the pandemic, Chavez visited his father daily after college classes, having long conversations with him while helping with his stretches and exercises.

The first time Chavez saw his father cry was on FaceTime, the only way they could communicate after COVID-19 shut down the nursing home to outsiders.

Chavez felt like he was in prison. He wanted to join racial justice protests but worried he would risk infecting his father, who he would take to medical appointments outside of the nursing home.

He became interested in medicine because his familys inability to find accessible health care in Port Chester inspired him to want to help underserved communities.

He applied to medical school in June and was accepted to Harvard University, Cornell University, Columbia University, New York University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Chavez hasnt decided which medical school hell attend this summer, but he will remain in New York to be near his family.

But last September, his mother temporarily lost her housekeeping job, and she was ineligible for stimulus checks or unemployment benefits because of her undocumented status. Chavez picked up the slack, using his earnings as a researcher to provide for his mother and sister. Chavez recalls rationing food before the Salvation Army started delivering groceries to them.

What the pandemic has done is just squeezed me more, Chavez said. It was crazy handling all these things at the same time.

A nice end to a tumultuous journey

If U.S. Senate Democrats cannot convince enough Republicans to vote for the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, there are other measures that would provide legal residency for "Dreamers," a term commonly used to refer to them due to repeated failed proposals in Congress that would provide similar protections for young immigrants.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., proposed a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to become lawful permanent residents if they pursued higher education, worked lawfully for at least three years or served in the military. It would also require them to pass background checks and pay an application fee, demonstrate English language proficiency and a knowledge of U.S. history, and have no history of felony convictions or other serious crimes.

Undocumented immigrants of any age would be given a path to citizenship through the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which was introduced last month by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif.

Chavez said that would give his parents the relief he felt when he received DACA status.

It would be a nice end to a tumultuous journey, he said.

Dalia Faheid is a graduate student in Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
Kathmandu, March 11

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 275,070 as of Thursday afternoon.

The ministry says 97 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 4,484 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 207,922 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 942 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 271,116 people have achieved recovery whereas 3,012 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 66 people have achieved recoveries whereas no death was reported.

Over 50 people are quarantined across the country.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)
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.
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.


Ore.  A Southern Oregon cardiologist in the Rogue Valley has been recieving racial backlash during the pandemic for being an Asian American.

At the start of the pandemic, Jae said a man got into her face and tried to rip her mask off in the middle of a grocery store.

"I was confronted by a man who was very upset with me being there, telling me that I brought the China virus in this community and I should get out," the 43-year-old cardiologist from Oregon said. "He tried to rip the mask off my face. It was very scary and I just had to leave."

He called her a b*tch -- but what was worse, Jae said, was that he also called her a racial slur for Chinese people.

"I'm not even Chinese. I'm Korean, for God's sake, you know? My first reaction is to try to make him understand that this is absolutely false," she said. "My latter thought was this is getting dangerous. I think ... I may get physically hurt."

Shaken, Jae went home and told her husband about what happened that day in spring 2020. She never reported the incident and she stopped going to the store at night -- she tried not to go out at night at all, except when she was needed at the hospital, she said.

In the past year, Jae started to notice that now she avoids crowds too, especially in the wake of the attacks and violence on Asian Americans. Jae said she was hurt and scared by what happened, especially since she's part of this community. Patients stop her in the streets and people recognize her in her city, which is less than 100,000 people, she said.

Jae said she hopes people start seeing Asian Americans as part of the communities where they live.

"I think the violence happens because you see these people as the other people, other people who cause harm, other people who done me wrong, other people who brought this virus," she said. "These are all misinformation where people are considered to be others."

She wishes she would have said something earlier to stand up for other minority groups facing racism.

"I wish I spoke up sooner for all violence against minorities, like when the Black Lives Matter movement happened, when there were people, other minorities who were facing just crushing racism and violence," she said.
Marlena Pavlos-Hackney talks on a cell phone at her restaurant Marlena's Bistro & Pizzeria, in Holland, Mich., on March 18, 2021. Michigan State Police arrested Pavlos-Hackney on March 19, 2021. (John Agar/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

Michigan Pizzeria Owner Arrested for Defying State COVID-19 Restrictions

A restaurant owner in Michigan was arrested on March 19 for defying state CCP virus pandemic restrictions and ignoring a court order, according to the state attorney general.

Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, owner of Marlenas Bistro and Pizzeria in Holland, Michigan, was taken into custody following a traffic stop for failing to comply in a civil case filed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

State officials said she kept her restaurant open for indoor dining when it was banned, didnt comply with capacity limits, and didnt enforce any mask-wearing rules amid the pandemic. The department then suspended her food license on Jan. 20, but she remained open, according to a statement.

The small-business owner drew media attention this week over her decision to resist the state orders. A judge has characterized her actions as selfish, adding that she was putting the community at risk in the middle of a pandemic.

Pavlos-Hackney said her actions were intended to stand up against authoritarianism and to safeguard individual liberty and freedoms. The 55-year-old had fled communism in her home country of Poland in 1983 and arrived in America in 1988. She became a citizen of the United States in 1992 and opened her business in Michigan as she worked toward achieving the American dream.

We the people, small-business owners, like I told you, have to fight. I will fight for freedom [for] the American people. And I encourage everyone, business owners, other peoplestand up and fight for your freedom before its going to be taken away, Pavlos-Hackney told Fox News Tucker Carlson this week.

In a separate interview with Glenn Beck, she told the radio host that shes staying strong because she refuses to let the government intimidate me or put fear in me.

Im going to keep fighting for American freedom and my constitutionally protected rights, she said.

Pavlos-Hackney had initially closed her restaurant for about three months in compliance with state orders after the pandemic hit, she told Beck. But she decided to reopen after she felt Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had overextended her power. Pavlos-Hackney felt that the orders resembled edicts of authoritarian governments that she was familiar with, according to a GoFundMe page opened in support of the restaurant owner.

So I decided, we, the small-business owners, have to take control against this tyranny. Because we the people have to have jobs to be able to survive, she said. Government and government entities have job security because they are a service. But we the people have to fight for our existence and keep working. So I decide they are not going to close me down.

An administrative judge in February ruled to continue the suspension of Pavlos-Hackneys food license and a warrant for her arrest was subsequently issued. She was given until March 18 to turn herself in but failed to do so.

This owner has continued to willfully violate the states food laws, public health orders, and the order of the courta 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, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks during a news conference in Lansing, Mich., on March 5, 2020. (David Eggert/AP Photo)

Pavlos-Hackney has since received a wave of support from the community. The crowdfunding effort had raised nearly $150,000 for Pavlos-Hackneys legal fees as of early March 21.

America is the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, and together with like-minded Patriots like YOU, we can overcome and beat back Socialism! the description on the GoFundMe page states.

Meanwhile, the community organized a road rally on March 21 in support of Pavlos-Hackney.

We will also have a ROAD RALLY taking place all over the city. The Lakeshore REVOLUTION from we the people! Please tell everybody its time to DEFEND OUR REPUBLIC against the over reach of state (and local) government, the group said on Facebook.

Pavlos-Hackney currently remains in Ingham County Jail, where she has been denied bail until she agrees to follow judge orders, according to online arrest records.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged countries to support and provide assistance to women and reproductive health facilities in war-torn Yemen.

During a news conference after inaugurating a new UNFPA office building in Yemen's temporary capital Aden on Saturday, Dr Natalia Kanem touched on the international responsibility of alleviating the suffering of Yemeni women, after six years of civil war.

The civil war has stopped more than 80 percent of health facilities working in the field of maternal care and reproductive health.

U.N. statistics said there are more than one and a half million breastfeeding and pregnant women in Yemen.

One million women suffer from starvation.

Yemen has been convulsed by civil war since 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa and much of the country's north, forcing the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the U.S., entered the war months later to try to restore Hadi to power.

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 worlds most impoverished nation.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Several German states are seeking to extend Germany's anti-COVID restrictions into April as the country battles a third wave of the virus, according to a draft plan obtained by AFP on Sunday.

The restrictions would be prolonged until a yet-to-be-determined date in April due to the high rate of infections at present, which are being "accelerated by COVID-19 variants", the document said.

The draft prepared by several of Germany's 16 states is due to be discussed by Merkel and leaders of the regions on Monday.

Current restrictions are set to last until the end of March.

With the rate of infections fast rising again, health authorities have warned against further easing any restrictions.

The incidence rate on Sunday reached 103.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Robert Koch institute disease control centre.

Breaking that 100 per 100,000 marker is in principle meant to trigger new restrictions.

The document stipulates that contacts inside buildings "must be avoided where possible because of the increased risk of infection".

While many workers in businesses can work from home, for those who have to go to their workplace "at least two rapid (COVID) tests a week" should be indispensable, it says.

The plan also moots the possibility for regions "opening individual spaces to the public", but requiring negative COVID tests and contact tracing for users.

Cross-border travel should be limited to the strict minimum and combined with quarantine requirements and a negative test before any return to Germany.

On Wednesday's, Merkel's administration urged Germans to be responsible during the pandemic and not to travel to the popular Spanish island of Mallorca over the Easter break, even as airlines have piled on hundreds of flights to meet surging demand.

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

 2021 AFP
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https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Next-Year-in-Berlin-Ach-du-Lieber.html

Eighty-two years after my mothers hurried departure, my son and his family are moving to Berlin. Im struggling to accept it.

Bubby closed the door to her home on Joste Strasse before rushing to the Hauptbahnhof train station in Berlin, not knowing when she and my mother would return. Their second-floor, comfortably furnished apartment had a fireplace in every room. It was graced with Meissen figurines, crystal wine goblets, an antique brass filigree clock they wound up once a week, a huge silver menorah with two lions, cups for oil on opposite ends, and eight smaller cups on the bottom. They never saw any of these things again.

On September 2, 1939, my mother and grandmother boarded a train to Cologne. Their plan? Rendezvous at Colognes Jewish Community Center with smugglers to guide them through the forest and over the border into Belgium. My grandfather was already in Antwerp, in an apartment set up with furniture he built out of scavenged wood scraps, waiting for them to join him. At 5:20 a.m. that morning, Germany invaded Poland, and all hope for a peaceful end to Hitlers reign was dashed.

Before heading to the station, they stopped at the Ryke Strasse Synagogue. In better times, from the womens balcony theyd see my grandfather praying below in his fourth-row seat, just right of center. Casting a longing, last glance, they continued on their way.

The Ryke Strasse Synagogue

Mom was eleven years old. Their stuffed suitcases held only clothes and vital papers like her school records, birth certificate, and Bubbys marriage certificate. Their first attempt to reach Belgian soil failed  the smuggler abandoned them in the middle of the forest. Though terrified, my mother kept her wits and guided them back to their starting point. The second attempt succeeded, and my mother and grandmother reunited with my grandfather in Antwerp.

Seven months later, Germany invaded Belgium and my grandfather, along with all Jewish men, were sent to camps in Nazi occupied Southern France. In 1942, he was deported to Auschwitz and perished. No longer safe in Antwerp, Bubby moved with Mom to Liege, 132 kilometers away. A few months later, a heroic Belgian couple hid them in an attic, where they remained until the war ended in 1945. Finally, their visas arrived in 1948, and they sailed off to the United States. They never spoke German again, preferring the language of their adopted country, where I was born.

Mom mastered English, speaking with barely a trace of her German roots. She never talked about my grandfather, what theyd endured, or how they survived. It was just too painful to remember, and talking triggered nightmares.

Thanks to my late mothers forced departure from the land of her birth, my descendants and I qualify for German citizenship. Its an EU country, my sons said, asking for my help. There could be advantages to having an EU passport. I wasnt interested, but with the very documents Mom and Bubby had smuggled out, they proved our ties to Germany, and got citizenship and passports. This was a means to an end, I thought, a way to gain access to the EU and the free, high quality education so many EU countries offer.

I was stunned into silence. Moving to Berlin? They were clearly excited. All I could do was cry.

Then, last summer, my eldest son dropped a bomb. Were moving to Berlin! he announced one Erev Shabbat after wed put his young girls  my precious granddaughters  to sleep. Sitting on our couch, he and my daughter-in-law, an artist, gushed, Weve been thinking about this for a while the arts community in Berlin is thriving, and weve decided to move there.

What? I was stunned into silence, and could barely choke out a reply. Where was this coming from? What would happen to my twice or three-times-weekly contact with our grandkids? They were clearly excited. All I could do was cry.

Reading a story to my grandkids

My husband and I raised two sons far from the helping hands of our families. Not wishing to repeat that pattern, our mantra became, Isnt it great to be together? Both sons settled in Seattle, a mere 10-minute drive from our home. We were constantly in and out of each others houses, sharing meals, hiking and biking together, going to museums and movies, gathering with them and their friends for parties in the park, genuinely enjoying each others company. From my point of view, life was blissfully good and couldnt get much better. But their dreams, Ive learned, are different from mine.

Why cant you be happy for us? my daughter-in-law exclaimed with frustration, after a few weeks of what seemed like non-stop crying on my part. By then, my son had found a way to support the family and landed a job with a start-up in Berlin, which offers on-site daycare. Amazed that hed pulled this off, and proud of his accomplishment, it was still hard for me to find any enthusiasm for their big adventure. It felt like an abandonment, and the idea of Germany stressed me  vestiges of transgenerational trauma. As a child, just hearing German spoken sent chills up my spine. Over the years, as Germany reconciled openly and honestly with its history, my views towards it, and the German people have softened. But my heart aches when I think of my granddaughters speaking a language that jangles my nerves.

If you told me you were moving to New Jersey, I told my kids, it would be hard for me. But Germany? That adds an extra layer of pain, I tried to explain.

If you told me you were moving to New Jersey, it would be hard for me. But Germany? That adds an extra layer of pain.

My sister told me bluntly, Mommy would be turning over in her grave if she knew. I wasnt so sure. In the 1970s, Berlins municipal government began extending invitations to former citizens whod fled Nazi persecution to return as guests of the city. Mom knew about this program for fifteen years before finally applying to participate. The offer of free airfare for her and my father, free hotel, meals, sight-seeing, musical performances, and more, left her cold. I have no desire to go back to Germany, she told me. She reluctantly applied after a chance meeting with a former classmate from Berlin whod attended the program and endorsed it heartily. In 1997, the Governing Mayor of Berlins Senatskanzlei District formally issued an invitation for my parents to visit. Two hundred people were in their group, Jews who had settled in the US, Canada, Israel, England, Australia, Brazil, and Peru.

The visit was a huge success, and Mom shared every detail when she returned home. Joste Strasse, in the Eastern sector, was bombed during the war, and the whole square block where she grew up was destroyed. But the Ryke Strasse Synagogue survived. On Kristallnacht, Nazis set fire to the sanctuary. The fire department, fearing that adjoining residential buildings would go up in flames, stopped the mob from igniting the whole place. After the war, the magnificent sanctuary was restored to its former glory. Mom got to sit in the fourth row, right of center, in her late fathers chair. This was the highlight of her return to Berlin.

After this trip, my aging parents began chronicling their war-time experiences and sharing them with anyone who would listen. Churches, Rotary groups and schools invited them to speak, and they eagerly accepted to prevent their stories from following them to their graves.

Today, attracted by its vibrant culture, affordable apartments, and energy, 30,000 Jews call Berlin home despite persistent anti-Semitic attacks and constant police protection around Jewish sites. Covid-19 devasted the arts community in Seattle, shuttering theaters and permanently closing dance performance venues. Meanwhile, Berlins Culture Ministry gave 500 million in cash grants to artists and entrepreneurs, to preserve the richness and variety of Berlins cultural life. With free daycare, abundant playgrounds, and a monthly child benefit of 219 per dependent under 18, expats say its a great place to raise kids.

My beloved family and close friends

And so, 82 years after my mothers hurried departure, we come full circle. My children are selling their house in Seattle to make Berlin their home. Our five-year-old granddaughter and her parents take German-language classes every week; the two-year-old will pick it up quickly in day care. Their excitement is growing, but mine is still on ice. Holding my grand-daughters tiny hands, I think of how Ill miss their warm touch.

Last week my son asked, Was Savtas apartment near a cemetery? Indeed, it faced the Horst Wessel Friedhof, named for the composer of Nazi marching music. My new job is around the corner, he said, excitedly. I imagined him and his little girls walking past Joste Strasse on their way to and from work and day care. They will be part of the newest cycle of Jewish life in Berlin.

When our family gathers for Passover, well end the Seder with the traditional, Next year in Jerusalem. I will be silently thinking, Ach du Lieber  OMG, next year in Berlin!

Mindy Stern is a writer who is working on a book about the lives of medical residents and fellows. Follow her at www.mindysternauthor.com
New Delhi: The United Nations observe March 21 as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day aims to raise awareness about equality amd marks as an initiative to end all forms of racism and racial discrimination and calls all sections of society to stand up against intolerant attitudes.

We are living in the 21st century still there are countries that are facing the issue of racial discrimination. A recent example was the 2020 Black Lives Matter march, which gained support from million of demonstrators worldwide.

Here is everything you need to know about this day:

Theme for 2021:

The theme for International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2021 is "Youth standing up against racism".

The hashtag which is being used is #FightRacism, in order to reach out to a mass audience.

On Sunday's #FightRacism Day, we celebrate the young human rights defenders who, through their global engagement for equality & inclusion, build solidarity, lead change and stand up against racism. More from @UNHumanRights: https://t.co/rUmbZH7FDz pic.twitter.com/kDUw6USXfG  United Nations (@UN) March 20, 2021

History:

This day is observed annually to commemorate the lives of 69 people who were killed in 1960, at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid pass laws in Sharpeville, South Africa. This event is known as the Sharpeville tragedy or the Sharpeville massacre, which captured worldwide attention.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was then established six years after the event in 1966.

Significance:

This annual observance aims to unite the world against racism and discrimination in order to build a more happy and peaceful society.

Live TV
T

he role of the Line of Duty guest star is one of the most coveted in British television. Each series, actors who join the drama know it will be watched by millions on Sunday nights, that it will be packed with shoot-outs and quick-fire dialogue, and that theyll be added to a roll-call of impressive alumni, from Thandie Newton to Stephen Graham. Theres just one catch  more often than not, they get brutally killed off.

Its a formula that has gripped audiences since the first series began in 2012, drawing in 4 million viewers from the start. It broke records for BBC Two, got bumped up to BBC One, and now, entering its sixth season, its expected to top its previous record of 13.7 million viewers. The show, created by Jed Mercurio and set in the fictional police anti-corruption unit AC-12, is as famous for its rolling guest stars as it is for its labyrinthine plot and inscrutable acronyms. From the initial pitch, the series concept was that the investigators would be the returning characters and the guest lead under investigation would appear in one season only, says Mercurio. It gave us the creative freedom to take the guest leads arc to a point of no return.

The first ever guest star to go on the beat with series regulars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar was Lennie James. He played Tony Gates, a hotshot officer involved in a deadly hit-and-run who was being probed by AC-12. The investigation came to a gruesome end  with Gates walking in front of a truck. We were the first ones to go to the moon, says James, who is currently in Texas filming The Walking Dead and recovering from the crippling winter storm that hit the state. We filmed in Birmingham, and from there on they shot in Belfast. So for a number of reasons the first one was unique.

The shows success was completely unexpected. We had no idea that we were doing anything other than a really well-written cop show by Jed, says James. My overriding feeling, at the time, was what a fantastic time I had with Vicky, Martin, Aidy, Neil [Morrissey] and Craig [Parkinson]. We hung out with each other, we lived close to each other, we ate together, we worked together, we had a ball and were friends to this day.

Lennie Jamess character Tony Gates met a gruesome end (BBC)

James says Mercurio had to fight for the show. It wasnt a given, he says. BBC Two, at the time, thought they were taking a risk and their expectations werent particularly high. But then the networks were fighting over themselves to put it on.

Line of Duty was hardly enshrouded in secrecy then  but now, the plot is as top secret as a Marvel movie. The embargoes are set in steel, with screeners for the show accompanied by a long list of spoilers that cannot be revealed. And sure enough, our writer Fiona Sturges was asked to unhear a few things that the new guest star, Kelly Macdonald, let slip in her recent interview. Mercurio insists its no different from any other production in only releasing official information when its confirmed and keeping scripts confidential, but Daniel Mays  who played firearms officer Danny Waldron in series three  tells me there was a huge amount of pressure to keep things under wraps.

It was apparent from the off that I had to keep it under my hat, he says from East Finchley, where hes been homeschooling his children, an experience he compares to World War Three. He recalls a close shave where he nearly revealed that Keeley Hawess iconic series-two character, Lindsay Denton, was making a comeback. When I started, he says, Vicky and Keeley were both Bafta-nominated for series two. And literally one of the first ever tweets that I sent out was like, Wow, you cant move for Bafta-nominated actresses on this gig. Congratulations, Vicky and Keeley. I came into work the next day and there was a knock on my trailer. The producer came in and said, Listen, about your Twitter feed people are not meant to know that Keeley is back on the show. I wanted the whole ground to open up and swallow me. I thought Id let the cat out the bag. I deleted the tweet. Luckily, it didnt get any traction at all. But I was seriously considering deleting my Twitter account entirely.

Mays was polished off in just one episode, so he had to do a weird acting exercise and lie to journalists to make out that he would be starring throughout the series. It was a very odd thing to go through, he says. It was such an absolute cliffhanger at the end of that episode. I remember reading that script for the first time and my first question was, Oh my God, does he make it? And then Jed said to me, Im really sorry, Danny. This is the remit. This is what were asking you to do. It was an audacious thing to do, because I was effectively announced as the new lead and yet they were gonna kill me off. Thats the great thing about the show  no one is safe. Jed can kill characters left, right and centre, you know, and hes not scared to do that. Mercurio adds that Danny was aware up front of his characters arc. We all loved working with him so it turned out to be a poignant moment when he completed his last scene  our feeling he was gone too soon was mirrored by the audience, which was the intention.

Did Mays tell his family? Yeah, I told my wife, he says. Im terrible at that. I was in Rogue One, the Star Wars film, and the director honestly said to me, You are not allowed to tell anyone youre in it. I went, No, of course. The first person I told was my then 12-year-old son. You have to be very careful about who you tell and you have to trust those people.

Danny Mays was killed off after just one episode (BBC)

Anna Maxwell Martin, who joined as Patricia Carmichael, a senior anti-corruption detective, for the last few episodes of series 5, struggled to keep things hush-hush, too. I kept forgetting about the secrecy thing, to be honest, she says, I had a few panics a few times. Im very much a non-filtered talk first, think later sort of person.

Martin says she was over the blimmin moon when she got the part. I didnt even read it, just said yes. I would have made tea in the background for all I cared. It turned out I had a bit of the olde interviewing to do [the shows lengthy interrogation scenes are iconic]. Again, I loved it, I had a real giggle, everyone in the glass box was lovely, we had a great director in Sue Tully, so I just enjoyed it. Its rare in acting that you actually get to really blither on, so I relished it. Its such good fun to play an absolute cow, or very misunderstood person.

She admits, however, that she only ever read her own scenes, so didnt know what was happening in the wider storyline. You can hardly blame her. The plot is so intricate that one actor turned down the guest lead role because of the mental level of detail, as Macdonald recently put it in an interview with The Guardian. It got to a point, she told this newspaper, where she couldnt imagine doing anything other than learning lines. (Now I look back and think  she does a double air-punch  I did it!)

Anna Maxwell Martin: Its such good fun to play an absolute cow, or very misunderstood person (BBC)

James says the complexity of the plot has become a character in itself. It wasnt quite as bad when we were doing it first time around, he says, but I watch it now, and particularly Compston, he gets episodes where all hes doing is talking in acronyms.

I think Jed sometimes just does it to torture you, Compston told This Morning. It kind of becomes a wee badge of honour, trying to learn them and stuff. Many glossaries for the shows police jargon have appeared online over the years.

Line of Duty was a turning point in the careers of many of its guest stars. Every time the first series is repeated on BBC One, James is approached by a new set of fans. I remember very clearly going to the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium when it was rebuilt to see one of the early games, he says, and everybody was Line of Duty up to the eyeballs.

Mays, who was Bafta-nominated for his one episode, is hugely appreciative of what the show has done for his visibility. I definitely recognised it was, to that point, the best part Id ever played. It was one of those opportunities that comes along every once in a while that you have to grab with both hands. The fact that I got a Bafta nomination for it was just incredible. Im proud of that. It was an absolute game changer for me. It raised my profile commercially but also, in terms of an acting performance, it really showed what I could offer. The roles have come in thick and fast ever since. He laughs. I have played quite a few coppers now.

Vicky McClure and Kelly Macdonald on the case (BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill)

The increased attention hasnt always been pleasant, though. I found the paparazzi thing that goes with the show a shock and quite upsetting, says Martin. Ive never had a publicist or PR and never courted all that so I didnt like it. It took me by surprise, I ended up in a chase through north London because I thought You can sod off. Eventually we stopped, and he got out and said, God, you drive like a nutter! I taught my kids to flick them the Vs.

Mays is still a huge fan of the series. Im still proud every time it comes on BBC One, he says, and that its gone on to become this absolute juggernaut. His advice to future guest stars is to relish every second of it. It is writing of the highest level, he says. I hope it goes on and on and on because I dont think its outstayed its welcome yet at all.

James has also watched every single minute of it. I was really gutted that I wasnt coming back, even though I knew I wasnt because I got hit by a truck, he says. I was genuinely put out not to be amongst their number anymore because we had such a good time. So I watched it to see what they were all up to. The show has never stood still. Its challenged itself and moved forward. When Keeley came in, she took it to another level and what they did with Danny, killing him off as quickly as they could, was just brilliant. I havent been surprised by television like that in a long time. And then they bring in Thandie and then Stevie G. I mean, they just keep upping and upping and upping their game.

And what about Patricia Carmichael, one of the few guest characters who wasnt killed off? Will she be back? No, Pat wont be back, says Martin. Shes having a lie down.
New Delhi, March 21 : Taiwanese electronics and computer maker Acer has been hit by a ransomware attack where the hackers are demanding $50 million, the largest known ransom to date.

According to Bleeping Computer, hackers have accessed Acer documents that include financial spreadsheets, bank balances and bank communications, reportedly compromising its network via a Microsoft Exchange server vulnerability that has grabbed headlines for the last few days.

"The REvil group that carried out a ransomware attack on Travelex last year is believed to be behind the Acer breach as well," the report mentioned.

The ransomware gang has announced on their data leak site that "they had breached Acer and shared some images of allegedly stolen files as proof".

"In conversations between the victim and REvil, which started on March 14, the Acer representative showed shock at the massive $50 million demand," the report mentioned.

Acer said in a statement they have "reported recent abnormal situations" to relevant authorities.

"Companies like us are constantly under attack, and we have reported recent abnormal situations observed to the relevant law enforcement and data protection authorities in multiple countries," it said.

Acer added that "there is an ongoing investigation and for the sake of security, we are unable to comment on details".

REvil's $50 million demand is the largest known ransom to date, with the previous being the $30 million ransom from the Dairy Farm cyberattack, also by the same hacking group.

Meanwhile, reports have claimed that five different hacking groups (including China-backed hacking group called 'Hafnium') are exploiting vulnerabilities in the business email servers of Microsoft.

Microsoft has already released an emergency patch for its Exchange Server product, the most popular mail server worldwide.

All incoming and outgoing emails, calendar invitations and virtually anything accessed within Outlook goes through the Exchange server.

A Check Point Research revealed last week that at least 32 Indian organisations have been attacked by hackers who exploited vulnerabilities in unpatched Microsoft business email servers, adding that the finance and banking institutions have been hit the most in the country.
MCALLEN  A Border Patrol bus had just disgorged another 60 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 missing 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 21-month-old son, Matheo, since the child was a newborn. The pandemic and the immigration clampdown by the Trump administration had made travel home to Honduras impossible, despite his decade as a legal U.S. resident.

Then COVID-19 claimed Mayorgas beloved grandmother and mother in quick succession a few months ago, he said. Now, with a new president in the White House, Mayorga had decided it was time to reunite with what remains of his family. He admits it is hardly an original idea.

We heard that mothers with small children were being allowed in, Mayorga said. All Hondurans  everyone  want to come here.

With the northern spring arriving, the pandemic perhaps 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 once again.

While Biden administration officials struggle with their messaging  this month insisting that the border remains closed while stressing it will be less harshly so  U.S. immigration agents continue quickly turning back the vast majority of undocumented migrants as soon as they enter, officials say.

Still, thousands of teens migrating alone and adults bringing very young children are being processed and released to relatives and other sponsors in the United States. The spiking number of migrants crossing the border, most of them coming from Central America, has created what many critics call a crisis  and most everyone agrees is a chaotic crush.

Border Patrol agents detained 9,500 children and more than 19,000 migrant families in February. Another 71,000 adults traveling alone  many of them making repeated attempts at crossing  were caught as well.

All told, the numbers of those detained marked a 30 percent increase from January, the last month of President Donald Trumps administration. Experts expect the numbers to continue rising, regardless of the impact of the current messaging.

While nearly all the adults migrating alone are quickly returned across the border, U.S. officials announced Thursday that some 14,000 unaccompanied minors are now in U.S. detention.

Several thousand unaccompanied migrant 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 also are converting large family detention camps in Dilley and Karnes County south of San Antonio into immigrant processing centers.

We have to do what we do regardless of what anybody calls the situation, Roberta Jacobson, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico now helping coordinate border and immigration policy at the White House, told reporters recently.

And the fact is, we are all focused on improving the situation, on changing to a more humane and efficient system, she said.

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. Migration experts say the push has been accelerated now by the destruction of back-to-back major hurricanes last fall and the belief that the new U.S. administration will treat migration more favorably.

As Barack Obamas vice president, Biden took 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 of the migrants came from the Northern Triangle and most crossed the border into far South Texas.

That tide abated once word spread in Central America that being admitted temporarily to await a hearing was no guarantee of U.S. residency. Both Mexico and the U.S. toughened their border enforcement.

Trump squelched yet another surge three years ago  one punctuated reports of thousands-strong migrant caravans marching to the border 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 until their cases were heard.

Trumps administration last year then began refusing entry to nearly all undocumented immigrants, arguing they posed a risk of carrying COVID-19 into the United States. The Biden administration so far has continued that policy, known as Title 42, and uses it to turn away most migrants now.

The border is not open, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol 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 remain pending. Overwhelmed immigration courts have approved less than 1 percent of recent asylum requests.

The crisis is coming

Still, here along the final stretch of the Rio Grande, an unclear 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, citing capacity and other issues.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley, stretching some 100 miles from upriver of McAllen to the Gulf of Mexico, has long been the most transited section of the entire 2,000-mile border, regularly accounting for nearly three-quarters of U.S. immigration detentions.

As word spreads that some migrant families may be treated more leniently here, the flow might well increase this spring. In fiscal year 2019, before the pandemic struck and stopped almost all immigration, some 340,000 undocumented migrants were apprehended in the Border Patrol's 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 Isaacson, who tracks immigration policy and other regional issues 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 of the Biden administrations new policies. Many families are arriving and many others are being sent back. Its a nightmare.

The 175 men, women and children sleeping and eating at the shelter are a fraction of those who have stayed at any one time in past year. But Silva is allowing in only those who have been tested for COVID-19.

Silva used to limit stays to three days for those passing through, but that was dropped when Trump policies dammed the migrant flow. Now all newcomers are required to be quarantined in a separate building for two weeks. Those out of quarantine stay on for weeks more.

Some 45 adults and children were packed last week into the quarantine room, sleeping on old mattresses or gym mats spread on the floor. Meals are served through the doorway. Those under quarantine didnt mingle with other shelter residents even when allowed outside.

Some in quarantine recently had been forcibly returned from Texas. Others had only just arrived after long bus rides across Mexico, unimpeded by Mexican immigration or police.

The continued risks posed by the migration routes in Mexico was underscored in January when 19 migrants, nearly all of them from Maya communities in the Guatemalan highlands, were found murdered and their bodies burned upriver from McAllen. Mexican authorities said the migrants were victims of rivalries between smuggling gangs. Twelve state police officers were arrested in the investigation.

In June 2019, a Guatemalan mother, her toddler son and two other young children died in a thick bramble near McAllen. They apparently had become lost and disoriented after being crossed over the river by smugglers.

Still, the gangs that control the Mexican bank have gotten their business running smoothly, migrants interviewed along the Rio Grande said. Fees vary but these days run some $600 a head for the quick raft ride to the U.S. bank. Passengers are given life jackets. Cell phone photos are sent to those who are paying as proof of service.

A recent video of dozens of migrants lined on the Mexican bank waiting to be ferried across recently went viral on the internet. Customs and Border Patrol officials say agents so far this year have encountered 19 groups of 100 migrants or more crossing into the Rio Grande Valley.

Once on the U.S. side, the migrants are usually on their own, advised to turn themselves into Border Patrol agents. Several migrants at the shelter 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 is 6-year-old son, said of the Biden administration. You see a child as a passport into the United States. Its not easy, but its the only way.

There is nothing in Honduras, Cruz said. Were just looking for a better future.

Finally reunited

Who gets to stay and who is returned across the river seems haphazard at best.

A cousin of Mayorgas, her husband and two young children had crossed the Rio Grande on March 12 in the same raft as his own wife and son. They were returned to Mexico three days later.

It appears to be pure luck who gets in, said Mayorga, who immigrated to the U.S. himself a decade ago with a green card sponsored by his U.S. citizen grandmother. Thats why I was so worried.

After four days of searching, Mayorga received a call from his wife Tuesday afternoon. Cardona told him she and their son were being released in Brownsville that afternoon. They had been held in a chilly and crowded building where the food was bad and many 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 in the hard chairs with thousand-yard stairs as their children played with coloring books and other toys provided by Team Brownsville, whose volunteers have been providing migrants with food, shelter and travel aid in recent years.

Mayorga approached his family unseen, 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.

With his wife carrying their son, Mayorga guided them from the station to his car parked at the curb.

He was taking his family home.
A search was ongoing Saturday in New Hampshire for woman, 41, who vanished without any sign after she went for a walk with her dog.

The family of Lowell, Massachusetts, resident Sinead Lyons reported her missing, the New York Daily News reported.

Lyons' white Volvo station wagon was discovered abandoned near Ossipee Lake in eastern New Hampshire on Monday.

Officials conducting the search have not uncovered any trace of the missing woman in the days since her disappearance. Her German shepherd, Flossie, also has not been found.

Authorities said they do not have any reason to suspect foul play in the disappearance at this time.

Sinead Lyons was last seen around March 10. Authorities do not suspect foul play in the disappearance at this time

Officials conducting the search have not uncovered any trace of the missing 41-year-old in the days since her disappearance

Lyons' German shepherd, Flossie, also has not been found

Sandra Lyons posted a message on social media March 19 asking for assistance in the search for her missing sister, Sinead Lyons

Sandra Lyons posted another social media message on March 20 seeking the public's help in finding her sister, Sinead Lyons, who went missing while walking her German shepherd

'We ask you to keep looking, keep checking your land, to pray. Please help find them,' her sister, Sandra Lyons, wrote Friday in a Facebook post. 'Thank you all for continuing to spread the word. We will find them!'

Sinead Lyons told her friend Kristin Haralabatos she was heading to Ossipee to visit her boyfriend, who was not identified. She planned to pick up her dog and go for a walk, Haralabatos said.

'And then when she was leaving, she told the guy that she was going to Google woods or paths around there,' Haralabatos told CBS 4 Boston.

Lowell Police asked for the public's assistance in finding Lyons, who is 5'11'' with blonde hair. She also could be in North Conway, New Hampshire, police said.

Lyons' white Volvo station wagon was discovered in the area of Ossipee Lake in eastern New Hampshire

Authorities in New Hampshire used a drone as part of their search around the lake near the border with Maine, WMUR reported.

'New Hampshire Fish and Game put their airboat on the ice and checked the areas of the lake that are open water, as well as used a remote vehicle to check under the ice,' New Hampshire State Police Lt. James Fogarty said.

A foot search was also underway and helicopters were deployed to assist the effort.

Kristin Haralabatos says her friend Sinead Lyons wanted to go for a hike with her dog in the area around the New Hampshire lake near the Maine border

'We're asking the public to continue to send in tips,' Fogarty said. 'If they have information that would lead us to the whereabouts of Miss Lyons, we would appreciate their calls. We have already received several calls, and some of this information has been fruitful.'

Haralabatos said she hoped for the best for her friend, 'but this is very, very unlike her.'

'Through my heart, I am just praying that she is OK,' Haralabatos said.
Burma Shan Villagers Flee Myanmar Military Raid after Four Soldiers Die

The military vehicle in a Shan State ravine.

More than 1,500 villagers from three villages in Pekon Township, Shan State, have fled their homes after the military regime vowed retribution after the death of four soldiers on March 15.

The regime said on Saturday it had lost contact with four soldiers, including two officers, traveling to Pekon Township to address an administrative issue after receiving a report they were confronting a mob.

The junta said it found their bodies tied with ropes in a hole near Lelhton village and their burnt-out vehicle in a ravine.

Four villagers have been detained and another four have been interrogated.

The regime threatened extreme action against those involved.

Sources said since March 17, the military, claiming that the four soldiers were missing, has raided villages in Shan State near the Kayah State border and used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds against villagers protesting against their deployment.

The military has reportedly occupied a church, school and a home to accommodate its troops, causing many villagers to flee.

On Thursday, 20 villagers and Ko Khun Myo Hlaing Win, a member of Kayah States anti-regime general strike committee who had consulted with the military to secure the villagers release, were also detained.

Ko Khun Myo Hlaing Win, who was released on March 19, told The Irrawaddy on Sunday that villagers had been tortured until they were unconscious and deaf during interrogation.

He said 18 out of 20 villagers were released by the military after their investigation.

Around 200 troops are reportedly deployed in Lelhton.

More than 1,500 villagers from Lethton, Wari Taung Chay and Saungkan have fled to avoid arrest.

The military needs to retreat from the villages so people can return to their homes, said Ko Khun Myo Hlaing Win.

In Sagaing Region, thousands of residents from five villages in Depayin Township have fled their homes after a military deployment in response to an incident that left two police officers dead and a police captain injured on March 17.

Tens of thousands of people across Myanmar have taken to the streets day and night to defy the regime.

The security forces have been cracking down on peaceful anti-regime protests using live rounds, rubber bullets, tear gas, stun grenades and deadly air-guns firing lead pellets.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, more than 240 anti-regime protesters have been killed by the security forces.

You may also like these stories:

French Energy Giant Halts Myanmar Hydropower Project Over Human Rights Concerns

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Villagers Flee Their Homes as Myanmar Military Regime Vows Action
He became eligible to hit the road without restrictions as a bike rider,after passing his category A motorcycle test back in the summer of 2017.

And Tom Hardy appeared to be in his element when he was spotted puffing on an e-cigarette before taking his 17,000 Triumph for a spin in London over the weekend.

The Mad Max: Fury Road star, 43, was seen scrolling through his phone as he sat kerbside, before riding off through the streets of the English capital.

Going for a ride: Tom Hardy was spotted puffing on an e-cigarette before taking his 17,000 Triumph for a spin in London over the weekend

The west London native looked casually cool for his outing, donning camouflage-print combat trousers and a loose-fitting black hoodie.

Complementing his ensemble with a pair of Asics running shoes, the star wore a white graphic backpack, while a black safety helmet rested atop his head.

Back in June 2017, Tom was in the midst of taking motorbike lessons with Nuneaton-based Tim Smith of Two Wheels Motorcycle Training, when he was spotted stopping for a breather in an Esso garage in Whitestone.

Joanne Vowles, who had called in at the petrol station on the way to a Tom Jones gig at Sherwood Forest, said: 'I asked him if he really was Tom Hardy and he said yes.'

Indulge: The screen heartthrob looked relaxed as he indulged before pressing on with his day

Scroll: The Mad Max: Fury Road star was seen scrolling through his phone as he sat kerbside

She added of the screen star: 'He was so humble, drop-dead gorgeous and a lovely bloke. I spotted him and I thought it just cant be, so I looked again and he smiled.

'After I checked he really was Tom Hardy, he came over, had a chat and we asked if we could take photos.

'He said, "No problem, put them on Facebook." He was so lovely. I asked him why he was here and he said he was taking his bike test.'

Tom's instructor Tim Smith was equally complimentary, telling The Sun Online: 'Hes a really nice guy, hes down to earth and hes not a celebrity with us.

'Hes good to work with, he doesnt come across as celebrity status. Hes a normal guy, hes a very nice chap.'

Casually cool: The west London native looked casually cool for his outing, donning camouflage-print combat trousers and a loose-fitting black hoodie

Bag: The star wore a white graphic backpack, while a black safety helmet rested atop his head

As for how the star, who is one of the favourites to become the next James Bond, fared with his bike lessons, Tim noted: 'Hes good at it. Hes really taken it on board.'

On the work front, the screen star's biopic Capone was released on Netflix UK at the end of last month.

Capone follows the last year of the mobster's life, as he settles down in Florida after spending the past 10 years behind bars while struggling with his mental health.

The notorious gangster was originally sentenced to serve 11 years in prison for tax evasion though he was released early due to his failing health.

Capone was just 48 years of age when he died in Palm Island, Florida in January 1947, so Tom was aged up up slightly for the role.

Ensemble: The actor complemented his casual ensemble with a pair of Asics running shoes

Easy rider: Following his break, Tom put his helmet back on before riding off into the streets

Tom's portrayal of Capone sees him plagued by his life of crime, while some scenes also see him wear adult diapers after soiling himself.

Capone was diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhoea after arriving at the federal prison in Atlanta, and his health continued to decline.

He was later diagnosed with neurosyphilis, syphilis of the brain, in 1938, which damaged his mental faculties to the point where he was said to have the mentality of a 12-year-old child in 1946.

The biopic also stars Linda Cardellini as Capone's wife Mae, Jack Lowden as FBI Agent Crawford, Matt Dillon as Johnny and Kyle MacLachlan as Karlock.

Josh Trank returned to the director's chair for the first time since 2015's Fantastic Four reboot, while also writing the screenplay and editing Capone.

Drama: His latest film Capone follows the last year of the mobster's life, as he settles down in Florida after spending the past 10 years behind bars while struggling with his mental health
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.
Co-founded back in 2014 by VHIO's Laura Soucek, CEO of the enterprise, and Marie-Eve Beaulieu, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the company, VHIO-born spin-off Peptomyc S.L. has just announced that it has received approval from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices for conducting clinical trials in Spain (AEMPS), to initiate the first-in-human Phase I/II clinical trial with its first compound - a disruptive Myc inhibitor, Omomyc (OMO-103).

Building on the proven preclinical efficacy and safety of the Omomyc cell-penetrating peptide (CCP) in mouse models, and Peptomyc's company's successful development of anti-Myc peptides for the treatment of several tumor types, this latest milestone represents a greatly anticipated 'leap' into the clinical research setting and an important step forward in becoming the first ever clinically viable and direct inhibitor of Myc - a protein implicated in the formation of most tumor types.

Commenting for VHIO's Global Communications, Laura Soucek, Principal Investigator of VHIO's Mouse Models of Cancer Therapies and an ICREA Research Professor said, "MYC has been considered an 'undruggable' cancer target for many years. We have previously shown that Myc blockade has an excellent therapeutic effect in several mouse models, with mild side effects that are well tolerated and reversible. Now that we have received approval to initiate our early phase clinical trial, we can further progress in testing the safety and efficacy of our Omomyc-based therapy for the benefit of those who matter the most - our patients."

Over the last 20 years Laura's determined research efforts have centered on proving countless cynics wrong in her ambitions to combat resistance to therapy and combat cancer cell spread through clinically inhibiting the Myc oncogene. Found deregulated in most, if not all tumor types, and as a key driver of cancer progression and maintenance, Myc is consequently a major contender as a cancer target and yet, promise of its inhibition has not yet been successfully translated into benefits at the patient level.

While several factors including Myc's nuclear localization, lack of identified ligand binding site, and its function in maintaining normal tissues, are responsible for both this frustrating scenario as well as the sustained belief that it is in fact an impossible cancer target, Laura and her team are now silencing the sceptics by finally pushing Myc inhibition into the clinic.

At the preclinical level, we have reported the efficacy of Omomyc as a cell penetrating peptide - essentially, a mini-protein with the ability to enter cells and reach its target compartment, namely, the nucleus. The successful intravenous systemic administration of our mini-protein MYC inhibitor against lung cancer and other malignancies, has led to this week's exciting development." Marie-Eve Beaulieu, Peptomyc's Chief Scientific Officer

She added, "Our strategy differs immensely from other previous approaches aimed at inhibiting Myc. Our Omomyc mini-protein is large enough to accurately fold and adapt to Myc's disordered structure, which determines the specificity of inhibition. At the same time, it is small enough to penetrate tumor cells and nuclei in order to reach its target. By conducting our first-in-human early phase clinical trial, we hope to drive this novel therapy into the clinic for the more effective treatment of multiple tumor types".

Twenty patients with advanced solid tumors across various cancer types, whose disease has progressed after previous treatments, will be enrolled in the Phase I study. This clinical trial will be carried out at three different Spanish sites: our Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH), also located within the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, the HM Sanchinarro University Hospital, and the Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital (Madrid).

VHIO's Elena Garralda, Director of our Research Unit for Molecular Therapy of Cancer (UITM) - "la Caixa" Foundation, and Head of Early Clinical Drug Development at our Institute, is the Principal Investigator of Peptomyc's clinical study at Vall d'Hebron. She noted, "I am honored and privileged to participate in this study of a VHIO-developed molecule. Since Myc has traditionally been considered as an impossible drug target, this clinical trial represents a pivotal development. Confirmation of OMO-103's safety and efficacy in patients would be extremely important for the future treatment of cancer".

"To get to where we are today has been a long and challenging journey. While we have had to overcome many obstacles, we have successfully proven our hypothesis about Myc by achieving amazing results in animal models. We very much hope that Omomyc will meet the same expectations in clinical research so that we can ultimately provide new hope for cancer patients, particularly for those suffering from advanced disease," concluded Laura Soucek.

The preclinical development of Omomyc was possible thanks to the support received from Worldwide Cancer Research (WCR/AICR), European Research Council (ERC) - one Consolidator and two Proof of Concept grants - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Institute of Health Carlos III), Fondo de Investigacion en Salud (FIS) grants, Fero Foundation, and the BBVA Foundation, among other funding entities.
More than 15,000 Indonesian seaweed farmers stand to be compensated over one of Australias largest oil spills after they won a protracted class action battle against the company that ran the rig off the coast of Western Australia.

The Federal Court found the 2009 Montara oil spill travelled 240 kilometres into Indonesian waters and destroyed the seaweed crops and livelihood of West Timor farmers.

The scenes from the 2009 Montara oil spill. Credit:Bloomberg

The court found on Friday that the company that operated the rig, PTTEP Australasia, had breached its duty of care to the farmers by failing to properly seal the well, which created a very high risk of blowout.

Justice David Yates said there was no other plausible explanation for the widespread loss to the farmers of the Kupang and Rote Ndao regions other than the oil spill.
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Allentown police said they are searching for a 28-year-old man who is responsible for a shooting Saturday night near Hanover Avenue.

Investigators have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Isaiah Brown, whose last known address was at Maryland Circle in Whitehall Township, city police said in a news release Sunday. Brown is facing charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault in the incident, police said.

City officers responded at 9:31 p.m. to the 300 block of North Maxwell Street to find the man suffering from a gunshot wound or wounds inside a car, said Allentown Police Capt. James Keiser. The victim was taken to an area hospital by ambulance for serious injuries, Keiser said.

A condition was not available Sunday afternoon for the victim.

The shooting is believed to be an isolated incident and the general public is not in any danger, Keiser said.

Police continue to investigate the incident. Those with information are asked to call the Allentown Police Detective Bureau at 610-437-7721, ext. 1 or the Allentown Police Patrol Desk at 610-437- 7753, ext. 1. Tipsters also can be anonymous via the TextTip411 app, which can be found here.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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WASHINGTON  Charges against police officers, public safety workers and military veterans in the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 reignited concerns among lawmakers and law enforcement officials about violent extremists infiltrating government agencies.

Out of 324 arrests in the Capitol riot, 43 are current or former first responders or military veterans, according to USA TODAY analysis. At least four police officers and three former officers face federal charges. Two have been fired, one resigned and one was suspended without pay. Each of the officers charged has either pleaded not guilty or has not yet been arraigned.

The alleged participation of public safety officials who swore to uphold the Constitution has led lawmakers to sound the alarm.

A street alliance among right-wing paramilitary forces, law enforcement and demagogic politicians has been a hallmark of fascism for a century, so the involvement of multiple law enforcement officers from across the country in waging the Jan. 6th insurrection against the Capitol and the Congress is a warning sign of danger for our democracy," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told USA TODAY. "Off-duty cops beating up on-duty cops to overthrow an election is a nightmare scenario for America."

The Capitol insurrection, in which 140 police officers were injured and Officer Brian Sicknick later died, featured numerous examples of violent extremism and white supremacy. Rioters carried Confederate flags and nooses, and wore shirts saying the deaths of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust weren't enough. Amid the crowd, law enforcement officers reveled in social media posts about how they "attacked the government," according to court documents.

A Pro-Trump rioter carries a Confederate flag near the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 6.

People involved in a number of hate groups have been arrested since the Capitol assault, including:

16 defendants linked to Proud Boys, a misogynistic, anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic group with ties to white supremacism.

13 linked to QAnon, an internet conspiracy movement.

12 linked to Oath Keepers, a paramilitary organization that recruits current and former military, law enforcement and first responder personnel.

Other arrests included people allegedly associated with the Three Percenters, an anti-government movement, and Super Happy Fun America, a group with ties to white nationalists known for organizing a straight pride parade in Boston.

Story continues

'White supremacists dressed in blue'

Concerns about white nationalists infiltrating police departments have percolated for years. An FBI report warned in 2006 that white supremacist presence among law enforcement personnel is a concern due to the access they may possess to restricted areas vulnerable to sabotage and to elected officials or protected persons, whom they could see as potential targets for violence.

"Their presence in law enforcement impedes official responses to right-wing terrorism, places loyal officers in peril and exposes vulnerable communities to lawless violence by white supremacists dressed in blue," said Raskin, who has investigated the infiltration of white supremacists in law enforcement as chairman of a House Oversight and Reform subcommittee.

Raskin asked the FBI for a briefing about such infiltration by March 26, saying he was concerned the FBI lacks an adequate strategy to respond to the threat to public safety.

The FBI acknowledged receiving Raskin's letter but declined further comment.

Its alarming that the FBI has been unwilling to level with the American public and Congress about the full magnitude of the threat of domestic white supremacist infiltration of local police departments," Raskin said. "We await a comprehensive strategy on how federal law enforcement plans to cut the links between law enforcement and right-wing extremist elements, including militia groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. There is no excuse for further passivity and denial in the face of clear complicity between officers and self-fashioned storm troopers."

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 2 that the Capitol attack involved violent extremists and that the FBI considered it a form of domestic terrorism.

He had warned six months earlier that domestic violent extremism was driven by perceptions of government or law enforcement overreach, racism, anti-Semitism and misogyny. He said domestic terrorism cases investigated each year doubled during his three years on the job.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., asked whether rooting out white supremacists and right-wing extremists was a challenge for law enforcement.

Wray said the FBI works with departments to address violent extremism, which the agency considers a kind of insider threat, by referring cases for investigation and discipline.

As we're continuing to investigate the Jan. 6th attack, there have been some instances of current or particular former military or law enforcement who participated, Wray said. And we want to pursue those cases just as aggressively as we would anybody else."

CURRENT AND FORMER POLICE CHARGED IN CAPITOL RIOT

Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker

Two officers from Rocky Mount, Virginia  Sgt. Thomas Robertson and Officer Jacob Fracker  were fired Jan. 26 after charges were filed. The two were identified from social media posts after posing under a statue of John Stark, according to court records. Robertson said on Instagram that CNN and the Left are just mad because we actually attacked the government who is the problem and not some random small business," according to court records. "The right IN ONE DAY took the f***** U.S. Capitol. Keep poking us."

The Justice Department released a photo of Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson, two off-duty police officers with the city of Rocky Mount, Va., inside the U.S. Capitol during the deadly riot Jan. 6.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Fracker wrote, "Lol to anyone whos possibly concerned about the picture of me going around ... Sorry I hate freedom?  Not like I did anything illegal, according to court records.

Tam Pham

Tam Dinh Pham, a former Houston Police officer, has been charged with knowingly entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct for being inside the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Tam Pham of Richmond, Texas, an 18-year police officer in Houston, resigned after agents interviewed him about the riot. Pham took pictures inside the Capitol in the Rotunda and standing next to a Trump flag, but he told agents he was in the building only 10 to 15 minutes, according to court records.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced the resignation Jan. 14 and said the department would investigate jointly with the FBI and Justice Department.

Joseph Fischer

Joseph Fischer, a police officer in North Cornwall Township in Pennsylvania, was suspended without pay after the charges were filed. Fischer posted on Facebook about pushing a police line back 25 feet as officers tried to protect the building and making it to the second level of the Capitol despite being pepper sprayed, according to court records.

Joseph Fischer, a police officer in Pennsylvania, has been arrested and charged for allegedly participating in the U.S. Capitol riot.

Fischer said in a Facebook post Jan. 6 that "it was mostly peaceful" and "a few became destructive," but he "was inside the capital talking to police," according to court records.

Thomas Webster

Thomas Webster of Queens, New York, is a retired police officer charged with assaulting a Metropolitan Police Department officer at the west front of the Capitol. The defending officer's body camera footage showed Webster berating the officer with profanities, shoving a metal barrier into the officer and hitting him repeatedly with a flagpole with a large Marine Corps flag attached, according to court records.

Thomas Webster, a former New York City police officer, is among those arrested and charged for participating in the Capitol riot.

Laura Young Steele

Laura Young Steele of Thomasville, North Carolina, wrote in her application to join the Oath Keepers that she had 13 years experience in law enforcement, including as a former K-9 officer and SWAT team member, according to court records. Pictures from the Capitol show her in camouflage clothing marching with a group of people in a military-style "stack" formation, with their hands on each other's backs or jackets to stay connected during the assault, according to court records.

Members of the Oath Keepers crowded into the Capitol one Jan 6, 2021

Nicholes Lentz

Nicholes Lentz of Boynton Beach, Florida, is a former police officer in North Miami Beach and Fort Pierce. Lentz, whose case has been sealed, allegedly streamed the riot live on Facebook and posted about it.

Were not here to hurt any cops, of course, the former police officer and Marine Corps veteran said, according to court records. I love my boys in blue, but this is overwhelming for them. Theres no way they can hold us back.

Marissa Suarez, a corrections officer in Monmouth County, New Jersey, was arrested on Jan. 22, on charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The FBI stated she took an emergency day off work to travel to Washington, D.C.

In addition to the police officers arrested, Marissa Suarez of Trenton, New Jersey, resigned as a Monmouth County jail corrections officer after the FBI charged her with illegally entering the Capitol.

Suarez sent a text Jan. 6 at 3:20 p.m. saying: "Sooo we've stormed Capitol Hill lol," according to court records. "When we found out pence (expletive) us, we all stormed the Capitol building and everyone forced entry and started breaking (expletive)," Suarez said in a text Jan. 7, according to court records.

Sheriff Shaun Golden said Suarez resigned after her arrest. He said any violation of federal or state law was "unacceptable, particularly from a sworn member of law enforcement whose role is to protect and serve."

Actions have consequences, and that applies to those who participated in the peaceful protests that resulted in violence at the Capitol," Golden said.

Terry Brown, a former public safety officer in Pennsylvania, was also charged.

"There were a bunch of garbage cans they threw down the steps ... and people stopped and they were yelling we're not Antifa, he said of his time inside the Capitol. "I don't regret doing what I did, because we got a message across and the world knows it."

Beyond arrests : Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate

The riot sparked investigations of law enforcement nationwide, from Philadelphia to Seattle.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority investigated seven off-duty transit police officers who attended the Jan. 6 protest of the presidential election to see whether they participated in the riotous behavior at the Capitol. Two sergeants were suspended without pay for social media posts that could be interpreted as supporting the rioters, the agency announced March 17.

The Seattle Police Department is investigating six officers who were in Washington during the attack. Two officers were placed on administrative leave and four remain on duty while the Office of Police Accountability investigates. Police Chief Adrian Diaz said officers would be fired if they were involved in the insurrection.

We cannot violate the same laws we are sworn to protect, he said. We cannot allow violent or intimidating direct action to become acceptable in our society.

Chris West, sheriff of Canadian County, Oklahoma, attended former President Donald Trump's protest rally and walked to the Capitol, but he called a news conference to deny pushing past police or entering the building.

"What happened at the nation's Capitol, the crimes that were committed, the egregious crimes on our beacon and bastion of last hope for our nation, breaking into that and terrorizing it, that's horrible," West said. "The fact that people died, the fact that law enforcement officers were assaulted on our nation's Capitol, that our congressional members and other people in our government were in fear for life, I rebuke all of that."

Undermining ' the nation's trust in law enforcement '

A group at the Brennan Center for Justice called Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration called for a full investigation after the Capitol attack because of racial dynamics at the scene and the inadequate response to the violence, concerned it could deteriorate the legitimacy of law enforcement.

Ronal Serpas, a former police superintendent in New Orleans, and Taryn Merkl, a former assistant U.S. attorney in New York, wrote two days after the riot that if police participated in the mob storming the Capitol, "such actions undermine the nation's trust in law enforcement and are a disgraceful affront to our professional commitment to serve and protect."

Americans' trust in police hit an all-time low in the summer of 2020, according to Gallup polls, as protests raged against the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other unarmed Black people.

Protesters hold a banner calling for the defunding of police July 10, 2020, in Sheboygan, Wis.

Trust in police has risen since then, according to a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll released this month.

A jury was seated Friday in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering Floyd.

This week, Capt. Jay Baker was removed from the case of the Atlanta-area shootings that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent. Baker said Wednesday during a news conference that the alleged gunman had a really bad day and this is what he did. Baker had also promoted a T-shirt with controversial language about China and the coronavirus.

Long-standing concerns of racism with 'ramped up' intensity

The 2006 FBI report found that white supremacist groups historically tried to infiltrate and recruit from law enforcement communities. The report said the threat from infiltrators would be exploitation of intelligence collection, which could jeopardize the safety of law enforcement sources.

Its been a concern for years, said Daniel Linskey, former chief of the Boston Police Department and now managing director of security risk management at Kroll. Definitely the intensity and veracity of it has ramped up in the last two or three years for sure.

During his 27 years in law enforcement, Linskey worked as an undercover officer pretending to be a drug dealer or mafia figure while others infiltrated white supremacist groups. If members of a targeted group joined police and got access to databases, they could thwart an investigation and endanger an officers life, Linskey said.

The difference between domestic terrorism and foreign terrorist organizations is where they come from, he said. Its just as if youre supporting the Hells Angels motorcycle club or La Cosa Nostra.

White supremacists in law enforcement can lead to the "tolerance of racism within communities served," the FBI reported.

Racism in policing has a 400-year history in the USA, historians say, dating back to slave patrols, as well as thousands of recent examples, from Rodney King to Floyd.

In 2019, a team of investigative journalists published the Plain View Project, which collected more than 5,000 Facebook posts from police officers in eight cities containing white supremacist, xenophobic, misogynistic and violent messages. The posts spanned a decade.

Raskin sent letters in September to the eight departments asking for results of investigations of the officers involved. The committee received responses from the departments but hasn't released the results.

The Dallas Police Department announced in January 2020 that 13 officers were disciplined for misconduct on social media based on the Plain View Project. The project identified 169 current and former officers potentially in violation of the department's policy for 445 posts. Internal affairs officers determined 60 officers had left the department.

Among the rest, investigators found some posts didn't violate the policy and some officers were given additional training. The discipline ranged from documented counseling to suspensions without pay.

It is imperative that we operate with the highest level of ethics and integrity to ensure that the public is confident in the legitimacy of who we are as a law enforcement agency," then-Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall said.

Heather Taylor, a retired sergeant in the St. Louis Police Department who testified at a House hearing in September about white supremacists in law enforcement, said the Justice Department and Congress should give the issue their utmost attention: "It is really that serious."

Its been there hiding in plain sight," said Taylor, former president of the Ethical Society of Police, a group founded by Black officers in the city to fight discrimination. I wish I could tell you I was shocked. I wasnt."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police charged in Capitol riot reignite concerns of racism, extremism
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Antony Blinken (left) and Jake Sullivan address the media following talks between the US and China in Anchorage, Alaska (Reuters)

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.

Story continues

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 condescendingAFP/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 AnchorageEPA

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
NCP leaders to meet Sharad Pawar in backdrop of Param Bir Singh's letter

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Mar 21: Against the backdrop of former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh''s allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP''s state unit president Jayant Patil are scheduled to meet party supremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Sunday.

Patil gave this information, but said that the meeting was planned three days ago and it is aimed at discussing issues related to the Pandharpur Assembly bypoll scheduled next month.

Param Bir Singh, in his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, has alleged that Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore every month from bars and hotels, a charge the minister has denied.

Will file defamation case against Parambir Singh: Anil Deshmukh

Deshmukh belongs to the NCP.

Talking to PTI, Jayant Patil, who is also the state Water Resources Minister, said that the Delhi visit was planned three days ago.

"The Pandharpur Assembly bypoll is scheduled next month. Ajit dada and I decided to meet party workers in Solapur district to know their views over the selection of candidate and the party strategy, and then meet Pawar saheb in Delhi with the feedback before returning to Mumbai," he said.

"Accordingly, both of us are in Pandharpur to discuss issues related to the bypoll with party workers. We will then go to Delhi (to meet Pawar)," he said.

The Pandharpur bypoll is scheduled to be held on April 17. It was necessitated due to the death of NCP MLA Bharat Bhalke last year.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 10:49 [IST]
The Social Dilemma

The American docudrama film goes into depth on how social media's design is meant to nurture an addiction, manipulate its use in politics, and spread conspiracy. The film also examines the serious issue of social media's effect on mental health.

The film features interviews people from top tech companies and social media platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Apple. These interviews are presented alongside scripted dramatizations of a teenagers social media addiction and a primer on how a social media algorithm powered by artificial intelligence may work.
Students expressed satisfaction with Covid safety guidelines at the centres; however some raised concerns over the number of tests being conducted for the hostellers.  Representational image/DC

Hyderabad: Amid the renewed Covid-19 scare, Osmania University started exams for postgraduate students on Saturday, despite a demand from students to postpone them by a week.

Even as students claimed that they were being told to produce a Covid-negative report to sit for the exams, OU registrar Prof. Gopal Reddy said that 95 per cent students took the exams on Saturday.

"The university conducted 200 more Covid-19 tests late on Friday evening, and no other student had tested positive, other than the two girls who tested positive earlier. All students were allowed to sit for the exams, said Prof. Gopal Reddy.

Students expressed satisfaction with Covid safety guidelines at the centres; however some raised concerns over the number of tests being conducted for the hostellers.

We are at least 3,000-4,000 students living in the hostels. The authorities are lying about two positive cases. We know there are more. Conducting tests for only 10 per cent of inmates is not enough," a student said.
Japan and the US have agreed to closely cooperate in the event of a military clash between China and Taiwan, nikkei Asia reported citing government sources. However, no discussion was held regarding strategies to be used in such a situation, the Japanese daily added. The agreement came as a result of the recently held 2+2 talks between US Defence Chief Lloyd Austin, State Secretary Antony Blinken and their Japanese counterparts Nobuo Kishi and Toshimitsu Motegi at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo.

Both Washington and Tokyo previously called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Earlier during the meet, Japanese defence minister Nobuo Kishi pointed out a recent surge in the number of Chinese warplanes crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait and a need to study ways for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to cooperate with US forces defending Taiwan in the event of China's aggression.

'Chinese coercion'

Tokyo has been reviewing the feasibility of issuing an SDF dispatch order to protect US warships and military planes in case of a crisis between China and Taiwan given the strait's geographical proximity and the possibility of an armed conflict there affecting the safety of Japanese citizens. Earlier this week, the US and Japan released a joint statement warning against Chinas coercion and destabilization in the Asia-pacific region.
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Tens of thousands of people gathered in the city of Diyarbakir in southeast Turkey on Sunday to celebrate the Kurdish New Year and protest against the repression of a pro-Kurdish opposition party.

The Newroz celebration included people jumping over bonfires and traditional dancing to the beating of drums.

But this year the normal New Year festivities ran alongside a major protest in the Kurdish-majority city, coming just days after a Turkish prosecutor asked the Constitutional Court to shut down the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), parliament's third-largest group.

Just hours before the event, Turkish authorities briefly detained prominent pro-Kurdish opposition MP Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, who had refused to leave parliament for several days after his seat was revoked.

"The HDP is the people and the people are here!" the crowd in Diyarbakir chanted, waving flags in the party's colours.

If the HDP is banned "another party will replace it, it won't change anything" Yusuf Celik, one of the protesters, told AFP.

"The Kurds, those who have honour, will support this cause to the death," he added.

"One party wants to ban another party in order to stay in power, that's not normal, or humane. No one can accept that," said fellow protester Mursel Bakir.

The repression of the HDP also figured high in the celebrations to mark the Kurdish New Year in Istanbul Saturday.

"These efforts to shut down (the HDP) are proof that the government is finished, on the point of crumbling," said HDP co-leader Pervin Buldan.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long portrayed the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) -- as the political front of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The PKK has been waging an insurgency since 1984 that has killed tens of thousands and is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara and its Western allies.

But the HDP firmly denies formal links to the militants. It says it is coming under attack because of its fervent opposition to Erdogan's 18-year rule.

Story continues

Several recent surveys have shown Erdogan's governing alliance losing votes as Turks suffer from a waning economy and persistently high inflation.

The HDP claims Erdogan is seeking to shut it down before the next general election in 2023.

mb/gkg/gde/pvh/jj
Major supermarkets and food manufacturers have warned Ministers against striking post-Brexit trade deals with countries that have poor animal welfare and environmental standards.

The bosses of Waitrose, Co-op and Iceland, along with food giants Nestle, last night said jobs would be put at risk if new trade pacts allow Britain to be flooded by cheap imports such as chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef.

They urged the Government to adopt the recommendations of the Trade and Agriculture Commission which warned earlier this month Brexit should not trigger a race to the bottom on food standards. Campaigners, including TV chefs Jamie Oliver and Prue Leith, say much more needs to be done to strengthen protection for UK farmers in post-Brexit deals.

Supermarket bosses urged the Government to adopt the recommendations of the Trade and Agriculture Commission which warned earlier this month Brexit should not trigger a race to the bottom on food standards

Ministers have been under pressure to enshrine a ban on chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef in law. There are also calls to outlaw crops produced with the use of cancer-causing chemicals.

Now, food industry chiefs have waded in with a letter that says: We strongly support the recommendation of the Trade and Agriculture Commission report that the UK establishes a core set of environmental standards that would apply to both home produced and imported food.

Also in the letter, coordinated by the conservation charity WWF, they warn that deals which water down food standards undermine both the UKs environmental regulations and the sustainability of its leading businesses.

Ministers have been under pressure to enshrine a ban on chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef in law

Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: We must ensure that British farmers and growers are able to compete effectively without being undermined by cheap food produced at untenable environmental cost.

More than a million people last year signed a National Farmers Union petition to protect British food standards as part of a campaign backed by The Mail on Sunday.

It led to International Trade Secretary Liz Truss establishing the Trade and Agriculture Commission, led by ex-Tesco boss Tim Smith. The Government has said it will consider its recommendations.

WWF chief executive Tanya Steele said: The food on our plates is destroying our natural world and contributing to climate change, with unsustainable farming practices leading to deforestation, pollution and habitat destruction.

We must act now to protect the natural systems we all rely on.

A government spokesperson said: This government has been clear it will not sign a trade deal that will compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. We are a world leader in these areas and that will not change.

Chlorinated chicken and hormone injected beef are not permitted for import into the UK. Our position on this has been consistent and this is enshrined in UK law.
Bangkok, March 21 : At least 11 people were injured after police in Thailand deployed water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets against pro-democracy protesters who rallied near the Grand Palace.

Authorities had set up a large barricade of shipping containers and barbed wire to block protesters from getting near the palace on Saturday, dpa news agency reported.

The rally was largely peaceful, with demonstrators earlier flying kites spray-painted with images of jailed pro-democracy protest leaders, although tensions escalated when protesters removed the containers blocking their path to the Grand Palace later in the day.

"The police officers will remain in the area until peace and order has truly been restored," police spokesperson Krissana Pattanacharoen said, adding that at least five protesters had been arrested.

At least 11 people were hurt during the clashes, the city's Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said.

The rally was organised by the REDEM (Restart Democracy) Group, made up of young demonstrators calling for reforms to the monarchy and demanding the military-approved constitution be rewritten.

Protests led by young people have stalled partly due to the country's surging coronavirus caseload, although a recent mass trial for pro-democracy leaders charged with sedition and lese-majesty has prompted protesters back on the streets.

Thailand's lese-majesty law can mean up to 15 years in prison if offenders are found guilty of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent.

Authorities have charged more than 60 people under the law since November, according to rights group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

The current Thai government was elected in 2019.
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Photo credit: CBC

From Digital Spy

Burden of Truth, the Canadian legal drama led by Smallville star Kristin Kreuk, has come to an end with its fourth season.

The series, which began in 2018 and airs on The CW in the United States, set itself apart from its contemporaries by focusing on institutional racism against indigenous people.

Earlier this week, just before the fourth season finale aired, the show's official social media accounts shared a post (that Kreuk re-shared) that announced the episode would be its last ever.

Photo credit: CBC

"After four incredible seasons, we're bringing our Burden of Truth story to its conclusion in tonight's series finale," the post read.

"We are so proud of the stories we've been able to tell each season, especially those related to social justice.

"We're also tremendously appreciative of the support we've received from our fans worldwide, and are particularly grateful to the communities in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba, for being so welcoming to our crew... Thank you, The Burden of Truth family."

Meanwhile, Kreuk's co-star Peter Moore made his own reaction post, tweeting: "Huge, heartfelt thanks to everyone who met us in Millwood over these four seasons. That town wouldnt exist without you.

"We wouldnt have got to know Beckbie, Taylor, Luna, Billy or Joanna if you didnt invite us into your homes week after week. Thank you."

In a statement issued to TVLine, the show's executive producers revealed that they always intended season 4 to bring an end to the story.

Burden of Truth aired on CBC in Canada. The CW airs the show in the US, but hasn't announced when it will show season 4 yet. Meanwhile, seasons 1 and 2 are available to purchase in the UK via Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

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Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is to call for a bold 5.5 billion-a-year tax break for small businesses as he urges the Government to put them at the heart of a post-Covid recovery.

In his speech to the partys online spring conference on Sunday, Sir Ed will call on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to slash national insurance contributions (NICs) for small firms by quadrupling the employment allowance from 4,000 to 16,000.

He will say that the move would mean no small business would have to pay any NICs on their first five employees.

The UKs economic recovery starts with small business. Small businesses are at the heart of every local community, and every local economy, he is expected to say.

Many have had to stay closed all year and for so many, the support from the Treasury hasnt been nearly enough.

Lets work with local small businesses to help their recovery, and help our communities recover too.

And lets challenge the Chancellor to give small businesses a bold new tax cut to support thousands of new jobs.

Aides said the party was proposing the rise in the allowance should initially be for two years, as businesses get back on their feet, with consultations on whether it should continue after that.

In his speech, Sir Ed will say the Government must put the recovery first as the virus is brought under control.

He will attack the failures of the Conservative Government in tackling the pandemic.

Poorly prepared. Slow to act. Ignoring expert advice. Boris Johnsons indecision and incompetence has failed our nation, he will say according to advance extracts of his address.

He will call for a proper pay rise for NHS staff after the Government proposed an increase of just 1%.

How can he find billions for contracts for his Tory cronies, but not for the amazing people who have put their lives on the line for us? he will say.

Following the murder of Sarah Everard he will say the country must do better at tackling violence against women.

And we have to do better as men. Listening to women. Calling out other men. Never turning a blind eye, he will say.
Fresh flowers for the Gods Pix and text by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka View(s): View(s):

The negative impact of single-use plastic on the environment has been a long established fact,and as a result the Central Environment Authority (CEA) banned the use of plastic flower garlands effective tomorrow, Director General CEA, Hemantha Jayasinghe, said.

He said steps are being taken to replace plastic garlands with eco-friendly garlands in places of worship around the country.

Mr Jayasinghe added that the intention behind advocating such a ban is to minimise the damage caused to the environment because of the devotees. For example the number of devotees who visit the Kataragama Shrine annually is around 3mn and the number of polythene garlands they buy exceeds 1mn annually, he pointed out.

Kataragama Municipal Council officials point out that at least 20,000kg of polythene is released annually.

The use of oil paper as an alternative has been introduced as it has a comparatively less impact on the environment and as paper is biodegradable.

Around 300 families in the Kataragama area are engaged in making polythene garlands. The Environment Ministry is providing necessary technical assistance and resources for making garlands using natural flowers and oil paper.

The reason behind offering flowers to specific deities is because every flower has its own charm with its colour and fragrance. None of this is accomplished by offering plastic wreaths, Mr Thyagaraja, who sells flowers at the Wellawatte Kovil premises, said. Many people tend to buy polythene garlands to hang in their vehicles, he said.

Mr Selva Ganesh, who also runs a flower shop at the Wellawatte Kovil premises, said that although there are bouquets made of Chrysanthemums, Jesmines, the demand for polythene garlands was high among some devotees. A garland made of natural flowers was sold for a maximum of Rs 1000.
Kendall Jenner nailed off-duty chic in an earth-coloured cardigan and loafers as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The supermodel, 25, looked stunning as she was joined by friends Lauren Perez and Fai Khadra for a morning bite in California.

Kendall flashed a hint of her toned stomach in a simple white T-shirt and an ombre brown and orange cardigan.

Casual cool: Kendall Jenner nails off-duty chic in an earth-coloured cardigan and loafers as she steps out in Los Angeles on Saturday

Kendall teamed the look with a pair of wide-legged khaki trousers and kept it casual with her black leather loafers.

The supermodel draped a small brown purse over one shoulder and sported a pair of black-framed glasses on her head.

Kendall covered her face with a protective mask which featured a gold chain detailing amid the ongoing pandemic.

Stepping out: The supermodel, 25, looked stunning as she flashed a glimpse of her taut midriff in a pair of wide-legged khaki trousers and kept it casual with her black leather loafers

Beauty: The supermodel draped a small brown purse over one shoulder and covered her face with a protective mask which featured a gold chain detail amid the ongoing pandemic

Earlier this week, the reality star was pictured returning to Los Angeles after finishing up a trip to an undisclosed location.

The social media personality was accompanied on her trip by a mystery man, who did not look anything like her beau Devin Booker.

After leaving her private jet, the man appeared to wave goodbye to the influencer, who was quickly whisked away into a waiting car before leaving the airport.

Although the mystery man who accompanied Jenner did not appear to be Devin Booker, the two have been developing their burgeoning relationship in recent months.

Gorgeous: The reality star was pictured returning to Los Angeles after finishing up a trip to an undisclosed location earlier this week

An insider recently spoke to Us Weekly and gave a bit of insight into the pair's dynamic while remarking that the two appeared to be officially dating.

Specifically, the source expressed that Jenner and the 24-year-old athlete 'are definitely an item and care about one another immensely.'

The insider also noted that, although the couple are having a great time with each other, they had no plans to commit to anything serious and were more focused on having fun than anything else.

'Kendall likes the pace at which things are going at the moment and has no plans to elevate things so quickly,' they said.
The coastguard at the scene. Picture: Coleraine Coastguard

A coastguard rescue team was called to Downhill Beach late on Saturday night to assist the PSNI in a search for a missing man.

The incident took place shortly before midnight in a search that also involved a PSNI search dog.

The missing man was later found by the coastguard on the beach before they were assessed.

They were then handed into the care of the PSNI before being taken to hospital.

A police spokesperson said: "Police received a report of concern for the safety of a male at Downhill Beach shortly after 11:05pm last night."



"Officers responded and located the male who was subsequently transferred to hospital."
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Virtual Theater Review: Megillah Cycle: A Timeless Tale, Strongly Told

The one essential of any theatrical production is its telling a good story. Doing exactly that, and succeeding wonderfully at it, is the Congress for Jewish Cultures all-new dramatization of Itzik Mangers 1965 production, Megillah Cycle; its now available for streaming.

Billed as a modernist take on the traditional Purim play, it recounts a tale of deliverance for the Jewish people. This tale of heroes and villains, of sorrows and glory, takes place in a land ruled by King Ahasuerus (Mike Burstyn), a drunken fool.

For all of his faults, Ahasuerus knows the value of having friends in the right places. So when Jewish merchant Mordkhe the Wise (Allen Lewis Rickman) informs the king of an assassination plot, Mordkhe is handsomely rewardedthe king gives him a palace soft drink and dry goods concession.

Mordkhes good fortune, however, doesnt please Haman (Avi Hoffman), a troublemaker and member of the kings inner circle. Haman uses his position to push through a series of anti-Jewish laws and takes steps to ensure that Jews are blamed for acts of violence being committed in the kingdomcrimes actually committed by Hamans thugs.

Haman also uses the press to sway public opinion to his cause. The local newspaper editor eagerly publishes anything Haman provides, whether true or not.

Yet Hamans abuse of his royal influence might turn out to be his undoing. During a drunken party, Haman convinces Ahasuerus to publicly humiliate his own wife, Queen Vashti (Eleanor Reissa), who refuses to submit to the kings commands. As a result, the enraged monarch sends her to the gallows.

As Ahasuerus now requires a new wife, Mordkhe quickly volunteers his beautiful niece, Esther (Yelena Shmulenson). Mordkhe hopes that as queen, she can be the voice of reason against Haman, and help save her people.

Themes for Today

Burstyns adaptation nicely combines elements of the tongue in cheek, the lyrical, and the deadly serious. Many sequences contain Shakespeare-esque elements: An older king is oblivious to the consequences of his actions (King Lear), a schemer plans to ruin those who stand in his way (Othello), and a womanin this case Hamans wife (Suzanne Toren)is more devious than her husband (Macbeth).

The work also explores the concepts of upholding ones dignity and doing whats best for the greater goodeven at the expense of ones own happiness. Esther faces these challenges when she is forced to give up the man she loves (Daniel Kahn) to assume the mantle of queen.

Another interesting question, as seen via a debate among the village tailors, concerns the issue of whether one should submit to another when ones life is in the others hands. Theres also the all-too-familiar situation of immigrantsa term used in the playbeing used as scapegoats by an entrenched ruling class.

In addition to filling his role as King Ahasuerus, Burstyn is the productions director. He guides what is essentially a bare-bones video presentation with a surebut not overly heavyhand. Rather, he is content to let the work speak for itself while allowing those watching to draw their own parallels between the play and the present day.

The various actors all do well in their roles, but its the work itself that is the star.

Violinist Abigale Reisman ably provides musical accompaniment. The music is composed by Uri Schreter, based on traditional Purim motifs.

The only time things stumble slightly is when one character receives a final comeuppance. The plot that leads to this characters fate is explained fully, but never actually shown. Seeing it happen, instead of simply being told about it, would be much more emotionally satisfying.

Containing themes that resonate today, Megillah Cycle offers up a powerful story, well worth the time.

The story was adapted by Mike Burstyn, who appeared on Broadway in a 1965 musical version, and is presented as part of the Congress International Virtual Yiddish Theater series. The work is performed in Yiddish, with English subtitles provided by Shane Baker and English commentary by Joe Darion.

Megillah Cycle

Viewing: Free, donations accepted

Streaming indefinitely at: www.CongressForJewishCulture.org

Running Time: 1 hour, 17 minutes

Judd Hollander is a reviewer for stagebuzz.com and a member of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle.
Procon-SP, Brazils consumer protection agency, has imposed a fine of nearly $2 million (R$ 10.5 million) on Apple for not bundling a charger in the iPhone 12 box, reports 9to5Google.

According to the report, Apple has been fined for misleading advertising, selling a device without the charger and unfair terms. The report further said that the agency had questioned Apple about the issue last year as well. Procon-SP noted that Apple did not demonstrate any environmental gain from the move.

In the latest verdict, the agency pointed out that Apple had not responded when asked about whether the company had slashed the price of the iPhone 12 after removing the charger. The company also did not respond to questions such as what was the price of the handset with and without the charger, and if the company reduced the charger production?

Apart from the charger bundle issue, the agency also stated some other issues with the company. On the iOS updates, it said some users reported problems with some functions on their iPhones after updating them, which Apple didnt help.

Apple needs to understand that in Brazil there are solid consumer protection laws and institutions. It needs to respect these laws and these institutions, Procon-SP Executive Director Fernando Capez is quoted as saying.

Apple had launched the iPhone 12 in October last year. The company had said that the new model would not come with chargers and earbuds in their boxes. Apple said that the move would help curb the e-waste problem and address other environmental concerns. Samsung and other smartphone brands have also followed suit to skip the charger bundle from their phones.

Critics, however, say Apples decision to skip the charger bundle will have minimal impact on the environment. They also alleged that the move was primarily aimed at reducing shipping costs.

ALSO READ: Samsung to gradually remove charger, earphones from future phones

The Verge points out that the fine is unlikely to hurt Apple as the company had reported $114.4 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2021.
The French branch of Swedish retailing giant Ikea goes on trial Monday accused of running an elaborate system to spy on staff and job applicants using private detectives and police officers.

Ikea France, as a corporate entity, will be in the dock as well as several of its former executives who risk prison terms.

French investigative publications Le Canard Enchaine and Mediapart uncovered the surveillance scheme in 2012, and prosecutors got on the case after the Force Ouvriere union lodged a legal complaint.

Prosecutors say Ikea France set up a "spying system" across its operations across the country, collecting information about the private lives of hundreds of staff and prospective staff, including confidential information about criminal records.

Since the media revelations broke the company has sacked four executives, but Ikea France, which employs 10,000 people, still faces a fine of up to 3.75 million euros ($4.5 million).

The 15 people also appearing before the court in Versailles near Paris include former store managers and top executives such as former CEO Stefan Vanoverbeke and his predecessor, Jean-Louis Baillot.

The group also includes four police officers accused of handing over confidential information.

The charges include illegal gathering of personal information, receiving illegally gathered personal information, and violating professional confidentiality, some of which carry a maximum prison term of 10 years.

- 'Get rid of that person' -

At the heart of the system is Jean-Francois Paris, Ikea France's former director of risk management.

Prosecturs say he regularly sent lists of names to be investigated to private investigators, whose combined annual bill could run up to 600,000 euros, according to court documents seen by AFP.

The court is investigating Ikea's practices between 2009 and 2012, but prosecutors say they started nearly a decade earlier.

Among their targets was a staff member in Bordeaux "who used to be a model employee, but has suddenly become a protester", according to an email sent by Paris. "We want to know how that change happened," he said, wondering whether there might be "a risk of eco-terrorism".

Story continues

In another case, Paris wanted to know how an employee could afford "to drive a brand-new BMW convertible".

Such messages usually went to Jean-Pierre Fources, the boss of surveillance company Eirpace. He would then send Paris confidential information which prosecutors say he got from the police database STIC with the help of the four officers.

Prosecutors say the information flow may even have gone both ways, with an internal Ikea France document recommending handing over its report about an employee to police "to get rid of that person via a legal procedure outside the company".

Emmanuel Daoud, a lawyer for Ikea France, acknowledged that the case had revealed "organisational weaknesses" at Ikea France.

He said it had since implemented an action plan, including a complete revamp of hiring procedures.

"Whatever the court rules, the company has already been punished very severely in terms of its reputation," he said.

Founded in 1943, Swedish multinational Ikea is famous for its ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories which are sold in around 400 stores worldwide.

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The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has resulted in a drop in the number of infections in people over the age of 80, Canada's chief public health officer said Sunday as several provinces prepared to further expand their immunization rollouts.

Dr. Theresa Tam said on Twitter that the reduction in cases among older adults, along with fewer outbreaks in long-term care settings, "reassure us that vaccines will bring more (and) greater benefits in the weeks to come."

Her statement came as several provinces prepared to expand their immunization campaigns in the coming days.

Ontario is lowering the age of eligibility for shots in the general population from 80 to 75 on Monday, while New Brunswick is stepping up a program to vaccinate high school teachers.

It's expected that 4,500 staff from high schools provincewide will receive a first dose at a clinic in one of 16 locations, the New Brunswick government said.

Quebec, meanwhile, is expected to begin giving vaccines to people 65 and up in Montreal-area pharmacies on Monday, one week after the provincial booking system opened for reservations.

Despite the positive vaccine news, Tam sounded a note of caution over case counts, which are back on the rise after declining earlier this year.

She said infection rates are highest among those aged 20 to 39, who are less likely to get seriously ill but who can spread the virus, including the more transmissible variants, which are gaining steam across the country.

"Circulation of COVID-19 in younger, more mobile and socially connected adults presents an ongoing risk for spread into high-risk populations and settings," she said in a statement.

"The emergence and spread of certain SARS-CoV-2 virus variants heightens this concern."

The highest case count on Sunday was in Ontario, which reported 1,791 new COVID-19 infections, and 18 added deaths related to the virus.

In Toronto, officials marked one year since the first death linked to COVID-19 in the city at a sunset vigil, where 2,753 candles were lit -- one for each Torontonian who has died of the virus.

Story continues

Mayor John Tory said the year will forever mark the city and those who live in it.

"We must take time to reflect and mourn each and every person who is no longer with us and use light to help guide our city through these tragic times," he said.

In Quebec, Health Minister Christian Dube raised the prospect of a future third wave of infections, even as he lauded the province's "encouraging" numbers -- including 648 cases Sunday -- and the increased pace of vaccine delivery.

"It's above all not the time to relax our efforts," Dube wrote on Twitter.

"We have to do everything we can to avoid a third wave."

Saskatchewan had a setback in its vaccine delivery plans on Sunday as health officials reported the province would get 5,850 fewer doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine due to a damaged thermal shipper.

The province reported 178 new COVID-19 cases, driven in large part by 105 new cases in the Regina zone where variants of the virus have been spreading.

Manitoba, meanwhile, counted 90 new cases and seven deaths, while Alberta logged 555 new cases of the virus and two deaths.

Things looked brighter farther east, with New Brunswick recording only one new case of the virus, and Newfoundland and Labrador reporting none.

Nova Scotia logged six new diagnoses.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2021

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
A flight operated by Bamboo Airways was disrupted at an airport in central Vietnam on Thursday after a passenger on board opened the exit door and thus inflated the emergency slide on the aircraft.

The situation transpired on Bamboo Airways flight QH 1177, which was expected to depart Tho Xuan Airport in north-central Thanh Hoa Province for Ho Chi Minh City at 5:00 pm on Thursday.

Ater getting aboard, passenger V.V.D., 59, from Thanh Hoa, pulled the handle to open the exit door, which in turn activated the emergency slide on the side of the jet while it was waiting to take off on the runway.

Due to the incident, the Bamboo Airways flight crew had to steer the aircraft back to the terminal, causing the flight to be delayed for nearly two hours.

Explaining the incident to the Northern Airports Authority, D. said he mistook the exit door for the toilet entrance.

Tran Hoa Phuong, director of the Northern Airports Authority, who oversees all airports in northern Vietnam, said the agency has levied a fine of VND15 million (US$652) on D.

As prescribed in Decree 162 on administrative penalties for civil aviation offenses, unsolicited opening of airplane exit doors could be subject to a fine of VND10-20 million ($435-870).

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Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
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.
Heavily pregnant Sylvia Jeffreys and her husband Peter Stefanovic stepped out for a stroll in Sydney on Sunday.

The pair were joined by their adorable one-year-old son, Oscar, who has started walking.

The tot waddled alongside his father, holding his hand, as they made their way along the pavement.

Family: Heavily pregnant Sylvia Jeffreys and her husband Peter Stefanovic stepped out for a stroll in Sydney on Sunday. The pair were joined by their adorable one-year-old son, Oscar, who has started walking. All pictured

Sylvia, 34, who is soon expecting her second son, looked blooming lovely, wearing a loose, black maxi dress which concealed her bump.

The dress featured a sweet pussy bow at the collarbone, and was covered up with a pale blue denim jacket.

She added a pair of comfortable sandals in a beige tone, and wore a simple gold bracelet.

Sweet: Little Oscar appeared to already be a competent walker, and charged forward confidently, dressed in a green top and white track pants

The TV host opted for natural-looking makeup and covered up her face with a pair of large black sunglasses.

Peter, 39, meanwhile looked relaxed in a loose, grey-blue t-shirt and a pair of navy coloured shorts.

He added a pair of white sneakers with bright blue shoelaces, and finished the look with sunglasses.

Chill dad: Peter, 39, meanwhile looked relaxed in a loose, grey-blue t-shirt and a pair of navy coloured shorts

Little Oscar appeared to already be a competent walker, and charged forward confidently, dressed in a green top and white track pants.

Peter and Sylvia's family stroll comes days after she commenced her maternity leave at Nine.

On Friday, the journalist celebrated her last day at work in the lead up to the arrival of her baby.
London: The Queen is considering appointing a diversity chief, it has emerged, as Buckingham Palace aides acknowledge they are not getting the results they should on minority representation.

The Palace has drawn up plans to seek independent views on how to improve its approach to diversity, including towards ethnic minorities, disabled people as well as the gay and trans communities.

The news comes after Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, alleged in their recent interview with Oprah Winfrey that a member of the royal family had raised concerns about how dark the skin of their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor would be.

Buckingham Palace is considering hiring a diversity specialist. Credit:Getty

The couple refused to name the member who allegedly made the remarks, but Winfrey later revealed Harry told her it was neither the Queen nor her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
New Delhi, March 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' campaign on World Water Day on Monday aimed to take water conservation at the grassroots level through people's participation.

The campaign will be undertaken across the country, in both rural and urban areas, with the theme "catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls". It will be implemented from March 22 to November 30 -- the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country.

The Prime Minister will launch the campaign at 12.30 p.m. via video conferencing, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The campaign will be launched as a 'Jan Andolan' (public movement) to take water conservation at the grassroots level through people's participation. It is intended to nudge all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to the climatic conditions and subsoil strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater.

After the event, Gram Sabhas will be held in all the Gram Panchayats of each district (except in the poll-bound states) to discuss issues related to water and water conservation. Gram Sabhas will also take 'Jal Shapath' for water conservation.

In the presence of the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will also sign Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project -- the first project of the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.

The agreement heralds the beginning of interstate cooperation to implement the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to carry water from areas that have surplus water to drought prone and water deficit areas, through the interlinking of rivers.

This project involves transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project.

It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectare, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower.

The project will be of immense benefit to the water starved region of Bundelkhand, especially to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.

It will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country.
A mother screamed 'I'm dying' as she was stabbed to death by her son who went on to kill his girlfriend and himself in an apparent murder suicide.

Ken Flanagan is understood to have stabbed his mother Karen McClean and girlfriend Stacey Knell, 30, to death at separate properties in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

Police were called to reports of a stabbing at a residence at around 11pm on Friday, where a woman, understood to be Ms McClean, was pronounced dead.

Neighbours described hearing the mother-of-two scream 'I'm dying, I'm dying, it's my son' as she was killed, The Irish Independent reports.

A man who stabbed his mother and girlfriend to death before killing himself in an apparent murder suicide has been named locally as Ken Flanagan (pictured)

Flanagan is understood to have stabbed his mother Karen McClean (right) and girlfriend Stacey Knell (left) to death at separate properties in Newtownabbey, a large town north of Belfast

A search of a second property located another dead woman - believed to be Ms Knell - and an unconscious Flanagan who died soon afterwards despite attempts to revive him.

Ms Knell's former partner, and father of her nine-year-old daughter, Sam Lillie claims he warned police of 'out-of-control' drug user Flanagan's behaviour just hours before the murders.

Mr Lillie said 'red flags started popping' when he saw Flanagan with his child because 'I didn't want a guy with his reputation to be near my daughter'. He did not provide any more details.

Detectives investigating the double murder say they are linked and they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the deaths.

Mr Lillie told Sunday World that his 'gut instinct' was telling him to call social services on Flanagan, because he knew something wasn't right.

Social services then advised him to get in touch with the police.

A police car outside a property in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, yesterday

Police and the ambulance service were called to the scene where a woman was found dead. Pictured: Police at the scene on March 20

He said: 'The reason why alarm bells started ringing was because on Wednesday I saw Ken with Stacey, my daughter, and that's when the red flags started popping up for me - that's when I realised I had to take some kind of action because I didn't want a guy with his reputation to be near my daughter.'

Police confirmed they did receive a report, but said there was no evidence that the child was in danger.

Flanagan is understood to have been recently imprisoned and resumed a relationship with Ms Knell once he was released. He was dubbed 'out of control' by people close to his family.

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.

Detectives investigating the double murder say they are linked and they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the deaths. Pictured: Police at the scene on Friday

The scene at Glenville Road, Newtownabbey. A narrow road is cordoned off with police tape blocking the path

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.'
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A Cavan priest has been fined 500 for celebrating mass in his local church while several people were present.

Fr PJ Hughes, the parish priest for Mullahoran and Loughduff, has been reported a number of times to gardai over parishioners gathering for a service in his church.

Gardai have also previously warned him that he faces prosecution but Fr Hughes has said he does not accept the Government's restrictions on religious services.

The priest has now been hit with a fine, understood to be 500, for celebrating mass with people present.

In the parish's weekly newsletter Fr Hughes wrote: "We are committing a grave mistake by rejecting our Lord and God Jesus Christ by staying away because Government officials say we must.

"I do not accept and will not accept this demand by people who do not realise the wrong they are doing.

"I have been reported again and the gardai have issued a fine because I celebrated mass with people present."

Fr Hughes also said he will "exercise my constitutional right even though people are complaining" which includes disobeying his bishop and going against his advice.

Under current Covid-19 regulations a person can be given a fixed charge notice of 500 for organising a prohibited event outside of a home.

The current Level 5 guidelines state that places of worship remain open for private prayer and that services should be held online, while up to ten people can attend a funeral.

Fr Hughes also said that, despite the size of the church, they have been "deemed a hotspot for the spread of the virus by gardai".

He added that believes people have the constitutional right to protest legally and to assemble for prayer, and that restrictions have "turned people against each other".

When contacted by the Irish Independent the Fr Hughes said he did not want to comment further on the matter.

He has been warned a number of times by gardai including the threat of prosecution under Covid-19 regulations.

Last November he said that he was paid a visit by a local Sergeant, who had a file for the DPP with them, and was told he would face a fine of 2,500 and up to six months in jail if he did not close his Church.

At the time he refused to close his doors and called on the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to apologise to the Catholic people in this country who want to practice their faith.
The Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation (Saudia) has signed a financing agreement with 6 local banks worth SR11.2 billion ($3 billion), the largest in the history of the kingdom's aviation sector, to expand its aircraft fleet.

The agreement was signed in Jeddah in the presence of Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation Eng Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser; Director General of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation Eng Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar and the representatives of the six banks which are Al Rajhi Bank, the Saudi British Bank (SABB), the Arab National Bank (ANB), Samba Financial Group, Bank AlJazira, Bank Albilad and HSBC, which is the financial advisor for the corporation and the investment agent for the banks in this deal, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

The agreement aims to finance the needs of the corporation to mid-2024, within the framework of financing part of the deals to purchase 73 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, which were previously announced, including: 20 aircraft of A321neo, 15 A321XLR and eight 787-10 for the Saudi Arabian Airlines as well as 30 A320neo for flyadeal. The corporation has received five 787-10 aircraft from this deal so far.

The agreement embodies Saudia's commitment to promote tourism as well as Hajj and Umrah sectors in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to attract 100 million tourists and 30 million Umrah performers annually.
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Brad Pitt is saddened it was leaked that Angelina Jolie is now 'prepared to provide proof' of domestic abuse in the couple's contentious custody battle.

An alleged altercation between son Maddox, 19, and Brad, 57, in 2016 was said to have been the final straw for Jolie, 45, who filed paperwork indicating that both she and her children are willing to offer testimony and 'proof and authority' in support of her allegations, according to documents obtained by The Blast.

Now Pitt is 'heartbroken that Angelina has gone that route. Theres a lot of emotion left after their marriage,' a source close to the actor told Page Six.

Heartbroken: Brad Pitt is 'heartbroken' after it was leaked that Angelina Jolie is now 'prepared to provide proof' of domestic abuse in the couple's contentious divorce and custody battle; seen in 2019

Testimony: Jolie, 45, filed paperwork indicating that both she and her children are willing to offer testimony and 'proof and authority' in support of her allegations, according to documents obtained by The Blast; seen in 2009

'He has taken responsibility for his actions and owned up to his past issues, he's stopped drinking, the source added.

'The marriage was very passionate and toxic at times and  like all couples  they had fights, but also shared many good times together. He has talked about his drink and drug problems during the time they were together,' they continued.

The Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood star has never been arrested or charged for any offense during the couple's marriage, nor have any police reports been made.

Soon after the couple filed for divorce in 2016, it was revealed that Brad was being investigated by the FBI and social services in LA amid reports he got 'verbally abusive and physical with his children' on a private jet, yet he was cleared.

Lots of emotion: Now Pitt is 'heartbroken that Angelina has gone that route. Theres a lot of emotion left after their marriage,' a source close to the actor told Page Six. 'He has taken responsibility for his actions and owned up to his past issues,' they added

Altercation: An alleged altercation between son Maddox, 19, and Brad, 57, in 2016 was said to have been the final straw for Jolie (here with the kids in 2019). The actor has never been arrested or charged with any offense

'Brad and his camp has never attacked Angelina. But his camp feels this leak was calculated to sway opinion ahead of the conclusion of their trial,' the source said.

'Brad feels like hes being more and more isolated from his children, and hes devastated about it.'

The pair share Maddox, Zahara, 16, Pax, 17, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12, and are hashing out custody and financial arrangements in the trial, which will see their youngest children provide testimony if they give permission.

Sources tell the publication that the kids have been interviewed by court-appointed therapists.

Calculated: 'Brad and his camp has never attacked Angelina. But his camp feels this leak was calculated to sway opinion ahead of the conclusion of their trial,' the source said. 'Brad feels like hes being more and more isolated from his children, and hes devastated about it'; seen in 2011

Maddox has 'already given testimony as [an] adult in the ongoing custody dispute and it wasn't very flattering towards Brad,' according to reports.

'He doesnt use Pitt as his last name on documents that arent legal and instead uses Jolie,' the source told US Weekly.

'Maddox wants to legally change his last name to Jolie, which Angelina has said she doesnt support.

His side: Their eldest son Maddox testified against his father, reportedly offering an unflattering look at his actor father. They're seen at the 2019 Tokyo premiere of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil above

Kids: The pair share Maddox, Zahara, 16, Pax, 17, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12, and are hashing out custody and financial arrangements in the trial, which will see their youngest children provide testimony if they give permission

A source told MailOnline: 'She has made similar allegations in the past which were investigated by the authorities and not substantiated.'

The source added: 'This is the latest sad and desperate attempt to advance a false narrative at any cost.

'These have been the same attacks repeated for the past 4  years and anyone who is perceived to be standing in the way can expect to have their credibility challenged.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for the couple for comment.
Richard Wainerdi, 89, a former president and chief executive officer who helped transform the Texas Medical Center, died last Wednesday in his home.

He spent 28 years at the medical center, but his career spanned more than six decades in academia, the energy industry, and the non-profit sector.

A petroleum engineering graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wainerdi came to the medical center after retiring from Gulf Oil Corp., where he served as president of the worldwide research division. Before that, he spent 20 years at Texas A&M University, where he founded the Nuclear Science Center.

He was president of the Texas Medical Center from 1984 until 2012. During his tenure, he transformed the complex into the worlds largest medical center, home to 49 institutions and the equivalent of the nations 11th-biggest downtown. The center grew from 31 institutions and tripled in size while he was president.

Although he spent nearly three decades at the medical center that wasnt the plan initially. In the summer of 1984, he received a call from Richard J. V. Johnson, then-chairman of the board of Texas Medical Center and publisher of the Houston Chronicle. It took several meetings with Johnson, before he agreed to serve as president of Texas Medical Center, but he said it was only going to be for a couple of years.

It did not take long before he, fell in love with the place. Upon his retirement he spoke of his time there fondly.

I wasnt playing any of the instruments, but its been a privilege being the conductor, Wainerdi told the Houston Chronicle in 2011. This is a magical place to be a part of.

He was also a part of the group of policy makers that made the flood plan after the hospital was hit during Tropical Storm Allison, which ultimately led to the hospital being one of the few places that stayed dry during Harvey.

Beyond his work, he also worked behind the scenes for charitable foundations and organizations. As someone who served in the military, there were two organizations that were particularly special to him: the Fisher House Foundation, which builds homes where military and veterans families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital or receiving treatment, and The Rise School, dedicated to helping children with developmental disabilities to get the start they need to build successful independent lives.

Wainerdi is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Angela Elizabeth Wainerdi, and leaves behind children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A private service will be held in College Station, Texas on March 25. Instead of flowers, the family has requested memorial gifts may be made to:

Fisher House Foundation: https://www.fisherhouse.org

The Rise School: https://riseschool.org/make-a-donation.html
Editors Note: This story was first published by Religion News Service.

By Adelle M. Banks

Gospel entertainer Kirk Franklin has posted an online apology after one of his sons released a recording of an obscenity-laced and physically threatening argument he claimed was with Franklin.

For many years, we have had a toxic relationship with him as a family, Franklin said of his oldest son, Kerrion Franklin, 32. Weve tried for many years through counseling, through therapy to try to rectify this private family matter.

The elder Franklin, 51, speaking in a 59-second video posted on his Twitter account on Saturday (March 13), said the two got in an argument that his son recorded.

I felt extremely disrespected in that conversation and I lost my temper and I said words that are not appropriate and I am sincerely sorry to all of you, he said. I sincerely apologize. I want you to know as a father that during that conversation, I called the family therapist and got that therapist on the phone to try to help. He never played that part of the recording.

In the 45-second audio recording on the Instagram account of @kerrionrashad, two voices can be heard having an argument and yelling at each other. Although there is no indication in the audio of who is speaking, the caption for the post claims the audio is with my dad.

In the audio, the older voice can be heard speaking of not wanting to be disrespected and saying hed break your neck or put my foot in your a if he is.

At the end of the recording, the younger voice says, He just hung up the phone. Ill break your neck. Is that a threat?

Accompanying the recording, the @kerrionrashad post reads in part: This is why Im done. No father should speak to their children like this. If I have any issues its because Of this type of treatment that ii deal with behind closed doors.

The @kerrionrashad post adds, I dont think Ill ever trust my father to be alone around him ever again. I didnt want to do this. I probably wont release the entire recording because its too embarrassing that Im even dealing with this. No matter what ppl think I pray my dad deals with his deep hatred toward me. I dont feel safe around him at all.

The elder Franklin ended his Twitter video response by asking watchers to pray for his family.

Im not perfect, he said. Im human and Im going to make mistakes and Im trying to get it right.

Franklin, who spent months not being able to perform gospel music in public performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, made a recent appearance on NPRs Tiny Desk concert series, singing with members of his choir and band near the end of Black History Month.

In an August interview with Religion News Service, when asked about how he handles not being able to perform as a gospel artist during the pandemic, Franklin responded: I started going back to therapy and thats been very, very good for me. Im a Black man that goes to therapy. I talk, I pray, and they are synonymous. It has been really, really good to be able to have somebody to be able to help you as you help other people.

In September he appeared on They Call Me Dad on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The special, which also included Bishop T.D. Jakes, featured Franklin happily discussing his youngest son, Caziah, 20, heading back to college.

Being a Black father, it is very important for me to make sure that my children get the baton, he said in a clip of the show on the OWN website, and for them to understand the price of making sure that you dont drop it.
A New Brunswick man was charged with murder after he killed a man in a North Brunswick hotel room Saturday, authorities said.

Demond Gray, 43, was arrested Sunday after police learned he killed Abdul Conteh at the Farrington Inn in North Brunswick, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office announced in a statement. The office did not say how Conteh died.

Police were called to the hotel around noon on Saturday for a report of an unresponsive man. The first police officers at the hotel found Conteh, who appeared injured. The 60-year-old Somerset man was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Contehs cause of death is pending the completion of an autopsy by the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiners Office.

Detectives with the North Brunswick Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office learned that Gray killed Conteh in a hotel room, authorities said.

Gray is being held at the Middlesex County jail and will appear before a judge for a pre-trial detention hearing.

The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office asked anyone with information about the death to call Det. Kerry Shutz at 732-634-7700 or Det. Mark Morris at 732-745-4194.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Malaysia said it has expelled all North Korean diplomats in the capital Kuala Lumpur following Pyongyangs decision on Friday to end ties with it.

Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysia resorted to the action in response to North Koreas unilateral and utterly irresponsible decision to sever diplomatic ties," according to a statement on Sunday.

Pyongyang said it was ending relations after a Malaysian court ruled that a North Korean businessman could be extradited to the U.S to face money laundering charges there. Malaysia, in response, announced it will shut North Koreas embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the operations of which were suspended since 2017 following the assassination Kim Jong Nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

This action is a reminder that Malaysia shall never tolerate any attempt to meddle in our internal affairs and judiciary, disrespect our governance system, and constantly create unnecessary tensions in defiance of the rules-based international order," Hishammuddin said.

North Korea and Malaysia has had ties since 1973, but the relationship soured following the murder of Kim Jong Nam.

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Mothers in Mallorca  there are some groups in our community that have been more affected by the pandemic than the average people. Imagine having your first baby in 2020. There were no pregnancy group classes open at all, so you got no chance to meet others in the same situation, and once the baby was here, how did you find and socialise with other mums that recently had babies? This week I meet with Anna who found a solution that has turned out to work very well for her.

Anna Jacobsson is Swedish and has lived in Mallorca for a couple of years. She is an adventurer that has worked and lived around the world for the past 20 years, ticking off amazing places like Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa and Thailand. She even had a stopover in Rwanda with the gorillas during her travels. Before moving to Majorca, Anna and her partner bought a 13m Hans Christian Ketch boat in Malaysia. They restored it themselves in the shipyard in Langkawi and Phuket before sailing the Thai and Malay waters and finally adventured out on a challenging and mind-blowing circumnavigation of Sumatra. When they finally anchored back outside Langkawi, they decided it was time to settle down, at least for a while. Sweden was too cold and UK, where her partner is from, was not an option, yet. Since my partner Sam is a marine engineer and we both needed to live close to the ocean, mountains, and sun - Mallorca was a perfect option. We have lots of friends in the yachting community and there is never a shortage of people coming and going through this island, which makes us very happy and content. Friends and family have a huge importance to us. My grandparents also moved to Almunecar , Spain, back in the days, so I grew up spending dreamlike holidays under the Spanish sun - eating Chirimoyas and letting the sound of cicadas putting me to sleep. It all felt natural to come back and living under the Spanish sun, says Anna.

She was 9 months pregnant when the Balearics went into lockdown and it was quite a scary and unpredicted time for her. While pregnant, they were not sure how it would all play out in the hospital and they constantly got told that partners were not allowed into the delivery room. For Anna, it was a crucial time to keep active, keep walking and keep a clear and positive mind for the final stage of her pregnancy - which was impossible.

Anna need more support I realised that I had no idea what I was doing and did not know where and how to find all information I needed to go through pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. With family support too far away, I felt a bit lost and alone and thought it must be a way to find likeminded women on the same path as me. The first mamas that since beginning have been the backbones of this Baby B(r)unch group, I met at a pregnancy circle, long before lock down organised by doula An, and yoga class I attended in the beginning of the pregnancy. From there we have added friends of friends and random mamas who reached out, needing some support in these crazy times.

The unconditional support and joy from our WhatsApp Mama group is the best that has happened to me in 2020. We are 40 odd strong women from more than 10 different countries, we have two things in common, English language and we all had a baby during the pandemic year. We have first time moms, to mothers of 4, super hero single moms to traditional family moms. We have created a sanctuary where we can openly be ourselves, get support and create a new modern family, in times where weve all sadly been isolated from our nearest and dearest and in times when we all have new-borns who should be able to meet and cuddle their beloved grandparents and close family. I am so proud to call each one of these strong mamas my friend and each one has been such an inspiration to me and helped me become a better mom to my baby daughter Alba.
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Today

Rain this morning with thunderstorms by evening. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
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Mumbai, March 21 : Actress Zoya Hussain said she has never been a fan of the idea of people getting work owing to the number of followers they have on social media. Although the trend of two-dimensional characterisation of women on screen is changing, Zoya feels most people are still averse to actresses wanting to try something different.

The actress, who made a mark with her debut film, Anurag Kashyap's "Mukkabaaz" in 2017, has also starred in "Laal Kaptaan". She will soon be seen in the Rana Daggubati-starrer "Haathi Mere Saathi".

Zoya feels makers only want to sign actors with a huge social media presence today.

"I feel people are less willing to take a chance with new people. With social media, everything is about likes and followers. I feel they are no indication of your talent, but I feel they have become an indication of merit today. I have been in casting rooms where people are cast based on followers. I find that absurd," she told IANS.

The actress adds that the industry is not supportive of someone who wants to stand out.

"If I am trying to do something different. I am told I am too opinionated," she said.

Zoya doesn't agree with the kind of roles that women were offered in films. However, she added that this has changed today.

"I am not okay with two-dimensional portrayal of women. I think that has changed overall for the better. It's not an industry thing per se. I feel people are not that willing to take a chance or try something different because of the financial repercussions and responsibility," she said.

Zoya added that even if a newcomer gets a break, he or she doesn't have the infrastructure to sustain in Bollywood today.

"It is the lack of infrastructure to outsiders. It is way more difficult for outsiders. Even when you get one chance, the infrastructure doesn't support you. It's not just like glamming up on sets and doing your job, it's to do with much more. It's helping you out to do what you want to do. I feel that we lack in that and I hope that gets better and people get more supportive," she said.
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




Haiti - Politic : The Secretary General of La Francophonie deeply concerned about the insecurity in Haiti





Following the information and contacts mission dispatched to Haiti (March 3 to 9, 2021) by Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary General of La Francophonie, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33173-haiti-crisis-the-oif-in-haiti-in-search-of-a-lasting-solution.html , led by the Special Adviser, Political and Diplomatic of the Secretary-General, Desire Nyaruhirira and composed of personalities and high-level experts. The Secretary General of La Francophonie expressed deep concern about insecurity



Recall that the mission was responsible for initiating in-depth consultations with all stakeholders, to determine with them the modalities of support for La Francophonie in response to the multifaceted crisis that Haiti is experiencing, (Member State).



The French-speaking delegation was received in audience by the President of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Senate and met with several political leaders, from the majority and the opposition, from civil society organizations representing different sectors, as well as with the group of Francophone Ambassadors and the main international partners.



The exchanges and information gathered on the spot enabled the delegation to assess the extent of the challenges facing this Member State.



Louise Mushikiwabo expresses in this regard her deep concern in front of the security crisis which severely affects the Haitian population. She offers her condolences to the families of the police officers who were victims of the anti-gang operation at Village de Dieu https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33226-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-anti-gang-operation-in-village-de-dieu-several-police-officers-killed-others-injured.html and calls for those responsible for this criminal act as well as for all acts of kidnapping to be prosecuted and sentenced.



The Secretary-General is concerned about threats to the rule of law and the regular functioning of institutions. It calls on all Haitian political leaders and civil society organizations to seek, through dialogue and in a spirit of compromise, ways and means that will allow the holding of inclusive, free, reliable and transparent elections.



Louise Mushikiwabo will convene in the coming days a small advisory ad hoc committee on Haiti to share with the member states and governments of La Francophonie the findings of the information and contacts mission and its recommendations for action to consolidate peace and democracy in Haiti.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33226-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-anti-gang-operation-in-village-de-dieu-several-police-officers-killed-others-injured.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33180-icihaiti-crisis-the-oif-delegation-received-at-the-senate.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33173-haiti-crisis-the-oif-in-haiti-in-search-of-a-lasting-solution.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33019-haiti-politic-la-francophonie-wants-to-get-more-involved-in-the-haitian-crisis.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32969-haiti-politic-senator-lambert-president-of-the-senate-apologizes.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32910-haiti-politic-senator-lambert-launches-the-great-national-dialogue.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Michelle Keegan was feeling nostalgic for a summer road trip on Sunday.

The actress, 33, posted a throwback snap to Instagram of herself perched behind the wheel of a truck, staring wistfully out the window.

She showed off her tanned legs in tiny frayed white shorts and wore a baggy bubblegum pink sweater.

Hit the road: Michelle Keegan was feeling nostalgic for a summer road trip on Sunday

She completed things with bright white trainers as she hiked one knee up on the seat.

Looking tanned, she wore her chestnut locks tumbling around her shoulders.

'Weekend roadtrips  Whats your driving song???' she asked her followers in the captain.

Earlier in the week, she posted another sweet throwback photo with her granddad to mark St Patrick's Day.

Sweet! Michelle took a moment away from her hectic work schedule on Wednesday to upload a sweet throwback photo with her granddad to mark St Patrick's Day

linked her pint of Guinness against her granddad's as she smiled fondly at him.

Michelle cut a casual figure in a v-neck jumper and cream jeans while sporting trainers.

She swept her cascading locks up in a half-up, half-down hairdo and rocked natural make-up.

Her granddad looked smart in grey trousers and a black blazer which he teamed with a shirt and striped tie.

Michelle captioned the delightful upload: 'Happy St Patrick's Day'.

Looking back: The actress, 33, clinked her pint of Guinness against her granddad's as she smiled fondly at him and penned: 'Happy St Patrick's Day'

On Saturday, Michelle looked effortlessly chic once again as she battled the elements in a snap posted to her Instagram Story.

The actress lit up her Brassic night shoot posing under an umbrella in an ankle length white puffer parka featuring a fur-look hood.

Michelle, who plays single mum Erin Croft in the comedy, sported a second zipped puffer underneath, which she paired with a leopard-print mini.

The former Coronation Street star completed the look with a pair of thigh-high black boots and gold hoops.

She wore her long chestnut locks down with a loose wave, and smiled as she posed for the snap with cast and crew.

The TV star captioned the pic: Nightshoots with these beauts.

Michelle put on a very animated display as she shared a giggle with her co-stars during Brassic filming in Bacup, Lancashire, on Tuesday.

Like many other shows, Brassic's filming schedule was slightly derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Michelle was forced to stop filming the third series of the show last year, in order to isolate, after she was exposed to COVID-19.

But, luckily, the actress didn't actually contract the potentially deadly virus.

Strike a pose: On Saturday, Michelle looked effortlessly chic once again as she battled the elements in a Brassic night shoot and posted a quick snap to her Instagram Story

A source told MailOnline at the time: 'Michelle had to take time away from the Brassic set. She has once again been laying low in Essex with her husband Mark Wright.

'She only missed one day of filming. But she needed to isolate after she came into contact with someone in Manchester who had it.

'Luckily it all happened very quickly and Michelle did not return to the Brassic set before isolating. So it didn't affect filming too much.

'She has spent last two weeks in total isolation. She will go back to filming at the end of this week.'

Brassic follows the story of Lancashire native Vinnie (Joe Gilgun), who suffers from bipolar disorder and his best friend Dylan, played by Damien Molony, from whom he has been inseparable since childhood.

A tainted past, the boys have dealt, scammed, bribed and conned their way through adolescence.

Now, on the brink of adulthood, their dealing and stealing is catching up with them, with the repercussions of their crimes heading their way.

Michelle plays alongside them as a single mum seeking a better life for herself and son Tyler (Jude Riordan).

While navigating complicated relationships with the show's leads Dylan and Vinnie, she still strives for a good childhood for her son.

The new series of Brassic is expected to air on Sky One later this year following two extremely popular previous seasons.
United Nations:

The United States is determined to have a vote at the UN Security Council on Monday on imposing tough new sanctions against North Korea despite resistance from China and Russia, UN diplomats have said.

Washington has presented a draft UN resolution calling for an oil embargo on North Korea, an assets freeze on Kim Jong-Un, a ban on textiles and an end to payments of North Korean guest workers.

UN diplomats did not rule out the possibility that China or Russia could veto the measure but stressed that the US administration had launched a major push to win approval.

"The US intent is so strong on this issue and clearly they are throwing a lot at this", said a Security Council diplomat.

"I would expect the central scenario to be that they throw anything they have to throw at it to have it voted on Monday", he said.

The council diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he expected negotiations on the draft resolution to lead to some changes that could address Russian and Chinese concerns.

Read more: US shuts down Pakistan's Habib Bank amid money laundering concerns

China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi cut short a visit with other council envoys to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa to return to New York and take part in negotiations on the draft text.

Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia this week said a vote on Monday would be "a little premature."

The United States wants tough sanctions to be imposed to maximize pressure on Pyongyang to come to the table and negotiate an end to its nuclear and missile tests.

The proposed raft of sanctions would be the toughest-ever imposed on North Korea and seek to punish Pyongyang for its sixth and largest nuclear test.

Britain on Thursday backed the measures, saying the sanctions resolution was "a proportionate response to North Korea's illegal and reckless behavior."

"To give a chance for diplomacy to end this crisis, we need DPRK to change course now. That means the maximum possible pressure", said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

UN diplomats said that a ministerial-level Security Council meeting on North Korea could be held during the high-level debate of the General Assembly starting on September 19.

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If you are like over 70 million other people around the world, you may have taken a class with Coursera.

Coursera is an online education company that helps create Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller are computer science professors at Stanford University. They started Coursera in 2012.

Opening classrooms to the world

The company gives professors and universities a way to make a version of their classes available to students all over the world.

With the system from Coursera, a professor from Duke University in North Carolina can reach a student in Korea or a woman from Brazil. The company says it works with over 200 universities, from the small Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia to the large Peking University in Beijing, China with its 3000 professors.

There are now over 6,600 courses listed for anyone who wants to learn a new skill or prepare for a new job.

Coursera is the largest online education company of this kind. Other companies include FutureLearn and Udacity.

While Coursera says it has 77 million people registered for its website around the world, it is not clear how many of those have actually taken a class.

People who support online education say it opens up classrooms to everyone. They say it costs less than a class in person.

Critics say many people who start online classes never finish. They are not as invested in finishing a free or less costly course.

In the past, people took classes on Coursera to satisfy an interest in learning about a subject. Now, more students have taken classes for certificates that are accepted by many organizations. Some Coursera courses now count toward college degrees. And degree programs can cost up to $45,000.

More interest during the pandemic

In the last 12 months, many people were not able to go to class in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So they turned to Coursera as a way to continue their studies.

Coursera launched Coursera for Campus to help schools offer courses to stuck-at-home students. By the end of 2020, over 130 colleges and universities paid Coursera to use Coursera for Campus to teach online.

Coursera also has a similar program for government agencies and businesses that want to teach their employees online. Some high school students in the U.S. also took classes with Coursera because after-school activities were canceled.

In 2020, Coursera took in 59 percent more money than in 2019. Its revenue was almost $300 million. It also spent a lot of money to expand so it lost almost $70 million last year.

However, Coursera and other online education companies think the business is expanding. For example, some people who lost jobs during the pandemic are now learning new skills online. Even before COVID-19 closed schools, research company HolonIQ said people spent over $2 trillion on higher education around the world in 2019.

Stock market offering

Since 2012, Coursera has been supported by private investment companies. As interest in online learning grew, the Silicon Valley-based company filed for a stock market listing in early March to look for new investors.

Carla Hickman studies online education for a company called EAB. She said the investment will help Coursera as it grows.

I do think some of this initial capital is just going to make sure Coursera can continue to deliver the product they are today at a high standard as they grow.

With the new money, Coursera should be able to offer more classes to its audience, Hickman said. It may help Coursera keep students coming back for more classes.

In 2012, when Coursera started, it permitted universities that did not have strong online learning systems to make some of their classes available to more people. This was a form of marketing and advertising. Now, however, most universities have a way to teach online. Do they actually need Coursera, or can they have their own system instead?

With many institutions, you have to ask yourself what uniquely is Coursera providing that benefits the college and university that they would not do on their own?

As the company grows, Hickman said it is becoming less open and massive as you have to pay money to access the content.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

Have you ever taken a class with Coursera? What did you think? We want to hear from you. Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - Online Educator Coursera Plans to Sell Shares Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

massive adj. large in amount or degree

course n. a series of classes about a particular subject in a school

certificate n. a document that is official proof that you have finished school or a course of training

stuck adj. in a place or situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of

stock market listing n. the act of making a small part of company for sale at a place where stocks are bought and sold

initial capital n. money, property, etc., that is used to start or operate a business

product n. something that is made or grown to be sold or used

unique adj. very special or unusual

content n. the ideas, facts, or images that are in a book, article, speech, movie, etc.
A Virginia man is locked up on charges from three central Pennsylvania counties, some of which accuse him of threatening violence.

State police late last week released information on the allegations against Ryan Da Silva, 31, of Virginia Beach, all of which occurred March 7.

The first incident occurred about 10:25 a.m. when state police said they were notified of a man with a gun threatening and assaulting staff at the Super 8 motel outside Danville.

He allegedly told the manager he would blow his head off, they said.

The man left in a Nissan Pathfinder before troopers arrived but police said a person driving such a vehicle was involved in another incident about 11 a.m. on Route 11/15 in Hummels Wharf in Snyder County.

Da Silva is accused of weaving in and out of traffic, driving at a high speed and slamming on his brakes as he drove south.

As he approached a red traffic light he is alleged to have brandished a gun out the drivers side window and threatened to kill a man and woman from Freeburg in another car.

State police gave this account of what then happened:

Both vehicles continued south, the Nissan cut in front to gain access to the ramp to the Selinsgrove bypass and the driver slammed on the brakes causing a rear-end collision. They yelled at each other before the Nissan driver fled.

State police were placed on alert and troopers said about 12:15 p.m., they observed a Nissan Pathfinder getting onto Interstate 81 in East Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland County.

A pursuit that was called off prior to Adams County ensued when an attempt to stop the Nissan failed.

Da Silva was arrested in the Gettysburg area after police said the Nissan struck a stop sign and blew a tire.

He is charged in Montour County with aggravated assault with an attempt serious bodily injury, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and firearms not to be carried without a license. Bail was set at $100,000.

In Snyder County, Da Silva is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime and firearms not to be carried without a license. He also is charged with an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, not having proper insurance and four Vehicle Code violations. Bail in that county was set at $175,000.

Da Silva in Cumberland County is charged with fleeing to elude an officer, flight to avoid apprehension, recklessly endangering another person and 10 Vehicle Code violations.

No information was available on bail on those counts or if he was charged in Adams County.

ALSO READ: Four children escape fire that mom is accused of setting in Pa. apartment
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 11:08:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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SAO PAULO -- Brazil on Saturday reported 2,438 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 292,752, as healthcare systems continue to collapse across the country, the ministry of health said.

Meanwhile, the country also registered 79,069 new cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 11,950,459.

- - - -

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported eight new cases of COVID-19 in two days, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Sunday.

All eight new cases of COVID-19 were recent returnees tested COVID-19 positive in managed isolation, while there was no new case of COVID-19 in the wider community to report, said the ministry.

- - - -

BEIJING -- Twelve new imported COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday on the Chinese mainland, bringing the total number of imported cases to 5,195.

Of the new imported cases, four were reported in Shanghai, three in Gansu, two in Tianjin, and one each in Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi and Guangdong, the National Health Commission said in its daily report Sunday.

- - - -

SANTIAGO -- 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. Enditem
In his 28 years of life, Kieran Hallorans transformational moments have come through his involvement in campus ministry.

On a senior retreat at Xavier High School in Manhattan, he felt his first call to become a Jesuit.

But it came in the vaguest way, he recalled. In short my reaction was, No way.

He felt overwhelmed so he made no decision at the time.

At Georgetown University, on a retreat in senior year, he was finally ready and decided he would explore entering the Society of Jesus, the formal name for the Jesuits.

Both Xavier and Georgetown are run by Jesuits and he came across several role models who made an impression on him.

I admired their simplicity of life, he said, adding, I found Jesuits in general were a little more human and a little more divine and fun to be around.

Today, after seven years of formation with probably four more to go before ordination, Hallorans at St. Peters Prep in Jersey City working in  you guessed it  campus ministry. He helps out with planning and hosting liturgies  prayer services and Masses.

He had been involved with retreats when he first arrived two years ago but COVID put a hold on in-person retreats. He also had accompanied students on service projects, which have also been scaled back. For example, he would take about 10 students to Hands North Arlington, which works with adults with developmental disabilities.

He called it a ministry of presence, a quality that has defined many of his pastoral experiences as a young Jesuit.

The first two years were spent as a novice in St. Andrews Novitiate across from LeMoyne College in Syracuse. He lived with eight other novices, a rather large group in this day and age. In addition, there were three second-year novices and three priests to lead them.

During this first stage, novices immersed themselves in Jesuit history and got a taste of Jesuit life, which is highly academic and also pastoral.

For his hospital experience, he spent two months at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, which treats terminal cancer patients, and he found joy in palliative care.

It was a graced experience to see how God continues to be present amidst their suffering struggles, he said.

Then one semester he lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, and taught at a Jesuit Nativity School for middle school students from poor families.

After he took his first vows as a Jesuit, Halloran moved to St. Louis University for three years and became a scholastic (a seminarian in studies) and earned a masters degree in philosophy focusing on ethics and the philosophy of technology.

He came to Prep almost two years ago in what is called regency  performing a ministry -- and lives in the Jesuit community at St. Peters University, where he is the youngest and only non-ordained Jesuit. He is one of only three Jesuits at Prep.

In my time, there were about 100 Jesuits in Jersey City; today there are fewer than 20. He resides in St. Aedans Rectory with five others. There are also fewer Jesuits in general in the East Coast province with just over 600 mostly older priests, whereas the three provinces that formed it had at one time close to 3,000. But age differences do not worry him.

Community is community and an invitation to live together, he noted.

Jesuits take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience so they own little and share their resources.

There is also a fourth vow of obedience to the pope, who just happens to be a Jesuit, and a promise to go wherever needed to spread the faith. That would appeal to Halloran, whose undergraduate degree was in foreign service and regional comparative studies. His volunteer work has brought him to Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji, Ecuador, Argentina, El Salvador, Rwanda and Kenya. He occasionally does pastoral work at St. Aedans Church, the university parish, assisting with catechetical instruction of children.

He also teaches four classes of freshman religion at Prep, encountering 90 students.

Prep students are really a joy to teach, he said.

He is bilingual in Spanish and next year will move to Nogales, Arizona, and join the Kino Border Initiative, a Jesuit ministry that assists immigrants on both sides of the border.

The North Salem, New York, native and fourth of six siblings loves Jersey City.

Its a fun city and I get to explore it by biking, he said, noting rides to the Heights, along the Hudson, Liberty State Park and Greenville.

To be a Jesuit is really a life full of joy, Halloran said. Being a Jesuit has made me the happiest I ever thought I could have imagined from Day One.

And that joy may inspire some Prep students to think theyd like to be like Mr. Halloran someday. Though minus the hippie hair and beard. Or maybe because of them.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.
Antim Star Aayush Sharma Works Out With Sand Bags Post His Maldives Vacation; Watch

Grabbing eyeballs with his phenomenal transformation, Aayush Sharma continues to impress everyone with his rigorous workout routine, despite the unavailability of proper equipments. Post the much deserved vacation to Maldives, Aayush Sharma is back to his stringent training schedule as the actor works out with sand bags.

Seen lifting bags full of sand the young actor looked lethal. Sharing a video of his workout regime, Aayush said, "Surprise body shot post the holiday...nothing to pump so sand bag to rescue". Giving a testimony of his sheer hardwork, dedication, zest and unmatchable focus.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by A.S.piring (@_aay_love_aay_)

Applauded widely for his remarkable transformation for film Antim: The Final Truth, Aayush's fitness videos and posts have been making headlines. Having shot continuously for his film Antim, Aayush had a very hectic schedule wrapping the shoots of this action packed film. Post rewinding from a much deserved vacation, Aayush hits back with the same intensity.

Inspiring us through our lazy weekends, Aayush gives us serious fitness and self motivation goals. Gearing up for his most awaited movie Antim: The Final Truth, Aayush will be seen playing a more intense character, with high on action scenes and locking horns with no other than Salman Khan.
Recently, one of the global expat living publications released a whizz bang study on the cost of living in various countries around the world for expatriates, and Vietnam came out on top of the pile as the absolute cheapest.

Exactly how affordable is Vietnam?

A while back I went through a line-by-line exercise detailing typical expat living expenses, but now lets take a different tack, looking at what can be bought for one little ole U.S. dollar in Vietnam.

In Vietnamese dong terms, that U.S. dollar buys about VND23,000. The Australian and Canadian dollars weigh in at about VND18,000, whereas the euro pegs at VND27,000.

The UKs pound sterling converts to just short of VND32,000.

Confused yet?

Me too, so screw it, well just stick with the U.S. dollar and use VND20,000 as the local currency equivalent, a nice, easy round number. I include the VND amounts below to facilitate easy conversion to other currencies.

Actually, using a lower value than the prevailing exchange rate may not be a bad idea, because the U.S. Federal Reserve continues to put money into circulation like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave.

Vietnam, working conservatively with the future in mind, is busy squirreling away foreign currency, leading me to think that rate may well change one day, but we have no idea whether indeed it will change, by how much, or when.

In the meantime, lets go on a typical little daily trip to your local market and see what a dollar can buy us.

First up, you need to park your motorbike, which you can do seven times at markets in most cities for that dollar  i.e. its usually VND3,000 a pop, give or take.

Bread always comes in handy, so how many banh mi can we buy (just whole loaves, not prepared sandwiches) for that dollar?

There are many different grades of that little slice of heaven ranging in price from VND1,500 to VND3,000 each, and no doubt there are designer versions that come in pricier featuring seeds and nuts, even emitting a cute little jingle when sliced open.

The VND1,500 loaves are extremely light and airy, the VND2,000 loaves are a bit denser, while the more expensive heavyweight versions are nearly twice the weight, more concentrated and tastier, so well go with them at VND3,000 each, thats seven for a buck  damn good deal.

Heavyweight banh mi

Now lets pick up some veggies, you can buy two majestic heads of broccoli or cauliflower for a buck  those big enough for two servings cost about VND10,000 each.

For the same amount, you can snag two pomelos, which look like a grapefruit on steroids, called buoi, but only the smallish variety, a bit old, possibly with some blemishes, theyre discounted but still great for eating. Whats inside is delicious and freshly preserved by that extra thick pith, and thats what matters. The largest and prettiest versions of pomelo will run closer to two bucks.

Stuck between washing days with no clean socks? Damn, dont you hate it when that happens?

Fret not, you can even buy three pairs of socks for VND20,000, thats the very short ladies version that only comes up to your ankle bone (irritating) and develops holes in the heels and toes in no time flat. Still, if youre in a jam, those socks will bail you out.

If you stub your toe wandering around the market, no worries, you can pick up no less than 20 average-sized plastic band aids for that buck.

Every household needs fresh hens eggs  I personally prefer them all natural with blobs of poop and gunk on the outside  adds realism to the whole buying experience. I assume, but can furnish no proof to back up the claim, that the poopy variety come from happier hens than those who lay the squeaky clean industrial supermarket eggs by the thousand.

You can buy ten poopy eggs for that buck although they are typically sold by the kilo, just remember to wash them thoroughly before cracking them open to avoid any bacteria.

Poopy eggs

How about a nice freshwater snakehead fish (ca loc  yep, the very one I struggle to pronounce correctly as analyzed to tears in my previous update). You can choose any two of the large chunks below (each is enough for one meal for one person) for a buck, which do not include the head and all the guts in the center of the photo, from which I made a tasty soup stock.

I pulled that live fish out of the tank myself and whacked it senseless with a steel pole, you cant beat that for freshness.

Snakehead (ca loc) fish

The entire fish cost me VND85,000, which comes out to eight good-sized chunks, or two for VND20,000.

To round out your meal you can buy enough chilies, coriander, basil, and spring onions to choke a horse for a buck, or for VND2,000 you can get enough of each to prepare a single meal. Hell, if you buy several items from a market vendor, theyll throw them in for free.

Lets stop off for a snack, theres always a bun thit nuong or banh uot stand within spitting distance. The two dishes are similar  a thin rice crepe with grilled or ground pork, hunks of sausage, sprouts, greens, and, naturally, some mild fish sauce.

If you spot some woven rice noodles that resemble little cross-thatched blankets, those are banh hoi. Grab them, that design soaks up the fish sauce delightfully! You can pick up any one of these three dishes for VND20,000 and enjoy it whilst sitting on a kiddie-sized plastic stool.

A wicked banh out

Lets top that dish off with a nice local coffee cups, some are made from a blend of local Vietnamese robusta beans (known to make the hairs on your arm stand up), others are made from a mixture of robusta and arabica seeds.

A cup in a nice cafe will go for a dollar, sometimes more, but if you dont mind drinking in the kind of dump I frequent you can get one for half that, so for a buck you can invite a friend to join you for a cup.

Thirsty? You can pick up two large glasses of sugarcane juice (nuoc mia) squeezed right on the spot for VND20,000, which cant beat that with a stick. Its packed with electrolytes to stave off dehydration in hot, sticky weather.

Lets say that on your trek around the market, you catch your clothing on a nail, resulting in an unsightly tear. Dont worry, on your way home just pop into the Miracle Sewing Lady, she can fix anything.

She sits there all day, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm (I checked), hardly moving, just sewing her brains out. She memorizes every repair job dropped off by each customer, the time by which she promised to complete the work, and the price she quoted. Id bet a tidy sum that she never muffs up a job or forgets what she promised her customer.

Miracle Sewing Lady just sits outside a house, has no shop of her own, but I wouldnt be surprised to see her take over the entire block one day, shes that good. Anyway, she can fix up any clothing misfortune in no time flat, charging VND20,000 or less for a repair.

Miracle Sewing Lady

And if youre feeling lucky after all that shopping, you can pick up two daily lottery tickets for a buck and give one to a friend to ensure maximum luck.

You never know, somebody who wins it might be you.

In the meantime, enjoy the affordable prices here in Vietnam, they probably wont remain that way forever.
WASHINGTON  U.S. government agencies are again looking at a long-standing proposal to release an Afghan drug kingpin in exchange for concessions in peace talks, which would include the release of an American held in Afghanistan, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Bashir Noorzai, who was arrested in New York in 2005 and sentenced in 2009 to life in prison on drug and conspiracy charges, could be the leverage President Biden is looking for in Afghanistan, particularly to free American civil engineer Mark Frerichs, who was kidnapped in Kabul in January 2020 and is held by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network. Noorzai is currently in a federal prison in New Hampshire.

American engineer and Taliban hostage Mark Frerichs. (Photo provided by family)

Noorzais possible release, which remains controversial, will likely not be a part of any imminent announcements being made by the Biden administration on Afghanistan. Facing a tight deadline to remove the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops by May 1, the White House is in the process of a broader evaluation of its approach to peace negotiations with the Taliban.

A source familiar with the matter stressed that Biden has not yet made a decision on the May 1 deadline, previously negotiated by the Trump administration.

A vital piece of the equation, particularly if peace negotiations with the Taliban are restarted, is convincing the Haqqani network to free Frerichs, as well as finding answers about what happened to American author Paul Overby, who disappeared in the region in 2014.

Both the White House and the State Department declined to comment on whether Noorzais release was being discussed within the government. However, in a statement, State Department spokesperson Ned Price wrote that American citizen Mark Frerichs has spent over a year in captivity. We will not stop working until we secure his safe return home.

If the possibility of releasing Noorzai rises to the level of the White House, it would likely involve a complex and lengthy deliberation, featuring input from the agencies and senior officials, particularly Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Story continues

The White House is under pressure to make sure it has explored every available option to free hostages before pulling out of Afghanistan, and many are angry that the Trump administration signed a peace deal with the Taliban while the Haqqani network was openly holding an American captive.

While there are always big policy issues at play, Americans held hostage abroad must take priority, said Margaux Ewen, executive director of the James Foley Legacy Foundation, named after an American journalist killed in Syria by ISIS militants.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ewen urged the White House to do whatever it can to free hostages before even considering leaving Afghanistan. What kind of a message does it send if the United States is dealing with the Taliban when they are still holding Americans hostage? How can we sign a peace deal with them without first resolving Mark Frerichs and Paul Overbys cases?

Frerichss family declined to discuss specifics, citing ongoing internal discussions, but told Yahoo News they support any and all efforts to bring him home.

We want to see all our troops come home from Afghanistan, but we are worried that we are losing leverage to get Mark home safely. We have confidence in President Biden and Secretary Blinken and welcome anything the government can do to help make Marks return a priority, said Charlene Cakora, the sister of Frerichs.

Noorzai, a prominent tribal leader from southern Afghanistan, was lured to the U.S. in 2005 by federal agents promising high-level discussions. Noorzai, who had previously worked with American officials in the region, was arrested after landing in the U.S. for orchestrating a massive drug-trafficking ring out of both Afghanistan and Pakistan that put over $50 million in heroin into the streets of New York City and other states and countries. That money directly financed Taliban activities, according to the U.S. government.

Noorzai had previously served as an ally who helped the Americans track down weaponry and information in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. But there was growing confusion within the U.S. government about what to do with Noorzai, wrote national security journalist James Risen in his book Pay Any Price, given the tribal leaders prominent role in the drug trade and his financial support for the Taliban.

Not everyone in the U.S. government agreed that it was the right call to arrest him, according to sources familiar with the matter. However, Noorzais prominent role in opium-rich southern Afghanistan, where the drug trade was a primary source of funds for the Taliban, caught the attention of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which enlisted private contractors to help track him down, to the dismay of the CIA. By January 2005, there was already a sealed indictment against Noorzai in New York.

Afghan drug lord Bashir Noorzai. (Handout via Reuters)

Not knowing the real purpose of his trip, however, Noorzai flew from Dubai to New York, where federal agents put him in custody.

The Taliban have since demanded his return.

Experts familiar with the region and Noorzais role argue he is important for tribal cohesion and the stability of southern Afghanistan.

The first time U.S. officials seriously considered releasing Noorzai was in early 2013, when the Pentagon was looking for ways to get Bowe Bergdahl, an Army soldier held captive by the Haqqani network, and several other Americans imprisoned in Afghanistan and Pakistan back home. However, the U.S. government ultimately worked with the Qatari and Afghan governments to trade five Taliban prisoners for Bergdahl.

Several of the other prisoners, including Caitlin Coleman, Josh Boyle and their child born in captivity, were released later on, while Warren Weinstein, an American who was being held by al-Qaida affiliates, was later accidentally killed in a CIA drone strike.

The Taliban has been calling for Noorzais release with U.S. officials including Zalmay Khalilzad, special envoy to Afghanistan, since the summer. Khalilzad had already arranged for the release in 2019 of two other Western hostages held by the Taliban, American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks, as a way to break through in the peace process.

Then, in January 2020, the Haqqani network took Frerichs. They saw a gravy train, a former senior administration official explained. That really complicated things for us.

The possibility of freeing Noorzai in exchange for Frerichs was discussed at the senior levels of the Trump administration, but faced opposition.

I think thats a nonstarter, said Lisa Curtis, who was in charge of the South and Central Asia portfolio at the National Security Council under Trump between 2017 and 2021. This person is known as the Pablo Escobar of Afghanistan, she explained. Noorzais arrest was a huge victory for the DEA in particular.

Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The U.S. authorities worked very hard to arrest him. ... I can tell you that while there may have been some folks pushing for it, there was a great deal of resistance, she recalled. If the entire peace process is turned on this issue, maybe there would be some consideration.

Multiple officials concerned about Frerichss release were frustrated that his name wasnt being consistently raised in peace talks led by Khalilzad, particularly given the quality of intelligence concerning his capture and location. However, when the possibility of releasing Noorzai was formally introduced at high levels of the U.S. government, officials at the Department of Justice ultimately shot it down, the sources said.

A spokesperson for DOJ declined to comment.

We had the chance to do something early on, but he was sacrificed at the altar of potential peace in Afghanistan, said a former senior administration official. It was disappointing to see that.

Not every U.S. official believes releasing Noorzai is the only way to simultaneously get Frerichs home and reenergize the peace negotiations that Trump left behind.

Curtis, who believes the administration should not immediately pull out of Afghanistan, suggests that there are multiple levers of power to pull to get the Taliban back to the table. The Taliban certainly want their members delisted from U.N. sanctions lists, they want more prisoners released, and many of them actually dont want to be international pariahs like they were in the 1990s, she said. The other leverage I would say is more negative. We could certainly step up our military activity against the Taliban if, for example, they start increasing attacks on U.S. forces.

However, several sources familiar with the discussions feel that the Afghan drug lord may be the only chance the U.S. government has to get Frerichs home, and maybe some other major concessions along the way in a broader peace arrangement.

We cant really move forward and leave an American behind, said one former senior administration official.

U.S. lawmakers following Frerichss case, including Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, continue to publicly call for his release.

From left, Sens. Charles Schumer, Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Mark Frerichs has been held hostage in Afghanistan for more than a year. His family deserves to see him home once again and I will continue to work with the Biden administration to ensure his safe return, Durbin said in a statement to Yahoo News.

Noorzais release, while controversial, wouldnt be unprecedented. In 2018, the government quietly released Haji Juma Khan, another Afghan drug lord. He was arrested in 2008 despite his previous work with both the CIA and DEA. Unlike Noorzai, however, his case never actually went to trial.

Its been kind of comical to see Noorzai on the table over the years, said retired Army Lt. Col. Jason Amerine, who has testified to Congress about the deficiencies of the U.S. governments hostage recovery process. So much time has passed now that releasing Noorzai, hed probably be released straight into retirement.

____

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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.
Shortly before 1 p.m. on March 21, 1965, about 3,000 people gathered at Browns Chapel in Selma, Ala., began marching. They were heading toward the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which theyd have to cross to get to their destination of Montgomery, the state capital.

In the front row was John Lewis, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, who two weeks earlier had led a smaller group across the bridge.

Unlike March 7, or Bloody Sunday, beatings and tear-gassing inflicted by state troopers werent awaiting Lewis and the others. This time, there would be clear passage for the demonstrators led, among others, by Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, A. Philip Randolph and Rabbi Abraham Heschel.

They were under the protection of National Guard troops for their four-day, 54-mile Selma to Montgomery march, which culminated the Selma campaign for voting rights and would lead to the signing of the Voting Rights Act on Aug. 6, 1965.

One memorable participant was a one-legged white man from Saginaw, Mich., named Jim Letherer. When people thanked him for being there, hed thank them in return and say, I believe in you. I believe in democracy.

A mere 56 years after the Voting Rights Act became the crowning achievement of the civil rights movement those rights are under attack. The attacks arent being waged by men armed with clubs and tear gas at a bridge but by men and women armed with pens and paper in statehouses who, unlike Letherer, dont believe in democracy.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 250 bills in 43 states  Texas included  have been filed to unnecessarily restrict voting access. These bills, authored by Republicans, are powered by the lies that Donald Trumps 2020 presidential election was stolen and voter fraud is rampant.

Trump lost handily, and voter fraud is nearly nonexistent.

Many of the measures, such as restricting mail-in voting, limiting voter-registration opportunities and narrowing the time frame for early voting, dont address voting fraud.

The only reason to limit voting hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as SB 7 in the Texas Senate proposes, is to make it harder for people to vote. SB 7 would also require all countywide polling places to have the same number of voting machines, meaning people living in large urban areas will have to stand in lines longer than people in small rural areas.

These measures by Republican officials arent in response to the threat of voter fraud but to the threat of a rapidly changing demographic of Americans who arent attracted to a party becoming more extreme and homogenous. Instead of trying to expand their appeal, Republicans choose to restrict access to voting.

Imagine owning a steakhouse whose steaks are inferior to other steakhouses and instead of devoting the effort to make your steaks more appealing, you choose to make it more difficult for diners to go to other steakhouses.

None of these bills explicitly target a specific group, but they will disproportionately harm groups that historically have been hurt by restrictive voting measures.

In Texas, who is most likely to live in large urban areas and be stuck in long lines? They probably look like the same people inconvenienced by Georgia Republican efforts to eliminate early voting on Sundays, which takes aim at Souls to the Polls, an after-church-get-out-the-vote drive popular among Black churches across the nation.

Of the many great legacies of the Founding Fathers, enshrining in the Constitution voting rights for anyone who wasnt a white male with property wasnt one. For most of this nations history, the powers that be, whether Democrats or Republicans, fought to keep it that way.

Every expansion of voting rights for people of color and for women has come only after generations of intimidation, struggle and bloodshed. We cant allow those victories to be nullified.

Preserving those wins may rest with passage of the For the People Act, now in the U.S. Senate, guaranteeing every American fair voting access by making it easier to cast a ballot and harder for states to purge voter rolls, and with passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, reinstating the Justice Departments preclearance authority in the Voting Rights Act, which was removed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder.

At the end of the Selma to Montgomery march, Martin Luther King Jr., in a rhetorical riff about the struggle to overcome injustice and inequality, said, How long? Not long.

Its going to take a little longer and some more organizing and marching. Were still crossing that bridge in Selma.

cary.clack@express-news.net
Los Angeles, March 21 : Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy said that he will only return to the fourth installment of the Beverly Hills Cop if the script is right.

A fourth movie in the action-comedy franchise is in the works with streaming portal Netflix, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"They've been trying to make another 'Beverly Hills Cop' for 15 years now. Right now, Netflix has it, and they're trying to develop a script. That's what we're supposed to be doing next. But, I'm not doing nothing until the script is right," Murphy, who plays the protagonist Axel Foley, told Desus and Mero.

"Bad Boys for Life" directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are directing the revival of the franchise. They confirmed last year that a first draft of the script was being penned.

El Arbi had said: "We're still involved in that project, and there's a screenwriter now on it that's going to try to write a first draft, or a first treatment at least with the story. So we're going to see what the first version will be, but we're very excited and hope that we can with another icon like Eddie Murphy. That'd be great." El Arbi said that he couldn't wait to work with Murphy.

"When I was a kid, it was one of my favourite movies. It was the quintessential Jerry Bruckheimer movie - a buddy-cop, humour action movie. 'Bad Boys' is a 'Beverly Hills Cop' kinda movie. And of course, Eddie Murphy is an idol," he said.
If youre looking to sit in front of the TV for hours on end  utterly captivated and unaware of the minutes flying by as the sun sets outside Zack Snyders Justice League may not be a perfect choice. While the movie is an immense improvement on its 2017 predecessor, its still Justice League.

Justice League photocall | Mike Marsland / Contributor

The viewing experience will not be all that new. Not to mention, although Snyders vision finally comes to life, the story is a bit overstuffed, and subplots aimed entirely at catalyzing sequels feel all-too focal. So, here are a couple of ultra-long movies that are definitely worth your time.

1. Gandhi | 3h and 11m

The 1982 biographical drama Gandhi stars Ben Kingsley as the beloved Indian leader who stood against the British rule over his country. His nonviolent resistance is front and center, as his gatherings of passive protests  after years and years of neglect  begin to move the needle. Kingsley is phenomenal in the role, and he went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1983. You can watch Gandhi on Vudu, starting at $2.99.

RELATED: Justice League: Zack and Deborah Snyder Say The Snyder Cut Wouldnt Exist If It Wasnt for the Fans

2. The Deer Hunter | 3h and 4m

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war drama starring the incomparable Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken. When it comes to A-listers shining in an ensemble masterpiece, The Deer Hunter is a must-see. The film chronicles lifelong friends who plan to ship out overseas following one last hunting trip. They dream of military honor, but the atrocities of Vietnam quickly squelch their expectations, leaving the men scarred, and haunting Nicks (Walken) hometown sweetheart Linda (Meryl Streep). The film is available on NBCs streaming platform, Peacock.

3. JFK | 3h and 26m

The 1991 dramatic mystery JFK presents the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). Gary Oldman portrays Lee Harvey Oswald and Kevin Beacon plays Willie OKeefe. They are joined by the likes of Tommy Lee Jones and Ed Asner. The movie is available on YouTube for $2.99.

RELATED: Inside Kevin Costners Staggering Yellowstone Paycheck

4. Cleopatra | 5h and 20m

Cleopatra may require two separate sittings on two different days, or at the least an intermission to use the bathroom and prepare dinner. The film is a sprawling epic helmed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and its a celebrated piece of cinema that depicts Cleopatras manipulation of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony in a doomed attempt to save the Egyptian Empire.

Elizabeth Taylor stars as Cleopatra, and she is joined by one of her to-be husbands at the time, Richard Burton, who portrays Marc Anthony. The movie also stars Roddy McDowall and Martin Landau. You can watch with a Max Go subscription.

5. Malcolm X | 3h and 22m

Denzel Washington stars as Malcolm X in the 1992 Spike Lee-directed biographical drama about the Black activist and leader for Black liberation. The film is available on Hulu, and Washington was nominated for the Oscar for his performance. The movie tracks Malcolm Xs life  from the beginning to his imprisonment and up through his 1965 assassination.

RELATED: Denzel Washington Married the Co-Star of His Very First Acting Job
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Hundreds of people gathered at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids Saturday to remember the eight people killed at three shootings in Atlanta on March 16.

While the Atlanta Police Department has yet to classify the killings as hate crimes, witness reports of the shootings clearly note racist motives, shaking Asian Americans around the country. Speakers at the vigil in Rosa Parks Circle see an escalation of a brewing situation.

Organized by the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Foundation (GRAPF), the Saturday, March 20, rally and vigil was a response to the fear, anger and calls for support from the community.

[After the killings], I was succumbed with emotions because all I could think of were the people I know in the community, said GRAPF Founder and Executive Director Ace Marasigan. All I could think of was, that could have happened here.

The event featured speakers from the community, including members of GRAPF, Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, Chinese Association of West Michigan President Shuqiao Sue Chen, Grand Rapids NAACP President Cle Jackson and others.

During her speech, Chen noted that while hate crimes in general dropped last year, those against Asian-Americans rose significantly. It will take action from everyone to change that trend, she said.

These are all unacceptable, Chen said. Its hard not to think that these crimes are escalating in their severity and are building up upon each other. We must all come together to stop these hate crimes.

Many of the speakers spoke about solidarity, with Womack drawing parallels between the Black Lives Matter movement and the rally today. He said that a standing together to address all forms of hate is key to making significant change.

When I speak today, Im not just speaking for myself, Womack said. Im speaking to say that my community is with you because we are all one community. We understand that Black lives matter, we understand that Asian lives matter, we understand that every life matters.

Others expressed anger that it took this long for conversations about hate crimes against Asian Americans to happen. GRAPF Marketing Director Sam Suarez challenged attendees to keep the conversation going beyond this moment, as these issues have been building for years.

It really disgusts me that its taken this long for the media to give us any attention, Suarez said. If youre Asian American and you started hearing the rhetoric of calling it the China Virus and Kung Flu and all of that, this isnt surprising that this happened.

Of course it had to take a shooting of eight people for this to be taken seriously. And even now, I kind of think that people are going to forget about this next week.

Attendees came out in droves to show their support. Abraham Zatarain, an attendee from Grand Rapids, said seeing the attacks in Atlanta made him think of growing up in his diverse neighborhood of Los Angeles. He had the same sense of activism when Black Lives Matter protests swept the country.

Zatarain drew attention to his protest sign, which read Go for broke to stop Asian hate. The slogan dates back to the 442nd Infantry Regiment of World War II, which was made up of Japanese-Americans pulled out of internment camps.

Their motto was Go for broke, which meant to risk everything for success, Zatarain said. I think its important for right now  we risked a lot, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement. I think for right now, its our turn to risk everything for Asian lives.

While the crowd listened to speakers, they stood together as the names of each of the eight victims were read.

Marasigan announced a moment of silence just after 6 p.m. as quiet swept over the crowd. Attendees placed candles and signs together to memorialize those killed in Atlanta.

The moment was juxtaposed with deafening cries to stop Asian hate, as just before, Marasigans son, Redd, took the stage to inspire the crowd. With his father by his side, he sparked a chant that quickly filled Rosa Parks Circle.

That was a hopeful moment, Ace said, because the crowd represented a better future for his son to grow up in.

I wanted [my son] to see that, he said. I know hes going to grow up [knowing] his father tried to do things for him and I want him to be able to grow up and say, My world is different.

Also on MLive:

Marlenas Bistro supporters see restaurant closure as latest fight for freedom in pandemic

Michigan reports 2,660 new coronavirus cases and 47 deaths

Economic security, racial inequity among top community health concerns in Kent County
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%.
The police in Ekiti on Sunday said three persons have been taken into custody over the killing of two persons and the disruption of Saturdays House of Assembly bye-election in the state.

The Police Commissioner, Babatunde Mobayo, also clarified that contrary to widespread speculations, the policewoman who was shot, did not die but sustained gunshot wounds. He said she was immediately rushed to a hospital for attention.

Two persons were confirmed to have been shot dead on Saturday by suspected party thugs while five others sustained gunshot wounds during the House of Assembly bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in the state constituency .

Mr Mobayo, through the Commands spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, told journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday that three persons had been arrested in connection with the shooting.

No police officer died during the shooting, he said.

One of our officers was shot, but she didnt die as wrongly speculated.

The policewoman, who though was in a critical condition yesterday , is now responding to treatment. She is getting better.

He said the suspected perpetrators of the crime had been detained at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti.

Yes, three suspected party thugs have been arrested, said the commissioner.

They were picked up where they were hiding and are now being detained in our headquarters .

Murder is a capital offence and police wont watch and allow anyone take laws into his own hands freely. Nigeria is a nation being guided by laws. Just like we assured our people on Saturday, everyone who had hands in the killings will be brought to book.

And I am assuring that all those that were arrested will be taken to court as soon as we conclude investigations and gather enough evidence.

Governor Kayode Fayemi had earlier condemned the violence, describing it as unacceptable.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Sam Oluwalana, condemned the unwarranted shootings by suspected thugs at unit 7, ward 7 which is the polling unit of Biodun Olujimi, the senator representing Ekiti South.

Mr Oluwalana explained that irrespective of the party or personality involved, no life should be lost over any election.

It is unfortunate that a very peaceful and transparent election could have turned so bloody, he said.

The APC is law abiding, peaceful and as such has no reason to be violent. No election is worth the blood of any Ekiti son or daughter. We sincerely commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the incident, while also wishing the policewoman and other gunshot victims still on admission in the hospital quick recovery.

Also, the Young Progressives Party commended the INEC for suspending the election due to crisis.

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It also appealed to the commission not to allow itself to be used by any party to upturn the poll whenever it is rescheduled.

We sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident and pray God to grant them eternal rest as well as the fortitude for the families to bear the irreparable loss, said a statement by the party.

The seat became vacant following the death in February of an All Progressives Congress lawmaker, Juwa Adegbuyi, who represented the constituency in the state House of Assembly.

The election had also been suspended by INEC owing to violence that attended the exercise.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Param Bir Singh's letter, Waze case tainted MVA's image, allies need to introspect: Sanjay Raut

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Mar 21: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay raut on Sunday admitted that the allegations made by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh against minister Anil Deshmukh, and the Sachin Waze case have tainted the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state, and said all allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.

Talking to reporters, he also said that "something needs to be rectified" and the ruling allies should come together to discuss how these stains can be washed off.

His statements come in the wake of Param Bir Singh''s letter sent on Saturday to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in which he has alleged that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect at least Rs 100 crore from city bars and hotels every month, a charge denied by the minister.

"Such allegations against the government or ministers are unfortunate and shocking. The contents (of Singh''s letter) are sensational," he said.

"The veracity of the letter''s contents will be done by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and (NCP president) Sharad Pawar. The MVA government has completed a year-and-a-half now and all allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground," he said.

NIA taking over Hiran death case no setback to MVA government: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

Raut said the police administration is the backbone of any government.

The backbone is symbol of pride and self-respect and the government should always strengthen it, he added.

"This government is doing well. But now something needs to be rectified and the MVA allies should get together to discuss how the stain can be washed off," he said.

"I have to accept that these allegations and the Waze case have tainted the image of the government...Uddhav Thackeray has always tried to keep the government''s image clean. What happens because of government officials needs to controlled at the right time," the Shiv Sena MP added.

Raut said that Deshmukh himself has called for an investigation into the allegations against him.

"Even as the state investigative agencies are under Deshmukh, he has asked the chief minister to order a probe," he said.

The Sena leader said he would try to meet Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Raut tweeted a two-line Hindi poem, of which one line says- ''We are only in search of new paths''. When asked about what he meant by it, he only said, "You will know the meaning soon."

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 13:22 [IST]
That position may seem contradictory to some. The police, after all, are often seen as protectors of public safety. When the international Black Lives Matter movement has led to calls to defund or even abolish the police, opponents are quick to cite womens safety from rape and assault as a reason the police must be preserved.

But if Ms. Everards death convinced many women in Britain that the police were failing to protect them, the violent police action a few days later at a London vigil in her honor, along with the arrest of a police officer over her killing, have led many to conclude that the police are an active threat. Womens safety and freedom, they argue, can come only from much deeper social changes  and any policy change in response to Ms. Everards death should focus on those.

Impunity for sexual violence

Margaret Atwood famously said that there was nothing in her novel The Handmaids Tale that did not happen to women somewhere, at some point in history. That is often treated as evidence of in-depth sourcing, but in fact it is the force behind the novels visceral central horror: that any protection women might think would be offered by democracy, education, wealth or race can all too easily disappear in an instant.

For many women in Britain, Ms. Everards killing and the polices violent dispersal of a London vigil in her memory have triggered a similar horror, on a less dystopian scale, about how unprotected they truly are. It has become a moment, too, to reflect on the suffering of women of color, and other groups targeted for abuse, that has long been ignored.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says he will work to further strengthen Japan's alliance with the United States when he visits the country early next month.

Suga gave a speech on Sunday at the graduation ceremony of the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka City, near Tokyo.

The event was scaled down again this year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Parents were not invited, and one student received a diploma on behalf of his classmates.

In his speech, Suga said he is sorry that the students were unable to celebrate with their parents.

He said the security environment changed drastically when the Soviet Union collapsed 30 years ago, and there will be unprecedented challenges and threats for the next 30 years, creating new missions for the Self-Defense Forces.

Suga said no country can protect its peace and security by itself amid such a complicated environment, and cooperation among allies and friendly nations is essential.

He said he is determined to deepen his personal relationship of mutual trust with US President Joe Biden, and further strengthen the bilateral alliance.

About 400 Japanese students graduated from the academy this year. Twenty-eight declined to join the Self-Defense Forces, seven fewer than last year.
When Disneyland reopens on April 30, the park will welcome guests with an experience substantially different from the one it offered before the pandemic. There will be fewer attractions to enjoy, like parades and fireworks, and none of the perks like Fast Passes or Magical Mornings. If the California Attractions and Parks Association has their way, there wont even be screaming on roller coasters.

But despite all that  or really, because of it  the reopened Disneyland will offer an experience unlike any it has ever offered before. Per Californias guidance for the red tier, the parks will be opening at 15 percent capacity, and only California residents will be allowed to visit. Smaller crowds will offer better ride experiences, and limited capacities in stores will give people space to shop without crowds. For many, the trade-offs of mask wearing and being stationary while eating or drinking will be worth it for the experience of being in the park with so few people. While Disney does not release attendance numbers, DisneyNews.us estimates that Disneyland had about 51,000 visitors per day across parks in 2019. At 15 percent capacity, the parks will open with a cap of just under 20,000 total people daily.

The joy and laughter and magical moments of the Disneyland Resort will soon return to its theme parks as Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park are planning to officially reopen to the public on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity, Disney said in a release shared with SFGATE on March 17.

The small number of guests who are able to buy tickets within that 15 percent capacity will have to make reservations for Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure for the day they want to attend. Those guests wont be able to utilize Fast Passes, the system that allowed a limited number of people into a shorter queue for certain rides, both because ride capacity has to be strictly managed and because the park needs that line space for social distancing of the regular queue. On those rides, there will be distancing between parties, and depending on configuration, some rides will have plastic barriers installed between rows.

But with such a substantially lowered capacity in the park, the lines will almost definitely be the shortest parkgoers have ever seen. I was at Walt Disney World for Magic Kingdoms opening day last July, which opened to 25 percent capacity but has a larger footprint and more rides than Disneyland Park. Even with no Fast Passes, the lines were the shortest Ive ever seen.

Space Mountains wait time was zero minutes. Zero. "Relish that time frame," the greeter said as I walked onto the ride. "You'll never see it again."

Disneyland Park can hold an estimated 50,000 people, but Magic Kingdom in Orlando is estimated to hold nearly double that. The company does not release those figures, but theme park experts put Disney California Adventure at about 80,000 capacity.

Rather than parades, Magic Kingdom has been holding character cavalcades, where one or two parade floats will transport characters through the park at unannounced times. Disneyland has not confirmed whether that will happen, but has said, Beloved characters will pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing.

There is speculation that by the time Disneyland opens, Orange County could be in the orange tier, which allows for 25 percent capacity at theme parks and 50 percent capacity for indoor dining. But it seems unlikely that Disneyland will allow that many people in during the very early opening, simply for the sake of working out the kinks in the system with fewer people there.

An area where those kinks will likely present themselves: with food. Disney is placing an increased emphasis on mobile ordering and contactless payment through the Disneyland smartphone app. At opening day of A Touch of Disney, March 18, pickup times for mobile orders were 60-90 minutes away from order times. As people learn new procedures for how to order food, there are likely to be long lines as Cast Members field questions from guests.

Disneyland has not clarified whether indoor dining will be available at all, but has confirmed that restaurants with outdoor seating like The Plaza Inn and River Belle Terrace will be open.

Shows like Frozen Live at the Hyperion and Mickey and the Magical Map are likely gone forever, not just on pause. Indoor rides will definitely be open, though, and some of them will be new.

Snow Whites Enchanted Wish, a reimagining of what was formerly Snow Whites Scary Adventures in Fantasyland, will debut when the park reopens. The timeless tale comes alive in dazzling new scenes, Disneylands release said, including a dancing figure of Snow White joining the dwarfs in their cottage as the scent of a baking pie wafts through the air.

Disneyland has also announced new magic for Haunted Mansion, which was under refurbishment last March when the park closed, though what that new magic will be is unclear.

In Disney California Adventure, the new Avengers Campus is nearly complete, but will not open when DCA opens on April 30. This week, The Little Mermaid: Ariels Undersea Adventure had scaffolding on the outside of the building.

Disneyland has not yet announced when tickets for its reopening will be on sale.
This compilation of the top local photos of the past week, as taken by Citizens' Voice photographers, highlights the news of the past week in images.

 Topping the news of the past week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that effective April 4, taverns and restaurants may resume bar service; alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food; the curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables will be lifted; and indoor dining capacity will be raised to 75 percent for those restaurants that are currently self-certified and those that undergo the self-certification process. Those establishments that are not self-certified may raise capacity to 50 percent. The announcement was welcome news for tavern and restaurant owners whose operations were hampered by restrictions during the pandemic.

 Meanwhile, a handful of parents and their children demonstrated on the sidewalk outside Wyoming Area Secondary Center on Monday morning in opposition to the school district's decision to institute a hybrid learning plan starting March 22 which provides students with in-person instruction two days a week. The group advocated for children to return to the classroom full time, five days a week.

 Pittston Area students returned to classrooms last Monday for the first time in a year. PA students in kindergarten through fourth grade now have in-person learning in the morning five days a week and remote learning in the afternoon.

 Visit Luzerne County, the Luzerne County Visitors Bureau, sent a letter to state officials objecting to the state Transportation Department's plan to toll bridges on interstate highways, including two bridges on Interstate 80 in Luzerne County.

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Mark Moran Mark Moran is chief photographer at The Citizens' Voice. Read More... Follow Mark Moran Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

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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.

Source:The Christian Post
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 02:49:39|Editor: huaxia

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A woman wearing a face mask walks past some pigeons in central Warsaw, Poland, on March 20, 2021. 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 are allowed to operate. Cinemas, theaters and museums will have to remain closed, and schools will return to online learning. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua)

WARSAW, March 19 (Xinhua) -- 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.

Cinemas, theaters 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.

On Friday, 25,998 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, taking the total since the start of the pandemic in March last year 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 percent of the new infections involve the coronavirus variant firstly 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 hospitalized with symptoms, he said.

Seventy-one percent of all hospital beds reserved for COVID-19 patients are in use in the country, as well as 73 percent of ventilators. A temporary hospital was opened on Thursday in Krakow in southern Poland, with new field hospitals planned to be opened in Radom (east-central Poland) on Saturday, and in the south-central city of Katowice on Monday.

To date, Poland has vaccinated over 4.7 million people and is among the European countries that have not suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after concerns about side effects.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 264 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 82 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on March 16. Enditem
The Nu Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority decided to utilize technology as part of their MLK Day of Service. Members of the sorority served as virtual readers and read books to kindergarten, first grade and second grade students at Parkway Elementary and Verona Elementary. In addition, the organization collected over 500 pairs of socks and 560 pairs of underwear as part of its Socks and Skivvies Drive to benefit the United Way of Northeast Mississippi. The past year has been very chaotic due to the pandemic and social distancing," said Jennifer Lindsey, MLK Day of Service chair. "However, our sorority remains resolute in our commitment to serving the needs of our community. Luckily, we were able to pivot and come up with virtual ways to provide assistance while ensuring everyone remained safe. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African American, college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of nearly 300,000 members in 1,024 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, Liberia, the Bahamas, the U.S Virgin Islands, Germany, South Korea, Bermuda, Japan, Canada, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Led by International President Glenda Baskin Glover, Alpha Kappa Alpha is often hailed as Americas premier Greek - letter organization for African-American women. For additional information, contact Jennifer Lindsey at (601)454-6451 or Emily Tucker at (662) 401-7713.
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.
A new report from India states that Karnataka Labor Minister Shivaram Hebbar has said that the vandalism that took place at Wistron Corporation's Narsapur plant in Kolar district last year was due to its own fault as it failed to address the issues of the aggrieved employees.

In order for Wistron to be given the green light to reopen they had to basically confess that the riots were entirely their fault and that they failed to follow the law. The Legislative Council member, Govindraju, stated on record that "Neither the Labor department nor the government is at fault in this case at all."

Minister Hebbar added that the plant had grossly violated government's stipulated norms, such as going overboard in hiring employees under contract system besides changing its eight-hour shift to 12-hour shift without 'properly intimating' employees and failing to convey them about their change in salary component.

Hebbar further added that Wistron had failed to act in-time despite 'aggrieved employees' repeatedly bringing it to their managers' notice about their salary getting delayed and their attendance marked improperly.

Listing out reasons, Hebbar added that the sudden change in their working shift from eight hour to 12-hour had not translated into a rise in their salaries.

He explained that "Their new attendance system failed to function due to some technical snags. This company had failed to address in-time, hence, a section of the employees went on a rampage in the plant premises on December 12, 2020. Apart from this, the company had credited their salaries late on December 11, 2020. Therefore, the employees went berserk."

He added that "Wistron also went on recruiting under a contract system without intimating government departments concerned. The company which started its operations from September 1, 2020, with 3,000 employees, soon its employee strength reached 9,833 by end of October. The company neither informed nor took prior permission from departments concerned.

The plant's Human Resource department should have addressed distressed employees' concerns effectively. Due to their failure and negligence, aggrieved employees went berserk." For more on this read the full Indian report posted by ET Telecom.
Mar. 21Sixteen firefighters responded to a hiker in distress this morning on the Koko Head Trail.

The 35-year-old woman had apparently fainted and collapsed halfway up the trail, the Honolulu Fire Department said.

Firefighters determined she did not encounter any life-threatening injuries, and helped walk the woman down the trail by foot.

They transferred care of the woman to Emergency Medical Services at 11 :25 a.m.
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Film Critic

Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski).
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City of Miami Beach Police officers arrest several males on Ocean Drive and 10th Street as spring break has officially begun Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in Miami Beach, Fla. Miami Beach officials are imposing an emergency 8 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew effective immediately, saying large, out-of-control spring break crowds crammed the beaches, trashed some restaurant properties and brawled in the streets. Tourists and hotel guests are being told to stay indoors during the curfew hours. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)

Miami Beach Declares State of Emergency Over Spring Break Crowds: Mayor

Miami Beach Police fired pepper balls at crowds of spring break revelers as the city declared a state of emergency.

Too many are coming, really, without the intention of following the rules, and the result has been a level of chaos and disorder that is just something more than we can endure, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, a Democrat, told CNN on Sunday.

He declared a state of emergency and set an 8 p.m. ET curfew on Saturday. He said the throngs of people flocking to Miami Beach are more than officials can handle.

Officers began dispersing crowds at 8 p.m. and ultimately achieved a satisfactory level of compliance, police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez also told the network.

In describing the scene, Gelber said that it feels like a rock concert at night. There are wall-to-wall crowds of people over blocks and blocks, the mayor added. A gun was also fired into the air on Friday, he said, adding that there was a riot at the scene.

City of Miami Beach Announces 8 p.m. Curfew in High Impact Zone Starting Tonight  Officials Also Impose Additional Spring Break Emergency Measures pic.twitter.com/3lmt3FsbJw  #MaskUpMiamiBeach (@MiamiBeachNews) March 20, 2021

Other things have happened that are similarly challenging, and so it feels like a tinder, it feels like just any match could set it off, Gelber said.

The state of emergency is in effect for 72 hours, officials said.

As we hit the peak of the peak of spring break, we are quite simply overwhelmed, City Manager Raul Aguila told reporters.

Aguila told the Miami Herald that he recommends keeping the state of emergency in effect until April 12, which is the end of spring break for many.

This was not an easy decision to make, he told reporters. We are doing that to protect the public health and safety.

Last week, officials arrested more than 150 people due to a variety of charges. More than a dozen firearms were recovered.

Weve done everything we can to try and mitigate the behavior that we are seeing, but quite frankly, I am concerned that the behavior is getting to be a little bit more for us to be able to handle, Miami Beach Police Chief Rick Clements said in a briefing Saturday.

Some businesses have opted to close for spring break. That includes the Clevelander in South Beach, announcing it would stop its food and beverage operations until Wednesday at the least.

Recently, we have grown increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the City to maintain a safe environment in the surrounding area, the management team said.
Cortisone shot in the right rotator cuff of my shoulder:

I insisted and got what I needed. They were not wanting to do it at first and they wanted therapy, MRI and lots of other tests. You know that money stuff, that clinics desire to acquire to stay in business? Except I desire not to spend too much money in the world. I have toys and fun things to do with money, not waste it on frivolous therapy/MRI for a torn rotor cuff

The shot and Dr. visit cost about $50 bucks for this non-Russian citizen

Having been injured about a million times in my life, due to an abundance of basic things.like being a rambunctious boy, crazy teenager, many years in the army and lots of other exciting stupid things that I do.I have had my share of cortisone shots in knees, elbows and whatnots

I wanted Toradol:

Toradol.Not available in Russia.so I settled for the old tried and true, but more (sometimes) controversial cortisone. Except to me it is not controversial. Cortisone does not bother me, except to allow me to heal and get rid of the pain for months at a time. It does not bother me because no amount of pain through a cortisone shot comes and or came anywhere near the pain that I endured for over a year

This morning I sat up out of bed at 5:30 a.m. and did not hurt at all. For a year, the pain in my rotator cuff was even making sitting up a pain in the ass and back. 

The truth is:

I waited so long because of King Covid-19 and wanted to wait to start doctor visits again after the Sputnik V vaccine was in full effect. So.I injured my shoulder very badly in March of 2020 and King Corona hit us and I put all my pains on hold

(Except my grumblings and my whatever about the pains!)

I ended up in the Tiny Russian Village all 2020 summer and back to Moscow to get the vaccine and now here one year later, I feel and felt safe enough to visit the doctors for my shoulder injury

Maybe therapy? Maybe loving care? Maybe or maybe not would have helped at the original time? Yet, I accepted the cards I was dealt with and at this point a direct attack of the joint with cortisone is the only option. Way past time for therapy and nice gentle treatments to coerce the shoulder back to happiness

A day late and a dollar short is how I look at it!

One year of no sleep! One year of 24 hours a day pain!

Thanks King Covid-19

I love you to!

WtR
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has advised Nigerians to ensure the Astrazeneca vaccine being administered on them had the original label.

The agency said the warning was imperative to ensure people did not risk being vaccinated with a fake Astrazeneca vaccine.

The position of NAFDAC is contained in a statement signed by the agencys Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, on Sunday, in Abuja.

Mrs Adeyeye explained that the original Oxford Astrazeneca University (AZOU) vaccine, had been contracted to Indias world largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India (SIIPL), to produce in large quantity.

AZOU gave the license of its vaccine to Serum Institute of India PVT Ltd, (SIIPL), to manufacture this vaccine at a commercial scale. SIIPL is the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world and the company got the license by signing the manufacturing agreement.

SIIPL gave the vaccine the trade name COVISHIELD, it is the result of a cooperation and a technology transfer from AstraZeneca  University of Oxford to SIIPL.

SIIPL is now the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally.

More than 1.5 billion doses, which include Polio vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, she said.

Mrs Adeyeye added that the vaccines manufactured by SIIPL were accredited by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and were being used in about 170 countries across the globe in their national immunisation programme.

She added that both COVISHIELD manufactured by SIIPL and COVID-19 vaccine Astrazeneca, manufactured by Astrazeneca/Oxford University vaccine are the same vaccine.

According to Mrs Adeyeye, the vaccine was granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by the World Health Organisation on February 15, and it is one of the listed vaccines under the COVAX Facility.

(NAN)
Special thanks to KICK-ASS TKC READERS for sending groundbreaking late night news that no other local outlet has picked up yet . . .

We want our readers to learn about the deal whilst local "journalists" are busy scouring social media looking for culture war targets in an eternal partisan slap fight that only benefits the status quo.

Meanwhile, savvy readers know this deal impacts jobs, the economy and international trade.

Check-it . . .



Seeking Alpha: Canadian Pacific to buy Kansas City Southern for $25 billion

Money line . . .

Canadian Pacific Railway (NYSE:CP) has agreed to buy Kansas City Southern (NYSE:KSU) for $25B in a cash and stock offer valued at $275 per share . . .



The board of Kansas City Southern has approved the deal which has also received the regulatory nod from the US Surface Transportation Board.

Update . . .

As is our tradition, all of this news inspires our TKC SATURDAY NIGHT PLAYLIST on the topic of old school songs about trains.

As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe and fun Saturday night.
Prosecutor: Man Charged With 1 Murder Confessed He Killed 16

WOODBURY, N.J.A man who is accused of killing a New Jersey man he says sexually abused him in childhood, and who is considered a person of interest in the deaths of his ex-wife and three others in New Mexico, told investigators he is responsible for a total of 16 slayings, prosecutors say.

Sean Lannon, 47, said he was responsible for the killings in New Jersey and New Mexicothat he had killed his wife and others, including 11 other individuals, NJ.com quoted Alec Gutierrez, an assistant prosecutor in suburban Philadelphias Gloucester County, New Jersey, as saying during a detention hearing Friday.

He admitted to killing a total of 16 people  15 being in New Mexico and one in the state of New Jersey. Its my understanding that the FBI is assisting New Mexico in their investigation, Gutierrez said.

Authorities allege in court documents that the admission came in a phone call to a family member who told Gloucester County investigators that Lannon expressed remorse.

Lannon was arrested in St. Louis on Wednesday morning after a search that stretched from New Jersey to Missouri. He was driving a car stolen from Michael Dabkowski, the New Jersey victim. He is behind bars in New Jersey.

He is accused of breaking into the 66-year-old Dabkowskis home and beating him with a hammer Monday, according to an affidavit.

Lannon is also a person of interest in the death of his wife and three others in New Mexico. Authorities say a vehicle was discovered last week in a garage at Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexicos largest airport, containing four bodies.

The bodies were later identified as Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; and Randal Apostalon, 60. Sean Lannon lived 80 miles away in Grants, New Mexico.

Gutierrez alleged Friday that Lannon admitted to luring several victims to a home in New Mexico and dismembering some of them.

Apart from the five deaths already described by investigators, authorities hadnt earlier spoken of any other killings in which Lannon was a suspect. He has been charged only in the New Jersey killing and has not been charged in any cases in New Mexico.

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.

Unger alleged that Lannon had been abused and went to the home to retrieve photos because he didnt want anyone to have control over me any longer.

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 of the two of them together.

Unger said that Dabkowski had documented those sexual assaults, those rapes, by taking pictures of himself with Mr. Lannon in sexually compromised positions.

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, he said, further alleging that Dabkowski attacked his client and was then killed.

Unger also challenged prosecutors comments on the New Mexico murders, saying Lannon hadnt been charged in those cases.

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.

Those individuals, self-admittedly, were lured into the residence and subsequently murdered, he said.

Unger argued for pretrial release, saying his client has no prior convictions and is an Army veteran with an honorable discharge.

Although born in Massachusetts, Lannon spent most of his early years in Gloucester County before he was deployed to Germany, and he has family in southern New Jersey, including his mother and sister, and could stay locally on electronic monitoring if released, Unger said.

Gutierrez said Lannon adopted an assumed name to avoid detection when he returned to the East Coast and was arrested in New Mexico several weeks ago for failure to appear and spent a week in jail.

Gutierrez alleged that Lannon had admitted to the dismemberment of victims and efforts to conceal evidence and is a significant danger to the community, based on those statements.

The judge agreed and ordered Lannon to remain behind bars.
After helping a local homeless man find a new camp after a sweeping fire in Ocean County displaced the man earlier this week, Steve Brigham dropped his truck off at a parking lot in Long Branch around midnight, like he often does after a long day of helping those in need.

When he went to get the truck at 7:30 a.m. the next day on March 18 to bring someone to the hospital, the 2007 white Chevy Silverado was nowhere to be seen, he said.

Community organizers are now rallying together to raise money for the well-known Ocean County pastor and advocate who uses the truck to help set up homeless individuals with camps in the woods, deliver necessities to those in need, and to transport tables and a grill to Sunday community lunches in Lakewood.

Steve is so self-giving, loving, humble, said Joanne Marton, who organized a GoFundMe to buy Brigham a new truck. He gives everything that he has to those in need.

Marton said when she and another community member, Suzy Raabe, heard Brighams truck was stolen, it was a no-brainer to try and get him another one after all she said he has done for the area.

We need to do something because that is absolutely not right, Marton said.

The truck was stolen on March 17, and Brigham said he reported it stolen to the Long Branch police department the next day.

A spokesman for the Long Branch police department did not immediately return a request for comment on if there is an ongoing investigation into the stolen truck.

Brigham runs Destinys Bridge, which provides temporary tiny homes to the homeless to help give them the chance to regain their human dignity in an environment of acceptance and nurturance. Their mission is that each person is deserving of dignity and validation regardless of their circumstances

Brigham has become a popular fixture in Ocean County, as he has worked for years to advocate for the countys homeless population. For years, he lived and ran Tent City in Lakewood, a homeless community that provides services and other amenities to its population. Despite the encampment moving locations and later closing, Brigham continues to bring food and other necessities to the homeless population across Monmouth and Ocean counties.

He was awarded the Governors Jefferson award in 2012 for his volunteerism.

The GoFundMe has raised more than $4,000 as of Saturday night.

When something like this happens and someone steals something it kind of hurts your faith in mankind, Brigham said. Then on the other side, the generosity and willing to sacrifice and help out ... its heart warming.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com.

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Gangajalam took out the cash from near the temple and shifted it to a dust bin and this was when he got captured on a CCTV.  Representational image

KAKINADA: Two constables of Veeravaram Police Station in West Godavari district turned robbers by breaking the locker of their own PS and robbing

Rs. 8.04 lakh cash five days ago.

West Godavari superintendent of police Narayan Naick told media that due to four continuous bank holidays, liquor outlet supervisors of Veeravasaram, Rayakuduru, Konithiwada and Nouduru villages of WG district deposited Rs. 8,04,330 lakh collected by them in the locker of Veeravasaram Police Station on March 15 and sealed it.

The supervisors returned to the police station on March 17 around 9 a.m. to take back the cash for depositing in the treasury. But they found that the original lock of the cash box had been changed. Police then broke the cash box and got the shock of their life on finding that the money was missing.

Concluding that it was clearly an insider job, the SP formed special teams headed by Narasapuram DSP P. Veeranjaneya Reddy and Crime Station DSP Pydeswara Rao. They took up investigation with the help of Bhimavaram CCS inspector Nagaraju, Tadepalligudem circle inspector Akula Raghu, and Veeravasaram sub-inspector Ch. Ramachandra Rao, among others.

After meticulous investigating the case, the teams zeroed in on Veeravaram police constables Usurumarthi Gangajalam (31) of Old Pattiseema village in Polavaram mandal and Gorrela Ganeswara Rao alias Ganesh (35) of Ananthapalli village in Nallajerla mandal of West Godavari district. After interrogating the two, cash of Rs. 8.04 lakh was recovered.

Giving details of the case, Narayan Naick explained that constable Gangajalam, who joined Chagallu police station in November, 2013, was arrested in November 2020 while he was gambling in Old Pattiseema village. He was then suspended but later reinstated and asked to report for election duties at Veeravasaram police station on February 2.

The other constable Ganesh too had been suspended previously. When the two came to know that the liquor outlet supervisors had deposited a huge amount of cash in the police station for safe custody, they conspired to rob the amount.

After completing their duty, Gangajalam and Ganesh broke the lock of the cash box and stole the cash. They put a new lock on the cash box and threw its keys in a nearby well. Later, he locked the locker room and slipped away along with the cash and distributed it among themselves.

However, they hid the cash bags in bushes near the Anjaneya Temple at Veeravasaram village. Later Gangajalam took out the cash from near the temple and shifted it to a dust bin. Subsequently, he took the money from there too. This was when he got captured on a CCTV.

Veeravasaram police have registered a case. The SP congratulated the investigating team for expeditiously cracking the case.
Two women were pronounced dead after a fall from the residential building Topaz Home in District 12 of Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.

As per local reports, the bodies of the two victims were found on the ground in the early morning by a security officer of Topaz Home.

By 8:00 am on Sunday, police of District 12 had cordoned off the scene and commenced investigation.

The scene of a fatal fall at the Topaz Home residential building in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City on March 21, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

The scene of a fatal fall at the Topaz Home residential building in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City on March 21, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Mumbai, March 21 : Actress Kriti Sanon will play diverse characters in upcoming films such as "Bhediya", "Mimi" and "Adipurush". She feels now she is in a position to try something different and challenging.

"When you establish yourself a bit and people are liking you and the film is doing the numbers that you want to do, it gives you confidence to take up something challenging. I feel as an actor you also get bored repeating yourself and the audience also gets bored seeing you in same kinds of films. Yes, there is a deliberate attempt to try do something different and not repeat yourself," she tells IANS.

She adds: "I have also been lucky enough to have liked scripts that belong to different genres. If tomorrow there are two horror comedies I am loving, I would do both. It is a nice feeling for me to do something different and not repeat myself." The actress, who made her Bollywood debut with "Heropanti" (2014) reflects on the projects she has done in the last few years that have helped her get a strong footing in the industry.

"Bareilly (Ki Barfi) was a milestone because someone believed in me and that was (director) Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, (co-writer) Nitesh (Tiwari) sir and Dinesh (Vijan) who was the producer. They believed that I could play Bittu in the film. I feel that you have to have belief in an actor rather than the characters, or how I look at the red carpet. They had that belief and I am glad that they did. That film was so out of the box from what I had done. It gave me the opportunity of coming away from hair, make-up and songs, to getting into something that was de-glam and I just enjoyed the characters. After that 99 per cent characters I have been offered were from small towns," says recalls Kriti.

She also credits her 2019 film "Lukka Chuppi" for giving a much-needed boost.

"With 'Luka Chuppi' doing well, I got confidence to take risk. 'Panipat' was one film where Ashu sir (Ashutosh Gowariker) pushed me so good. The character could have gone missing and I think he did push me beyond where I could take myself as an actor. I was very surprised when I got the feedback. When I was shooting I didn't know that this character could be so strong," she says.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain this morning with thunderstorms by evening. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 00:15:22|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Mohamed Farmajo has called for a new round of consultative talks Monday to finalize a deal on the delayed elections.

The two-day talks to be held in the Somali capital Mogadishu comes after a series of consultative meetings between members of the international community and Somali leaders on how to break the current impasse on elections.

Farmajo said the meeting with all signatories of the Sept. 17, 2020 pre-election deal will finalize implementation of the electoral model, built on the work of the technical committee which met in Baidoa in the southwest region on Feb. 15 to 17.

"President Mohamed Farmajo convenes a two days Federal government of Somalia-Federal member states and Benadir Administration leadership elections summit to be held on March 22, 2021 in Mogadishu to finalize implementation of the Baidoa technical committee's recommendations based on Sept. 17, 2020 Electoral agreement for free and fair elections," the presidency said in a statement issued Saturday evening.

Farmajo urged leaders of federal member states and the Benadir region to pay close attention to the Monday conference by addressing the concerns raised on the pre-electoral agreement in order to lead the country to free and fair elections.

Farmajo whose four-year term ended on Feb. 8 has blamed unnamed foreign interventions for the failure of the talks despite his side making compromises and accused Puntland and Jubbaland states of refusing to support the pre-election deal.

The Monday talks also come amid pressure from the international community which has called for immediate resumption of talks to find a way forward for the conduct of delayed elections. Enditem
Be that as it may, the Elky features a relatively humble origin. General Motors introduced the Brookwood station wagon-based pickup truck after Ford introduced the Ranchero in December 1956 for the 1957 model year.More stylized and a bigger commercial success than Fords contender, the Chevrolet El Camino is also a favorite of the restomodding scene thanks to the simplicity of the A-body platform the Elky used from 1964 to 1981. Even custom builders took a liking to it, which brings us to a one-off show car that won the Barris d'Elegance award at the 2015 Grand National Roadster Show.Envisioned by George Barris associate Karl Krummy and finished by Keith Dean, the Triton is half El Camino and half Eldorado. Old-school Cadillac influences are most obvious at the rear of the vehicle, where youll find two tail fins, no fewer than seven chrome bars on the handle-less tailgate, and a tonneau cover that raises on hydraulic struts and billet hinges.Offered by Barrett-Jackson from the Petersen Vault at no reserve, this one-of-a-kind coupe utility is rolling on turbine-style wheels that feature yellow-striped tires. The see-through roof allows passersby to glance inside the vehicle, where youll find individual bolsters for the fighter jet-inspired seats, a cut-down steering wheel, and a horseshoe-like transmission shifter.Even the engine compartment is a work of art that blends vintage and modern elements to create a sight to behold. Four twin velocity stacks top a 350 small-block V8 with custom-designed valve covers, a muscly little powerplant thats kept cool by a twin-fan aluminum radiator. Unfortunately, the consignor didnt mention what kind of 350 was used for this build.As opposed to the 1959 El Camino on which its based, the bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful Triton is certain to fetch a lot of money despite the uncomfortable-looking seats. For reference, the most expensive 1959 Elky sold in 2020 hammered for $81,400 at Mecums 2020 Kissimmee auction.
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Cyclone Yaas: Amit Shah to hold review meeting with Chief Ministers of states to be affected

If voted to power in WB, BJP will ensure Durga, Saraswati puja held without hindrance: Amit Shah

India

oi-Deepika S

Egra, Mar 21: Asserting that the BJP does not believe in vote-bank politics, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a jibe at the TMC over its "appeasement policies", said on Sunday that his party, if voted to power in Bengal, will ensure no curb is imposed on Durga and Saraswati puja.

Shah, during a rally here in Purba Medinipur district, reaffirmed that the BJP will build ''sonar Bangla'' over the next five years, propelled by the party''s double-engine government at the Centre and the state.

"Under the TMC rule, school teachers in Bengal were beaten up for organising ''saraswati puja''. The court had to intervene to ensure Durga puja is celebrated in the state. Do you want this government?

"The BJP, after coming to power, will see to it that Durga puja and Saraswati puja are held without hindrance. No one will be stopped from organising any religious festival," the home minister stated.

With a vision of 'Sonar Bangla', Amit Shah releases BJP manifesto for West Bengal polls

He accused the Mamata Banerjee government of "encouraging infiltration" in Bengal.

Belittling Banerjee''s monthly compensation promise of Rs 500 for every underprivileged person in the general category, Shah also sought to know if TMC leaders would seek "cut-money or commission" from the beneficiaries.

"The TMC men demand their share for every 5 anna (paise). I wonder if those close to ''bhaipo'' (CM''s nephew Abhishek Banerjee) would seek cut-money before doling out Rs 500 every month to the general-category residents," he said.

The home minister also cautioned people against violence and aggression during the elections.

"You (people) know very well what all happened during the panchayat polls in 2018. No one was allowed to exercise franchise. Votes were replaced with bombs," he pointed out.

Claiming that over 130 BJP functionaries have been murdered in Bengal in the recent times, he said "We will hunt down the killers from under the ground."

Shah also said that his party, if allowed to form government in Bengal, will implement the seventh pay commission, "as we know this has been a long-standing demand of state government employees here."

Alleging that TMC chief wants her nephew and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee to be the next chief minister", Shah said, "Do you want that or do you wish to live in ''Sonar Bangla'' that PM Narendra Modi has promised to build."

In a bid to woo the women voters, he assured 33 per cent reservation for them in government services.

"Our government will give farmers Rs 10,000 every year, in addition to the funds provided by the Centre. Also, fishermen will be given Rs 6,000 each. People will get health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Mamata didi could never dish out such benefits," Shah added.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 22:11 [IST]
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The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday condemned in the strongest terms the launching of ballistic missiles and drone against Saudi Arabia by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

The missiles and drones are targetting civilian establishments in the Kingdom systematically and deliberately, putting peoples lives at risk and breaching international humanitarian norms, said the foreign ministry statement.

The ministry confirmed that Bahrain stands with Saudi in all deterrent measures to protect its security and territorial integrity. The Saudi-led coalition yesterday said it had intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone launched towards the southern city of Khamis Musheit.

The Iran-aligned group on Friday said it targeted an oil refinery in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The Saudi energy ministry said the attack caused a fire but was brought under control.
Medical workers wear protective suits at a field hospital in Hai Duong Province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Health.

A Taiwanese-invested appliance manufacturing firm in Hai Duong Province has been fined VND20 million ($870) for not following Covid-19 prevention measures.

The Eastech Vietnam company is located in Chi Linh Town, once a Covid-19 hotspot in Hai Duong. As such, before resuming operations it should have determined whether returning workers were those who had to self-quarantine at home or had come from locked-down areas to deploy appropriate measures and limit overcrowding, Nguyen Van Kien, chairman of the Chi Linh People's Committee, said Saturday.

On Wednesday, the firm allowed 350 workers to return to work without due checks. The same day, Luu Van Ban, Deputy Chairman of the Hai Duong provincial People's Committee, asked the firm to suspend operations pending fulfillment of all Covid-19 prevention efforts.

Eastech Vietnam has since complied with authorities' requests and resumed operations.

The northern province of Hai Duong, epicenter of Vietnam's latest Covid-19 wave since late January, remains the biggest coronavirus hotspot so far with 724 cases.

Vietnam has begun a mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign earlier this month, prioritizing frontline workers in the Covid-19 fight. As of Sunday, over 32,000 Vietnamese had received their first shots of the vaccine produced by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca.

The country's total coronavirus tally stands at 2,572, with 335 active cases.
The UAE cabinet approved a new remote work visa to enable employees from all over the world to live and work in the UAE for one year and approved a multiple-entry tourist visa for all nationalities.

The new resolutions are among several initiatives approved by the cabinet during a meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday to position the UAE as an ideal work and tourist destination, said a Wam news agency report.

The meeting was held in the presence of Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

HH Sheikh Mohammed tweeted: "During a cabinet meeting I chaired, we approved a new Remote Work Visa that enables employees from all over the world to live and work remotely from the UAE even if their companies are based in another country."

He added: "We also approved a multiple entry tourist visa for all nationalities to strengthen the UAEs status as a global economic capital."

Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed that the government continue developing flexible programmes and initiatives to place the UAE as one of the worlds best governments to provide services, and offer the best quality of life for citizens and residents.

He noted: "We are working with clear objectives to boost our economic status globally and provide the best quality of life to our citizens and residents. Our journey of development endures."

Remote Work Visa

With aims to attract talents and expertise from all over the world, the UAE cabinet approved a new Remote Work Visas scheme to enable employees from all over the world to work remotely from the UAE. The one-year visa allows foreigners to enter the UAE under self-sponsorship and work in line with terms and conditions issued with the visa.

The major step, considered first of its kind in the region, aims to boost the competitiveness of the UAEs tourism sector and support the national economy. It provides the opportunity for entrepreneurs and talents to innovate in the UAEs safe and attractive business environment, with access to all the necessary services including world-class utilities and telecoms.

The new scheme aims to support the public and private sector, enhance the work-life balance, boost productivity and improve the business environment. It also enables employees to expand their digital skills and adapt to the emerging gig economy.

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa

A new Multiple Entry Tourist Visa can now be issued for all nationalities, in a step that aims to facilitate the process for tourists and visitors. The five-year visa enables tourists to enter multiple times on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for 90 days on each visit, which can be extended for another 90 days.

On the global sphere, Sheikh Mohammed announced that "the UAE has joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the New Development Bank, established by the BRICS states. Our economic partnerships will continue growing."

He reaffirmed that the UAEs development journey continues as changes remain to be taking place to renew and improve government work.

Legislative amendments

The cabinet adopted several resolutions to enhance the countrys legislative system including amendments on some provisions of the federal law on Establishing Mediation and Conciliation Centres in Civil and Commercial Disputes and the use of technologies in the judicial system.

Water and Energy Demand Management Programme

The UAE cabinet approved a national water and energy demand management programme and a new system for hydrogen fuel-powered vehicles. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, "We approved a national system for hydrogen fuel-powered vehicles and a national water and energy demand management programme to increase the efficiency of the three most energy-consuming sectors (transport, industry and construction) by 40 percent."
An intruder was shot dead by the BSF while trying to enter the Indian territory from Pakistan, according to an official release.

BSF personnel along the international border in Anupgarh challenged the intruder, when he was trying to cross fencing on Saturday evening, following which he tried to escape.

The BSF men shot him dead, according to the official release. The body was handed to the Bikaners Anupgarh police station Bikaner for further action.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Two people were taken to the hospital early Saturday morning after firefighters said they were suffering from smoke inhalation.

Elkmont Fire Chief Michael Carter said that his department along with those from Ardmore, Piney Chapel and Oak Grove Thatch responded to the mobile home fire around 7:30 a.m.

It took until about 9:30 to get the fire under control, but crews remained on scene through roughly noon to put out hot spots.

Carter said there were four dogs living in the home along with the residents. One of them went back inside the home to save the dogs, which is when Carter said she was impacted by the smoke.

Another person went inside to bring her out and both were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The house was deemed a total loss and the Red Cross was called to assist them.
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Tiffany Urquhart took to a Facebook community group to desperately ask for help after assistance never came from the SES or emergency services

A country town has rallied to save a stranded couple and their 11-year-old disabled daughter from flash flooding in their remote farmhouse as rain continues to lash the NSW coastline.

The Urquhart family, who live in Ghinni Ghinni near flood-ravaged Taree on the NSW Mid-North Coast, became trapped by rising waters on Friday night.

Tiffany Urquhart took to a Facebook community group to ask for help after assistance never came from the SES or emergency services.

'Please come and help us. The water is rising. We won't last that long,' the 31-year-old wrote.

Her friend Rob Macpherson, who works for the Rural Fire Service at Harrington, sprung into action.

Mr Macpherson organised his friends from the RFS to meet the family on the highway and coordinated with police to take them to safety at nearby Coopernook Church.

'We were already waist deep in water. The State Emergency Service told us there were no boats or helicopters in the area and they would get back to us in the morning,' Ms Urquhart told The Daily Telegraph.

The Urquhart family, who live in Ghinni Ghinni near flood-ravaged Taree on the NSW Mid-North Coast, became trapped by rising waters on Friday night. Pictured: the family's home

The mother's friend Rob Macpherson, who works for the Rural Fire Service at Harrington, sprung into action. Pictured: the family's flooded property

Parts of Port Macquarie, Taree and nearby towns have also flooded in what Premier Gladys Berejiklian labelled a 'one-in-100-year event' for the region

'When police and RFS got us out they said with the king tide we wouldn't have survived to morning. We have lost everything.'

Ms Urquhart and her husband said they received no warning or text message to evacuate.

Parts of Port Macquarie, Taree and nearby towns have also flooded in what Premier Gladys Berejiklian labelled a 'one-in-100-year event' for the region.

Taree was hit by a 454mm deluge from Thursday to Sunday - with more rain forecast on Monday and Tuesday - while 416mm of rain has fallen on nearby Kendall, and Port Macquarie has been lashed by 370mm.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects Monday to bring the worst flooding event to the area northwest of Sydney since November 1961, nearly 50 years ago.

Floodwaters were expected to inundate places such as Windsor, Pitt Town, North Richmond, Freemans Reach and Colo.

The Hawkesbury River was predicted to reach peaks of up to 15 metres and the State Emergency Service says homes and properties will be flooded, some up to roof height.

The floods will cut off evacuation routes and cause lasting outages to utilities, the SES said as it urged residents to prepare to evacuate.

'Extensive outages of water, electricity, sewerage, telecommunications and gas are expected to last many weeks or months,' the SES said early on Monday.

The event is likely to exceed the capacity of emergency crews, who have already responded to some 8000 calls for help, the SES said.

Flooding along the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers came after the Warragamba Dam spilled over.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology expects Monday to bring the worst flooding event to the area northwest of Sydney since November 1961, nearly 50 years ago. Pictured: Howard Creek

Parts of Penrith and other areas along the Nepean were ordered to evacuate on Sunday as NSW battles devastating floods after days of unabated rain.

Scores of people have already been rescued from floodwaters, while prison inmates have been evacuated and more than 100 schools remain shut.

BOM's Agata Imielska said the severity of rainfall in greater Sydney would ease on Monday but the mid-north coast would continue to be drenched and inland NSW would be pounded by rain.

She said the NSW northwest slopes and plains would receive four times more rain in two days than the entire March monthly average.

Ms Berejiklian earlier said the floods in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley could prompt an additional 4000 evacuations.

The federal government's natural disaster arrangements have been activated for 18 local government areas across NSW.
Curfew violators are gathered at a covered court as the government imposes curfew hours across Metro Manila in response to the surge of coronavirus disease cases on March 20, 2021.

REUTERS
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.
It makes me sick how many chances this POS has already gotten. He's clearly abusive and there are thousands of sickly nerdy looking guys who can play the same roles he does.

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Yeah even in his interviews he clearly sounds like a POS creep.

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Can you call them multiple chances if he never faced repercussions the first time?



This is less "he's gotten so many chances" and more "he's gotten away with this shit for so long".





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are all men just absolutely rotten to the core

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hollywood will leave the impression that they are

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I have only one friend who's been a good person consistently and a man. I'm 35 years old. He's also the only one who doesn't yell "Not all men!" when I tell him "Men do this and that."



One man. Just one.

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I know nothing about him at all nor anything hes been in but I already hate his guts :)

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awful but not surprising given everything ive heard about him before. i really liked silicon valley while it was airing but between him & tj miller, it was populated by some real nightmares. guess thats what happens when your main cast is made up almost exclusively of men.



men were a mistake. hope this tanks his career & i hope this coming out brings his victim some peace.

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Silicon Valley was hilarious but it pissed me off so much that the one woman character was lame as fuck. And then they brought in the female programmer but she was kinda weak too and lasted like half a season. It was like the writers had never talked to a woman or something.

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I knew he was freaky but damn dude got no chill 

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Lemme go grab my shovel.

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Oh, his wife divorced him? Cool.

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Oh nice, she finally got out of that open marriage it totally seemed like she was coerced into. Good for her.

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His Wikipedia already has this on it. That was quick.

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He sounds so disgusting

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Here for the Love Witch gif, that movie was so much fun!



The Goth scene in particular has some people in it that take "dark" to a level it wasn't meant for, and those folks need to be held accountable.

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As someone who is/was on the fringes of the NYC goth scene I saw/heard about stuff that creeps me the fuck out. Im so thankful that I had a core group of people who were older than me who protected me (at 16) from the weirdos.

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The more things change the more they stay the same. I was in the scene all through HS in the late 80s (along with other underage people) and we frequented this 18+ club and other places where we would hang out outside seeing all sorts of sketch shit. Thankfully, there was a bunch of older "Mama" drag queens at the 18 plus club that knew we were underage and really looked out for us and made sure we had a good time without getting involved with activities/people who would harm us.

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Some guys think goth girls are easier and/or more into bdsm, which (to them) basically means they dont need to get consent to do whatever to the girls.

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I always got a bad vibe from him.



That club sounds like a nightmare to work at.

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I love his new show on CBS, B Positive, but he's so my least favorite part and I keep wishing that someone else had been cast in his role.

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>Other famous former members of Cloak & Dagger include known sleaze-bags Marilyn Manson and Max Landis.





Anytime you take company with these two assholes, you know you're a bad person

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I thought the dude being an asshole with the open marriage was the one from Deadpool. I was following this fucked on youtube, uhh!!



I feel horrible for supporting him and watching his videos when he had multiple victims including his wife and ex-girlfriend.

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i get them confused too. the good thing is that they're both assholes so i get to avoid them both

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Perfect gif for this post. He's trash and I'm glad his wife left.

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Thomas Middleditch seems to be a deeply creepy, gross white dude who, because he was getting consistent work but was never really famous, got away with doing shitty things to women for a long time. Glad he's getting negative attention finally.

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Beijing, Mar 21 (PTI) India, Pakistan, China and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year, the eight-member bloc said.

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 on March 18.

At the meeting, representatives of the SCO member states also approved the draft program of cooperation for 2022-2024 to counter-terrorism, separatism and extremism.

'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,' China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported, quoting a RATS statement.

Delegations of the competent authorities of India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the RATS Executive Committee attended the meeting, Xinhua reported.

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 SCO is an economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017. Its founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The next meeting of the Council of the RATS SCO is scheduled to be held in September in Uzbekistan. PTI KJV ZH ZH
ARRIVALS: Dr Cillian de Gascun of Nphet confirmed that the majority of Covid variant cases arrived in Ireland from abroad. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

More than 34,000 people arrived into the State - including more than 1,200 from high-risk countries such as Brazil and South Africa - in the three-week period after the Government signed off on mandatory hotel quarantine plans.

Coalition plans to confine arrivals from 33 high-risk countries in hotels are still not operational more than a month after the Cabinet signed off on them and a fortnight after President Michael D Higgins signed them into law. The system is expected to begin this week.

New figures from the Department of Justice show that between February 22 and last Sunday, 34,417 people arrived, including 20,759 Irish residents and 13,658 non-residents.

The most popular reason residents and non-residents gave for flying into Ireland was a holiday or visit.

The department did not provide a breakdown of how many had been abroad or were arriving on holiday or a visit.

Irish was the top nationality, with Great Britain being the most popular country of departure.

The Sunday Independent reported last month that more than 9,000 people, including 7,600 Irish residents, gave holidays or visits as their reason for travelling in a two-week period in February.

The Government is continuing to advise against all non-essential travel in and out of the State, with all arrivals requiring a negative PCR test within the previous 72 hours.

Passengers arriving in Ireland between February 22 and March 14 included 1,000 people from Brazil, the vast majority of whom - 908 - were Irish residents, and 213 from South Africa, 129 of whom were residents.

On average, just under 50 people a day have been arriving from Brazil, although on one day last month - February 24 - 100 arrived.

Both countries are on the schedule two list of countries public health officials have deemed to have variants of concern.

On Thursday, Nphet confirmed there are 24 cases of the B1351 variant that originated in South Africa in Ireland and seven of the P1 variant that originated in Brazil.

Dr Cillian de Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, confirmed the majority of these cases were travel-related, but said there were "some" in the community that did not have a travel link.

Thirty-three countries are on the list, including the UAE, which has previously accounted for a large number of overseas arrivals, and several Latin American and African countries.

The Department of Justice was able to provide statistics only for Brazil and South Africa when asked for detailed figures last week.

It also said staff at its border management unit would no longer collect such data once mandatory quarantine is operational as staff will be assisting with the new system.

Arrivals from schedule two countries will be required to go into mandatory quarantine in a hotel for two weeks and undergo testing for Covid-19.

The Government is expected to put the new system into operation early this week. It will take 48 hours from when the online booking system goes live for people who arrive to be sent into hotel quarantine.

Once it is up and running, anyone arriving from these countries will be asked by their airline to book a spot in a designated hotel quarantine facility. It will cost up to 2,000 per adult for a two-week stay.

Anyone who flies in without a negative PCR test will also be quarantined.

At present, arrivals from the schedule two countries are asked to quarantine at home for up to 14 days, and can be subject to garda checks to ensure they remain at home.

It is unclear how many checks have been carried out in recent weeks.

The Sunday Independent previously revealed how gardai were for three weeks unable to carry out checks on hundreds of people arriving in the State from high-risk countries because of data protection issues that prevented the Department of Health from sharing the information.

Gardai only began house checks at the end of last month, weeks after the home quarantine provisions were introduced.
Roderic O'Gorman, the Minister for Children and Youth, is a busy man. Between the outcry at the Mother and Baby Homes Report and the revelations on irregular adoptions, he might be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed.

But, as important as those legacy issues he has inherited are, he should perhaps be motivated more by what is happening now to almost all children and youth in Ireland than those in the past.

It is now three months since most secondary school students have been in school. Most university students have not been in a classroom for over a year.

A third of parents of secondary schoolgoing children have said school closures had a "major negative impact" on their children's social development, according to a recent CSO survey. More than 90pc felt it had some negative effect.

If they'd asked university students, they may have found something similar, or worse.

When we audit the performance of governments in dealing with this terrible disease, we will no doubt look at three things:

One is the excess death rate, for which Ireland may end up mid-table of the rich nations.

Secondly, we will judge our governments on the speed of vaccinations. At the current rate, Ireland will perform badly.

The Government will hope that blames attaches to the EU for its penny-pinching response, and it should, but Micheal Martin's inability to secure any vaccines from alternative sources - such as the US stockpile of AstraZeneca doses that the Biden administration released last week - should count against the Government.

The third factor will not be the hit on the economy, which has been deep, but the speed and sustainability of the recovery. Fix the economy quickly and a lot will be forgiven.

For some, Covid has had severe economic implications, but for many people who are middle-aged or older, the abiding sense is of boredom. We are fed up, but we'll survive.

We are secure enough in our jobs, our relationships, our friendships, and at a stage in life where we are merely temporarily discommoded.

But for hundreds of thousands of young people, life has been indelibly altered.

One of the few successes in dealing with Covid this Government can claim is that, despite the resistance from teachers' unions and the reticence of Opposition parties, children managed to get back to school last September.

The extended lockdown disrupts not just their learning. They have been taken away from sport, from hobbies, from friends and friendships.

It is not just a year in their lives. For one, it is a larger proportion of their lives than it is for older people. More than that, it is the time of their lives.

It is the time when they make and cement new friendships, experiment with things - ideas, sport, sex, drugs, whatever.

There are kids who will never play in that competition that could have cemented their love for a sport. Some kids won't have done their school concert, in which they may have discovered a passion for performing. Kids will have missed a chance to go to Irish college, which could have ignited a love for the language.

This is an age where habits are formed. We know that girls are very likely to drop out of sport in their teens, and now it is Government policy to effectively ban them from playing sport.

It is likely that there are kids who will never go back to school because of the break, and many others who will never catch up. But, most of all, many have been denied time with their friends, pushing boundaries at an age where mistakes can be made in relative safety.

Most of us adults can think of minor, chance events in our lives that have had lasting impacts. These were times when we were in school or college or in our 20s. We made lifelong friendships, met our husbands or wives. We have a fund of stories from those times.

Secondary school and university students are still sitting in their bedrooms, denied even the most basic social interactions. Young people are most likely to be affected by unemployment, and the terrible social cost that comes with that.

Last week we were all stunned by the violent death of Sarah Everard and it put focus on violence against women.

The brutal truth is that young people are 20 times as likely to die from self-harm than from violent assault.

It will be years before we know the full extent of the trauma people suffer as a result of the continued pause on life.

Most young people will get back into the swing of things, and while they will have missed some important milestones, hopefully they will be made up in other ways.

But for some it is likely to be irrecoverable, and leave lifelong scars.

Last week the National Immunisation Advisory Committee referred to the precautionary principle to wrongly recommend the temporary suspension of the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The principle urges caution when trying something new, or untested, for fear that its consequences may be much worse than what it is designed to alleviate.

Nphet, which last time I checked had the words 'public health' in its title, might have thought of the precautionary principle when it recommended taking children out of school for extended periods, or denying them access to their sports, hobbies, and friends.

They could, of course, point to the dangers of the disease spreading, but they should also be asked to consider the wider public health implications of trying out extended lockdowns.

At this stage, with the disease remaining persistent in the community, there is a danger that Nphet will recommend against the full reopening of schools after Easter.

It is time for the Minister for Children and Youth to forget about historical abuses and to think instead about the current generation of children and youth, and the trauma that they are being told to endure for far too long.
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On her first official day in office, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland met briefly with a group of 10 Indigenous journalists from national, local and tribal publications, including High Country News. The press conference, which was organized by the Interior Department and the Native American Journalists Association, appears to be a sign of the kind of increased access Haaland is willing to offer tribal media. As Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, has noted many times, both in her capacity as a member of Congress and as a Cabinet nominee, she intends to make tribal concerns and regular consultation a significant part of her agenda. Here are some highlights from the half-hour session:

 Haaland spoke directly about her desire to involve tribes in federal decision-making in a new and unprecedented way. Tribal governments have long felt overlooked when it comes to consultation on federal contracts and land management decisions, and their opinions have often been outright dismissed. Haaland said that she is determined to end that cycle. So often, everyone thinks that the BIA is the only location where Indian issues should be addressed, and we know thats not true. Indian issues need to be addressed across the entire government. She added that its important to consult with tribes early in any process, before decisions are made, and to give them proper access  no longer restricting public comments to online forums, for example, particularly when the tribal community in question might have limited broadband access. I want the era when tribes were on the back burner to be over.

 Tribal consultation also came up concerning the Biden administrations commitment to protecting 30% of the countrys lands and water by the year 2030. Haaland touched on the necessity to revisit the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments, as well as of New Mexicos Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, an area that is part of some important ancestral homelands, including her own. Haaland said that management decisions have to be made among all the parties involved, including the public and tribes. I know that a lot of people rely on a pristine environment for the outdoor economy industry that is all over this country, so I think taking a balanced approach is absolutely something that we would like to do.

 Assistant Secretary to the Interior Brian Newland, a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe), also participated in the press briefing, and he indicated that the tribal recognition process  through which tribes seek federal recognition, and access to federal funding and cultural protections  could evolve under Haalands tenure, as well. The department is consulting right now on a remand from two federal courts to look at whether tribes can petition again after theyve been denied federal recognition from the department. Weve gotten some feedback from the tribal consultation process and it is something we are actively working on. He added that the Biden administration is making it a priority to examine how lands are moved into federal trust, which is the process by which tribes turn private land into tribal-held land within their jurisdiction.

 Haaland shared an interesting anecdote from her early discussion with U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican and citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, regarding the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to restore the reservation of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation. The decision has rippled across eastern Oklahoma and will likely lead to the restoration of four other reservations. Haaland said that, after the decision, she called Cole to ask for his advice; an Oklahoma court decision this month reaffirmed the Chickasaw Nations reservation boundaries. He said, Let the tribes talk it out, let the tribes come to their own decision, they should not have any interference from Congress at this point. They need to be able to make their own decision. So, I want to respect tribes in every possible way. Oklahomas attorney general, members of its congressional delegation, and some tribes, including the Chickasaw Nation, believe that Congress should play a role in resolving the lingering issues created when, for over a century, the state of Oklahoma illegally assumed criminal jurisdiction over the land in question.

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 Haaland also made what appeared to be her first public comments about the citizenship of Freedmen, the descendants of those formerly held in the bondage of slavery by tribes; she has been criticized for co-sponsoring the reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act in 2019, which excluded Freedmen descendants from housing assistance. Haaland acknowledged the complicated nature of the issue, noting that even some of her immediate family members cannot enroll in her tribe due to the Pueblo of Lagunas citizenship requirements. Haaland said the housing bill must be reauthorized constantly to assist tribes. Largely, for me, it is seen as a positive thing, helping tribes to navigate those issues so that they can provide. She said shes open to speaking with tribal governments that want to discuss the issue, and is eager to respect the tribes sovereignty and authority to determine membership.

 In her opening remarks, Haaland spoke of the devastating effects COVID-19 has had on Indigenous communities, noting that more than 80% of the Interior employees who died from the disease had worked in offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A spokesperson for Interior later confirmed that 26 of the agencys employees had died from the virus, and that 22 of them had been working in Indian Affairs.

Graham Lee Brewer is an associate editor at High Country News and a member of the Cherokee Nation. Email him at grahamb@hcn.org or submit a letter to the editor. Follow @grahambrewer

(Editors Note: This story was originally published at High Country News (hcn.org) on March 18, 2021: https://www.hcn.org/articles/indigenous-affairs-on-day-one-haaland-addresses-indigenous-media)
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A critical care nurse who shared a tearful video of herself urging people to stop panic-buying food at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed she is considering leaving the profession.

In the footage circulated on social media in March last year, Dawn Bilbrough, from York, made a heartfelt plea for shoppers to stop stockpiling after being unable to find fruit or vegetables at a supermarket following a 48-hour shift.

Reflecting on the moment a year later, Ms Bilbrough said it was difficult to hear and to see and that the video showed her at one of my lowest points.

She told BBC Radio 4s The World This Weekend that working in critical care during the pandemic had been relentless, incredibly traumatic, physically and emotionally exhausting.

Ms Bilbrough described building a bond with her long-term patients, saying health workers have had to carry the great burden of witnessing lives being lost.

Were at the patients bedside 12 hours a day and they havent had their families, they havent had that usual psychological support that they would receive from their family, so weve been their everything really, she told the BBC.

Of course, theyve been with us for a much longer period of time than what we would ordinarily have with a patient within intensive care for.

Weve got to know them as people, their likes, their dislikes, their dreams, theyve talked about their families.

Then, of course, theyve become really unwell and theyve been placed on ventilators, and quite often they havent got through that and thats been really difficult because, personally, Ive felt a bond to all of my patients and to witness them not progress as we would wish, thats really, really hard.

Ms Bilbrough recalled once finishing a shift at 8pm after caring for a pod of four Covid patients, only to return the next day to find all had died and been replaced with different people.

We were kind of facing that quite often and thats just unheard of, and thats a great burden, she added.

Ms Bilbrough said that in the last wave of Covid infections she was seeing more die than go into the wards.

She said fewer patients were now coming into hospital with acute Covid, but many patients were still going through rehabilitation or remaining on ventilation  including those aged in their 50s.

Ms Bilbrough, who started her training 20 years ago, admitted she never would have imagined having to deal with something like the pandemic.

Asked if she had considered leaving her profession in the last year, she emphasised she and her colleagues had remained professional but that it was a human response to reconsider a career after experiencing high levels of stress.

She added: Long-term I am reconsidering my future, I will certainly remain in nursing for the foreseeable, but long-term Im not really sure what my plans are going to be.

In the clip posted online 12 months ago she emotionally described people just stripping the shelves of basic foods, fearfully saying: I just dont know how Im supposed to stay healthy.

You just need to stop it, because there are people like me that are going to be looking after you when youre at your lowest, she said.

Asked by the BBC if as a nurse she felt more valued now by the public, Ms Bilbrough said there was so much love for the NHS and that people had come to realise how highly skilled and knowledgeable critical care nurses are.

She hope that the huge respect for the profession would continue and that people will remember the sacrifices and the burdens that had been made.
Huntington, WV (25701)

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Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The Minister for Children has asked GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to consider reparations for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes where vaccine trials were carried out by the pharmaceutical giant.

As part of the Commission of Investigation into the homes, it emerged that GlaxoSmithKline had engaged in vaccine trials in Mother and Baby homes between 1934 and 1973.

In total, seven vaccine trials and two trials on infant milk formula were carried out on more than 600 babies and children in the homes.

The trials were carried out on behalf of Glaxo Laboratories and the Wellcome Foundation which later became part of the GSK group.

The trials were allegedly carried out on children in Bessborough in Blackrock, Cork, in St Patricks on the Navan Road in Dublin, Sean Ross Abbey in Tipperary, and Castlepollard and Dunboyne in Westmeath and Meath, respectively.

Read More New Bessborough revelations show wider range of products tested on children

It is understood Minister Roderic OGorman wrote to Emma Walmsley, GSKs chief executive in Britain, last week seeking appropriate action to meet the companys moral and ethical responsibility.

In a letter obtained by The Sunday Times, Minister Roderic OGorman wrote that no attempt appears to have been made to seek the consent of parents or guardians in regard to the trials.

I believe that all relevant parties, including GSK, have a moral and ethical obligation to take appropriate action in response to this report, he wrote, adding that former residents of the mother and baby homes had been in touch with him regarding the payment of reparations in relation to the vaccine trials.

This obligation goes beyond compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements. In the context of the specific activities of the companies that now form part of GSK, I would ask GSK to reflect on how it can respond to the failures laid bare in the commissions report.

A statement issued by GSK following the Commissions report in January said it made for difficult reading.

The statement did not include an apology.
Britain risks squandering the advantages of our vaccination programme by moving too slowly to lift the lockdown, Conservative MPs warned yesterday.

Amid signs of a gathering rebellion, a string of MPs said they were ready to vote against the Government this week when it seeks to extend Covid laws to the end of September.

The NHS yesterday revealed a third consecutive record day of vaccinations with 844,285 on Saturday.

Tory MPs warned Britain risks squandering the advantages of our vaccination programme by moving too slowly to lift the lockdown. Picture: Stock

A higher daily total of 873,784 was initially reported by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who later clarified that figures from Scotland had been revised down slightly.

NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens said it equated to vaccinating the entire adult populations of Liverpool, Southampton and Oxford combined in a single day.

In the hour between 11am and noon on Saturday, a record 27 people per second were vaccinated.

The Institute of Economic Affairs yesterday said the success of the programme meant there was now a strong case for bringing forward Boris Johnsons road map dates by four weeks.

A higher daily total of 873,784 was initially reported by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who later clarified that figures from Scotland had been revised down slightly. Picture: Stock

Christopher Snowdon, an economist at the free-market think-tank, said: Every extra day of lockdown produces diminishing returns and mounting costs.

Waiting another two months for hospitality to reopen seems excessive when people will be meeting in their homes regardless of government diktats.

We should keep a watchful eye on the data, but we should not stick stubbornly to an arbitrary timetable.

There is now a strong case for bringing the road map forward by four weeks. Former minister Steve Baker said it was time to take advantage of the benefits.

Mr Baker, deputy chairman of the 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, told Sky News: Of course the plan out of these restrictions is a path to freedom, its just that unfortunately many of us believe that it squanders the advantages of our great vaccination programme.

Amid signs of a gathering rebellion, a string of MPs said they were ready to vote against the Government this week when it seeks to extend Covid laws to the end of September. Pictured: An anti-lockdown protest in London on Saturday

Windsor MP Adam Afriyie said: I fear that some minds in government are focusing on arbitrary dates rather than looking at the reality of the data on hospitalisations and deaths, which is what we were told in January would determine the unlocking.

Ministers are facing a growing rebellion ahead of Thursdays vote to extend Covid laws for a further six months.

But one Whitehall source told the Mail that ministers may insert a review clause that could end the regulations in June to head the revolt off.

Dr Mary Ramsay, of Public Health England, yesterday warned it was very important that we dont relax too quickly and that face masks and forms of social distancing may stay in place for a few years.
Minister Daryanani Meets All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group

The Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and The Port, the Hon Vijay Daryanani MP, has met virtually with the All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group.

Mr Daryanani briefed MPs on Business, Tourism and the vaccination roll out. He informed them of how Gibraltar PLC had handled the lockdown, the manner in which the Gibraltar Government had supported Businesses and how we intend to come out of this with the challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit.

Minister Daryanani said: This was an excellent opportunity to speak to our friends in the UK. They were keen to know of our plans, interested in the manner in which the Government is expanding air services to the UK and wished for an update on our successful vaccination programme. I am delighted to see the support we have in both houses of Parliament in the UK across the political divide.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The Democrat Party warned a Federal Judge is threatening press freedom. He mentioned that Democrats are pushing their agenda by creating a partisan bias against Republicans.

Democrats have been using the press to promote their agenda and mask their insufficiencies. They have prevented major stories that could have derailed their plans from getting published.

Democrat party will silence a free press.

This week a federal judge raised concerns that a Democrat-controlled press is coming soon. One sign is a bias against Republicans in issues that are not in their favor. He added the Democrats have long set the stage for media control, reported the Epoch Times.

According to D.C. Circuit Court Judge Laurence Silberman, he deems the DEMs a danger to a free press. He cited the case of New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964 as an important cause. The supreme court decided in the NYT's favor that shielded media from lawsuits since.

Appointed by Ronald Reagan, who said the decision set the stage to repeal Democracy, the current supreme court should reverse it. He fears events happening now, and the Democrats' bluster is a bad sign.

He said that Democrat control would eliminate the free press; that is dangerous on all counts. The Democrat party controlling the press is against American democracy that allegedly allows the DEMs view only. The press is controlled to say what the DEMs want is tied to Big Tech and media economics.

Big Tech Censorship of Donald Trump, World Leaders Call for Regulation

Democrat-leaning papers

Democrats and big media have allegedly colluded to censure and control news. Silberman said it incudes the party itself and individuals. But the trend can be traced to the seventies, he added. Several major publications like the New York Times (NYT) and Washington Post (WaPo) allegedly express against GOP viewpoints.

The Wall Street Journal is biased to Democrat opinions like the WaPo and the NYT. More publications like the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, and Boston Globe align are DEMS oriented. So much that most network and cable networks are co-opted by anti-GOP, including the National Public Radio.

News outlets declined to comment when asked for one. Especially this issue concerning the free press.

The judge mentions how Big Tech makes it easier for the DEMS to reach people and peddles influence. One is the Twitter stunting of the Hunter Biden article of the New York Post, a bombshell that was controlled. President Joe Biden's son had much information about Burisma and the Ukraine affair.

Big Media and their CEOs like Jack Dorsey just got a slap on the wrist. He claimed it was a mistake, but there were doubts. Big Media kept out big stories that would have changed voter's minds in the 2020 elections.

Silberman said that the involvement of then VP-Joe Biden and Hunter's complicity was allegedly covered up.

The news bias allows the manipulation of the reports that got buried instead. Fox News is under attack by forces aligned to Democrats.

Despite the Democrat Party and attempt to silence conservatives, smaller online networks are fighting back. But, the DEMS tried to use unconstitutional means to silence them. The judge said that the First Amendment guarantees a free press, but DEMs disagree.

Amazon Suspends Booting out Parler, Says White House Trade Adviser Ominous for Free Speech

Facebook Blocks Second Amendment Group from Platform Without Explanation

Twitter Senior Executive Captured by Undercover Video Talking About Censoring Users

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2021 / Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. (the "Company") (TSXV:YAK), announced today that TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has accepted a Notice of Intention to renews its normal course issuer bid to purchase outstanding common shares of the Company on the open market in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.

Pursuant to the NCIB, (the "Bid") the Company may acquire up to 2,250,000 common shares (representing up to approximately 7.4% of the 30,481,499 common shares of the Company currently issued and outstanding, or approximately 10.0% of the 22,545,249 common shares constituting the Company's current Public Float (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) from time to time during the next 12 months. In accordance with the Policies of the Exchange, the maximum number of common shares that may be purchased under the Bid in any 30-day period may not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company when aggregated with all other common shares purchased under the Bid in the preceding 30 days.

The Company is undertaking the Bid because, in the opinion of its board of directors, the market price of its common shares, from time to time, may not fully reflect the underlying value of its operations and future growth prospects. The Company believes that in such circumstances, the purchase of the common shares of the Company may represent an appropriate and desirable use of the Company's funds and further enhance market stability.

The Company may, subject to market conditions, sell one or more of its investment properties to finance purchases under the Bid from time to time.

From March 19, 2020 to March 18, 2021, the Company purchased 2,370,000 of its shares at an average price of $0.30 under its most recently expired NCIB.

The Company has retained M Partners Inc. of Toronto, Ontario as its broker Member for the purposes of conducting the bid. The Bid will commence on or about March 19, 2021 and the Bid will end no later than March 18, 2022. The common shares will be purchased for cancellation on the open market through the facilities of the Exchange, at market price. This transaction is subject to the TSX Venture Exchange approval.

For further information please contact:

Genevieve Walkden, Corporate Secretary

877-644-1186

GWalkden@MongoliaGrowthGroup.com

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process and actions, regulator and corporate approvals, technical issues, new legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events, and the Company's capability to execute and implement its future plans. Actual results may differ materially from those projected by management. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. We seek safe harbour.

The TSXV has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.

SOURCE: Mongolia Growth Group Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tears into Maha govt over Sachin Waze episode

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Patna, Mar 21: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday called for a "fair and impartial probe by an outside agency" into the controversy surrounding Mumbai policeman Sachin Waze and his alleged patronisation by top leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP combine in Maharashtra.

Prasad expressed astonishment over Waze, "a mere assistant inspector", having been defended inside and outside the assembly by none other than Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

He also questioned the "silence" of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in the matter though his party colleague and home minister Anil Deshmukh has been accused of asking the policeman to "extort Rs 100 crore from dance bars etc. every month".

"The Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra has been formed with an intention to loot and not to govern. The BJP is going to raise this issue very strongly and will soon hit the streets", Prasad declared at a press conference at the party office here. Charging Thackeray with having betrayed the NDA for the sake of power, Prasad wondered whether the sordid turn of events were in consonance with the "Jai Maharashtra" (hail Maharashtra) slogan popularised by his late father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, "for whom I have tremendous respect".

Param Bir Singh's letter, Waze case tainted MVA's image, allies need to introspect: Sanjay Raut

Referring to the explosive letter written to Thackeray by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, the BJP MP from Patna Sahib said, "extortion is a crime. A policeman indulging in it and that too at the behest of the home minister of the state is a very serious matter.

"It must be probed in an honest and transparent manner by an outside agency". Prasad is holding Law and Justice, Electronics and Information Technology and Communications portfolios in Prime Minister Narendra Modi cabinet.

"What has been alleged in the letter could be just the tip of the iceberg. Maharashtra is a prosperous state. "If a policeman in Mumbai is asked to extort money for political bosses, we can surmise that there have been similar transgressions at other business hubs like Pune, Nagpur and Jalgaon", Prasad added. Training his guns at Sharad Pawar, the BJP leader said "the very senior leader" needed to break his "silence" and hold forth as to in what capacity was he recently "briefed" about the whole episode by Anil Deshmukh.

"Pawar is not a part of the government. Moreover, the so- called briefing makes it amply clear that he is aware of the serious charges against a member of his party. As a party chief, what action is he going to take", Prasad asked.

The Union minister also demanded an explanation from the Maharashtra government as to "under pressure from whom" was Waze, who had been suspended for years and joined the Shiv Sena, reinstated during the COVID crisis last year. He also sought to know how the assistant sub-inspector came to head the crime intelligence unit of the Mumbai police "which should normally be helmed by an SP or at least a Deputy SP".

Waze, once hailed as an "encounter specialist", hit the headlines recently in the aftermath of an explosives laden vehicle being found parked outside the residence of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani. Param Bir Singh, who was transferred following the grave security lapse, came out with his litany of shocking allegations soon after being shifted from the top post.
AG alleges Rs. 68B defrauded in three bond scams; Trials-at-Bar begin By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s):

The Attorney General has filed indictments before three Trials-at-Bar regarding alleged scams that took place during three different Treasury Bond auctions during the term of the former Government.

The total amount of funds that had allegedly been defrauded during the three bond auctions amounts to Rs 68 billion, according to the AGs Department.

Accordingly, the AGs Department alleges that Rs 18 billion has been defrauded during the bond auction that took place on February 27, 2015 and Rs 36.98 billion defrauded during the auction on March 29, 2016. The amount defrauded at the auction held on March 31, 2016 is Rs 15 billion.

The AG has filed 24 indictments regarding the first Bond auction, 30 indictments on the second auction and 30 again on the third auction.

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran and Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Aloysius are among those who have been indicted for criminal breach of trust over the alleged bond scams.

Mr Mahendran is now believed to be in Singapore and Attorney General Dappula de Livera has held talks with Singapores Attorney General on the possibility of extraditing him to face charges in Sri Lanka, Additional Solicitor General Palinda Ranasinghe told court on Thursday, when the case regarding the March 29 bond auction was taken up.

As information has come to light that another of the accused, Ajahn Gardiye Punchihewa, is now in Malaysia, the court has instructed that summons be issued to him through the Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara, who appeared for the AG with State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama, told court that the AG hoped to obtain another arrest warrant against Arjun Mahendran. The Court ordered the AGs Department to inform it of the Singapore AGs reply to the extradition request on May 5.

The first Trial-at-Bar comprises High Court Judges Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Damith Thotawatte and Namal Balalla. High Court Judges Damith Thotawatte, Manjula Thilakaratne and Mohammed Irshadeen make up the second Trial-at-Bar while the third comprises Amal Ranaraja, Namal Ballala and Adithya Patabendige.

The Prisons Department announced yesterday that PCR tests conducted on former minister Karunanayake and seven others remanded over the bond scam have been negative and hence they would be transferred to the Colombo Remand Prison.

These suspects are due to be produced before Court again on Tuesday, March 23.
Azerbaijan authorities plan to "squeeze" everything from "terrorist show" related to Armenian captives

Ameriabank Announces a Contest for Bank Card Design

108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia parliament convenes special session

Armenia interim government holding Cabinet meeting

Catholicos of All Armenians heads for Syunik Province, Artsakh

World oil prices going up

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

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Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

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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

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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?

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Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

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Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

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Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

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Rome: If, as its said, all roads lead to Rome, then they intersect at Piazza Venezia, the downtown hub of the Italian capital, watched over by a traffic officer on a pedestal who choreographs streamlined circulation out of automotive chaos.

For many Romans and tourists alike, those traffic controllers are as much a symbol of the Eternal City as the Colosseum or the Pantheon.

That may explain why the return this past week of the pedestal (plus its traffic cop) after a yearlong hiatus while the piazza was being paved, set off a media frenzy  even if there was little traffic to direct given the widespread lockdown that began this past week to contain an upsurge of coronavirus cases.

A veteran traffic officer, Pierluigi Marchionne, directs traffic on the Piazza Venezia in Rome this week. Credit:Nadia Shira Cohen/The New York Times

In this difficult period, I think that it was seen as a sign of something returning to normal, said Fabio Grillo, 53, who, with 16 years under his belt, is the senior member of the team of four or five municipal police officers who direct traffic from the Piazza Venezia pedestal.
AstraZeneca Plc, on March 21, said that its COVID-19 vaccine contains no pork-derived ingredients, countering assertions in Indonesia that the drug violates Islamic law. Previously, Ulema Council the countrys top Muslim clerical body, had called the vaccine "haram" saying that its manufacturing process uses "trypsin enzyme" derived from pork pancreas. Speaking to media reporters, the council president had reckoned that it was "mandatory" for Muslims to participate in the government's vaccination program, and for the government to keep working on securing vaccines.

No use of pork products'

On March 21, a spokesman for the British Swedish Pharmaceutical released a statement stressing that the vaccine does not use or even come in contact with pork derived products. At all stages of the production process, this virus vector vaccine does not use nor come in contact with pork-derived products or other animal products." In Islam, eating pork is considered dirty and a sin.

The southeast Asian countrys regulatory body had, on March 19, restarted the rollout of the virus vector vaccine highlighting the emergency situation in the country. Despite giving emergency approval to the jabs earlier this month, the country had halted its use after reports of severe blood clots surfaced. Indonesia started its phased vaccination drive earlier in January and has been relying on jabs received as a part of COVAX apart from Chinas Sinovax for inoculation.

Indonesia's re-approval of the vaccine came after the EMA released a special report on the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine with an aim to ward off scepticism surrounding jabs. In its clear conclusion, the regulatory body stressed that, following an investigation into 30 cases of unusual blood disorders, it found that the vaccine's benefits in protecting people from coronavirus-related death or hospitalization outweighs the possible risks. However, it said a link between blood clots in the brain and the shot could not be definitively ruled out.

As per the latest tally by John Hopkins University, Indonesia has reported 1,455,788 cases and 39,447 deaths from the lethal viral infection.
DMCC has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to establish a regulatory framework for businesses offering, issuing, listing, and trading crypto assets in DMCC.

The agreement will see businesses dealing with crypto assets gain access to bespoke licences offered by the DMCC Crypto Centre, first-class customer service, a range of incentives, and the strong business regulatory framework developed by DMCC, the worlds flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Working closely with DMCCs onboarding teams, the SCA will issue approvals for crypto-related businesses looking to set up in DMCC. The SCA will subsequently regulate the crypto activities in line with their policies that were introduced in October 2020 to develop an integrated ecosystem for the crypto and blockchain industries. The agreement will foster growth within the sector and promote the development of blockchain applications in Dubai.

Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, said: Through this agreement with the SCA, DMCC is expanding its current range of crypto assets licences, which perfectly complement the existing business licence options. In early 2020, we signed an agreement with CV VC and CV Labs, a Swiss Government-supported initiative that will bring the worlds leading blockchain and cryptographic technologies ecosystem to Dubai. This agreement also builds the foundation for our future partnerships in the crypto space and is a major step in the launch of the DMCC Crypto Centre, which we will bring to the market in the near future.

As we continue to make strides within the crypto and blockchain space, DMCC is making it easier for crypto and blockchain businesses to set up and operate in Dubai. Cutting-edge technologies are at the forefront of our strategy and they will play an instrumental role in driving increased trade through Dubai in the future. By working with SCA, we are able to extend the centralised supervision of the crypto market to our business district in the heart of Dubai, bolstering its standing as a hub for crypto assets.

On this occasion, Dr. Obaid Al Zaabi, CEO of SCA, expressed gratitude for the DMCCs outstanding role in providing an infrastructure for developing and managing a prosperous commodities market and for taking the initiative to create a sophisticated environment for the crypto-asset industry.

This latest agreement builds on DMCCs comprehensive strategies to promote technology-driven trade and to attract innovative companies to Dubai. In 2020, DMCC launched DigitalSugar, a blockchain-enabled trading platform for sugar, and the Agriota e-Marketplace, an agri-commodity trading and sourcing platform that uses blockchain to help bridge the gap between millions of rural farmers in India and the UAEs food industry.

In February 2021, Sulayem joined the advisory board of the Swiss Government-supported blockchain investment company CV VC following an agreement between DMCC and CV VC and CV Labs. This partnership will bring the worlds leading blockchain and cryptographic technologies ecosystem to Dubai. 2020 also saw DMCC sign an agreement with Innoway, a China Government-backed incubator pioneering science, tech and education ecosystems, to establish in Dubai.-- Tradearabia News Service
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When my son, Miles, uttered the words Theres something I need to tell you, nothing could have prepared me for what he was about to say.

For once, he was looking straight at me. Im transgender, he said. I have always wanted to be a woman. And I cant go on any longer living like this.

I wish I could say that at that moment the scales fell from my eyes, all became clear and I joyfully embraced my child and this revelation, gifted with a clear vision of how life would now change for the better. I would love to say I always knew. But I cant. I simply had no idea.

The truth is that my first thought was: Why are you doing this to me now? Havent I got enough on my plate?

It was Christmas 2015. We were hosting a big family reunion and Id just returned from seeing my husband, Baz, in hospital  hed collapsed the night before and his life was hanging in the balance.

Elisabeth Spencer (pictured), who lives in France, revealed the sorrowful path Miles, now named Amelie, 25, pursued to become a woman

At home, the table was strewn with the remains of Christmas. There had been a heated discussion about whether trans women are really women, sparked by something on the news, and Miles, then 22, had stormed out, returning much later once everyone else was in bed.

I leaned forward against the sink, a support against my tiredness and shock. How long have you known? I asked.

Always, he said, and years of repressed pain poured out in a torrent of words.

I was shivering from head to toe as my body succumbed to the onslaught of stress, emotional turmoil and the utter physical and mental exhaustion of what I was hearing.

But you never said anything. All these years. Why didnt you tell me?

His response was devastating: Youre just about the last person Ive told . . . because youre a homophobe and a transphobe, too.

The next morning, as I visited my husband in hospital, I felt the weight of my childs revelation like a bereavement. Baz was diagnosed with a terminal blood cancer, and so, that day, I discovered I was going to lose both the husband I loved and the son I thought I knew.

The double anguish wrapped itself around my chest, and sitting in the shabby hospital cafe I quietly fell apart over my tepid, tasteless tea, overcome with silent grief.

Although I was born and brought up in Australia, I moved to London at 18 to study at music college. I married my first husband when I was young, and had two boys three years apart: Lucas and Miles.

I speak of my son here, but I am keenly aware of the hurt that misgendering causes. I am trying to tell my story as I experienced it  not as my daughter lived it  so I have used male gender pronouns and her birth name for those early years.

Elisabeth (pictured) said her ex-husband Amelies father, was angry and cold after Amelie revealed she's transgender in 2015

I know and respect now that Amelie herself has always experienced her life as female.

From the start, Miles was, I thought, the most boyish of little boys. He loved Thomas The Tank Engine, Thunderbirds and Buzz Lightyear.

Early in my career as a professional musician, work meant irregular hours. I adored my children, but my marriage was deeply strained. Lucas was happy and content, but Miles was a difficult baby and by the time he was a toddler he often seemed withdrawn and miserable.

Naturally, I blamed myself; for bringing another child into what became a toxic relationship, for being too tied up in work, for lacking enthusiasm for Play-Doh, or just for not being enough.

Eventually, in 2001 my marriage acrimoniously unravelled (Miles was eight and Lucas 11) and three years after the divorce that followed, I found myself living in a village in Cambridgeshire in a new and happy relationship with my second husband, Baz, an architect. This relationship changed Miless life  one Christmas, Baz bought him an electric guitar, which suddenly unleashed his extraordinary musical talent.

I felt the weight of my childs revelation like a bereavement  I was losing the son I thought I knew

But, although Miles threw himself into his music, as he grew into a young adult I was at a loss either to understand or to fix his constant aura of sadness.

His school referred him to counsellors, but no one could get to the bottom of his malaise.

Both boys were at a music school for boys, but at 13, Miles was adamant he wanted to switch to a school with girls. And so we settled on a school that offered co-ed boarding.

I was rather pleased with his choice, thinking it showed a promising interest in the opposite sex. I didnt realise my child wanted to go to a school with girls because she was a girl.

So much of what happened at that school I found out only later, but it didnt take long before I noticed his optimism being replaced by deepening despair.

Then one evening, when he was 14, I received a desperate email from Miles in which he confessed he had been cutting himself and was contemplating suicide.

I drove up in the middle of the night for an urgent conference with the housemaster; but even then the truth was obscured.

Elisabeth (pictured) said Amelie was distraught about having to wait 18 months for an appointment at the Gender Identity Clinic in London

I now know that trans people typically suffer from gender dysphoria (an acute sense of being in the wrong gender) and body dysmorphia (a sense of horror at the body they find themselves inhabiting) which can lead to crushing feelings of isolation, anxiety and despair. But back then it never occurred to me that this might apply to Miles.

Subsequently, I have learnt that most, if not all, trans people suffer depression because their lives are so often beset by oppression, confusion and shame. Their suicide risk is catastrophically high. Studies have found around 84 per cent have contemplated suicide and, shockingly, around 45 per cent have attempted it.

Painfully, that number included my child.

It was a very dark time and I really hoped his cry for help might help me find answers. It did not, but soon afterwards, Miles came home from school for the weekend and awkwardly pressed a scrap of paper into my hand on which hed written: I am gay. My initial reaction was relief, that perhaps this might explain his isolation and depression and I grasped at the opportunity to re-catalogue him as my gay son.

He had decided the only way to cope with the strange dichotomy of experiences and desires was to identify as gay, and he became the cross-dressing pet of the girls boarding house. Then, confusingly, while working towards GCSEs he became a dedicated bodybuilder. His day revolved around two things: music and muscle.

By now, he had been on antidepressants for some time and was seeing the counsellor at school every week, so finding something that helped him cope with his inner torment on a day-to-day basis seemed a step forward. It turns out this was a desperate last-ditch attempt to try to reconcile body and gender.

In spite of everything, Miles did well at school and won a place at a music college in London, where he made new friends.

Shortly after the big transgender revelation that Christmas in 2015, Miles changed his name to Amelie, and took the first tentative steps towards transitioning. First little hoop earrings appeared instead of the usual studs, then a more feminine style of jeans. Her long hair hung luxuriantly down her back.

Reactions in our extended family varied. Baz was supportive, but my ex-husband, Amelies father, was angry and cold. He told Amelie she was dead to him, saying: You are no child of mine. At the end of last year, however, in the final days of his life, he did offer her an apology and they were reconciled.

Despite everything she had to go through, my daughter never once expressed the tiniest regret

I have since discovered that rejection by family members is widespread among trans people. My son, Lucas, remains gender critical and I grieve for the unreconciled differences between my children and for my own brother and sister who have been divided by their views.

My mothers first response was: Its just a phase, darling. I dont think you need to make a big deal out of it. But when I explained to her the seriousness of the situation, she acquiesced but added: Shell always be my little Miles to me.

None of this was easy. My struggle to cope with Bazs terminal illness and the harrowing psychosis that went with it, the ups and downs of Amelies transition process, my attempts to repair the schism in our wider family, and the need to keep my professional life in the face of such turmoil took a huge toll.

Fifteen months after that Christmas night, I lost Baz. On the day of his funeral the first letter from the Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) in London arrived. Amelie was distraught that the offer of an initial appointment was 18 months away.

Nationally, referrals outstrip available appointments by four to one, and a shortage of clinical specialists in the field of gender identity means there are thousands of people on waiting lists around the UK. In some regions the wait can be as long as four years, but Amelie was adamant she couldnt wait another day.

I watched her mental state plunge as she spent hours researching alternatives.

Finally, desperation drove her to consider buying hormones online. I begged her to see our GP and was there to support her. She told the GP: Ive been unhappy my whole life. Everything about me is wrong. The way I look, the way I sound, the shape of my body. I want nothing to do with this flesh, this shape, these . . . these appendages. I want them gone. They disgust me. I disgust myself. The only way I can truly live is if I can change my body.

Once the tap of her despair had been turned on, there was no stopping it, and her words and distress came flooding out. I thought I had known her pain, but this anguish plumbed a new depth. I was shocked by the extremity of her misery.

The GP arranged an appointment with a private endocrinologist, who prescribed the hormones she needed to begin her transition  anti-androgens to block testosterone and both oestrogen and progesterone to feminise her hormone profile.

She then began a gruelling programme of laser hair removal to erase her facial and body hair and took out a loan to pay for cosmetic surgery to reduce the size of her Adams apple at a private clinic in Belgium.

Elisabeth (pictured) said Amelie took out a loan to cover the costs of having sex reassignment surgery in Thailand

To me, through the eyes of a mother, she already looked perfect, but I knew she was driven by deep-seated needs that were beyond my understanding.

For Amelie, full transition was her absolute goal, but when the long-awaited GIC appointment finally arrived, she was dismayed to discover the endless hoops she would need to jump through and how long it would take. Her desperation quickly resurfaced.

I struggled with the thought of what she would be doing to her body  the surgery, the risks. But she threw herself into researching private options and settled on Thailand. I was hugely concerned. Was my daughter riding into the Wild West of medical tourism?

My knowledge then of what sex reassignment surgery involved was sketchy to say the least. There was only so much I could take on board in those early days. The idea of surgery seemed a distant prospect back then, and I was happy to allow a discreet veil to fall over the technicalities. I begged her to wait out the GIC process, but she countered: If I had a terminal disease that could be fixed with surgery, but the waiting list was so long you knew I might die before I could have it, wouldnt you do anything to help?

I soon learned that doctors in Thailand are the worlds most experienced at performing the complex transgender surgery.

The procedure, which costs around 10,000, is called penile inversion vaginoplasty, a complex, four-hour operation during which male sex organs are partially removed and reconfigured to create the appearance and function of female sex organs.

By this time, Amelie had established herself as a successful jazz musician and, determined to proceed, she took out a loan to cover the costs. The surgery was booked for eight months later, in early 2018.

I still found the thought of surgery hard to contemplate but knew I had no choice. My support would lie with my daughter, however hard the road ahead might be. I knew I wouldnt be able to cope with the thought of watching her being wheeled away for surgery, and was worried my fear would infect her, so I arranged to fly out after the operation to be with her during recovery instead.

The operation was an ordeal and Amelie endured considerable pain. The healing process was agonisingly slow. She knew something wasnt right post-operatively and over a year, she was bounced between six different consultants in an effort to seek a solution to her daily suffering. Each one agreed she needed corrective surgery, but no one in the UK was trained to deal with that kind of thing.

Eventually, Amelie returned to Thailand for corrective surgery and I travelled with her.

That surgery, in 2019, marked the end of her transition. Finally, aged 25, her name, gender and body all matched and it was immensely moving to see her finally free of pain and full of joy for her new life.

Despite everything she had to go through, my daughter never once expressed the tiniest regret. She was quite simply overjoyed to have crossed the final barrier. The difference in her was, and still is, palpable.

Now 27, Amelie is confident and completely at ease in herself. She is beautifully and radiantly female. She lives quietly and happily as a woman.

She has a wonderful partner with whom she is building her life. She has never wanted children and is content.

Just six years ago, I knew nothing of the sorrow and suffering of transgender people, of their fears and courage. But this has taught me so much and I have been honoured by my daughters confidence in letting me share her story and tell my own.

Having travelled this path with her, I now know no one would choose the gruelling road to transitioning unless the utmost desperation drove them there. They deserve nothing but dignity and our greatest compassion and respect for their courage.

For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org

Adapted by Louise Atkinson from The Road To My Daughter by Elisabeth Spencer (16.99, Biteback)  Elisabeth Spencer 2021. To order a copy for 14.44 (offer valid to 30/3/21; UK P&P free on orders over 20), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193.

(Names have been changed to protect privacy)
The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that 206 new cases of coronavirus were discovered yesterday.

Three more deaths from Covid-19 were reported today, meaning the total death toll in the Grand Duchy has risen to 718.

8,653 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate was 2.38%.

There are 101 patients in standard hospital care, up by one from yesterday, while the number in intensive care has increased by three to 20.

As a reminder, at weekends the government only releases data on the number of tests, cases, deaths and hospitalisations.

As of Friday, there were 3,094 active infections in Luxembourg, while 55,147 patients have recovered from the virus.

52,870 people had received their first vaccine dose in Luxembourg. 17,469 of those had received a second dose.

The R rate remained stable at 1.07.

For the latest updates on the coronavirus both in Luxembourg and abroad, see our live ticker.
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the attack on the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, by unidentified gunmen.

The partys comment on the attack came after the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called out the APC for its silence on the event and the violent attack that claimed three lives during the Ekiti State bye-election held on Saturday.

Mr Ortom, a PDP governor, was attacked by suspected herders on his farm in Gboko, Benue State, on Saturday.

Prior to his attack, the governor had made headlines over his strong criticism of open grazing of cattle and recently impounded over 200 cows for defying the state anti-grazing law.

However, against the PDPs insinuation, the ruling APC , on Sunday, broke its silence on the attack and dissociated itself from all forms of criminal engagements.

The party expressed confidence in Nigerias security operatives to apprehend people behind the attack on the governor.

We are confident our security services will do everything to unravel the criminals behind the attack and bring them to book.

The APC reiterates that we must all collaborate to end criminality in all forms. A crime is a crime and should not be politicised in any way, the party reacted in the statement signed by its interim National Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe.

The APC did not ,however, spare a line or paragraph in respect to the mayhem caused by unidentified gunmen during voting in Ekiti State over the weekend.
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Thousands more families across rain-soaked New South Wales face their homes being flooded as a once-in-a-century mega-storm lashes Australia's east coast.

Conditions are dangerous and volatile as more flood warnings were issued for parts of western Sydney and the NSW mid-north coast on Sunday night.

Rising floodwaters in Sydney's west and north-west are now higher than the catastrophic 1961 flood, with residents of parts of Penrith told to leave their homes by 9pm before floods are expected to peak Sunday or early Monday.

Other residents in the area were told to get out by 4.30pm as the Nepean River burst its banks and torrents of water overwhelmed homes.

Late on Sunday evening the Bureau of Meteorology issued major flood warnings for the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers, warning of major flooding at Windsor, Sackville, Lower Portland and Wisemans Ferry.

The Hawkesbury at Richmond is forecast to reach 15metres by 7am Monday, with further rises possible. The river is expected to reach the same level at Windsor by 3pm.

Further evacuation warnings were issued for the western Sydney suburbs of Eastern Creek, Stonecutters Creek and Marsden Park, where residents were told to prepare to leave their homes by 3am.

Residents of parts of Wilberforce north of the Hawkesbury were told to be ready to evacuate by 9am on Monday.

A severe weather remains in place for much of the NSW coast all the way up to Queensland for life-threatening flash-flooding with 137 schools closed and workers urged to stay home on Monday.

Up to 60mm of rain is forecast to soak Sydney Sydney on Monday after 110mm fell in the space of 24 hours over the weekend as two weather systems collide.

By 4.30pm on Sunday, floodwaters had started to inundate homes in Ladbury Avenue Penrith (pictured)

A police car was inundated in floodwaters in Freemans Reach in Sydney's north-west on Sunday

An abandoned umbrella lies at the flood intersection of Ladbury and Memorial Avenue in Penrith in Sydney's west

A large crowd of residents gathered at the new Windsor Bridge on Sunday to keep a vigilant eye on the Hawkesbury River

Windsor residents in Sydney's north-west braved the wet conditions to keep a close eye on the flooded Hawkesbury River

Late on Sunday afternoon, the NSW State Emergency Service declared western parts of Penrith as a high danger area where some properties have already been inundated with water.

An evacuation order was issued for all properties within the area bounded by the Nepean River, south of the Great Western Highway and west of Peach Tree Creek, including Captains Road; Fitch Avenue; Ladbury Avenue; Memorial Avenue; Nepean Avenue; and Recreation Avenue.

Residents in the immediate vicinity of Cables Wake Park bounded by Nepean River, Jamison Road and Peach Tree Creek were also ordered to evacuate.

'Once floodwater reaches 7.96m the Great Western Highway Evacuation Route will be cut. If you remain in the area, you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to rescue you,' a NSW SES alert states.

Evacuees were urged to bring drinking water and food with them and relocate personal possessions to a safe place. The Nepean River is expected to peak around 10.4m at midnight on Monday.

Penrith Panthers NRL coach Ivan Cleary was among the residents forced to evacuate on Sunday night.

He has been living in a Ladbury Avenue home owned by his son, Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary while renovating his own home on Sydney's northern beaches, the Daily Telegraph reported

The Panthers' preparation for Thursday night's grand final rematch against Melbourne Storm have been thrown into chaos with their training grounds at the $22m Panthers Academy complex in Mulgoa also under threat from flooding.

Inmates at the Emu Plains and nearby Amber Laurel Correctional Centres have also being evacuated, Corrective Services has confirmed.

Flood evacuation warnings have been issued for the Windsor CBD, eastern parts of South Windsor, southern parts of Wilberforce and Wisemans Ferry due the rising levels of the Hawkesbury River.

Affected residents have until Monday morning to evacuate.

'Once floodwater enters at 15.45m, the area will experience increasing flood levels, progressively forcing residents to evacuate their homes,' the SES said.

'If you remain in the area after 9am Monday, you may become trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you.'

An evacuation centre has been set up for Castle Hill RSL for who need temporary accommodation.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How said 'relentless rainfall' will lash parts of Sydney and eastern NSW until at least Tuesday.

'This is a dynamic situation, so check for flood warning updates regularly,' he warned.

EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS FOR WESTERN SYDNEY EVACUATION WARNINGS Eastern Creek at Eastern part of Eastern Creek: Prepare to evacuate before 3am Monday - The warning area covers all properties in the Riverstone, Schofields, and Quakers Hill areas bounded by Eastern Creek (from Bandon Road down to Richmond Road), Bandon Road, Hamilton Street, McCulloch Street, Riverstone Road, Garfield Road East, Windsor Road, Schofield Road, Hambledon Road, across to the railway line, and down to Arnott Road, Quakers Road, Breakfast Road and Richmond Road. Eastern Creek at Colebee and Stonecutters Ridge area bordering Eastern Creek: Prepare to evacuate by 3am Monday - The warning area covers all properties in the area of Colebee and Stonecutter Ridge developments bounded by Richmond Road, Bells Creek and Eastern Creek. Marsden Park at Western part of Eastern Creek: Prepare to evacuate by 3am Monday - The warning area covers all properties in the area of Marsden Park bounded by Richmond Road, South Creek, Eastern Creek and Bells Creek. McGraths Hill area: Prepare to evacuate by 9am Monday - The warning area covers all properties east of Windsor Road from South Creek to Brennan Dam Road, north of Killarney Chain of Ponds, west of McKenzies Creek. Includes the whole of McGraths Hill suburb. Southern part of Wilberforce: Prepare to evacuate by 9am Monday - The warning area covers all properties north of the Hawkesbury River, west of Buttsworth Lane, Earl Street and Putty Road to Currency Creek, south of Currency Creek to Argents Road (west of the intersection of Argents Rd and Sargents Road). Windsor CBD: Prepare to evacuate by 9am Monday - The warning area covers all properties bounded by the Hawkesbury River, Palmer Street, South Creek, Suffolk Street and New Street. Hawkesbury River at Eastern part of South Windsor: Prepare to evacuate before 9am Monday - The warning area covers all properties bounded by the train line, South Creek and Brickfield Road to the creek. Caravan Parks along the Hawkesbury River from Windsor and Wisemans Ferry: Prepare to evacuate over the next 12-15 hours - The warning area covers all Caravan Parks along the Hawkesbury River from Windsor and Wisemans Ferry. EVACUATION ORDERS Western part of Jamisontown area: Evacuate by 9pm Sunday - People within Western part of Jamisontown to evacuate the high danger area using the Great Western Highway Evacuation Route. The evacuation is for all properties within the area of all properties bounded by Jamison road, Surveyors Creek, Blaikie Road, Rear of Penrith Homemaker Centre, Western Motorway and Nepean River. Residents of Regentville along the low lying parts of Mulgoa Creek: Evacuate by 9pm Sunday - People along Martin Street between Mulgoa Creek and the Nepean River of area to evacuate the high danger area using the Mulgoa Road Evacuation Route. The evacuation is for all properties along Martin Street between Mulgoa Creek and the Nepean River. Residents within Western parts of Penrith: Evacuate by 4:30pm Sunday - People within the Western parts of Penrith to evacuate the high danger area using the Memorial Avenue onto the Great western highway onto Victoria Bridge towards Emu Plains. Water is already entering the rear of properties along Ladbury Avenue. The evacuation is for all properties within the area bounded by the Nepean River, south of the Great Western Highway and west of Peach Tree Creek. Includes: Captains Road; Fitch Avenue; Ladbury Avenue; Memorial Avenue; Nepean Avenue; and Recreation Avenue. Simple things you can do now: Take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you. Leave as early as possible to avoid restricted road access. Take drinking water and food due to expected travel time. Share this information with family, friends and neighbours and help others where possible. Critical Information to remember 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. Activate your Home or Business FloodSafe Plan. 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. Act early as roads may become congested or close. More information at SES. Advertisement

Many residents in Penrith were ordered to evacuate their homes on Sunday night as flood waters in the Nepean River continue to rise. Pictured is a flooded park near the Nepean River on Sunday

Residents in western parts of Penrith were ordered to evacuate by SES volunteers on Sunday afternoon before flood levels rise. Pictured are residents in Ladbury Ave, Penrith.

The corner of Ladbury and Memorial Ave Penrith (pictured) is now underwater, forcing local residents to evacuate

DISASTER RELIEF PAYMENTS FOR FLOOD-HIT FAMILIES Residents who have suffered home damage or serious injuries in devastating floods sweeping across NSW are being granted immediate access to disaster relief payments. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced the activation of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance for 18 NSW local government areas. Under the AGDRP, eligible residents caught up in the storms and floods can apply for a one-off payment of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children. Those who have lost their livelihoods can also now get a short-term income payment through the DRA for up to 13 weeks. Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the disaster package would help people who had suffered significant loss. 'Our first concern is for the safety and needs of those directly affected, particularly those whose homes have been inundated by floodwaters,' he said in a statement. 'By making these payments available to the affected residents, the Australian government will ensure that those who have lost or sustained damage to their homes or lost their livelihoods as a result of the floods will have the additional assistance they need.' In a social media video on Sunday, the prime minister advised flood-impacted residents to claim the relief payments by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66. 'It can be processed over the phone, you just need to provide your details and explain your circumstances to them, and we can arrange those payments to you as quickly as possible,' Mr Morrison said. The package has initially been extended to Armidale, Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock City, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Hawkesbury, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland City, Mid-Coast, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle City, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Penrith, Port Stephens and Tenterfield. More LGAs will be added to the list in consultation with the NSW government, while mutual obligation requirements for job seeker's in the 18 regions have been lifted from March 19 until April 6. The prime minister has been in contact with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday to offer the support of the Australian Defence Force. Mr Morrison acknowledged the need for a 'big clean-up operation' on the other side of the floods, the worst to hit metropolitan Sydney in 50 years and the Mid-North Coast in a century. But he indicated the recovery effort was a problem for another day, urging people to stay safe and listen to authorities. 'They trained for this, they prepare for this, and they're there to help you right now,' Mr Morrison said. 'I wish you every safety in these very trying times.' Greens Leader Adam Bandt described the 'tragic' weather event as a grim look into an Australian future with bigger fires and worse floods, calling on the federal government to declare a climate emergency. ''Unprecedented' fires one year, 'once in a 50 year' floods the next. This is not normal,' Mr Bandt said in a statement. Advertisement

The rain will persist on Monday while severe thunderstorms are forecast for northern inland NSW.

A tropical low over northern WA and a coastal trough off NSW are expected to collide on Monday night, sparking a 'multi-state rain band'.

'This could cause further river rises, so it's important to stay vigilant as conditions can change quickly,' Mr How said.

'Rain and floods are not over yet!'

Of the 7,370 calls for help the NSW State Emergency Service has been inundated with since Thursday, 1940 have been logged since Saturday night.

The SES has also conducted 685 flood rescues since Thursday.

In Sydney's north-western outskirts, a large crowd walked through flooded streets to gather at the new Windsor Bridge to watch the Hawkesbury River rise.

Evacuation orders were also issued for low lying areas of Agnes Banks and North Richmond, along with Pitt Town North earlier on Sunday.

The river at Richmond could reach higher than 16m by Monday while moderate flooding continues along the Colo River, with major flooding possible from Sunday night.

This Penrith resident braved the rain to take photos of the Nepean River, which could rise to levels of the 1961 flood

State Emergency Service personnel braved dangerous conditions while searching for two men stranded on a rooftop in Freemans Reach, north-west of Sydney

Rising flood waters opposite Governor Phillip Park in Windsor are so high they have almost covered a traffic sign

People look on as flood water rises over the New Windsor Bridge on The Hawkesbury River in Windsor

It comes as local SES volunteers launched a search for two men stranded in Freemans Reach after they spent the day moving livestock.

The NSW mid-north coast isn't out of the wood yet either with more warnings issued on Sunday night for the Gloucester and Manning Rivers.

Current projections indicate the deluge could result in flooding similar in scale to the 1961 flood with the Warragamba Dam spillway releasing water at a rate of 450 gigalitres per day.

Sydney Harbour holds 500GL by comparison.

Flow data up to Sunday indicates that half of the floodwaters in the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system downstream of the dam were from tributary flow, not the dam.

Low-lying areas of Windsor near the Hawkesbury River have been inundated with heavy rain in recent days

The new Windsor Bridge was inundated with with water and debris from the flooded Hawkesbury River on Sunday

In the far NSW north coast, the heavy rain and wild conditions didn't dampen the spirits of surfers at Byron Bay

137 New South Wales schools closed due to localised flooding Barrington Public School Beechwood Public School Bellbrook Public School Bellingen High School Bobbin Public School Booral Public School Brewongle Environmental Education Centre Bungwahl Public School Camden Haven High School Carool Public School Cattai Public School Chatham High School Chatham Public School Chester Hill High School Colo Heights Public School Colo High School Comboyne Public School Congewai Public School Coolongolook Public School Coopernook Public School Crescent Head Public School Cundletown Public School Dungog Public School Elands Public School Eungai Public School Frederickton Public School Gladstone Public School Glenbrook Public School Glenvale SSP (North Entrance Campus) Glossodia Public School Green Hill Public School Hannam Vale Public School Hastings Public School Harrington Public School Hawkesbury High School Herrons Creek Public School Hinton Public School Hopetown Public School Jiliby Public School Johns River Public School Kempsey East Public School Kempsey High School Kempsey West Public School Kendell Public School Kinchela Public School Krambach Public School Kurrambee School Laguna Public School Lake Cathue Public School Lansdowne Public School Laurieton Public School Lisarow High School Lisarow Public School Long Flat Public School Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre MacDonald Valley Public School Manning Gardens Public School Medlow Public School Megalong Valley Public School Melville High School Millers Forrest Public School Mitchells Island Public School Moorland Public School Mount George Public School Mount Kanwary Public School Nabiac Public School Nambucca Heads High School Narara Valley High School North Haven Public School Old Bar Public School Orama Public School Pacific Palms Public School Penrith Valley Learning Centre Pitt Town Public School Port Macquarie Public School Rolland Plains Upper Public School South West Rocks Public School Smithtown Public School Taree High School Taree Public School Taree West Public School Telegraph Point Public School Tinonee Public School The Pocket Public School Upper Lansdown Public School Wauchope High School Westport Public School Willawarrin Public School Windsor High School Wingham Brush Public School Wingham High School Wingham Public School Wooli Public School Wyong Creek Public School Source: Department of Education New South Wales Advertisement

Much of the Sydney metropolitan area copped a 110mm soaking in the space of 24 hours on Sunday.

Dozens of schools have been closed, employees urged to work from home and an additional 4,000 homes could be evacuated on Sunday night.

All schools in the Kempsey area on the NSW mid-north coast will be closed on Monday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian held an emergency conference on Sunday to beg residents to play it safe and reiterate how 'serious and severe this weather is'.

She said the NSW mid-north coast, which was worst hit on Saturday and overnight, is enduring a once-in-a-century storm, while regions in western Sydney haven't seen rainfall this severe in 50 years.

'We were hoping it would only be a one in 20-year event. It looks like it will actually be a one in 50-year event,' Ms Berejiklian said of conditions in the Hawkesbury Valley 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

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

Roads have been closed due to flooding, making it dangerous for people to travel to work or take their kids to school. Pictured is North Richmond Bridge

Cars are seen driving through floodwater in Richmond, NSW, Sunday, March 21

Heavy rainfall also arrived in Byron Bay on Sunday afternoon, washing away roads and wreaking havoc on the coastal town

Emergency services have now identified the Hawkesbury Valley and western Sydney as the highest risk zones in the coming days. Ms Berejiklian anticipated 4,000 homes in the region could be evacuated.

On Sunday, the Department of Education announced 137 public schools would close on Monday due to localised flooding. Parents with children at Catholic or private schools will be notified separately if their campus had been impacted.

'It's the sustained rainfall, the fact that weather event has settled in, it's not moving,' she said.

'We cannot underestimate the ferocity of these weather conditions. We have gone from extreme bushfire to extreme flood.'

Employees were encouraged to work from home in an attempt to curb any unnecessary road travel and avoid an 'inevitable fatality'.

State Premier Gladys Berejiklian held an emergency conference on Sunday to beg residents to play it safe and reiterate how 'serious and severe this weather is'

Residents watch as floodwaters rise on Sunday amid warnings the situation could get worse

A car is left stuck in raging floodwater at the Audley Weir in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

Heavy rain and flooding has triggered evacuations on the New South Wales mid coast with over 120mm rain expected for Sydney

What makes this a 'once-in-50-year' flood? Gladys Berejiklian spoke in her Sunday press conference about how unprecedented the weather conditions around New South Wales are right now. Some regions are experiencing 'once-in-a-century' floods, while others, like western Sydney and the Hawkesbury Valley, haven't seen anything of this magnitude in at least 50 years. BoM flood operations manager Justin Robinson said residents are experiencing what will likely be 'one of the biggest floods we will see for a very long time'. 'Just to give you some context around that, it is bigger than the February 2020 flood. It is bigger than the 1988 flood. It is bigger than the 1990 flood and is bigger than the 1964 flood,' he said. Ms Berejiklian said there are multiple defining factors which helped forecasters reach that conclusion beyond just the amount of rainfall. The sustained length of the showers, for example, is unprecedented. 'This is different. What we're going through now is different to what you've been through for the last 50 years, so please take it seriously,' she said. Advertisement

David Elliott, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, detailed 74 flood rescues which took place overnight - including many in which people had 'unnecessarily' put themselves in danger.

'Motorists need to know that, statistically, we're moving inevitably closer to a fatality,' he said.

'This is the wrong time of year to be taking risks... With the damage that's been done across the road network a fatality is getting more and more likely.'

In total, emergency services have responded to 6,700 calls since Friday and rescued 670 people.

Footage shared to the NSW Rural Fire Service Twitter page showed a person being rescued from their home in Taree - which was entirely surrounded by water - by helicopter.

Mr Elliott acknowledged weather conditions in NSW have swung from one extreme to the next in the last 18 months.

'It's just a reality of living in Australia,' he said.

David Elliott, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, detailed 74 flood rescues which took place overnight - including many in which people had 'unnecessarily' put themselves in danger

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

The federal and state governments on Sunday morning announced 16 national disaster declarations from Coffs Harbour and Grafton areas in northern NSW into the west to Cessnock and Dungog, and to the Central Coast.

The regions include 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.

Queensland, South Australia and Victoria have all deployed resources to New South Wales to help crews already on the ground.

Ms Berejiklian said authorities were not expecting conditions to deteriorate further along the mid-north coast, but residents were warned the rain has set in for at least the next five days.

There are also concerns about a weather event moving southeast from the Northern Territory.

This entire street near the Paterson river in Hinton, in the NSW Hunter region, is underwater

Port Macquarie is now almost underwater as the Mid North Coast town is lashed with torrential rain

The Bureau of Meteorology described the weather situation as 'volatile, dangerous and dynamic'

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

Forecasters predict it will hit western parts of NSW by Monday and Tuesday, potentially wreaking havoc on the regions and intensifying current conditions.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said it was likely the Hawkesbury River at Richmond could overflow after it 'ticked over to the major flood levels'.

He warned residents from Wollongong all the way to the Queensland border could be at risk.

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.'

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.

Houses are destroyed after flooding following heavy rainfall in Tinonee, New South Wales

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

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.

Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago as parts of the town have flooded (pictured)

After three days of heavy rain, the Parramatta River (pictured) spilled over on Saturday

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 SES 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.

Emergency crews kept working through the night, having already made more than 500 floodwater rescues. Pictured: Taree in NSW

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)

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
Gail Fisher, author of The Thinking Dog and a dog behavior consultant, runs All Dogs Gym & Inn in Manchester. To suggest a topic for this column, which appears every other Sunday, email gail@alldogsgym.com or write c/o All Dogs Gym, 505 Sheffield Road, Manchester, NH 03103. Past columns are on her website.
Chinese officials dismissed 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."
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The government is constantly assessing the situation and will take appropriate decisions as needed, he said. (Photo: Twitter @EATALAOffice)

Hyderabad: The government is keeping a close watch on the sporadic cases of Covid-19 among school-going children in the state, said health minister Eatala Rajender.

But there is no cause for worry as children of the school-going age group are not impacted by the disease as much as people who are old and those with comorbid conditions, Rajender said while speaking to the media at Veenavanka on Sunday.

The disease is not severe in children, he said, adding, even in the sporadic cases we have seen so far, students have been asymptomatic. We have given them Covid-19 kits and advised isolation at home.

He said it is absolutely vital that people follow Covid-19 safety precautions as the state is witnessing a rise in Coronavirus cases. The government is constantly assessing the situation and will take appropriate decisions as needed, he said.

While the situation in Telangana state is not as severe as in Maharashtra, the government continues to be on alert and is taking all necessary steps to contain the spread of the disease, whether it is through testing, tracing of contacts of people testing positive, or by providing treatment to Covid-19 patients.

People have to cooperate. They should wear face masks properly, maintain physical distance and wash hands frequently. Please follow safety measures, he added.
NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott has blamed his cabinet colleague, Water Minister Melinda Pavey, for failing to mitigate Warragamba Dam spilling as western Sydney faces evacuations.

A dispute between the ministers which has been ongoing for a year has intensified as the heaviest rain since 1961 batters the Nepean and Hawkesbury catchment and Sydneys main dam spills over.

David Elliott has blamed his cabinet colleague, Melinda Pavey, for failing to mitigate the Warragamba Dam spilling. Credit:Steven Siewert, Nine News, Janie Barrett

Mr Elliott said he had been on the public record in his role as the MP for Baulkham Hills about the need to release water from the dam in preparation for the La Nina weather event.

He said on Sunday said there would need to be a full and frank discussion about managing dam levels once the severe weather event was over. Ms Pavey said the significant rainfall caused the spill.
Jaipur, March 21 : Amid apprehension of a second wave of coronavirus, the Rajasthan government on Sunday announced to impose night curfew in eight districts and also made negative RT-PCR report mandatory for visitors travelling to the state from across the country.

The night curfew will be clamped from Monday between 11pm and 5am in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwara, Kushalgarh and Jaipur. However, all the emergency services are exempted from the curbs.

The decision was taken in a meeting by a Corona Core Group committee on Sunday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. In an effort to curb the the spread of Covid-19, orders were also issued to close the markets across all the cities of the state from 10 pm.

On the other hand, the RT-PCR negative report should not be more than 72 hours old for those travelling to Rajasthan from March 25. Earlier, visitors from Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh were mandated to carry the negative Covid report along with them.

However, passengers coming to Rajasthan without negative report will have to stay quarantined for 15 days.

Besides, places with over five positive cases will be converted to mini containment zones.

Primary schools will remain closed until further orders. Above 50 per cent of students will not be allowed to attend classes and colleges.

Screening and random testing will be made mandatory in these institutes. Children will be able to come to school only after their parents' consent.

Wedding and funeral ceremony guests will be restricted to 20. The obligation of the night curfew will however be not applied to factories.
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."
Germany's largest travel group resumed flights from Germany to the Spanish island of Mallorca on Sunday, after a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

TUI's first plane took off from the northern German city of Hannover at 10:20 a.m. (0920 GMT), with others departing from Dusseldorf and Stuttgart.

The company recently reported a significant increase in booking requests, and laid on extra flights in response, after Germany's disease control center removed parts of Spain  including the Balearic Islands  from its list of "risk areas."

That means people no longer have to enter quarantine upon returning to Germany.

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz recently warned Germans not to fly over Easter, saying that could jeopardize people's summer holiday plans.

The resumption of Spanish holidays has also come under fire from the domestic tourism industry, as most German hotels remain shut.

Many on the North Sea coast were hoping for a jump in visitors over Easter, after a long period of closure.

Beate Matzat, a holidaymaker who ended up heading to Mallorca on Sunday, said she would have preferred to stay in the country.

"I would also have liked to vacation in Germany," she said.

"We would have followed all the precautions, as we did in the fall. That all went wonderfully at the time."

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Dr Mohamed Abdullatif Khalifa Al Shehhi, General Manager  Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department (RAK HR), and Saji Oommen, Chief Information Officer, RAK Ceramics have won CXO 50 Awards, celebrating the Middle Easts leading technology innovators.

RAK HR, in conjunction with the RAK Electronic Government Authority (RAK EGA) digitally transformed employee experiences on SAP SuccessFactors, with 3,100 employees on the platform set to reach 5,700 employees by completion.

RAK Ceramics, one of the largest ceramics brands in the world, with eBorn Consulting, digitally transformed operations with SAP S/4HANA, with 1,800 users across the Mena region. -- Tradearabia News Service
China Stays Positive on Anchorage Summit

March 20 , 2021 (EIRNS)What the discussions will be as Politburo member and senior diplomat Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi return to Beijing is difficult to assess. But the behavior of the U.S. delegation in effectively ambushing the Chinese delegates in their opening remarks, as Minister Wang himself indicated, will no doubt have a lasting impact on the Chinese view of the Biden administration. Nonetheless, in the very short press statement given by the two Chinese diplomats after the closed meetings, the mood was rather positive. Yang said that the meeting had been candid, constructive, and beneficial, although there were many differences, while again stating that success in moving the relationship forward depended on treating China with the respect and dignity that it deserved. Several media quoted Chinese academics expressing their pride that Yang and Wang stood up to the U.S. effort at intimidation.

CCTV reported the following: The two sides agreed to maintain dialogue and contacts, advance bilateral cooperation, avoid conflicts and confrontation, and promote healthy and stable development of relations between China and the United States.

On climate change, the Chinese delegation issued a statement: The two parties are fully committed to boosting the dialogue and cooperation in the fight against climate change, the parties will create a joint U.S.-Chinese working group on climate change.

The two parties have agreed to maintain dialogue and contacts, develop the mutually beneficial cooperation, prevent misunderstanding and mistaken statements, avoid conflicts and confrontation, as well as promote the healthy and stable development of the Chinese-U.S. relations, the statement stressed, adding that the countries expressed hope to continue the high-level strategic dialogue.

The Chinese delegation also called on the United States to respect international law and norms of international relations by refraining from interference in the affairs of Hong Kong, and to lift the sanctions linked to Hong Kong, which are illegal from the Chinese point of view. If the United States continues its policy, China will make a decisive response, the document reads.

According to the Chinese delegation, the previous U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump carried out a mistaken anti-Chinese policy that had a negative impact on bilateral relations. China was forced to take relevant and necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, and development interests, the delegation said. Beijing expressed readiness to boost the bilateral contacts and further develop bilateral cooperation.

A number of things, however, have been settled in the meeting. In addition to setting up a Sino-U.S. joint working group on climate change, the two sides discussed reciprocal arrangements for vaccination against COVID, and they will discuss issues related to facilitating the activities of each others diplomatic and consular institutions and personnel as well as media and reporters in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Although there were no decisions announced, this refers to the reciprocal restraints imposed on diplomats and reporters, as well as the outrageous closing of the Chinese Consulate in Houston. They also discussed adjusting relevant travel and visa policies according to the epidemic situation and improving the normalization of personnel exchanges between China and the United States.

Other issues dealt with included economy and trade, the relations between the two militaries, law enforcement, the humanities, health, cyber security, Iranian nuclear, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar. It is also reported that Yang Jiechi brought up the possibility of cooperation in space research.
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Leanne, a nurse, sits next to me in the ICU. She says into the phone, Now, Johnny, you be good for Nana. Were only halfway through another 12-hour shift, and she wont be home until after her 5-year-old son is ready for bed.

Such calls to palliate separation have long been part of the fabric of health care families lives. But the pandemic has magnified the frequency and pain of these absences.

Much has been written about the arduous, high-risk labors of health care workers like Leanne and myself, a critical care physician, as we care for patients suffering from COVID-19. Not enough has been reported about the hidden hardships and heartaches of our families at home, whose teamwork enables our more celebrated efforts in the hospital.

Growing up, I learned early on that medical families did a lot of waiting. Every night, we would eagerly await my fathers return from the hospital because we missed him, and because we were missing our dinner. After sharing the meal and the news of the day, Dad would remind us that other families waited longer and more desperately, especially neighbors whose family career was fishing.

He would illustrate with a story like this one, about a patient of his named Paula. As hed entered the exam room where she waited, eyes scanning out the window, shed startled. The wind is up, she said. Toms out there. A storm was coming, and she hurried home to check the short-wave radio.

My fathers office was snug in downtown Gloucester, Mass. miles from the merciless swells of November, but the fishing life took a silent toll on those at home, waiting and worrying over the horizon and what it meant for their loved ones.

Nowadays, as we physicians, nurses, and other staffers go down to the COVID-19 seas in shifts, as we drive toward the coughing, our medical families wait and worry  and work  without the recognition they deserve.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 tsunami flooded our lives and those schedules. One year later, the surges of patients, the ceaseless shifts and the separation from family have yet to fully ebb.

At home, its not just the waiting, its the worry. And the worries in health care, like those of the waterfront, are rarely discussed on either end of the voyage.

To me, as a medical student leaving our New York apartment to care for patients with AIDS in the 1980s, or as a staff intensivist shipping out to take the first overnight shift in our Boston hospitals Ebola biocontainment unit, my wife rarely voiced her fears for my safety and for the very real risk of my hauling home a highly contagious, barely treatable virus.

Ditto this past March. On learning that our hospitals first COVID-19 patient had been admitted to my medical ICU team, she gave me a hug, and a shrug of silent stoicism.

I dont often break the spell of silence either. Perhaps a fortifying dose of denial fends off an otherwise incapacitating fear of joining the thousands who have died in the line of duty. And we can spare precious little time on the wait and the worry.

But I want to acknowledge, resoundingly, that most days homefront heroes like my wife and Leannes Nana work longer and harder than we do in the hospital  only with far less acknowledgment. In the ICU, I have heard endless variations on Now be good for Nana, from a physician mother, a nurse father, or a staff couple on the same shift. For those of us who live solo, it might be a sister in a far-off city awaiting a reassuring, post-shift smile on FaceTime.

To the worry, the waiting and the work, add the weariness. We sometime-celebrity COVID-19 combatants slosh our way home, arriving exhausted, mentally and spiritually. Our long-suffering partners are entitled to a little recreation  a game of Scrabble, the trading of stories, a line dance  but we returnees often succumb to the overwhelming urge to simply slouch, sip, sup and sleep.

Dozing face down in the fettuccini, we offer little worthy companionship or diversion. Nor are we forthcoming about our viral odyssey, so relieved to have shucked off its every remnant  hopefully  and every reminder.

One more reason you hear little about the sacrifices and stresses of medical families: explaining the tribulations feels like complaining. Exulting about a triumph would feel like boasting. So, often we keep it to ourselves. Stories of sacrifice, even when tinged with pride, dont always come easily.

On the waterfront in Gloucester, a solo Man at the Wheel, made of bronze and clad in oilskins, the PPE of a former era, has exemplified the rigors and risks of life at sea for nearly a century. More recently, the stalwart spouses of current-day fisherman erected a fitting testament to those doing double duty at home: a family, standing twelve feet tall, facing the sea with faith, diligence, and fortitude, and steadfastly defying the wind.

Meanwhile, the winds of COVID-19 are still up. Amid them, our families are the unrecognized health care heroes of this era.

Shoulder to shoulder with us in this struggle, never afforded a refreshing thank you from a patient, the cheers of a neighborhood or city block , or a Super Bowl trip, they deserve not just fleeting gratitude, but deep, abiding admiration.

Walter J. ODonnell is a pulmonary and critical care physician. This article originally appeared in WBURs Cognoscenti.

Image credit: Walter J. ODonnell
(Newser)  Six dead lions were found in a renowned African wildlife park and officials say there are clues it was foul play. Per NPR, the Uganda Wildlife Authority said in a statement that the animals were discovered Friday in Queen Elizabeth National Park with their body parts missing and dead scavengers scattered around them. The presence of those scavengers, including vultures, "points to possible poisoning of the lions," the statement said. So who's the culprit? Officials don't know for sure but say they have a hunch. "Given that some of the body parts of the lions are missing, we cannot rule out illegal wildlife trafficking," the wildlife authority's communications manager Bashir Hangi said in the statement.

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As the statement notes, the development is a blow to both the ecosystem and the country's economy. Foreign tourism dollars account for 10 percent of the country's GDP, or roughly $1.6 billion USD. That money supports local economies in the vicinity of the nearly 500,000 acre park, which is also home to hippos, chimps, elephants, and other fauna. Per BBC, this is not the first time lions at Queen Elizabeth, which are known for their unique ability to climb trees, have been found killed. Eleven lions, eight of them cubs, were found dead at the park of suspected poisoning in 2018. Authorities say an investigation on the recent case is ongoing. (Read more lion stories.)
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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When the police knocked on Brazilian influencer Felipe Neto's door to tell him he was being investigated for threatening national security, he says his heart skipped a beat.

His crime, it turned out, was accusing far-right President Jair Bolsonaro of "genocide" for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has left over 290,000 people dead in Brazil.

Neto is not alone.

Brazilian police are also investigating former cabinet minister Ciro Gomes for calling Bolsonaro a "thief" over corruption allegations, sociologist Tiago Costa Rodrigues for calling him a "liar," and even, according to news site Brasil 247, an otherwise unknown citizen named Roger Orsi who shared an anti-Bolsonaro meme on Facebook.

Other critics of the president complain of less-official backlash, in the form of "online militias" of Bolsonaro supporters who launch coordinated attacks and smear campaigns against his perceived opponents on social media.

Lawyers and human-rights activists warn Brazil is seeing a surge in legal and extra-legal moves to stifle dissent against Bolsonaro, in some cases with legislation and tactics dating back to the country's 1964-1985 military dictatorship -- for which the president is openly nostalgic.

"The president, his family, his administration and his followers... are blatantly promoting an intimidation campaign against his political opponents, as if free thought and free speech did not exist in this country," newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo said in an editorial Saturday.

- 'Bolsonaro genocida' -

Neto, a 33-year-old YouTube star, rose to international prominence last year with an opinion video for the New York Times in which he called Bolsonaro the world's worst president.

In his latest jab, he called Bolsonaro "genocidal," in reference to the president's attacks on lockdowns, face masks, vaccines and other expert advice for containing Covid-19 deaths.

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That led Bolsonaro's son Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro city councilman, to ask police to open an investigation against Neto.

"How would he like me to refer to the president, who called the biggest pandemic we've seen in years a 'little flu,' who encourages crowds and tells people to go out like there's nothing happening?" said Neto.

Support for the influencer soon poured in on social media and beyond, making the phrase "Bolsonaro genocida" a top trending topic in Brazil.

A judge blocked the investigation, ruling it was legally baseless.

Neto then announced he was setting up a legal fund to help other Bolsonaro critics defend themselves against similar accusations.

Journalists, artists and scientists have also complained of coordinated attacks by Bolsonaro backers online.

The hate campaigns sometimes spill from the virtual world into real life.

Cardiologist Ludhmila Hajjar, whom Bolsonaro recently interviewed to be his next health minister, received death threats for supporting stay-at-home measures and questioning the use of drugs such as hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19 despite studies finding them ineffective.

When she met Bolsonaro -- himself a one-time user and heavy backer of hydroxychloroquine -- in Brasilia, unknown individuals tried to invade her hotel.

She said she ultimately turned down the health minister job, citing "differences" with the president.

- National Security Law -

The investigation against Neto was based on Brazil's dictatorship-era National Security Law.

It is increasingly being used to "stifle dissident opinions," said Thiago Amparo, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.

Others are being investigated for "crimes against the president's honor."

They include Gomes, the former cabinet minister.

"I don't care about the action against me, but I think Bolsonaro's attempt to intimidate opposition figures and adversaries is serious cause for concern," he told Estado de Sao Paulo.

"Bolsonaro is the kind of leader who undermines democracy from within," said Ilona Szabo, the head of the Igarape Institute, a security and development think tank.

"There has been a major democratic erosion" since he took office in 2019, she told AFP.

"He's the classic populist, authoritarian leader. He accepts no dissent. Either you're 100-percent loyal, or you're the enemy."

Szabo herself fled Brazil after receiving threats for opposing Bolsonaro's gun-friendly security policies.

Some other public intellectuals have done the same, including anthropologist Debora Diniz, who was threatened after calling to legalize abortion, and former congressman Jean Wyllys, a gay-rights activist who was accused of pedophilia in a fake-news campaign.

mel/jhb/jm
New Delhi, March 21 : A new controversy has erupted featuring former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh with Mumbai Police inspector, Anup S. Dange seeking an inquiry into his connections with "dubious characters" Jitendra Navlani and Bharat Shah who are having underworld links.

In a letter to Maharashtra's Additional Chief Secretary, Home, in February, Dange said that on November 22, 2019, Jeetu Navlani threatened him when the Inspector was trying to get the pubs closed on time in Breach Candy area.

Navlani, the owner of Dirty Buns Sobo club, tried to pressurise the inspector by claiming close links with Param Bir Singh, who was then DG, Anti Corruption.

On the same night, incidentally in the same vicinity, Yash Rajiv Mehta, grandson of film and diamond financier Bharat Shah, assaulted a police constable. Dange registered a FIR in the matter.

After taking over as Mumbai Police Commissioner in February 2020, Singh ordered no charge sheet be filed in the Navlani case.

Dange has said in the complaint that Singh allegedly met Navlani at a private flat in first floor of Moti Mahal building opposite the Marine Drive police station. Navlani also acted as liaison for Bharat Shah. The flat is rented by Shardul Singh Bayas.

Dange said Navlani wanted his name out of the charge sheet and also that Dange be taught a lesson. Bayas, who claims to be Singh's cousin, asked Dange for Rs 50 lakh to avoid a punishment posting.

In July 2020, Dange was suspended and Bayas asked for Rs 2 crore for reinstatement. Dange, through his own inquiries, found that Singh allegedly has deep connections with Navlani.

Dange, in his complaint, has said that Singh and Navlani have deep-rooted connections with Wadhwa Brothers @Dewan Brothers who have been arrested by the ED in a money laundering case involving underworld don Iqbal Mirchi.

Navlani also allegedly acts as a conduit between high ranking police officers and businessman for underhand dealings.

Dange said Singh hatched a conspiracy to shield Navlani, Bharat Shah, and Yash Rajiv Mehta from legal punishment.
A woman in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, who tried to commit suicide on her birthday, said she would return as a man in her next life.

The woman, Dorothy Edet, was found unconscious in her apartment in Uyo on Sunday morning after taking some poisonous substances, apparently, according to multiple posts on Facebook from people familiar with the incident.

Rescuers, prompted by her suicide note which she posted on Facebook, broke her door, rushed her to the hospital where she was revived.

Her sister confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday morning, that Ms Edet was fine.

Friends and sympathisers have taken to Facebook to mobilise support, including financial support, for the woman, who appeared to have been battling depression before the suicide attempt.

Ms Edet has been a volunteer on sexual assault, according to her Facebook page. I am a leader that is empathetic, compassionate, understanding, selfless and open-minded, she said of herself, on the social media site.

Her suicide note, written in the form of a poem, revealed the turbulent she has been going through.

ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!! She wrote.

Sweet, sweet, suicide

Will you visit me tonight/

Tired of feeling suicidal when my aspirations are stifled

Fighting back tears while smiling from ear to ear

I know God wont help

Hes good

I need to believe in myself

I would

But every time I try

Dark forces pull me behind

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My unfulfilled dreams haunt me incessantly

They depend on me to thrive.

Its My BIRTHDAY Anyways.

But I have to Go.

Tired of All this headaches and Pains.

Smiling outside while bleeding inside.

Saying Im Okay when Im Not.

I will return as a Man

To fight for women and young girls

I will not spare any RAPIST

Ill be a Judge with a difference.

Ill speak for the voiceless.

And Bless the Poor.

My second coming will be AMAZING.

LET ME REST!!!

Ms Edet, in the suicide note, wrote on how she would love to fight for womens rights, be hard on rapists, and be a voice for the voiceless.

It is unclear, for now, if she has been a victim of gender violence.

Her note, however, mirrors the challenges some young women in Nigeria go through and their feelings of helplessness.
(Reuters) - Cathie Wood's Ark Invest said it expects Inc's share price to reach the $3,000 mark by 2025.

Ark expects Tesla's market capitalization to reach as high as $4 trillion in the best-case scenario, according to a research note published https://ark-invest.com/articles/analyst-research/tesla-price-target-2/?utm_content=158811501&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-2398137084 on Friday.

The investment management firm set the price target for at $1,500 per share on a bear basis by 2025 and $4,000 per share on a bull basis.

Last year, Ark Invest said it expected the company's stock to hit $7,000 per share, or $1,400 when adjusted for its five-for-one stock split, by 2024.

From last year, when Ark published its previous note on Jan. 31, 2020, Tesla's stock rose as much as 400% to $654.87 as of Friday's close.

Ark Invest also increased the probability of the electric car maker achieving fully autonomous driving within five years, and said the company's net autonomous ride-hail revenue could be as much as $327 billion by 2025. It expects Tesla's electric vehicle revenue to reach between $234 billion and $367 billion by 2025.

is the largest holding of the high-flying $26.6 billion ARK Innovation exchange-traded fund and fund operator Wood, Ark's chief executive, has been a longtime Tesla bull.

(Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

(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.)
Despite five years of declining sales abroad, Russia remains the worlds second-largest arms exporter after the United States, as per the latest data on international arms transfers compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent research institute that tracks global military expenditures. As Caspian News writes, according to the report published on Monday, the top five arms exporters  the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China  together accounted for 76% of the total volume of global arms exports over the last five years.

The report explained in detail the ups and downs in the volume of international transfers of major arms during those years. Although arms exports by Russia, which accounted for 20% of all exports of major arms in 20162020, dropped by 22%, international transfers of major arms stayed at the same level comparing to the period from 2011-2015, mainly due to the increases in transfers by three of the top five arms exporters namely the US, France and Germany.

The research explained that the bulk, around 90%, of Russias arms exports decrease was attributable to a 53% fall in its arms exports to India, one of the largest and oldest buyers of Russian defense equipment.

"Russia substantially increased its arms transfers to China, Algeria and Egypt between 201115 and 201620, but this did not offset the large drop in its arms exports to India," said Alexandra Quinoa, Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Program.

With military cooperation dating back to the Soviet era, the Soviet Union was Indias main supplier during the cold war, and today most of its armament is Russian, or Soviet, made. According to estimates, Russian defense supplies to India have accounted for over $65 billion since 1960. About 70% of the Indian Air Forces equipment and 80% of its naval fleet are Russian-made.

Meanwhile, Moscow has managed to strengthen its ties with Africa and become the biggest arms supplier on the continent. Russia accounts for 30% of total arms imports by countries in sub-Saharan Africa over the period from 20162020, according to the SIPRI report.

In 2017, Washington adopted the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which calls for sanctions on any country engaged in what the US Treasury Department terms a "significant transaction" with Russian defense and intelligence sectors.

"Although Russia has recently signed new large arms deals with several states and its exports will probably gradually increase again in the coming years, it faces strong competition from the USA in most regions," Quinoa added.

According to the Swedish think-tank, the United States remains the largest arms exporter in the world. Between 2016 and 2020, the US accounted for 37% of the trade in major conventional weaponry, showing a 5% increase from the prior five-year period.

While the major clients of the US were Saudi Arabia, Australia and the UAE during that period, Russia's main customers included India, China and Algeria.

Russias military strength was ranked 2 out of 140 countries according to Global Firepowers 2021 rankings, making it the second strongest military power in the world and the strongest in the Caspian region.
The grotesque behaviour of EU governments and leaders over the Oxford vaccine has gone beyond all limits of reason and civilised action.

First, they attacked its usefulness. Then they cast doubts on its safety. Now they seek to grab hold of supplies, and so slow down its distribution in one of the few countries that has welcomed and used it widely and effectively.

The worryingly erratic EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has previously tried and failed to block British imports of the vaccine by improper use of the UK-Irish border. She now seeks to use European machinery to grab control of vaccine production and distribution at source.

While independent Britain, moving at its own fastest speed, did superbly, the EU, like a limping convoy, lurches on at the pace of the slowest

She has suggested near- Communist methods, seizing factories, banning exports and over-riding patents. And all this goes on while more than seven million doses of the Oxford jab lie unused in European storehouses, thanks mainly to stupid scare stories.

This behaviour makes a dog in the manger appear reasonable and logical. It looks even more nonsensical as the European continent appears to be suffering a third wave of Covid, an outbreak which would certainly be less harmful, and might have been avoided altogether, if the nations of the European Superstate had acted wisely in concert to vaccinate as widely as possible, starting with the most vulnerable.

As it is, the EU nations low immunisation rates make the risk far greater and fears of where this might lead have triggered a severe new lockdown in France. More will probably follow.

For weeks, various European presidential palaces and chancelleries have emitted ridiculous statements about the AstraZeneca Covid inoculation, developed in the UK. Frances President Emmanuel Macron pronounced  on the basis of nothing  that it was almost ineffective in the over-65s. Now his country suffers the consequences of low take-up. Regulators in Germany and Italy made similar absurd suggestions.

These claims were eventually withdrawn for the good reason that they had no substance. But now the AZ immunisation is under attack for an alleged, and tenuous, link with blood clotting. Regulators in four Nordic countries last week suspended approval of the Oxford jab, despite the green light given to the vaccine by their own European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organisation.

Precisely because we are independent, Britain will cope with anything they can throw at us. If our supplies are blocked we will surely make our own extra vaccines to fill the gap. By behaving in this way they merely do more damage to themselves

Such pronouncements by powerful and responsible people do permanent damage. The public, in some cases already fearful or at least nervous of vaccinations thanks to past controversies or crank-run internet campaigns, are gravely worried by them.

A lie or an error, or a stupid public statement, can be all the way round the worldwide web before the truth has booted up its computer. Continental leaders may just be pandering to the fears of their own voters. But the effects of their pandering spread far wider, and reach these shores too.

The Mail on Sundays Health team this week report a worrying development in this country where up till now the vaccine has been overwhelmingly welcomed.

Worried citizens ask at vaccination clinics for the Pfizer jab and, if told they cannot have it, walk away. Others simply cancel or do not make appointments in the first place.

This is tragic for those involved who may fall ill later on, because a jab would have saved them. It is also tragic for the Health Service, which may be forced to treat them when they could have avoided being ill, so needlessly using scarce resources.

And it is tragic for the whole country, as our progress towards liberation from lockdowns and regimentation is slowed and perhaps halted. Careless talk costs lives, and damages our freedom.

The pronouncements of powerful leaders and major agencies can affect the minds of ordinary citizens, especially in communities where suspicion of vaccines is common. People still trust governments to a surprising extent. In moments of uncertainty or fear, the words of those in authority can have a surprising and lasting effect.

Why on earth has this happened? Why does a politician who failed in her own nation, as Frau von der Leyen did, have any influence over events in this country at all?

First, let us record the UKs astonishing achievement, so huge and so smoothly managed that it is too easy to forget its magnitude and quality. Our scientists developed, in Oxford, a vaccine that is easily stored and transported and has proved straightforward to manufacture in giant quantities.

Our Government, by appointing the right people  especially Kate Bingham  and giving them freedom to act, secured the contracts for supply. These have enabled the NHS to ensure uninterrupted availability to million upon million.

As a result, the great majority of those most in danger have had their first immunisations and will soon be getting their second jabs. By mid-February those aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers and people required to shield  had all been offered immunisation.

As these groups account for nearly 90 per cent of Covid deaths, this greatly reduces the danger from a recurrence of the virus.

By contrast, vaccination levels across the EU are pitifully low, and the supposed enormous buying and negotiating powers of the bloc have not on this occasion helped it to secure supplies. While independent Britain, moving at its own fastest speed, did superbly, the EU, like a limping convoy, lurches on at the pace of the slowest.

The whole episode has shown that the claims made by supporters of the EU  that it is a superior form of government to the old-fashioned nation state  are simply not true.

When the stakes were really high, it failed not just as an organisation but as the protector of its citizens, badly let down at a moment of peril.

Why on earth has this happened? Why does a politician who failed in her own nation, as Frau von der Leyen did, have any influence over events in this country at all?

What we now see is a shameful outbreak of jealousy, spite and resentment, at a time when adult statesmanship has never been more badly needed.

The EU elite is seething that one of its most important members successfully chose the open sea instead of being confined for ever inside its maze of regulation and interference.

It finds it almost impossible to bear the fact that, in the very first test of independence versus Brussels rule, Britain disproved all the arguments and scare stories used to try to frighten us into voting to remain.

Now, forced into a new round of lockdowns and travel bans by their own failings, they seem much keener to obstruct our success than to correct their mistakes.

Precisely because we are independent, Britain will cope with anything they can throw at us. If our supplies are blocked we will surely make our own extra vaccines to fill the gap. By behaving in this way they merely do more damage to themselves.

Let this be the end of the EUs spiteful foolishness and resentment. It hurts them far more than it hurts us, and it does no possible good to anyone.

Brexit has happened, and it works. Let us now co-operate together as friends for the common good.
An Italian man claimed to have dropped off at the wheel when he slammed into utility poles, leading to over 100 households suffering a blackout, in Ho Chi Minh City on the weekend.

Police have prepared files to deal with an accident where an Italian man crashed his seven-seater car into and broke five electric power poles in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City on Saturday, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday.

The driver is 37 years old, owns a company in Thao Dien, and has lived in Vietnam for several years, the source said.

The Italian man said overwork had exhausted him so he fell asleep at the wheel before causing the crash.

He expressed his willingness to pay for the damages, to be calculated by a state electricity company.

The driver will also be subject to an administrative penalty.

Were waiting for calculations from the electricity company before preceeding with the case, the source said.

At 4:00 am on Saturday, the Italian was driving on Nguyen U Di Street in Thao Dien when he veered off course and hit a utility pole on the sidewalk, breaking it, according to police reports.

His car continued slamming into four other electric power poles, grounding all of them, before coming to a halt.

One hundred and twenty-two households then suffered an ensuing power cut.

The car was badly damaged after the crash but the driver sustained minor injuries and managed to get out of the vehicle safe and sound.

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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.
Kolkata: Veteran TMC MP Sisir Adhikari on Sunday (March 21) joined BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Egra rally in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.

He is the father of BJP's prominent face in the state Suvendu Adhikari, who quit TMC months ago and is set to contest election from Nandigram seat against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Sisir Adhikari wields considerable influence in Bengal's Purba Medinipur district. A long-time associate of the TMC had risen through the ranks in the party, but his relationship with the party grew sour of late, especially after his son joined the BJP.

He had earlier mentioned that he was unhappy with the treatment meted out to him and his sons.

"The way our family was driven out (of TMC) will be forever written in history. We will rise against all political attacks and atrocities in Bengal," Sisir Adhikari was quoted as saying by PTI.

"We will work under Modiji and Amit Shahji," the Lok Sabha MP added.

He also chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

The senior Adhikari has also claimed that his son Suvendu will easily win the contest against Banerjee in Nandigram.

"Suvendu will win the elections by a huge margin. TMC will be wiped out of East Midnapore," he said.

The assembly elections will be held in eight phases starting from March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

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Female fear is hardening into noisy, righteous anger. In the UK last week, the din broke through to the corridors of power. Fear is passive. It takes anger, apparently, to be heard.

Women want to walk the streets after dark without feeling hunted. They want to move through their lives, at work, at home, in the pub, without facing intimidation and harassment.

The murder of Sarah Everard in London released a pressure valve and, now, the UK government has announced new measures as a response to a groundswell of female rage. A budget has been set aside for better lighting and CCTV, as well as a pilot scheme for plain-clothed police officers in pubs.

Will surveillance and street lamps improve the lives of women most at risk of violence? I doubt it. The unthinkably brutal fate that met Sarah Everard is, blessedly, extremely rare. We don't know enough details of the case yet to judge, but it seems unlikely lighting or CCTV would have made her safer. As for the other end of the spectrum of threat, the daily assaults of flashers, gropers and lurkers that all women are all too familiar with, well, perhaps it might help.

But harassment and intimidation thrive even in the light - a quick look at Twitter will show you that.

In any case, most of the real violence against women doesn't happen on the streets. It happens in suburban living rooms and bedrooms. It happens in student halls and in the homes of family friends.

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#WeAreAllSarahEverard

was the social media hashtag that started circulating shortly after it was announced that the 33-year-old from York had likely been abducted and murdered. We're not though. Not really. The unthinkably tragic circumstances of her death are the worst-case scenario lodged in the mind of every woman walking home after dark, of course. But often the things that we fear the most - the abductions and murders, the airplane crashes - are the dangers we are least likely to actually encounter.

This is what the criminologist Marian Fitzgerald of the University of Kent was alluding to when she spoke on BBC Radio last week. In a much- derided attempt to quantify the risks women face on the streets, she used excruciatingly tone-deaf language to make the point, telling women they shouldn't "pander to stereotypes or get hysterical" as a result of the case. She might as well have said "calm down, dears". After all, hasn't the accusation of "hysteria" always been levied in order to discredit female accounts of their own experience? After that, unsurprisingly, almost nothing of what she was trying to say could be heard.

The data, though, is on her side. On the streets, men are more likely to be the victims of "stranger danger" than women - more likely to be violently mugged, stabbed or beaten up. In the UK, men are two to three times more likely than women to be killed by someone unknown to them, with the 16-24 age group at highest risk.

But as any woman will tell you, data is cold comfort when you are walking alone down a darkly lit street and a passing car slows down to a crawl at the kerb, or a burly figure crosses the road to fall into step just behind you. These threatening experiences are so commonplace to women that they barely warrant a mention. And yet they lodge in the mind - those few moments when seconds stretch out endlessly and all of life suddenly telescopes down to one single critical dynamic, that of predator and prey.

Despite the fact that women are safer on the streets than men, they are afraid.

Experts in criminology have coined a term for the phenomenon - that women report more fear of violent crime, despite being less likely to fall victim to it. They call it the fear of crime gender paradox, and it works both ways. Men walking around at night tend to feel safer than they actually are.

Women were mobilised in such numbers by the case of Sarah Everard because it speaks to a deep, primal fear. Female fear of men is not "panic" or "hysteria". Predators are real. But they're mostly not lurking in shadows, they're sitting beside you at the bar, or drinking a cup of tea on your couch.

The danger that men pose to women is real. But if we are to be better protected, we need to shift our focus. In Ireland, domestic murders outstrip gangland murders two to one; 80pc of women who are murdered know their killer.

A little over a year ago, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris called domestic abuse "probably one of least prosecuted crimes and one of the greatest threats to family life".

By concentrating our energies on street harassment and violence, we're missing a chance to address the places in which women face the most risk.
Military displays corpses of separatist fighters in Kumba Screenshot from amateur video

Government troops in Cameroon have killed six armed separatists in the countrys troubled South West Region.

Soldiers killed Akuro Kandel alias General Spirito and five other fighters in an operation in Foe Bakundu, Mbonge Subdivision in Meme Division on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Sources familiar with the story say state forces, with the support of some citizens of goodwill, ambushed the separatist fighters at dawn.

General Spirito operated in Bole Bakundu, Mbonge Subdivision under the banner of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, ADF, of Lucas Ayaba Cho.

He referred to himself as the Field Marshal of Mbonge. Days back, he launched a war against civilians in Bole Bakundu after they protested against Ambazonia atrocities in the area. The self-styled general took some civilians into captivity on grounds that they had sided with state forces.

His killing is said to be a victory for civil-military relations.

State forces airlifted the corpse of General Spirito and that of his second-in-commander to the 6th Sector of the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) in Mabanda, Kumba. The corpses of the two were later laid at BICEC Junction in Kumba for viewing.

Beside the mortal remains of the separatist fighters were their guns, bullets, uniforms, and assorted paraphernalia retrieved during the operation.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Chamberlain Ntouou Ndong, and his etat-major joined the thick crowd that turned out at the scene to see the militarys harvest.

Three civilians injured in the course of the operation were transported to seek medical attention in Limbe on board a military helicopter, officials said.

Cameroons state forces have been battling to dislodge armed separatists who pitched their tents in the North West and South West Regions since Anglophone protests transformed into an armed conflict in 2017.

Corporate demands by Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers led to protests in November 2016. The street demonstrations later morphed into ongoing running gun battles between state forces and armed separatist fighters in the predominantly English-speaking regions, leading to untold destruction of human lives, their habitats, and livelihoods.

Tit-for-tat killings, kidnappings, arsons, maiming, and outright terror have become part of daily lives in some parts of the English-speaking regions.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reiterated Iran's "definite policy" that Washington must lift all sanctions if the United States and its allies want to see Tehran return to its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal.



"Our position is clear and has not changed. All U.S. sanctions have to be lifted in accordance with the...agreement, and then we'll return to the nuclear deal," Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state TV on March 21.



"The Americans must lift the sanctions, all the sanctions, and then we will verify and if they are truly lifted, then we will return to our JCPOA commitments," he said, using the acronym for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.



Khamenei also repeated Tehran's position that "maximum pressure has failed" and warned that, if the Biden administration "wants to continue maximum pressure, they will fail as well."



U.S. President Joe Biden has signaled his readiness to revive the accord, but his administration insists Iran must first return to its nuclear commitments, most of which Tehran has suspended in response to US sanctions.

'Difficult, But Not Impossible'



The United States and the three European countries that signed the deal - Britain, France, and Germany - have suggested some changes that would allow Iran to come back, but Tehran has been skeptical.



The deal was meant to provide relief for Iran from international sanctions in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program, which Tehran says is strictly for civilian energy purposes.



The United States pulled out of the deal unilaterally in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, whose administration pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran over its nuclear and missile programs, as well as its support for regional proxies.



But Biden, who took office in January, has indicated that Washington would be willing to rejoin the JCPOA.

Complicating the matter, however, have been Iran's violations of the deal, including the amount of enriched uranium it can stockpile and the purity to which it can enrich it. Iran also last month began restricting International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of its nuclear facilities.



IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has been talking to both sides and said earlier this month that he believed a U.S. return to the deal was possible.



"They want to come back," he said on March 16. "But of course...there are a number of issues that still need to be clarified. So it's not impossible. It is difficult, but not impossible."

With reporting by AFP and dpa
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 Co Antrim pensioner arrested over the 1985 assassination of an exiled Seychelles politician he spied on has pointed the finger at everyone from the CIA to mercenaries and South African oil dealers in the murder.

Despite carrying out his surveillance from one of the world's most glamorous sun-soaked paradises, retired private detective Ian Withers describes it as part of a career spent in the "darkest of shadows".

The bleakness didn't end after he retired.

Pensioner Ian made global headlines in 2018 when he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command over the 1985 murder in north London of exiled Seychelles politician and "dissident" revolutionary Gerard Hoarau - a man Ian had spent years monitoring and sabotaging.

The ex-PI (80) had electrical equipment, including computers, seized and was flown from his Co Antrim home to London for questioning about the daylight sub-machine gun assassination of Hoarau, before being released without charge.

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Three years on, Ian says he's still stunned he was questioned about the murder decades after he left his role as national security advisor to the Republic of Seychelles.

He says everything he knows about the case - as well as the secrets behind his years as a Seychelles spy - is finally revealed in his upcoming memoir.

Sunday Life has seen an advance copy of Private Eye, Secret Spy: My Life As Britain's Most Controversial PI, due out in May.

It tells how military-trained Ian, along with his brother Stuart, spent years building a lucrative international private detective agency after he left the Territorial Army and a joinery business to get it off the ground in the 1960s.

The investigator crossed the world to recover abducted children, bug millionaires, guard politicians, track VIPs, locate terrorists and flush out fraudsters.

Then a mysterious job in 1979 propelled him and the business into a different league.

Ian was asked on the phone by a mysterious Italian woman to gather intelligence on four men with links to the Seychelles - including Gerard Hoarau.

His work was so painstakingly thorough he was asked in 1980 if he wanted the position of national security advisor for the Seychelles under its socialist president Albert Rene.

Ian insists in his autobiography: "There was nothing unethical here, nothing illegal," adding: "The USA has the CIA, the UK has MI6, and now Seychelles would have me."

For the next 11 years, Ian clocked up countless air miles tracking president Rene's enemies.

He says: "Gerard Hoarau led a hardcore dissident faction. It hired mercenaries over and over to oust the left-wing government and seize power. My job was to derail his efforts and I did so. Over and over."

Rene had seized control in a coup in 1977 and led the country for almost three decades before stepping down in April 2004.

Ian focused on tracking and foiling coup attempts he says were led by Hoarau and the playboy ousted by Rene, Sir James Mancham. He details how Hoarau and Mancham headed the anti-Seychelles government organisation MPR - Mouvement Pour La Resistance.

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Ian said it was largely headquartered in London and had 1million in funding from Saudi oil and arms billionaire Adnan Khashoggi, who went on to work with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Using "the highest quality tradecraft", Ian speaks of his pride in infiltrating the MPR ranks.

Among the agents used was fellow PI Barry Trigwell, who went undercover using the name Jim O'Boyle and a backstory he was a mercenary.

Barry survived the years of dangerous spying only to be found bludgeoned to death aged 44 in 1995 at his home in Birmingham after his 'black widow' wife Anne hired two South Africans to carry out the murder.

Ian's book details how he and Barry prepared to pounce on the MPR ahead of their failed Operation Angela mercenary coup that aimed to return Mancham to power. In the years after the botched takeover, Ian says he carried a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver in a waist holster on protection detail for Seychelles officials while enduring death threats from the MPR.

"There was a very real possibility that an experienced hitman could move in at any time, anywhere, and I spent those days in a state of readiness, ready to do whatever it took, handgun at my side," he says.

"My sleeping became shallow, more a case of power down than power off. I would wake in the night at the tiniest sound."

The Seychelles has been branded a 'gangsters' paradise' and haven for mafia money launderers, gun runners and tax dodgers - leading it to previously being named one of the world's most corrupt spots.

Ian says Hoarau's life was as compromised as the island's history. Pointing the blame at mercenaries, South African oil dealers and even the CIA, Ian says: "The manner of his murder was as ruthless and as public as it could be.

Inquiries

"It has been said Hoarau owed money to a number of very serious men in South Africa and was, by order of its own government, not going back there.

"He had more dealings with cash-hungry mercenaries of all kinds of mindsets than anyone I ever came across. A US link to the murder should not be ruled out. It was no secret that America had an interest in not just toppling Rene but in maintaining full control of its strategically invaluable mountain top space tracking station on Mahe.

"The killing took place, after all, during the closing days of the Cold War, a time when American might and pride was on show like never before via Nasa's space shuttle missions."

In 2019 Ian said he felt stranded in "legal limbo" by the Metropolitan Police, who said yesterday that he and another man arrested over the murder remain under investigation.

A spokesperson added: "A review of the investigation was initiated in 2016 from which fresh lines of inquiry were established, leading to two arrests in 2018."

Ian says the phrase "under investigation" was ambiguous, placed him under a cloud and demanded cops make it clear he is no longer a suspect.

Dad-of-four to daughter Debbie and sons Andy, Johnnie and Jamie, London-born Ian has lived in Antrim since the 1990s.He was widowed in 2016 when his wife Phyl died from a stomach artery blood clot.

Ian says: "I've negotiated paths through war zones, set national news agendas, helped seal an international treaty, prevented murder and witnessed murder, but I've never had any involvement in any murder."
This book was donated by friends of the author to the Mystic-Noank Library during one of the librarys Honor Book Weekends. The occasion was his retirement from The Day.
Community Reporter

Erica Welch is the special sections editor for The News-Review, mother of two and a native of Roseburg. She is an alumni of RHS, UCC and Western Oregon University. Contact her at ewelch@nrtoday.com or 541-957-4218.
The Webb County Heritage Foundation still has tickets left for its first ever vacation giveaway raffle.

The raffle allows participants to win one of four vacation prizes, and the winners will be announced after all 200 tickets are sold. Winners will have up to a year to claim their prize.

Winners have up to one year from the date of the raffle drawing to take their vacation, Webb County Heritage Foundation Executive Director Margarita Araiza said. The vacation prizes can be arranged at any time of the winners choosing, up to one full year from the date of the drawing. There is absolutely no requirement to take the vacation prize until such time as the winner feels comfortable doing so. The Heritage Foundation takes all COVID-19 protocols very seriously and provides a safe and sanitary experience for the public at all our venues.

The vacation packages include both close staycations and others outside of the city such as in San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. The other prizes include a hunting trip at Las Lajas Ranch in Zapata, a stay in San Ygnacio and a package in the Gateway City at La Posada Hotel.

We have more history than a lot of people realize, Araiza said.

The first prize winner will receive a stay of seven to 10 days in the historic Mexican colonial place of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. According to Araiza, San Miguel de Allende is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ties to the movement for Mexican independence from Spain as well as its vibrant arts and cultural attractions. The total value of the prize is $6,200.

The second prize includes a stay at the Oryx Scimitar Hunt at Las Lajas Ranch in Zapata as part of a hunting package. The prize includes a two-night lodging stay along with two morning hunts and two afternoon hunts with the right to get an Oryx Scimitar or an Axis Deer within a two-day hunt including lodging fee for one hunter and one companion. The total value of the prize is $3,670.

The third prize is the Casita San Ygnacio Weekend which includes a three-day weekend retreat in San Ygnacio. The historic residence accommodates up to five adults and is located two blocks from the landmark of Our Lady of Refuge Mission and the town plaza. The location is walking distance from the Trevino Fort, the Bird Sanctuary and the banks of the Rio Grande. The total value of the prize is $600.

Many people have not been to San Ygnacio, and it is definitely a beautiful and cozy place to be at, Araiza said. Its definitely a walk back in time going there.

The fourth prize is a staycation in the Gateway City. This includes a weekend stay for two at La Posada Hotel in downtown Laredo. The total value of the prize is $300.

We are hoping to offer it every year but at least see first how this one goes, Araiza said.

At $50 per ticket, the raffle will raise $10,000, and Araiza said all the money collected will go to the museums they operate and the services they provided to the people of the county.

Proceeds from the raffle will help support the programs and services of the Webb County Heritage Foundation, Araiza said. The Webb County Heritage Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of our border region. The Heritage Foundation operates two museums - the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum and the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, both located in downtown Laredo.

According to Araiza, the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum is a historic house museum where visitors can see an authentic and typical home reflecting life in Laredo during the mid-to-late 1800s. The structure was once the capitol building of the Republic of the Rio Grande.

This is one of the most fascinating chapters in regional history and gives Laredo its seventh flag, Araiza said.

She said the Border Heritage Museum features changing exhibits showcasing the heritage of the binational border. It also hosts numerous public events such as book signings, historical lectures, vintage movies on the museum patio and membership receptions.

Both museums are open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The raffle drawing will be held when all tickets are sold. Tickets can be purchased online at webbheritage.org/historic-getaways-raffle.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
One night in August, after his wife and 2-month-old boy had long fallen to sleep, Steve Inman got to thinking about family and heredity. With a rare moment to himself, he pulled a box of photo albums out of the hall closet at his home in Fontana.

He found an old picture of himself as a boy and laughed at how he and his son had the same round ears and the funny top lip that flipped up like the bow of a ship. He perused faded images of his mother as a young woman in South Korea, and then came across his oldest sister, sitting in a meadow before he was born.

She was about 8 months old then and had the same cast to her face as his boy, the same squint.

Seeing her in his own first child, he felt an overwhelming rush of sadness, a sense he had let her down. She had been missing for 37 years now. Although he had never even met her, it hit him how much a part of him she was.

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He wondered if she was still alive.

::

How Sally disappeared was never quite clear to Steve.

He was told his father, Steve Sr., was stationed with the Army in Korea when he married his mother, Chum Ku Yi. When she went into labor with Sally, they couldnt get to the base hospital in time, and the baby was born at a house in the village of Chang-mal. The couple raised her for about eight months in Korea with the help of a nanny, an old woman they knew.

The Inmans were set to move to America, but the U.S. and Korean authorities would not approve documents stating that Steve Sr. was Sallys father. So they left her with her grandmother while they went back to Steves hometown, Salt Lake City, to work out the problem.

Growing up, the younger Steve was told his parents got a call one day from the grandmother, who said Sallys nanny had come to visit because she missed the little girl and wanted to take her for a few days. The old woman never returned. Sally was gone.

In America, the Inmans were having problems. He wasnt making much money and was drinking, and they didnt have the means to go to Korea to look for the little girl. Chum gave birth to a girl, Connie, then to Steve. A few months after Steve was born, their father left them.

Chum remarried, settled with the two children in California and went to Korea several times, ostensibly looking for Sally. She came up with nothing.

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The girls absence haunted the family. Sally should be here, an uncle would say at Christmas dinner.

Framed pictures of her sat on top of the television and hung in the hallway of their home in Fullerton. In an album, there was a photo of the nanny. Steve and Connie saw evil in her face.

Connie always felt the ache of something missing, as if she was homesick even when she was home. Steve worried about what might have befallen Sally. Was she an orphan, homeless?

When the Internet began to flourish, he occasionally typed her name into search engines. But then, he thought, the nanny probably changed it. He sent e-mails to news stations, trying to gin up interest, but never got a response. A private investigator told him it would cost $30,000 just to start. Steve wrote to Oprah, knowing how she liked reuniting people.

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::

That night in August, Steve, then 33, resolved to try again. But how? He didnt know where to start.

He decided to create a Facebook profile for Sally Inman (missing child). He posted 12 photos of her and wrote that she had been abducted.

Nothing happened. He became lost in his work, editing video of mixed martial arts fighting and raising Miyka, the baby boy he had with his wife, Donya. The day after New Years, he was relaxing, watching the Food Network, when his cellphone rang. Not recognizing the number, he let it go straight to voicemail.

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He waited for the voicemail to finish, then listened.

Steve, I was on Facebook and I noticed you were looking for your sister and I read the whole thing . . . Her voice sounded faintly Southern. And I would like you just to give us a call because the girl youre looking for is actually my mom.

He was suspicious. He suspected it was a prank.

He called back anyway.

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Hold on, let me get my mom, the girl said.

His heart was beating hard.

Is this Steve? This is Sally, a woman said, also with a Southern twang.

Steve could barely speak. No way, he kept thinking. This is a scam.

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I have those same pictures, the woman said.

Well, umm. Steve struggled for words. Maybe we could take a paternity test.

I know who I am, she said, sounding annoyed. I dont need a paternity test.

They went back and forth, not really saying anything, as Steves mind raced through the possibilities.

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Well, my mom would know its me, the woman said, because I have a birthmark on my lip.

Steve dropped the phone. His mother had told him this before. This must be Sally.

Im going to call you right back, he told her. I need to call my mom.

::

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That afternoon in Lillington, N.C., Sally Blue had asked one of her daughters, Candace, to type her birth name into Facebook.

Sally learned she had been adopted when she was 9.

Her adoptive mother, Chun, told Sally that her biological parents could not bring her to the United States, because her blood type didnt match one of them. Chuns mother was Sallys nanny and took care of her when the parents left. The Inmans sent money and letters but eventually stopped. The nanny was too old to raise her, so Chun and her American husband decided to adopt her.

They moved to Texas when Sally was 3.

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She was an only child and always wondered about her blood parents.

Whenever she got in trouble, Chun told her she was wild, just like your father.

She saw how close her friends were to their parents, and wondered why her mother was so strict and distant. Was it the cultural gap? Or was it because she wasnt really hers? When Sally would go to the doctor, she could never fill out any of the questions about family medical history.

When she had children, her curiosity grew. She learned her blood type was O positive, not A positive, as she had been told all her life.

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Chun had told her the names of her real parents, and occasionally she sought them out on the Internet but found nothing.

This was the first time she had tried Facebook. Her daughter pulled up a screen.

There was her baby picture. Oh my God, thats me, Sally said, starting to cry. She couldnt believe her family was looking for her. She didnt know she had a brother and a sister.

She saw Steves number at the bottom of the screen.

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She stood looking at it for 10 minutes, paralyzed.

Are you going to call, Mom?

Candace, you do it.

Sally was spinning. She desperately wanted to talk to her lost family. But these people thought she had been kidnapped. Were they going to go after her parents now?

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::

Connie and her mother raced to Steves house when they heard the news. Steve called Sally back on speaker phone, and they all talked and cried.

Im sorry, Im sorry, their mother sobbed. I dont know what happened. Im sorry that 37 years went by. I thought you were eating out of a trash can. Im so glad youre alive.

Sallys husband bought a webcam at Wal-Mart so they could see each other on Skype. Sally showed them the same photo that inspired Steve to look for her, then a photo of herself when she was 5.

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It was surreal. In Steves mind, Sally was always a baby. Seeing her at 5 somehow helped him make the leap from that old photo to the woman before him.

Connie, 36, and Sally, 38, kept staring at each other through the computer screens, studying each others faces and mannerisms. Each of them had their legs folded and their heads tilted onto one hand. They could be twins. They both talked fast and had the same quick wit and laugh.

It was like looking in a mirror, said Sally.

::

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Connie and Steve helped pay to fly Sally and three of her seven children to Southern California three days later. Their father flew in from Colorado. They rarely left Steves house for a week, just talking, comparing notes about their childhoods, ribbing one another.

Sally felt as if she had been robbed of 37 years. She was the older sister. She should have been there for their graduations, their weddings, their childrens births.

They all tried to piece together what had happened in South Korea in 1974, a time when the mixed-race children of American soldiers and Korean women were deeply stigmatized.

Steve Sr. told Sally that he and her mother were not married when she was born, and that the U.S. Embassy tried to make him go through the expensive process of adopting her to bring her to the U.S. He was just a 21-year-old soldier with no money and wasnt about to adopt his own daughter.

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Her mother, however, told her they were married and tried everything to get her out of the country.

Steve and Connie didnt know what to think anymore. Their image of the evil nanny blurred. The woman was dead, and theyd probably never know what she did, good or bad.

Sally wasnt sure if she wanted to have the questions answered. Had her biological parents really come looking for her? Or did they give up? How exactly did she end up with the nanny? And if the parents who raised and loved her had truly kidnapped her, why would they tell her about the adoption and her biological parents?

Her newfound parents felt like strangers.

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But it was as if she had always known her brother and sister.

When Connie came down with laryngitis, Sally joked that, thank god, now the rest of them could finally talk. She even told Connie and Steve  older sister-like  to settle down when they started to bicker while ordering food one night. Ill whip both of your asses, she quipped.

Now they talk every day, wishing they lived closer. Theyre still reconfiguring their perceptions of what happened so long ago.

The questions linger. But theyre not letting that get in the way. Steve, Connie and their mother are flying to North Carolina next week.

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joe.mozingo@latimes.com
Hopkinsville Crash Sends One to Nashville Hospital

By West Kentucky Star Staff

HOPKINSVILLE - A man was flown to a Nashville hospital after a crash on South Campbell Street in Hopkinsville Saturday night.WKDZ reports that Hopkinsville Police say a man was southbound near the East 9th Street intersection when his vehicle left the roadway and hit a utility pole.The man was taken to Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, and later transferred to a Nashville hospital.The crash happened just before 7:00 pm.
CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado  March 21, 2021

The Caring Generation Protecting Elderly Parents from Siblings

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation podcast show for caregivers and aging adults. This coming Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the topic is Protecting Elderly Parents From Siblings.

Wilson releases a new podcast in The Caring Generation series every Wednesday, sharing tips and conversations about aging, caregiving, and family relationships to help caregiving families plan for what's ahead. The podcasts are available on Wilson's website and all major podcast sites.

Protecting Elderly Parents From Siblings

Family disputes over elderly parents are more common when multiple children are interested and involved in caregiving. Adult children may be wondering how to protect the money of elderly parent's from a financially dependent brother or sister. Relationship tensions may escalate if an adult child living with parents becomes overbearing or controlling.

Resident children can isolate parents by limiting phone calls and visits from children not living in the home. These are potentially abusive situations that can end up in court when one child exercises undue influence over a vulnerable parent by excluding contact with children or other family members.

Protecting elderly parents from siblings may be viewed as a positive action that can backfire when an adult child finds herself or himself exhausted and burned out from never-ending care responsibilities. Are there situations where elderly parents expect too much? Can the expectations of elderly parents result in unhealthy relationships or unintentional abuse or neglect by an overwhelmed caregiver-child? Wilson discusses these topics and more on this week's The Caring Generation.

Medicaid Denials Due to Financial Concerns

When elderly parents enable adult children to become financially dependent for income or living arrangements, these relationships can result in financial concerns related to being approved for Medicaid. Wilson discusses the Medicaid benefit and how loans never paid back by children or and monetary gifts made by parents can result in the decline of Medicaid applications.

For older adults who have health concerns and lack substantial financial resources, planning to access Medicaid benefits is an essential component of retirement and long-term care planning. Learning about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid can benefit caregivers of aging parents who are concerned about their ability to provide care. Medicaidwhich goes by a different name depending on the stateis a public benefit that provides care for the elderly at home, in some care homes, and nursing homes.

Wilson works with caregiving organizations and corporations worldwide to educate about the role strain that caregivers experience and how to be proactive to plan ahead for health and aging issues. More about Wilson's online courses for elderly care: How to Get Guardianship of a Parent and Taking Care of Elderly Parents, caregiver support, webinars, and speaking engagements is on her website www.pameladwilson.com. Pamela may also be contacted at 303-810-1816 or through the Contact Me page on her website.

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The ruling YSR Congress that had a clean sweep of GP and urban local body elections aims to continue with its victory march in the MPTC and ZPTC elections but the state election commission did not announce the election schedule yet, which halted their forward march. (Representational Photo: AFP)

VIJAYAWADA: All eyes are now on the long-awaited MPTC and ZPTC elections following the completion of gram panchayat, municipal and corporation polls.

The ruling YSR Congress that had a clean sweep of GP and urban local body elections aims to continue with its victory march in the MPTC and ZPTC elections but the state election commission did not announce the election schedule yet, which halted their forward march.

Significantly, the Opposition parties including the Telugu Desam that continuously demanded conducting of MPTC and ZPTC elections turned silent abruptly after seeing the landslide victory of the YSRC in the already held civic polls.

There are 10,047 MPTC seats in 13 districts of AP, for which notification was issued to 9,692 seats. Of these, 2,371 turned unanimous. Similarly, there were 660 ZPTC seats, of which elections to 126 were unanimous.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is seeking the completion of MPTC and ZPTC elections in six days time, saying he would want officials to extricate themselves out of the poll-related works and concentrate soon on the Corona vaccination programme.

Chief secretary Adityanath Das has met SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, seeking polls to MPTC and ZPTC elections, but there was no response. A petition was also filed in the AP high court seeking MPTC and ZPTC elections.

SEC Ramesh Kumar would retire by the end of this month and it would take time for appointment of a new SEC. Hence, the government is seeking to complete the MPTC and ZPTC elections before the retirement of Kumar.

The AP high court heard on Saturday a plea seeking these elections and reserved its verdict.

These elections were originally scheduled for March 21 last year, but SEC indefinitely postponed them in view of the start of the coronavirus spread. The YSRC opposed the move, saying there was not much of a virus spread. But the SEC refused to budge. Later, SEC tried to hold these polls as his retirement date was nearing. The YSRC government opposed the move and SEC knocked on the doors of the courts and won orders in his favour.

SEC vowed to restart the election process from where it was stopped, but he did not take up the MPTC and ZPTC elections while conducting the gram panchayat, municipal and corporation elections.

SEC was against electing MPTC and ZPTC members in large numbers and agreed with the allegations of opposition parties including TD that the YSRC government was forcefully going in for unanimous elections. As many as 2,371 MPTC seats turned unanimous. This formed 24.46 per cent of the total seats.

Further, 126 ZPTC seats were switched as unanimous, which formed 19.32 per cent of the total seats. The ruling YSRC won 2,217 MPTC seats unanimously, TD won 101 seats, Jana Sena 4 and others 49 seats, all unanimously.

TD and other parties leveled allegations of YSRC forcing unanimous elections by threatening their candidates and demanded a fresh start for the election process. This halted issuing of winner certificates to the unanimous candidates.

The unopposed-elected candidates knocked on the doors of the high court, which directed the SEC to issue winner certificates, while affirming SEC has no right to halt the election process.

Adviser to the government (public affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, ministers Botsa Satyanarayana and other leaders said there were no illegalities in the filing of nominations and in withdrawal of nominations in the ZPTC/MPTC elections. They argued that six days are enough to conduct MPTC and ZPTC elections as all the processes were complete.
"Italy and Libya are united by important geo-strategic interests: in addition to the issue of migratory flows, I reiterated that it is essential for us to relaunch economic cooperation between our countries".

These are the words of Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, on the sidelines of the official visit to Libya, where the new government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah has just taken office.

On the occasion, Di Maio explained that Rome wants to go back to being the "protagonist" in the process that hopefully will lead to the definitive pacification of the North African country, where elections are also scheduled for next December.

Di Maio was the first foreign diplomatic representative to visit the new premier.

In Tripoli also the CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, who in Dbeibah confirmed the commitment of the six-legged dog to its operational activities and projects in the country.

Crucial for Italy, Di Maio remarked, will be to guarantee the work of Italian companies in Libya. "We will bring together formats that will allow the Libyan economic world to dialogue with ours and create two new opportunities on both fronts", explained the minister. Adding that just "a year ago it would have been impossible to imagine a government of national unity in Libya with which to plan investments and the relaunch of the country".

(Unioneonline / lf)
Bars and beer joints on the popular Bui Vien backpacker street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City have been committed to tackling noise violations as they were allowed to reopen after weeks of closure for COVID-19 social distancing.

Bars, karaoke parlors, and discos were the last businesses to resume operations in the southern metropolis on Friday night after non-essential services had been told to close down since February 9, as the city raced to squash its latest surge in COVID-19 cases.

On Saturday night, just one day after the reopening, a team of District 1s Pham Ngu Lao Ward officials conducted an inspection of business activities on Bui Vien Walking Street, located in a busy neighborhood populated with bars, pubs, discos, and beer joints.

During the inspection, the officials encouraged store owners to make formal commitments to not violating noise regulations for the sake of nearby residents.

Over 30 businesses agreed to sign commitment papers presented to them by the authorities.

An official explains to a store owner the terms of a noise-reducing commitment during an inspection of businesses on Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

The documents include such commitments as not making loud noise that causes disturbance in residential and public areas between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am."

Specifically, noise of up to 75 decibels (dB) in loudness is allowed between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, while acceptable loudness is capped at 70 dB and 50 dB during the respective time frames of 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and 10:00 pm until 6:00 am the next day.

Businesses that signed the commitment can have their business license revoked with no chance of appeal if they are found to violate the terms of their commitment.

Employees of a store move chairs and tables out of the sidewalk as officials inspect stores on Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A cafe also had their sidewalk-encroaching store signs confiscated and an individual told off for loud public singing using a portable speaker during the officials patrol.

Since stores in this area are similar, many rely on loud music to attract customers, Nguyen Hong Linh, an employee at a beer joint on Bui Vien which has been committed to reducing its noise, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Our store owner has told employees to keep the volume down after the officials reminder."

Officials remind a group to turn off their portable loudspeader, which they used for singing, at the September 23 Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Pham Ngu Lao Ward chairman Nguyen Hoang Tam told Tuoi Tre a campaign to inspect and measure noise at businesses in the area has been ongoing since before the Lunar New Year holiday in February, with support from District 1 authorities.

Inspections similar to the one on Saturday will continue to be carried out in the coming months and violating premises will be penalized accordingly, Tam warned.

Bui Vien is turned into a pedestrian-only zone from 7:00 pm on weekend nights, where stores are allowed to operate until 2:00 am the next day.

The street is nowadays frequented mostly by locals as Vietnam has closed its borders to foreign visitors since March last year, only allowing entry to those with valid travel needs such as international experts and diplomats.

An official explains to a store owner the terms of a noise-reducing commitment during an inspection of businesses on Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 20, 2021. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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The Duke of Cambridge does not feel 'trapped' by his role in the Royal Family, friends insisted last night.

They spoke out following Prince Harry's remarks on US television about his elder brother's position and how he is unable to 'leave that system, but I have'.

A source close to William said he was left 'reeling' by the 'way off the mark' comments, adding that his 'head is all over the place on it'.

The Duke of Cambridge does not feel 'trapped' by his role in the Royal Family, friends insisted last night

Friends also told The Sunday Times that the situation between the siblings is 'still raw', adding: '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 for ever.'

Meanwhile, a close friend of the brothers said William 'definitely feels the pressure now that it's all on him  his future looks different because of his brother's choices. It's not easy'.

Another said that the key to the future king's happiness is his marriage to Kate, explaining: 'They've got a solid relationship and she gives him confidence. There's no jealousy, no friction. They are happy for each other's successes.'

William's move to spend the early years of his marriage away from official duties proved to be a vital foundation for his role as a senior member of the Royal Family, a close aide added.

'For years, the battles around privacy and paparazzi intrusion were all-consuming. He wanted to know, could we build them a credible plan allowing them a family life while slowly increasing the profile of official life?

They spoke out following Prince Harry's remarks on US television about his elder brother's position and how he is unable to 'leave that system, but I have'

'It took years to get there, but the success of that plan allowed him to be confident in his role. He's not worried about his kids' privacy any more and he has been able to be the kind of dad he wants to be.'

Meanwhile, William has heard how Syrian aid workers are struggling to cope as the coronavirus pandemic compounds the problems of conflict and hunger.

Workers supported by Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee, whose chief executive Saleh Saeed warned earlier this month that the world's poorest countries are on the brink of a 'triple-hit catastrophe', spoke to him on a video call last week.
DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and DCI Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) are on the case in the first episode of the sixth series of Line Of Duty. (World Productions/BBC)

Line Of Duty is back and its straight back into the action.

Come on, did you think the series 6 opener would kick off with Ted, Kate and Steve standing around in the AC-12 breakout area joking over cups of tea?

While an hour of that would still have been sweet balm to the millions of LOD fans who have waited two years for the shows return, it was swiftly back to business.

The business of nicking bent coppers!

Read more: The first five series of Line Of Duty ranked

Except theres been a major off-screen twist that means it may not be that simple.

Read about it and all the major talking points from the first episode below.

*WARNING: This article contains spoilers for episode 1 of series 6 of Line Of Duty*

1. Im fed up with nicking coppers.

Kate is at a crossroads in the first episode of Line Of Duty. (World Productions/BBC)

Hang on, did one of Line Of Dutys holy trinity of Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), Detective Inspector Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) utter the above line?

I know the show's writer/creator Jed Mercurio likes his series opener shocks, but surely this is just totally implausible?

Line Of Duty quiz: Test your knowledge ahead of series 6

Those words are spoken by DI Fleming, as she cosies up with her new boss, Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald), head of the Murder Investigation Team (MIT).

Thats right, Kate has left Anti-Corruption Unit 12 to take down criminals instead of cops.

Under Operation Lighthouse, the MIT are trying to find the killer of a journalist named Gail Vella - the episode kicks off with their unit on their way to pick up a suspect after a tip-off from a CHIS (Covert Human Intelligence Source).

2. Youd do well to spot a pipe band in there.

The Balaclava Men are back in series 6. (World Productions/BBC)

This being Line Of Duty, the suspect pick-up does not go according to plan, chiefly because Davidson decides to take a detour en route when she claims to see a robbery in progress at a bookies.

But could she really have spied the getaway van in the split second her going like the clappers police convoy surged past? Ted isnt having any of it and gives Steve the green light to crack on with the case.

Story continues

Thats what we do, son, we hunt the truth, says Ted, in one of his rare appearances in this episode.

Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings in the new series of Line Of Duty. (World Productions/BBC)

In the fifth series of Line Of Duty, poor Hastings was haring all over the place as the show got slightly bamboozled by its constant search for the mysterious H.

As a character, Ted is always much more effective when used sparingly, as he is here, although he still gets all the best lines... "Houl yer whisht!"

3. You have no idea what shes capable of.

DCI Joanne Davidson is in AC-12's sights. (World Productions/BBC)

But what about Davidson? Where will she fit in the Bent Copper Hall of Fame? Judging from episode 1, she will be a lot more rounded character than series 4s Roz Huntley, but perhaps not quite as abrasive as the much-loved/loathed Lindsay Denton.

The show initially goes out of its way to display her penchant for doing things by the book during the suspect's arrest and when dealing with subordinate male officers (Is the word 'Maam' in your vocabulary?), but before long shes plotting with her superior (Buckells is back!) and staring into middle distance like the evil dog in The Simpsons. And just who is she trying to keep out with all those locks on her apartment door?

Read more: The Line of Duty' series 6 preview

Episode 1s best moment is when we discover the officer who has alerted AC-12 about Davidson is also her ex-girlfriend, PC Farida Jatri (Anneika Rose), one of Huntleys former crew.

Hmmm. Perhaps PC Jatris evidence may not hold up to scrutiny

4. Not what we expected.

Shalom Brune-Franklin is a new addition to the Line Of Duty cast as DC Chloe Bishop. (World Productions/BBC)

Jatri and the hapless Superintendent Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) arent the only returnees - heaven help Line Of Duty viewers who havent done a recent binge rewatch ahead of the new series.

When police pick up the suspect in the journalists murder, it turns out to be Terry Boyle (Tommy Jessop), a man with Downs syndrome who we saw in series 1 and 5, when his freezer space was rather gruesomely exploited by the organised crime gang (OCG).

The freezer - and body parts inside - have conveniently gone missing, as has one Carl Banks, who may or may not be the real suspect who has fled, after a surveillance switching mix-up by Buckells, to let Boyle take the rap.

Fans might recall that series 5's OCG contained a member called Lee Banks, who Hastings visited in prison, so he and Carl could be related.

Boyle had a number of press cuttings featuring Vella all over his wall, which (RED HERRING cough) pretty much rules him out as a suspect immediately.

We dont know anything about Vella yet - was she a journalist who stumbled on to the truth about links between police and organised crime or was she in on it?

5. Ive reached the end of the line at Anti-Corruption.

DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) has a lot on his mind. (World Productions/BBC)

Not only has Kate left AC-12 (does her new office have a balcony spot to watch suspects arrive for and leave after interviews?), but Steve wants out too, as he tells his ex, Nicky Rogerson (Christina Chong) from Major Violent Crime, back after appearances in series 2 and 3 and recently promoted (I should be calling you Maam).

Its hard to blame Steve, really. During his Line Of Duty duty, hes been tortured, framed as a mole and thrown down a flight of stairs. And now he's stuck sipping a (rather topical) bottle of Corona while home alone, when not making trips to purchase painkillers at various pharmacies. He's still recovering from that series 4 shove from Balaclava Man.

Credit to Compston for the subtle changes he's introduced over the years in his portrayal of Arnott, who has gone from all-out gung-ho action man to a more cerebral - but a rather subdued and physically and mentally damaged - figure.

6. Theres a nice little balti up the road - Im guessing thats not why youre here though.

DI Fleming is working for DCI Davidson in the Murder Investigation Team. (World Productions/BBC)

But come on. This is Line Of Duty. You cant keep our crooked cop-crunching duo apart for long.

Arnott and Fleming are about four seasons past the usual will they/wont they nonsense that burdens some shows - at this point the biggest question about their relationship is will they or wont they grab a curry?

Steve has no time for naan - instead, he makes Kate a lose-lose offer of going undercover for AC-12 in an effort to dig up some dirt on Davidson.

Read more: Martin Compston teases 'massive bombshell' in season 6 of 'Line Of Duty'

Just when you think youre out (Why am I still calling him gaffer?! asks Kate about Ted), they pull you back in.

Given Flemings previous undercover experience (Hey mate, would you like to open up to me and tell me how much of a bent copper you are even though you've literally just met me?), it should be all of 20 minutes before Davidson smells a rat and packs her off back to AC-12.

But hey, sometimes you have to give the audience what they want and play the hits.

Episode 1 verdict: Line Of Duty season openers usually have someone gunned down/blown up/thrown out of a hospital window, but Mercurio is clearly toying with his already captive audience, so much so that I shouted LOOK OUT!! when Flemings potential replacement, DC Chloe Bishop (Shalom Brune-Franklin), performed the highly dangerous act of crossing a busy road.

If that level of tension is maintained across its seven - not the usual six - episodes, then we are in for another nail-biting bent copper-catching ride.

Watch: 'Line Of Duty' series 6 teaser
What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday
KASSEL, Germany -- Police deployed water cannon and pepper spray after a gathering of some 20,000 protesters against lockdown and other coronavirus rules in central Germany turned violent, with some demonstrators throwing bottles at police.

Protesters from all over Germany converged on the central city of Kassel for the march, which was organised by the Querdenker - Lateral Thinkers - online conspiracy movement.

Bottles were thrown and there were attempts to break through barriers, police said on Twitter.

A model of the coronavirus is seen attached to a sign during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Police said protesters disobeyed instructions they gave to help ensure peoples safety, including by refusing to wear face masks and observe social distancing guidelines.

Protesters carried placards reading No compulsory vaccination and Democracy will not tolerate censorship.

Marchers faced counter-protesters wearing face masks, one of whom held up a placard reading Vaccinated.

Police officers remove demonstrators from a square during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

With Germany in its fourth month of lockdown and vaccination efforts lagging compared to Britain and the United States, many people, from shopkeepers to would-be holidaymakers, are increasingly restive at the lack of a clear path to a return to normal life.

National and regional leaders are due to consult on Monday over the next steps in the national lockdown. But with case numbers rising sharply thanks to the spread of more infectious variants, many politicians are saying it is too early to ease restrictions.

Demonstrators attend a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters
New Delhi: BJP national president JP Nadda will release the party's manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Assam on Tuesday (March 23).

Nadda will be on a two-day visit to Assam and West Bengal from Monday. Apart from unveiling the party's manifesto, he will attend several other programmes.

Nadda will address a public rally at Rajgarh Tea Estate in Dibrugarh's Tingkhong on Monday, the party said in a statement.

In the afternoon, he will address another mega public rally at Borholla Tea Estate playground in Jorhat's Titabor.

"Nadda will address a third public rally in Assam at Borgaon New Ketla Tea Estate field in Behali. After three rallies, he will hold a meeting with the workers of Biswanath district," the statement added.

"This manifesto will add new dimensions to the developmental works being carried out by the Assam BJP-led NDA government in the last five years under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A manifesto is not a mere document for us, it is our 'Sankalp Patra'," the statement said.

Later, in the day, Nadda will hold a roadshow from Ghatal Town Kushpata to Ghatal Town Central Bus Stand at Paschim Medinipur in Bengal.

On Sunday, BJP released its manifesto for West Bengal polls.

The party has promised to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in all state government jobs if voted to power.

While releasing the manifesto, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that CAA will be implemented in the first Cabinet. The party also promised free KG to PG education for all women and free travel for them in public transport.

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Mar. 21Like many politicians, Republican congressional candidate Eddy Aragon has a grievance against the powers that be.

He says an election is being manipulated and sullied, possibly to his detriment. That claim is common enough.

What's unusual is the target of Aragon's complaint. He is raging against people who are his allies  at least on paper.

He says the New Mexico Republican Party has broken federal law in structuring a nominating election for the vacant seat in the 1st Congressional District.

Aragon is one of the candidates. He says four other Republicans have been improperly included on the ballot.

"Only I and Elisa Martinez are legally registered with the Federal Election Commission," Aragon said. "All four other so-called candidates either have never registered with the FEC or registered too late after declaring. They are not legal candidates, and they should not be on the ballot."

An executive committee member of the state Republican Party told me Aragon is off base.

"They are following the statute completely, and are in strict compliance with it," said Robert Aragon, no relation to Eddy.

The law on federal elections is thick with verbiage. It covers 256 pages. Executives of the state Republican Party point to a few paragraphs in Title 52, Chapter 301, Subchapter 1 to rebut Eddy Aragon's claims of lawbreaking.

That section states someone running for a seat in the House of Representatives becomes a candidate when he or she raises or spends more than $5,000.

It goes on to state federal registration must occur within 15 days after someone becomes a candidate.

Eddy Aragon described the statute differently.

"FEC law states that candidates must register within 15 days of declaring," he said.

But declaring oneself a candidate might not mean anything if no campaign money has been raised or spent, according to the federal law.

Eddy Aragon, owner of a radio station, is making his first sustained try for public office. He ran briefly for mayor of Albuquerque in 2017 before pulling out. Aragon was an independent then.

Story continues

His allegiance now is to the GOP. Eddy Aragon in December ran for chairman of the state Republican Party. He lost to the incumbent, Steve Pearce.

As a congressional candidate, Aragon remains critical of Pearce, especially his handling of the nominating election.

"Weeks ago," Eddy Aragon said, "I called for a simple, easy and transparent roll-call vote. But party Chairman Steve Pearce insisted on hiring a new company for electronic balloting  with illegal candidates."

Aragon didn't stop there, tossing brickbats at Pearce while praising himself.

"In the absence of any party leadership, I have stepped up to police this election while simultaneously running for CD 1," Aragon said.

At least Aragon doesn't have to worry about losing Pearce's vote. Pearce lives in the 2nd Congressional District.

The Republican nominee for Congress will be chosen Saturday by 135 members of the 1st District's central committee.

Robert Aragon of the state Republican Party said he expects every congressional candidate to file federal candidacy forms by Friday. That means six candidates would remain in contention.

Eddy Aragon's objections could escalate if everyone remains on the ballot.

"Looks like we will see them in court," he wrote in a text message.

Eddy Aragon says the four candidates who should be disqualified are Jared Vander Dussen, Ronnie Lucero, Michaela Chavez and Mark Moores.

Whoever receives the nomination will be an underdog in the special election against a Democrat on June 1. A Republican has not won the 1st District seat since 2006.

Democrats on the state central committee will choose their congressional nominee from a field that includes state lawmakers, a community activist and a former aide to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Eddy Aragon said the opposition had done better organizational work than his party's leadership.

"All eight Democratic candidates for CD 1 are legally registered with the FEC and have been for some time," he said.

The Republican Party executive said Saturday he hadn't received or seen a formal complaint from Eddy Aragon.

It's early. Aragon's criticism of his own party won't end unless most of his competitors vanish.

Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080.
Ghazipur, March 21 : Farmers are busy competing with each other beautifying their respective tents placed at the protest sites on the borders of the national Capital.

The farmers have been protesting at the Delhi border since November 26.

The tents placed near the protest site at the Ghazipur border have been beautified by farmers placing flower pots and applying other creative means. One of the farmers has also built a small meeting place outside the tents and has surrounded it with greenery. These tents look quite beautiful and attractive while they are adorned with various flowers.

Baba Jagga, one of the protesters sitting at the Ghazipur border, told IANS, "We love everything whether it is cultivating flowers or paddy cultivation, one feels good in such a green environment, it feels better to maintain cleanliness all around while it also makes the tents beautiful." Rajveer Singh Jadaun, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Uttar Pradesh state President, told IANS, "It is natural for the farmers to plant trees wherever he/she lives. The farmers have to stay at the protest site for a long time so they are beautifying their tents." Initially, the farmers had pitched tents, but with each passing day, they are trying to make the tents their second home, and therefore are leaving no stone unturned to make them beautiful. Farmers coming from different states at the protest site are beautifying their tents in their own distinct ways.

Some farmers are beautifying their surroundings with greenery outside their tents, while some are making them attractive by painting them. Some farmers are busy giving a distinct makeover to their tents by writing on agricultural subjects displayed on their tents.
The visit of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin to India, along with Japan and South Korea within a week of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Summit held on March 12, indicates a quick follow up. The Summit did not name China directly, but Beijing seemed nervous and rattled about the event, as its mouthpiece Global times accused the Quad members to be hyping the "China threat" before the event and expressed that India will not go US way due to its own ambition and economic dependency on China, after the visit. Apparently, China saw a major challenge to its dream of China Centric Asia Pa-cific, in Quad's call for a free, open, inclusive, healthy, Indo-Pacific region that is "anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion". China's hope that the four-country group hasn't formed a cohesive force from within, may need a revisit, after the Quad leaders agreed to give joint statement, committed to holding an in-person leaders' summit by the end of 2021 and agreed to pursue important agendas through three focused working groups.

Benign agenda but clear trajectory Besides unanimity in need for free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific, the key agenda which attracted global attention was collective response to Covid-19 pandemic in terms of synergizing the vaccination efforts for humanity, with India as manufacturing hub, assisted by others to roll out one billion vaccines by 2020. The other two issues of working groups being emerging critical technologies and climate change. The agenda seems benign, but Beijing did not miss the connection of freedom of navigation, overflight and the concerns over "aggression" and "coercion" against members of Quad by China in its first summit meeting. No-one during the Summit called out China directly, but China knows that it challenged rule-based order by junk-ing PCA's decision in South China Sea (SCS) and continues to coerce countries in Indo-Pacific region.

The list of shared challenges to be addressed also includes cyber space, critical tech-nologies, counterterrorism, quality infrastructure investment, and humanitarian-assis-tance and disaster-relief (HADR), some of which echo Chinese alleged involvement like cyber attacks and transparency of World Health Organization. The Quad's assertion to support the rule of law, freedom of navigation, overflight, democratic values, and territorial integrity has added to frustration of Beijing, which has started firing salvo of propaganda through its mouthpiece Global Times, calling India (the only Non-NATO partner) as "Negative Asset for BRICS and SCO" failing to understand Chinese good-will! Quad's announcement of forthcoming naval drills of Quad plus countries and will-ingness of some NATO members like the UK, France and Germany, to join in responding to challenges in Indo-Pacific, has further added to discomfort of China, indicating for-ward trajectory of Quad.

China overplays divergences in Quad China will like the world to believe that there are wide divergences in four democracies getting together, but in the evolution process, Quad seems to be getting over some of them. There is much more acceptability regarding divergent definitions and focus ar-eas within the Indo-Pacific region. With the series of foundational agreements like COMCASA, BECA, LEMOA and CISMOA signed between US and India, and naval exercises, the inter-operability of India with other Quad members, operating within NATO military alliance framework, has improved. The joint statements of Defence Ministers of the US and India on March 20 indicates convergence in approach and intention to have better defence cooperation between both countries in line with Quad commitments and strategic partnership.

India is the only country amongst Quad members, which has unsettled land border with China. After Doklam and Ladakh standoffs, it's quite clear to Indians that China can't be trusted, which has brought relatively better clarity in Indian position. The economic entanglement of each of the Quad members with China necessitates a resilient supply chain, digital and technological eco system, with minimal dependence on China. There has been consensus regarding support for ASEAN's centrality in the Indo-Pacific as well, but their inclusion into it will be a debatable issue, due to Chinese influence over them. China has always tried to deal with every country on bilateral terms, using its Comprehensive National Power (CNP) to its advantage and will continue to do so even with Quad members.

Countering Chinese Challenge? The 'Incremental Encroachment Strategy' of China exhibited in SCS, East China Sea (ECS) and Ladakh is a serious concern not only to the countries directly affected by overlapping EEZ or unsettled borders, but also to rest of the world, as China continues to convert features/atolls into military bases, expect others to accept them as islands and apply 'Baseline principle' under UNCLOS-III to claim its 200 nautical miles of EEZ thus converting SCS into 'Chinese lake' over a period of time. It poses threat to free-dom of navigation (FON) and flight along global Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) and may lead to some restrictions like Air Defence Identification Zone in SCS. Any such action by any country to restrict FON/flight or violation of rule of law must be challenged in UN Security Council backed by Quad. All members of Quad except US have ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III); hence the US needs to ratify the same, to have a moral high ground to implement it.

China seems reasonably confident that the US or any other country will not use military force to dismantle their infrastructure constructed in SCS. It is also increasing its naval capability at unprecedented pace. In this context it is necessary that Quad strengthens itself beyond Malabar exercises, gets some teeth in the form of maritime capacity building of its members and capacity to dominate choke points sensitive to China, as it's not a military alliance so far. Quad will therefore need a formal structure and a secretariat to take it forward.

Way ahead for Quad Covid-19 vaccines will be manufactured in India, financed by the US and Japan with logistical support from Australia. The intention of Quad to synergize medical, scientific, financing, manufacturing, critical emerging-technology and developmental capabilities in future, is a step in right direction. Sharing of innovative technology and capacity building for climatic challenges will serve the interest of humanity and make Quad an effective grouping.

Quad members must continue freedom of navigation exercises and military posturing in Indo-Pacific, as China continues to do so. If the strategic situation worsens there may be a need to position 'UN Maritime Military Observers Group', as prevention of accidental triggering of conflict is possible in a region having high density of combat ship on FON missions.

The Summit did not signal expansion, but it needs to have flexibility to incorporate like-minded democratic countries, as many would be keen to join Quad in future, because Indo-Pacific region is becoming the global economic centre of gravity and manufacturing hub. Support of other navies like France, UK, Germany and other NATO members will be good deterrence to peace spoilers. Quad in its present form may not be structured to check Chinese adventurism, but it seems to be on right trajectory to become one of the most effective instruments to do so. Chinese aggressive reactions during meeting of top officials of US and China indicates that Quad has put China on notice, without even naming it, forcing it to showcase its strong stance to domestic audience behind nervousness.

(Major General S.B. Asthana is a strategic and security analyst, a veteran Infantry General with 40 years experience in national & international fields and the UN. A globally acknowledged strategic & military writer/analyst authored over 350 publications. The views expressed are personal)
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/21/2021



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Rebecca and Zied decided to end their relationship or are still together.]

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So are Rebecca and Zied still together now or did the couple call it quits?

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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.

's eighth season showed Rebecca Parrott questioning if she should call off her wedding to Zied Hakimi since he was suddenly in a big rush to marry, so did the couple break up or go through with the wedding? What do spoilers reveal about whether Rebecca and Zied are still together?Rebecca was a 47-year-old private investigator when she fell hard and fast for Zied, a then-26 year old from Tunisia whom she had met online. The pair first starred on Season 3 of : Before the 90 Days.Rebecca said her first two marriages were with "average, run-of-the-mill American men" and her third marriage turned out to be a nightmare because the Moroccan man -- who moved to America to be with her on a spousal visa -- became overly jealous and controlling once he arrived in the U.S.Rebecca was sure, however, her relationship with Zied would be different and Zied is a better man with the right intentions.Rebecca therefore traveled over 15 hours to Tunisia with the goal of getting engaged to Zied, but her third divorce had yet to be finalized. (Rebecca hadn't filed the paperwork although both she and her ex signed the papers).Despite their differences and past mistakes, Rebecca and Zied determined that they wanted to be together forever -- and so Zied proposed marriage during a picnic in the Sahara Desert.Rebecca thought the marriage proposal was "perfect," and then she returned to America and filed for the K-1 visa.On the premiere of 's eighth season, Zied's K-1 visa was finally approved -- and Rebecca was absolutely ecstatic.Zied's parents hoped for a better life for Zied, it was an extremely sad goodbye both for Zied and his beloved family.When Zied finally arrived in America, he and Rebecca hugged tight because they had both been waiting for this for two years. Zied told Rebecca that he missed her so much and was so happy to be with her again."We've been through this before, where she's met foreign men who are half her age pretty much, and it just always goes bad," Rebecca's daughter Tiffany complained in a confessional."It's like she's a love-sick teenager. But we still don't know his intentions."Zied said he was looking forward to making his own money, but he couldn't work for six months. Rebecca said Zied is certified in plumbing repair but would be open to pretty much anything.Zied struggled to adjust to life in America given he felt so distant from his loved ones. He showered Rebecca, however, with love and affection. For example, he gave Rebecca a bracelet he had purchased for her in Tunisia."Zied is absolutely the most romantic, thoughtful and caring man I've ever been in a relationship with. He surprises me constantly!" Rebecca gushed."I want to feel like Zied is ready to be my husband and build a life here with me. As homesick as he is, if Zied isn't happy here, I don't know if this marriage will even happen," Rebecca shared.Rebecca's friend Melanie acknowledged there were similarities between Zied and Rebecca's Moroccan ex who had crushed her heart. Melanie also spilled the beans to Zied that Rebecca had previously lived in the same apartment complex with her third ex-husband."The same home. I hate this," Zied admitted. "She is my fiancee now. Of course that makes me jealous -- any man in the world [would be]. But I don't like to see Rebecca upset [and cry]."Zied therefore comforted Rebecca and said he was tired of people comparing him to Rebecca's ex.Rebecca said Melanie was borderline disrespectful to Zied but she was just thankful Zied had handled the situation so well.But Rebecca and Zied had to work through other issues as well, such as Rebecca getting jealous when pretty American women would talk to Zied. In addition, Rebecca -- who has five grandchildren -- can't have anymore children after undergoing a partial hysterectomy due to a tumor.Rebecca asked Zied if he was sure that he wouldn't want children of his own someday because she felt guilt about taking that possibility away from him.Zied said he was totally okay with not having children, but Rebecca worried Zied might change his mind in the future since he was only 27 years old.Rebecca told Zied that she wouldn't allow him to divorce her if he woke up one day and realized having a child was very important to him.Rebecca later took Zied to a venue where they could have their wedding. She surprised him with a horse-drawn carriage, and Rebecca said her goal was to make Zied excited about planning their wedding.Zied told Rebecca that while she wanted a big and beautiful wedding, coronavirus was spreading and he needed to get married quickly."I'm disappointed Zied is willing to settle so quickly on just having a regular courthouse wedding," Rebecca shared with the cameras."Despite the fact I've been married three times before, to be honest, this feels like the first time I'm getting married and this is going to be my last wedding. So I want it to be special!"Rebecca desired a "normal" wedding, but Zied told Rebecca that he wanted to marry her before Ramadan, which is the biggest holiday for people who practice Islam and started in a few weeks from that point.The holiday lasts about a month long, and Rebecca wondered why Zied hadn't brought this up earlier."So if I don't marry you quickly, you do home?" Rebecca asked."Yeah," Zied replied.Zied said his visa was going to expire one week after Ramadan and if Rebecca chose to wait until then, they'd have to live apart.With 67 days left to wed on Zied's K-1 visa, Rebecca admitted to Zied that she was really stressed out."It's possible he could be playing me just like my ex from Morocco did," Rebecca admitted. "[This situation] makes me feel like telling him, 'Go live somewhere else.'"Rebecca accused Zied of springing this on her, and she wasn't happy since her work schedule was hectic and they were also in coronavirus times. Rebecca said she wasn't going to rush their marriage and didn't understand why Zied was acting this way."I am here for you Rebecca, I am not here for America," Zied insisted.Zied was frustrated Rebecca still questioned his intentions given he had given up his friends and family to move to America to be with her. Zied admitted he was not happy in the U.S. and didn't know what to do.Rebecca later sat down for a conversation with Zied and told him that they didn't have the money for Zied to temporarily move out until they could get married. Zied said he couldn't stay in the apartment with Rebecca if they weren't married before Ramadan.Zied asked Rebecca for a solution, and she replied, "My solution is to not get married before Ramadan and that you would stay with me."Zied explained it's "so bad" to do anything in the month of Ramadan for his Muslim people, including going out and drinking or staying in the same house with one's girlfriend."So you're a strict Muslim one month out of the year?" Rebecca snapped.Rebecca told Zied that she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible before getting married but the situation had nothing to do with her not wanting to marry him. Rebecca explained that she wanted to take advantage of their time together that the K-1 visa allows.In the back of her mind, Rebecca still feared Zied was taking advantage of her."I have to believe that he loves me, and so am I overreacting?" Rebecca questioned, before adding in a confessional, "This is a lot to take, and I'm not happy about it."Zied suggested to Rebecca they could have "a beautiful wedding" in Tunisia after coronavirus ends, and Rebecca seemed to come around to the idea of tying the knot sooner rather than later.At that point, Ramadan was only 12 days away, and due to Rebecca's work schedule, they'd have to marry the weekend before, which cut the deadline down even shorter.Rebecca said she and Zied only had eight days to get married and they couldn't even wed in a courthouse due to the governor shutting the government down amid COVID-19. Rebecca wasn't even sure there was a way to wed at the time."I don't think this is the right thing for me to be doing, but he has been a part of every single day of my life -- a big part, every day for the last two years. And I can't bear to lose him at this point, for any reason," Rebecca said in a confessional.Rebecca let Zied know that she'd do things his way but she wasn't happy about it.With only four days left to wed before Ramadan, Rebecca lost her engagement ring and was feeling so rushed, hectic and frazzled. The cabin resort Rebecca and Zied had previously visited, however, agreed to host their wedding.While Rebecca searched for her engagement ring, Zied was playing video games and didn't seem to care. Rebecca said that marriage proposal was the most romantic moment of her life."The person Zied was in Tunisia is not the person I'm seeing right now," Rebecca lamented. "It feels all that matters to Zied is we get married this weekend, and I'm left to do everything for the wedding."Considering Zied was trying to move up the wedding, Tiffany feared Zied was trying to trap her mother in a marriage and had ulterior motives.Tiffany wondered if Rebecca losing her engagement ring was "a sign," and Rebecca's wedding dress apparently didn't fit. Zied suggested he and Rebecca could both wear jeans to the ceremony, and that also bothered Rebecca and was a red flag for Tiffany.Rebecca was fairly convinced her relationship was going to last forever, but Tiffany mentioned how her loved ones had never been wrong about "red flags" before. Tiffany told the cameras Rebecca was "lovestruck" and never thought with her head."Honestly, right now, I feel like I'm on a train that's going 90 miles an hour. I honestly kind of feel like I woke up on the train that I never even meant to get on," Rebecca confessed."I think getting married should be easy and beautiful, and none of this feels that way. So I don't know if I should get off the train or ride it out."Rebecca and her ex-husband from Morocco finalized their divorce on July 9, 2019, according to divorce documents obtained by In Touch Weekly.According to Rebecca, Zied's visa was approved less than four months after they applied for it, which was a short period of time considering they both anticipated it could take anywhere from six months to a year.Rebecca told Us Weekly in a late December 2020 interview the K-1 visa process "wasn't too bad" after all."We were very fortunate at that time... He got here and within two days, COVID hit and everything was locked down. So we just [got him to America] under the wire," Rebecca said.Rebecca and Zied reportedly obtained their marriage license on April 14, 2020.Rebecca and Zied exchanged vows and got married in Lumpkin County, GA, on April 19, 2020, according to a representative from the Probate Court in Cherokee County, In Touch reported.Zied is therefore now a married man seemingly living with Rebecca in Canton, GA.The couple expressed love to one another in Summer 2020, showing they were still a happy couple, and then on October 15, Zied posted a photo of Rebecca kissing him on the cheek when they were both wearing winter hats."I love you so much my love @tlc_90day_rebecca #tlc #90dayfiance #rebeccaandzied," he wrote alongside the picture with numerous heart-eyes emoticons.Rebecca then replied in the comments section, "Babyyy I love you more. Mahboulla bik habibii."Zied and Rebecca's main Instagram photos also feature one another.But Rebecca admitted Zied didn't adjust well to life in America at first."He's never been married before. He's never been in a long-term relationship before. He's never been to another country before... He basically said, 'This is not what I thought it was going to be,' and he was very unhappy," Rebecca shared with Us in her December interview."He missed his family and it was really hard. It was a struggle."Rebecca also said "a rather large argument" made matters worse when Zied and Rebecca were trying to adjust to life together in America shortly after Zied's arrival."I know if I were going to Tunisia and I was going to live there, I would have something in my head of what [to expect]," Rebecca said."I don't know what it would be, but I guarantee you sitting in quarantine wouldn't have crossed my mind. That's not something that's in your toolbox to consider."Rebecca noted Zied just sat around and couldn't drive or go anywhere, and she admitted life didn't get any easier in subsequent months after Zied's big move."If I were in any -- literally almost any -- other field of work, this would have been a blessing in disguise," Rebecca told Us, referencing how she manages a fast-food restaurant."Can you imagine [if] I would have gotten the stimulus checks and probably gotten unemployment to stay home? We would have thought it was written just for us. We would have gotten to stay together, like, 'This is amazing!' Or we would have killed each other, I don't know."Rebecca continued, "But you know, because of my job, it was just the worst possible scenario. So it wasn't the best... It was really bad."Rebecca had been hoping to travel with Zied -- including stops in Miami and New York -- before the coronavirus pandemic, and so she said life recently has been "a bit of a letdown."More recently, Zied dropped huge hints he is still living in the United States, presumably with Rebecca, in January 2021 Instagram posts.Zied posted a slideshow of images with his family at the airport in early January and captioned them, "I want to say to my mother, father, sister, family and friends @ssen10 @khalilaymen3 and the other goodbye. I promise to come back to see you soon .. I love you all very much .. #90dayfiance #rebeccaandzied #tlc."Saying he'll "come back" to see his family in Tunisia "soon" indicates he still resides in America.On January 13, 2021, Rebecca wished Zied a happy birthday on Instagram by posting a photo of the two of them."Happy Birthday @tlc_90day_zied I hope you have a wonderful day full of all the blessings you deserve," Rebecca wrote, along with a heart. "#rebeccaandzied #90dayfiance #happybirthday #tlc."On January 18, Rebecca posted an entire slideshow featuring sweet and affectionate photos of Zied and herself, with many of them apparently having been taken in the United States.Zied also took to Instagram in late January with a picture of Rebecca and himself wearing cowboy hats.And in February, Rebecca posted on Instagram suggesting she and Zied remain a team against haters and skeptics."I'm so fortunate that [Zied] has been so patient with all the comparisons to you-know-[who] from everyone around me. To everyone who has been telling me I should've stuck up for him, I actually did, it just wasn't shown," Rebecca captioned a video of her friend Melanie calling Rebecca out for having lived in the same apartment complex with her ex-husband."And that's okay. I appreciate the many messages I have received since last night. Also please remember I had a tough time meeting his friends and family as well. Everything will work itself out, one way or another.""Ultimately, we knew our relationship would face a lot of tests," she continued."It's how we handle these tests that will determine if we make it or not. But I really wish it were easier for Zied. No matter what, he does not deserve to be compared to anyone else. We really appreciate everyone's support. Thank you."In fact, Rebecca revealed on 90 Day Bares All she is no longer friends with Melanie and will never forgive her for telling Zied about the apartment building.In mid-February, Rebecca posted a photo of herself wearing an apron that reads, "I [love] you like Zied [love]s Rebecca.""Y'all when I saw this, I literally got tears in my eyes!! One of my wonderful followers on Facebook sent this to me. She had this made as a Valentine's Day gift," Rebecca gushed in the caption."Tame Nunes Tess, you made my day! I hope your hubby loves it! Happy Valentine's Day to you both #valentines #love #90dayfiance #rebeccaandzied #90dayfiancefansarethebest."Around that same time, Zied posted a video montage featuring Rebecca and himself for Rebecca's birthday. He wished Rebecca a "happy birthday" and clearly appears to still be smitten with her.In early March 2021, Zied posted pictures from a day at Six flags with three of his male friends, proving he is definitely still in the United States.As recently as mid-March, Rebecca also posted a funny video of Zied using a Snapchat filter for the first time. The lovebirds were cracking up laughing together and seemed to be really happy."Y'all this is so funny! @tlc_90day_zied seeing himself with a filter," Rebecca captioned the post along with multiple crying-laughing emoticons.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
Auden Living is an off-campus student community that caters specifically to university students with a unique approach to student living.

Attending university can be a wonderful and exciting experience, but it can also bring its own unique challenges as students begin to take on more responsibilities. Auden Living has announced its Residential Experiences Program aimed at helping university students on its off-campus housing complexes across the country improve their social experience while living away from home.

For many people, university is about much more than just studying. Students are learning new subject matter for their degrees, but they are also learning about who they are. Sometimes, students need some extra support and encouragement to really thrive. The biggest piece of advice new students will hear for finding that support is to join a supportive living community.

Auden Living's off-campus housing communities located at universities across the country, including Cornell, Rice, University of Houston, University of South Carolina, and SUNY Albany cater specifically to university students with a unique approach to student living. Each Auden community engages students in an inclusive and positive way of living that is designed to foster a sense of belonging and contribute to the personal and academic growth of each residential student. With properties in Albany, Ithaca, Houston, Spartanburg and Buffalo, Auden Living is more than just a place to live; its an unmatched lifestyle.

Life at Auden provides a safe space where students can leave campus each day and unwind from school pressures. By bringing together its residents through community involvement and local area activities, Audens Residential Experience Program ensures that students wont ever feel like just a number or a face in the crowd. The program is dedicated to connecting Auden residents through networking opportunities, community involvement and local area activities. International students benefit from Audens partnership with Bridges From Borders, a multicultural organization which provides a wellbeing care program for foreign students. All of Audens activities are directed at building peer relationships which aim to enhance students capacity for intellectual, social and interpersonal growth.

Auden Living also provides students with a place to learn life skills and gain independence, as residents will be responsible for paying bills, cleaning and purchasing and cooking their own food. The ability to truly live like a real-world adult, gives residents an opportunity to learn how to handle new responsibilities. By growing and learning together, residents build authentic, long lasting relationships that provide a support system for a successful university experience.

Fueled by a unique dedication to community, unmatched expertise and persistent innovation, Auden Living continues to push boundaries in the student housing industry. By providing customized communities designed to enhance the learning and living experience, Auden Living provides a residential connection to campus where students can grow, lead and inspire.

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Auden is a collection of luxury student housing developed by New York-based real estate developer DMG Investments. Their portfolio of student communities are located across the US and serve universities including SUNY Albany, Cornell University, University of South Carolina, University of Houston, Rice University and Texas Southern University. Learn more about them at http://www.audenliving.com

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Headquartered in New York City at 100 Wall Street, DMG Investments LLC ("DMG") was established in 2013.

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As the portfolio continues to grow, DMG is dedicated to providing amenities and services that enhance the livability of each project be it in the student housing, traditional multifamily or condominium sector. In the years to come, the goal of DMG is to become a global real estate enterprise with a world-class reputation for sustainable development and a business philosophy that emphasizes the importance of delivering value for investors, owners and residents.
Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya, right foreground, is seen with his band of armed extremists. Philippine troops captured an Abu Sayyaf rebel commander blamed for years of ransom kidnappings and rescued the last of his four Indonesian captives on Sunday, March 21, 2021. (AP Photo, File)

Filipino Troops Kill Rebel Commander, Rescue Last Hostage

MANILA, PhilippinesPhilippine troops killed a commander of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group blamed for years of ransom kidnappings and on Sunday rescued the last of his four Indonesian captives, the military said.

Marines wounded Amajan Sahidjuan in a gunbattle Saturday night and he later died from loss of blood on Kalupag Island in the southernmost province of Tawi Tawi. Two other terrorists managed to flee and dragged along the last of four Indonesian hostages but troops finally rescued him on Sunday, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. said.

On Thursday night, three Indonesian men were rescued by police who also captured one of their Abu Sayyaf captors along the shores of South Ubian town in Tawi Tawi.

The military said the Abu Sayyaf terrorists led by Sahidjuan were fleeing assaults in nearby Sulu province when their speedboat was lashed by huge waves and overturned off Tawi Tawi.

A military officer said the terrorists were attempting to cross the sea border to Tambisan Island in neighboring Malaysias Sabah state to release the captives in exchange for a ransom of at least five million pesos ($104,000), but the Philippine military got wind of the plan and launched covert assaults.

The officer, who has a keen knowledge of anti-Abu Sayyaf operations, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to speak publicly.

Vinluan said the rescue of the Indonesian men, the last known hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf, would allow government forces to finish off the ransom-seeking rebels.

It will just be relentless in a massive and focused military operation because, now, we would not worry about kidnap victims getting hit, Vinluan told reporters by telephone.

Vinluan said there were about 80 Abu Sayyaf gunmen left in Sulu and outlying island provinces. One of their remaining elderly leaders, Radulan Sahiron, has fallen ill and was wounded in a recent offensive in Sulu, he said.

Sahidjuan, who uses the nom de guerre Apuh Mike, has been blamed for carrying out ransom kidnappings since the early 1990s. He was reportedly among Abu Sayyaf terrorists who attacked the southern largely Christian town of Ipil in 1995, where they killed more than 50 people after robbing banks and stores and burning the town center in one of their most audacious raids.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small but violent group that has been separately blacklisted by the Philippines and the United States as a terrorist organization for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings. Some of its factions have aligned themselves with the ISIS terrorist group.

The terrorists have been considerably weakened by years of military offensives, surrenders, and battle setbacks but remain a national security threat. They set off a security alarm in the region in recent years after they started venturing away from their jungle encampments in Sulu, a poverty wracked Muslim province in the largely Roman Catholic nation, and staged kidnappings in Malaysian coastal towns and targeted crews of cargo ships.

By Jim Gomez
OTTAWA - Federal New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh renewed his pitch to young voters on Saturday, pledging that an NDP government would cancel up to $20,000 in tuition.

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

OTTAWA - Federal New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh renewed his pitch to young voters on Saturday, pledging that an NDP government would cancel up to $20,000 in tuition.

Singh announced he would also freeze federal student loan payments until the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and eliminate interest on student debt if elected.

The announcement, presented as a campaign-style pledge ahead of a possible election this year, comes as federal parties prepare to battle it out for the hearts and ballots of young voters.

Statistics Canada found last fall that more than 60 per cent of post-secondary students were concerned about using up their savings and taking on more debt.

The Liberals imposed a moratorium on Canada Student Loan payments between last April and September, but the freeze has long since thawed and student groups have urged Ottawa to suspend payment obligations again.

Singh said the government has been "profiting off the backs of young people" by taking in more than $4 billion in interest payments since 2015.

"Young people are making student loan payments the size of mortgage payments  spending years under crushing debt, not able to get ahead. And the COVID-19 pandemic only made matters worse," he said at the party's virtual youth convention.

An education should help young people get ahead, not leave them further behind."

Singh also repeated his commitment to work with provinces and territories toward tuition-free post-secondary education.

Under the NDP plan, student debt forgiveness would be capped at $20,000, with the amount determined based on a household's average income for five years after graduation.

Borrowers with annual incomes above $60,000 would see the amount of debt reduction available shrink linearly up to $100,000 in income, at which point no chunk of the debt would be cancelled. (For reach dollar of income above $60,000, the amount of debt forgiven would decrease by 50 cents from the $20,000 starting point.)

The announcement goes beyond Singh's 2019 election campaign promise to nix all current and future interest on federal student loans.

More than 868,000 borrowers hold Canada Student Loans amounting to $9.77 billion, according to an auditor general's report released last July.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2021.
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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.
Filming is underway on The Block 2021 in Melbourne.

On Sunday, hosts Scott Cam, 58, and Shelley Craft, 44, were busy filming at the new location of Bronte Court in Hampton, Victoria.

Shelley looked chic in an olive green shirt with long sleeves with a pretty puff at the hem.

Hard at work: Filming is underway on The Block 2021 in Melbourne. On Sunday, hosts Scott Cam, 58, and Shelley Craft, 44, were busy filming at the new location of Bronte Court, in Hampton, Victoria. Both pictured

The bubbly blonde added a pair of fitted blue jeans, which had trendy frayed hems, to the casually cool ensemble.

She completed the look with a pair of caramel toned suede boots and a dainty gold necklace.

Shelley carried a luxury Chanel bag, believed to be the classic model in lambskin, valued at $10,800.

Cool customer: Shelley looked chic in an olive green shirt with long sleeves with a pretty puff at the hem. The bubbly blonde added a pair of fitted blue jeans, which had trendy frayed hems

When he arrived at the set, Scott complemented his fellow TV host on her expensive Channel bag.

Scott looked casual in a blue shirt and matching navy trousers, a brown belt and a pair of black, leather boots.

There are several other familiar faces returning to take part in the popular renovation series.

Nice bag! Shelley carried a luxury Chanel bag in black lambskin, valued at $10,800

Fan favourites among the contestants this year including glamorous granddads Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie.

The Block's 2021 season will be filmed in Hampton, in Melbourne's south-east, after Nine spent $3million on five homes in a quiet cul-de-sac, Bronte Court.

The reality show is reportedly set to introduce the biggest twist ever seen in its 17-year history this year, as an insider has claimed house and partner-swapping gimmicks will be included for the first time.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Photo: Thierry Monasse / Pool/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The European Union has upped the ante in the bloc's vaccine row with drugmaker Swedish-British drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) as the continent's inoculation programme falls behind.

European Commission (EC) president Ursula von der Leyen renewed threats over the weekend and declared a jab warfare on the UK, threatening it would block exports of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from reaching Britain.

Von der Leyen said the continent has the power to ban exports if the pharma firm didn't meet its supply obligations to the EU. "That is the message to AstraZeneca. You fulfil your contract with Europe before you start delivering to other countries," she told German newspapers.

The news comes after thirteen countries, including France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands temporarily banned the use of the AstraZeneca jab over worries it caused blood clots but many have resumed their programmes after the European Medicines Agency declared it safe for use on Friday.

It is not the first time, the EC president has threatened the UK amid the vaccine row. Previously, von der Leyen said she would halt the export of coronavirus vaccines into Britain unless Boris Johnson surrendered British-made AstraZeneca jabs to the EU.

Britain reached a milestone, announcing on Saturday that half of the UK adult population have now received a first dose of a COVID vaccine.

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.

In Europe, only 12% of adults in France, Germany and Italy have had vaccines as the EU countries grapple with a third wave COVID-19.

The reality of a third wave is more and more likely for countries such as France, the Netherlands and Italy, triggering fresh restrictions in several EU countries, with France going into its third lockdown across 16 regions, including Paris.

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READ MORE: UK summer holidays 'unlikely' amid vaccine chaos and variant fears

Defence secretary Ben Wallace said on Sunday that the "grown-up thing" would be for the EC and some of the EU leaders to not "indulge in rhetoric but to recognise the obligations that we all have."

"We will all hold each other to our contracts. Making a vaccine is like baking a cake. We all have different ingredients and the European Commission will know that," he added.

The opposition Labour Party also backed the government in the row over vaccines, calling on Brussels to "calm" its rhetoric over a potential exports ban. Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy, called von der Leyen's comments "deeply unhelpful."

On Friday, US drugmaker Pfizer (PFE) also waded into the row, warning the EU not to block vaccines to the UK, as it relies heavily on vital ingredients from Yorkshire, the Telegraph reported.

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.

Watch: Raab blasts EU brinkmanship over threat to halt coronavirus vaccine exports
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.
(Newser)  With the scheduled May 1 withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan approaching, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin flew unannounced to Kabul on Sunday for talks, saying the US wants "a transition to something else." In the first visit by a member of the Biden administration, Austin met with President Ashraf Ghani, as well as the top US commander and diplomat, the Washington Post reports. About 2,500 US troops are stationed in Afghanistan, in addition to several hundred more rotated in for brief deployments; more than 2,300 American troops have been killed since 2001. At one point during the 20-year deployment, the Pentagon had more than 100,000 troops there. The Trump administration signed a deal with the Taliban last year stating that all US forces will be gone by May 1.

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Austin would not say whether the Taliban had kept its part of the deal, per the New York Times. "It's obvious that the level of violence remains pretty high in the country," Austin told reporters as he was leaving later in the day. "We'd really like to see that violence come down, and I think if it does come down it can begin to set the conditions for some really fruitful diplomatic work." Asked whether the withdrawal date could change, he said that's up to President Biden. The president said last week that the deadline would be tough to make, per the Guardian, adding that any extension would not be long. Austin said Sunday that he came to listen, bringing no particular message to Ghani. Austin, who had been in India, wanted the visit kept under wraps, but local reporters broke the story when his meeting with Ghani ended. (The children of US troops sent to Afghanistan are now assuming the mission.)
New Delhi, March 21 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will address a 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' against the Centre's three farm laws in Punjab's Moga district on Sunday.

According to party sources, Kejriwal is likely to attack the ruling Congress and the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for forcing the farmers to sit in protest for nearly four months.

"The BJP-led Centre, Captain Amarinder Singh and the Badals of SAD are all responsible for bringing the three black agricultural laws. The AAP have stood with the farmers who have been fighting for their rights against the three black farm laws at Delhi's borders," AAP said in a statement issued hours before Kejriwal will address the Kisan Mahapanchayat.

It would be the second Kisan Mahapanchayat that Kejriwal will address since the protest began in November last year. He addressed the first Kisan Mahapanchayat in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on February 28 and would be addressing another gathering in Haryana's Jind district on April 4. Hundreds of farmers mainly from these three states -- Uttar Pradesh (Western part), Haryana and Punjab have been protesting against the Centre's three farm laws and demanding roll back calling it as 'anti-farmers' laws.

"Captain Amarindar Singh does not want to settle the farmers' issue. Similarly, the SAD was involved in the process of framing the Bill from the beginning. Arvind Kejriwal's Mahapanchayat will give a voice to the issue across the country," AAP said.

The party in its statement further noted that there has been a strong agitation across the country against three agricultural laws implemented by the Central Government. "Farmers have been sitting at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders for several months, while fighting for their rights. The farmers spent several nights in the bitter cold of Delhi, and hundreds of innocent farmers have even sacrificed their lives," the statement said..

The AAP accused the Centre for bringing three agriculture laws in Parliament without consulting the farmers and passed them in an unconstitutional manner.

"AAP has been continuously fighting for the rights of the farmers, from Parliament to the streets. Every single party worker has been engaged in the service of the farmers sitting at the border since their peaceful movement began," AAP claimed in its statement.
The North Korean flag and a plaque were taken down from the country's embassy - a large house in an upmarket area of Kuala Lumpur - and the gates were chained up

North Korea's diplomats in Malaysia shuttered their embassy and flew out of the country Sunday, after Pyongyang severed diplomatic ties over the extradition of a citizen to the United States.

Pyongyang announced the shock move Friday, labelling Malaysia's extradition of a North Korean man an "unpardonable crime" carried out under "blind obedience" to American pressure.

The Southeast Asian country had been one of Pyongyang's few allies but ties were already strained following the 2017 assassination of leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother at Kuala Lumpur airport.

A court ruling this month that Mun Chol Myong could be extradited to the United States to face trial for allegedly exporting prohibited items to North Korea in violation of sanctions proved the final blow.

After Pyongyang cut ties, Malaysia gave North Korean diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.

On Sunday, the North Korean flag and a plaque were taken down from the country's embassy -- a large house in an upmarket area of Kuala Lumpur -- and the gates were chained up.

Before departing, North Korean charge d'affaires, Kim Yu Song, accused Malaysia of siding with Washington in a "conspiracy" against Pyongyang, and committing a "large hostile act".

Malaysia had aligned its policies with those of the United States, "which seeks to deprive our state of its sovereignty, peaceful existence and development," Kim, North Korea's most senior diplomat in Malaysia, told a large media pack.

- Illicit activities -

A group of North Koreans and their family members then departed on a bus.

They arrived later at Kuala Lumpur airport, loaded stacks of luggage onto trolleys and went to check in at the counters used by regular passengers.

Kim confirmed to AFP the group, around 30-strong, was heading first to Shanghai.

Their flight for the city departed in the afternoon, although it was not clear how or when they would travel on to North Korea.

Story continues

Malaysia had expelled the diplomats "in response to the DPRK's unilateral and utterly irresponsible decision to sever diplomatic ties," Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein tweeted, using the official name of North Korea.

"This action is a reminder that Malaysia shall never tolerate any attempt to meddle in our internal affairs and judiciary, disrespect our governance system, and constantly create unnecessary tensions in defiance of the rules-based international order."

Pyongyang's decision to cut ties came after a visit last week by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to South Korea, part of an Asian tour to rally support against North Korea and China.

Malaysia denounced Pyongyang's move, and announced it would close its mission in North Korea, whose operations had already been suspended since the murder of Kim Jong Un's half-brother.

North Korea operated embassies in about 25 countries as of December last year, according to Seoul.

Illicit activities are known to be rampant in these foreign missions, and Pyongyang has long been accused of using them for intelligence gathering, sanctions-busting and money laundering.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/21/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Brandon and Julia got married or have split, and if the couple is still together now.]

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So did Brandon and Julia call it quits or is the couple still together now?

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

's eighth season has shown Brandon Gibbs and Julia Trubkina planning on getting married, so did the couple go through with a wedding? What do the latest spoilers reveal about if Brandon and Julia have broken up or are still together now?Brandon, a 27-year-old pest-control technician who helps to run his parents' farm in Dinwiddie, VA, entered his first serious relationship with Julia, a 26-year-old go-go club dancer from Krasnodar City, Russia.Brandon felt love at first sight with Julia, and so he flew to Russia after just a few weeks of getting to know her on the phone and through videochat.The couple intended to apply for a Tourist Visa so Julia could visit him in the United States, but once the consulate learned Brandon was her boyfriend, she was told to apply for a K-1 visa instead.The couple then dated for five months long-distance and Brandon invited Julia to join him in Iceland, where he proposed marriage to her and the pair got engaged.After their two families met in France, Brandon was really hurting for cash. He said he had spent almost $10,000 in seven months to pursue Julia.Brandon and Julia ultimately had a "perfect" reunion at the airport, but Julia was upset to learn she'd have to sleep in a separate bedroom from Brandon at his parents' house. Betty was also pushing for Julia to take contraception when Julia didn't want to."I can't control my mother. I can't control how they will interact. They both have really strong personalities, and I just feel like they're going to clash," Brandon lamented in a confessional.Once at the farm in Virginia, it didn't take Julia long to realize she hated the chores -- such as feeding the pigs -- and waking up early every morning."I don't want this. This is not the life [of] my dreams. Brandon say we need to stay here before we marry, but I say to him, 'No, Brandon, this is not going to work.' I need to leave," Julia vented in a confessional.Julia admitted she was ready to go back to Russia after only one day of working at his parents' farm."I wish she would see this as an opportunity and just give life on the farm a chance," Brandon told the cameras.But Brandon and Julia still set a wedding date for May 9, even though Brandon felt torn between Julia and his disappointed parents, who believed Brandon had neglected his responsibilities at the farm.Betty and Ron therefore asked Brandon and Julia to contribute more, but Julia complained, "I came here to be with your son, not to take care of your stuff."Meanwhile, Brandon was sick of being scolded by his parents, and he was also upset that Julia's presence had ruined the dynamic of his family."It's not all working like we wanted," Brandon said, asking Julia to try harder around the farm.Julia said she was losing her mind and Brandon wasn't taking care of her because he wasn't fixing the situation or standing up to his parents."I hate this place," Julia complained to Brandon. "I don't want to stay here. I want to leave now."Julia said if they didn't move, she would return to Russia. She complained that Brandon wasn't fixing the problem and that showed he didn't truly, deeply love her. In fact, Julia vented that she hated Brandon out of frustration.Brandon told the cameras that Julia had no idea how lucky they were to be living in a place for free while he was saving money for their future together. Brandon felt like his effort was in vain due to Julia's reaction.Brandon insisted to Julia that he was trying and their situation was just temporary.Brandon said he loved Julia and it hurt him to hear she'd be willing to leave him, but Julia said she had sacrificed her life for Brandon and so he needed to do the same and compromise."It's hard to hear, but I'm going to fix this for us... I'm going to be the man that you want me to be," Brandon said.Brandon was ready to choose Julia over everything, so he told his parents that Julia was unhappy and giving him an ultimatum to move somewhere else or break up.Ron begged Brandon not to "make a stupid decision," and Betty seemed shocked and devastated.Betty hoped to be a family and eventually pass on the farm to Brandon, and she said she had been hoping to gain a daughter and not lose her only son."That's a beautiful world you paint... but I don't think that was the world we were hoping for," Brandon explained. "Either I'm staying here alone or we're leaving together," Brandon said.Betty said the fact Julia was making him choose between her and his parents was "so sad." Betty therefore gave into the idea of Brandon and Julia sleeping in the same room.With 70 days left to wed, Brandon told Julia that Betty was willing to bend the house rules for them, and Julia said she'd be okay with that arrangement for "a short time" because it was "a little fix."Brandon felt optimistic Julia could build a better relationship with his parents over time, but he pointed out they only needed to worry about one problem at a time.About a week later, Brandon and Julia then had a pregnancy scare and informed Betty and Ron that they might be expecting their first child.Brandon admitted Julia being pregnant would be "a nightmare" because they didn't have enough money to have a big wedding or move out."You guys are getting off on the wrong foot to having a wonderful life," Ron said, before Betty noted she had many sleepless nights over her son's relationship.But Julia found out she was not pregnant, which she and Brandon both found as a relief.Julia worried Betty and Ron would try to control things more because of the scare.Since Julia didn't want to take birth control, Brandon decided it was time to start using condoms, even though he admitted he didn't like them.With 61 days left to wed, Brandon and Julia realized they needed to obtain a marriage license, but Brandon told Julia if COVID-19 continued to be a problem, they'd have to just go sign the papers in court and have a big church wedding later on.Julia said it was her dream to get married in a church, and Betty agreed to show Julia the church as well as join her for wedding-dress shopping. Betty told Brandon that he wasn't supposed to see the dress, but Brandon wanted to attend as well.In March 2020, Julia went shopping for a wedding dress, and Betty was able to tag along.Brandon didn't seem excited or enthusiastic when providing his opinion on the dresses, and he didn't seem to like Julia's favorite style.Julia and Betty begged Brandon to talk and show more emotion, but Brandon told the cameras he was indifferent to the dresses but had already shared his favorite one with Julia.Betty admitted Brandon was "out of his element" and just didn't know what to do or say to help Julia make up her mind.Brandon and Julia definitely appear to still be a very happy couple.In mid-March, Brandon shared a picture of Julia and himself in the hot tub at his parents' house. While it could have been a throwback photo, Brandon made it clear Julia is still in the United States with him and they're still together."I guess you won't see us tonight because we'll be too busy clouding up the tub," Brandon wrote with a smiley face at the end.On March 8, Brandon uploaded an image of Julia and himself with their arms around each other and wrote alongside it, "Happy International Women's Day," along with multiple flower emojis.Earlier in the month, Brandon posted a photo standing next to someone in a grey sweatshirt and captioned it, "Hey Julia... The bus is coming."And Julia posted two photos of herself in a wedding gown around the same time to defend Brandon in light of the fact he had been unenthusiastic and seemingly bored while wedding dress shopping with his fiancee."Bad omens of a wedding. I do not believe in these signs. do you know how many of them?lots of. the whole world must be divorced, since all superstitions cannot be observed. Brandon didn't want to go to the store, but I insisted," Julia wrote.Brandon also posted two selfies with Julia, one of which featured Julia kissing him on the cheek, in late February.Brandon captioned one picture of Julia and himself posing in a hotel room, "I'm just waiting on Sunday. #90dayfiance #brandonandjulia #beautiful."On February 12, Brandon also posted a video on Instagram of Julia kissing him on one cheek while his dog licked his other cheek."Love who loves you back. Happy Valentine's day guys. #90dayfiance #Brandonandjulia," Brandon captioned the video.Around the same time, Julia posted a picture of Brandon hugging her on the beach."I want to congratulate everyone on the upcoming Valentine's day and wish to find a person next to whom you will not need anyone else. #90dayfiance #Brandonandjulia," Julia wrote alongside the image.Julia also took to Instagram in mid-January 2021 and dropped other hints she and Brandon remain a couple.On January 20, Julia posted a hilarious photo with Brandon in which she stuffed her shirt and asked fans to come up with a funny name for the picture. And about a week earlier, Julia also posted a sweet selfie of the couple."Just cute photo #90dayfiance#Brandonandjulia," Julia wrote alongside the January 12 picture with a blowing-kiss emoticon.Several days earlier, Julia uploaded a photo of Brandon giving her a piggyback ride."It seems to me that this week we will not be in the episode. a little positive to you all #90dayfiance #90dayfiance8 #Brandonandjulia," Julia captioned the photo, adding three kissing emoticons.And a photo surfaced on Reddit of Brandon and Julia spending New Year's Eve together in someone's apartment with two male friends.While the picture indicates the group had welcomed 2021 together, many Reddit users commented on how Julia appeared to be photoshopped into the picture and whether the photo was authentic.Julia also conducted a Q&A with her followers on Instagram Stories earlier this year and dropped additional hints that suggest she is still with Brandon and living in the United States."Everything is pretty nice," Julia said of her current life. "It's pretty in my life. I've never had, like, an easy life," Julia said. "I all the time chose a hard life."Julia said her English "is much better than before," probably because she's around English-speaking people all the time."I try to learn everything but it's so hard for me," Julia added.When an Instagram user called Julia and Brandon "the cutest couple," Julia replied, "Thank you so much."Julia also revealed she currently has a great relationship with Brandon's parents, although there is tension between them on the currently-airing season of .A fan asked how Julia essentially puts up with her "parents-in-law," and Julia responded, "I love my parents a lot because my parents want what is best for me. If I could choose other parents I would never choose other parents because my parents are the best and I love them a lot."In addition, Julia said she hopes she can "start working" soon and put her degree in design to good use in either apartments or homes.As far as her favorite experience in the United States goes, Julia revealed, "I like people in America because everyone smiles and everyone tries to help. You never ask for help but people try. This is so cool."When asked whether she likes Russia or America better, Julia said there are some things she likes better in Russia and other things she likes better in the United States.She noted the countries are just "different." For example, Julia said she cannot drive yet in America while she has her license back in Russia.Julia shared excitement, however, when someone mentioned all the states she can travel to in the United States. Julia said she'd love to visit New York especially.Julia told her followers it was "hard to leave [her] house and family" in Russia, but she added, "My parents understand this."But Julia played coy when asked direct questions about whether she married Brandon and is still in the United States and living with Brandon's parents.Julia admitted she doesn't want to "get in trouble" by breaking her NDA contract with TLC.When one fan wrote that it seems like she married Brandon, Julia replied, "I don't know!"And she explained to fans, "I can't say where I stay right now or what I do right now."But Julia did admit her favorite thing about Brandon is that "he is so cute." Julia beamed when talking about Brandon, so it appears unlikely that they've broken up.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to ensure victory in the next election by "illegally" trying to ban Turkey's pro-Kurdish party, its former leader told AFP from jail on Sunday.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) -- the third largest group in the parliament -- has been under pressure for years over alleged links to Kurdish militants who have been waging a deadly insurgency against the state since 1984.

Dozens of HDP lawmakers and leaders have been arrested and jailed on terror and other charges which they deny and rights groups view as politically motivated.

Former HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtas -- a two-time challenger to Erdogan in presidential elections -- has been behind bars since 2016 despite calls from the European Court of Human Rights for his release.

The party now faces the risk of being shut down after Turkey's top public prosecutor accused it of links to the Kurdish militants in a filing with the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.

"The main reason they are trying to shut down the HDP is to let the People's Alliance win the upcoming election," now scheduled for 2023, Demirtas said in a written response to questions from AFP.

He was referring to the electoral alliance between Erdogan's ruling AKP and its ultra-nationalist junior partner, the MHP, who are slowly losing support in most opinion polls.

"This reason alone is enough to make the case (against the HDP) illegal and illegitimate," he said from the prison in Edirne, northwestern Turkey, where he is being held.

"I hope the Constitutional Court will not give credence to this irrational behaviour and will reject the case."

- 'Immature democracy'-

Turkey's Western allies have roundly condemned the attempt to dissolve the HDP.

The United States said it would "further undermine" democracy while the European Union warned it "would violate the rights of millions of voters".

Story continues

Demirtas called the prosecution of his party a symbol of Turkey's "immature democracy and repressive mentality".

Turkey has in the past shut down other pro-Kurdish parties for alleged links to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants whose insurgency has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

The PKK is recognised as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. The indictment before the Constitutional Court accuses the HDP of having "organic" ties to the militants.

Demirtas rejected the charges.

"No matter what kind of obstacles are put in our way, our politics will continue to grow," he said.

"The only thing I am sure of is that we will not give up on the right to democratic politics and governance."

But he added in a self-critical note that the party should consider whether it was making any political mistakes.

"I want to say independent from the closure case that we should review our own shortcomings through self-criticism," he said.

"We should better explain ourselves to the society. We should do this no matter whether (the party) is shut down or not."

- 'Keep on fighting' -

Demirtas risks up to 142 years in prison if convicted of links to the PKK and other charges now before the courts.

The indictment put before the Constitutional Court last week accuses the HDP of being a threat to the "indivisible integrity of the state" and seeks to ban 687 party members -- including Demirtas -- from engaging in politics for five years.

The bans appear to be aimed at making sure current members are unable to form a new party under a different name should the HDP be shut down.

Asked about his political future, Demirtas said he was already "de facto politically banned" due to his detention.

But "even if I am not a member of a political party or I am not a candidate, I will keep on fighting together with the people, shoulder to shoulder," he said.

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The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, or LSU SVM, has received an $11 million grant to establish a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, or COBRE. The COBRE funds will create the Center for Pre-Clinical Cancer Research, or Cancer COBRE, which will be based at the LSU SVM. This grant will last for five years and can be renewed for five or more years. The total amount awarded is $11,027,290. The grant's Principal Investigator is Rhonda Cardin, professor in the LSU Department of Pathobiological Sciences and former associate dean for research and advanced studies.

Less than 5 percent of anti-cancer drugs are successful in clinical trials, indicating that current pre-clinical cancer drug research is not predictive of efficacy in humans. Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation for cancer mortality and above the national average for a number of cancers that also disproportionately affects African Americans. This health disparity is of great concern to Louisiana.

The Cancer COBRE will establish a new specialized core facility, Pre-Clinical Evaluation Core, or PCEC, to provide scientific expertise and technical support for the cancer projects as well as to all LSU researchers. To accomplish this approach, advanced 3D cancer cell culture systems, or spheroids, will provide critical translational information.

The Cancer COBRE will enhance cancer research both at LSU and at Southern University, strengthen collaborative research efforts with LSU HSC-New Orleans and aid in efforts to establish a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center in Louisiana.

"Establishment of a Cancer Center on the LSU-Baton Rouge campus will allow us to discover novel therapies to treat cancer. It's an exciting time as we launch this new research program," Cardin said.

The Cancer COBRE aims to identify clinically relevant mechanisms of human cancer using models that closely reflect the disease state in the context of the tumor microenvironment to reveal insights into tumorigenesis and thus drive novel therapeutic discovery. The Cancer COBRE junior investigators will address devastating and/or chronic human diseases that exhibit poor outcomes in patients and for which there are unmet therapeutic needs. The four cancer projects feature osteosarcoma, breast cancer, liver cancer and prostate cancer as diseases that would benefit from pre-clinical models that are more predictive of mechanistic efficacy in humans and animals. Advanced pre-clinical evaluation capability at LSU will provide exceptional training and mentoring to research scientists, including junior principal investigators, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Southern University (SU) is excited to join LSU on this exciting cancer research study. The Center for Pre-clinical Cancer Research will provide SU researchers access to new core research facilities and training opportunities for our faculty and students. We look forward to a strong and productive collaboration." Michael A. Stubblefield, Vice Chancellor, Southern University Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives

"I am looking forward to helping us build some highly competitive programs using the support of two major COBRE grants dedicated to Cancer research and treatment," said Dr. Augusto Ocho, director of the Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center and professor of pediatrics at LSU Health New Orleans.

The funding comes from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence, or COBRE, program, which seeks to promote the initiation and development or expansion of unique, innovative, state-of-the-art biomedical and behavioral research centers at institutions in IDeA-eligible states, including Louisiana. Research supported by this program spans the full spectrum of basic and clinical sciences and encompasses all areas of health-related investigation. In addition, COBRE projects augment the ability of investigators to compete for investigator-initiated NIH research grants or other external nationally peer-reviewed funding.

"The LSU SVM was the first college at LSU to receive a COBRE grant, and I am proud that we are able to continue to use these funds to bring national recognition to the veterinary school and the university and to forge stronger partnerships with our research colleagues in Louisiana to improve the health and lives of people and animals," said Joel Baines, LSU SVM dean.

The LSU SVM is now host to three Centers of Excellence, including the Center for Experimental Infectious Disease Research, or CEIDR, established in 2004 by Konstantin "Gus" Kousoulas as principal investigator, and the Center for Lung Biology and Disease, or CLBD, established in 2019 by Samithamby Jeyaseelan, as principal investigator.
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Drug dealer Graham 'the Wig' Whelan tried to use the stock exchange to launder his dirty money and saved more than 75,000 in a bank account.

But the Rolex-wearing high flyer has been reduced to the scrap heap after a series of personal tragedies and a crackdown by gardai that have left him counting the cost of his life of crime.

Whelan has lost his partner and his best friend in the past year to suicides and now he is set to lose his loot and possibly his freedom as his past finally catches up on him.

A senior member of Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh's outfit, Whelan is the subject of a major money-laundering investigation by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) and this month was named in Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) proceedings against him. The Bureau are looking for cash, an expensive watch, shares held with Davy Stockbrokers and a bank account which they have identified as the proceeds of crime.

Criminal investigations are ongoing into money-laundering offences.

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His fall from the top of the gangland ladder comes more than 20 years after a major cocaine bust in a Holiday Inn hotel resulted in a fallout within a teenage mob which led to the brutal Crumlin and Drimnagh feud.

Whelan later fled Ireland as gardai tried to move in on him using anti-gangland legislation and he later pitched up in Birmingham where he sat at 'Bomber' Kavanagh's top table.

He moved between there and the Spanish party island of Ibiza where Kavanagh and the his 'Byrne Organised Crime Group' often tested new product in the in clubs.

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Gardai suspect the group invested money on Ibiza and elsewhere in the Balearic Islands and that Kavanagh and other senior members of the Byrne group bought up luxury properties there.

Gardai are continuing to work with their counterparts in the Balearics and particularly on Majorca where tourist Trevor O'Neill was murdered by a hitman in August 2016. It is believed that the gunman was Glen Clarke, who later shot himself by accident on the way to another hit.

His intended target at the time was Jonathan Hutch and not O'Neill, who had no involvement in organised crime.

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Whelan is suspected of running a number of the group's drug networks and of laundering funds through the building and car industry.

His return to Dublin three years ago coincided with the mob's desperate struggle to stabilise their losses following the Regency Hotel spectacular of 2016, which led to the biggest crackdown on organised crime in Ireland since the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

Whelan tried to slip back into Dublin and set himself up as a legitimate businessman but he quickly came under the spotlight of both the DOCB and the CAB - two specialist units who have worked together to bring down the mob.

The 39-year-old registered a property company along with associate Mark Elliot, who is married to Conor McGregor's sister Aoife.

However, Imperium Developments Limited was dissolved last March having never filed company accounts.

Whelan has also registered another company involved in the 'green waste' industry, which is listed as 'normal' in the Companies Office.

Eco Green Wheelie Clean Ireland says its principal activity is the collection of non-hazardous waste and it filed accounts last year claiming to have just 4,500 in fixed assets.

A year after he returned to Ireland, in May 2019, Whelan was arrested in his Crumlin home as part of a major probe into money laundering. At the time, 18 properties were searched, including his house at Clonard Road and the home of his business partner Elliot at the K Club in Co. Kildare.

Among the items seized was a 58,000 Rolex watch and evidence of stock held through Davy Stockbrokers as well as bundles of cash.

Documents later led officers to a bank account containing 75,000 - now identified as the proceeds of crime.

Investigations are on-going into money spent on some of the homes linked to the raids and into money-laundering offences.

After his release pending the outcome of the investigation, Whelan returned to his Dublin home where he lived with his partner and children. But she died in tragic circumstances last September leaving the mobster devastated.

He was a close childhood friend of murdered David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel and last month his best pal, Phillip Griffiths, died by suicide.

He was discovered at his home in Dublin.

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Both friends were caught red-handed with cocaine at the Holiday Inn during an infamous raid in 2000 and were jailed.

The pair had later worked under 'Fat' Freddie Thompson when he took command in the Crumlin and Drimnagh feud after Declan Gavin was killed.

Ironically, another associate of Thompson also found himself before the courts with the CAB this week. DJ Adam Keatinge, formerly Marcus Lane, is a respondent in the proceeds-of-crime case which was due for hearing on Friday but which was adjourned because affidavits were late and not sworn properly.

Justice Alexander Owens heard that it had been difficult to get responding affidavits from Keatinge as he had been hospitalised last year. Barrister Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe said his client had long-standing 'mental health issues' and was currently on anti-psychotic medications.

He said he had been admitted to hospital last November for what he described as a 'growth on his brain'.

"The spell in hospital didn't do his mental health any good and it has been difficult to have consultations with him since," Mr Comiskey O'Keeffe said. He told the court that his solicitor had been finally instructed by voice message on what to say to the court in an unsigned affidavit.

The proceeds-of-crime case lists Keatinge along with his co-respondents Yazan Abu Jaber, Dario Simoes and Veronika Saly. Ms Saly, the court heard, had previously worked as a lapdancer.

In June 2016, Keatinge, along with Abu Jaber, from Jordan and Sinoes, from Portugal, were stopped in the North with 60,000 in cash.

On arrest, it was discovered that Keatinge had 10,000 stashed in his underpants. Their lawyers later rejected that the money was the proceeds of crime which was being taken to Holland but told the High Court in Belfast that the money was to have a 'good time' on a trip to Amsterdam.

At the time, Keatinge, with an address at Parkmount Street in Belfast, said he ran an events business.

Opposing bail for all three, prosecution counsel said: "Police believe they are members of an organised crime gang. They were leaving the country with large quantities of cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime."

An officer told the court that police believed the money was to be used in the drugs trade.
(miningmx.com) - IT seems Neal Froneman is on the takeover trail again and, according to Miningmx is looking  to reboot Sibanye-Stillwaters flagging gold narrative through a merger with either AngloGold Ashanti or Gold Fields, or both. I have a lot to say about that in my capacity as a Gold Fields shareholder which I am declaring upfront because this is an opinion piece and I have strong views on this one. Why on earth would Gold Fields shareholders agree to a merger with Sibanye-Stillwater? It makes no sense to me. The clear winner in such a deal would be Sibanye-Stillwater because it would get hold of Gold Fields successful gold operations in Australia, Ghana and South America.
The Lyric Theater and The Pizitz in downtown Birmingham. The Admiral Hotel in Mobile. Old schoolhouses, grocery stores, car dealerships, office buildings and a bus depot.

If a building is old and has been re-energized since 2013 in Alabama, chances are the developers have benefitted from the states historic preservation tax credit. The program fueled 52 projects and $334 million in investments during its first iteration, which ran from 2013-2016. The program was renewed through legislation in 2018, and state officials estimate another 93 programs will receive the incentive by the end of 2021. Those projects will fuel more than $500 million in historic building renovations in 15 counties.

The program expires again at the end of the year. But legislation awaits a vote in the Alabama Senate that would renew Alabamas historic tax credit program another five years, taking it to 2027. The Alabama House, with only one No vote, approved the legislation  HB281 -- late last month.

Despite high praise from preservationists and local officials, some have criticized the historic preservation tax credits as benefitting wealthy white investors in large cities instead of rural, lower income and predominantly Black communities.

There have always been questions about tax credits, and the values of tax credits, said state Rep. Victor Gaston, R-Mobile, the bills sponsor. But (the historic tax credit) has satisfied everyone and (studies) show its a good investment. The investments have been significant. I dont expect any problems.

Said Stephen McNair, a historic preservation tax credit consultant based in Mobile, The program stands as a rare win-win incentive that creates jobs and tax revenue while also preserving the historic character of our Main Street communities.

The program is credited with fueling the pre-COVID-19 renaissance in downtown Birmingham and Mobile, which have the largest stock of old and abandoned buildings. Projects have resulted a host of new mixed-use buildings showcasing contemporary office spaces, chic apartment complexes, industrial buildings transformed into lofts and trendy restaurants, coffee shops and bars.

Officials representing downtown interests in Birmingham and Mobile, along with historic preservation experts in each community, speak glowingly about the program as even more iconic buildings are poised for a facelift.

In Mobile, the former Gayfers department store across from historic Bienville Square and the Barton Academy school building are included in the latest round of tax credit applications. Barton Academy, once a hospital serving Union soldiers in 1864, is set to get $3.4 million in state tax credits. The request for the Gayfers building is around $3.5 million, though an allocation has yet to be made. The developers of Birminghams Greyhound bus station, where the Freedom Riders arrived in 1961 as part an effort to end busing segregation, are getting $1.6 million in state tax credits to rehabilitate the old station into an office building.

They are energizing the communities, said Merrill Stewart, president and founder of Stewart/Perry and a longtime general contractor in the Birmingham area. You take a part of the city that are not seeing the best times for years, and then you have these projects, and people believe anything can happen. They are very leveraging in bettering peoples lives that goes beyond the building itself.

He added, But you need this extra juice to make things happen. Sometimes people not familiar with (the historic tax credit) see them as free money. Its not free money. You also need equity to do the project, and the historic tax credit is helping you get over the hurdle in getting the project done.

Predominately urban centers

A view from Birmingham's skyline from the Roof at the Redmont, the Redmont Hotel's rooftop bar as seen on Wednesday, December 29, 2016. The hotel's renovation was included in the early wave of state historic tax credit approvals. (Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com)

Alabama is one of about 30 states in the U.S. with its own historic tax credit program. The states program allows the developer or owner of a property that is at least 60 years old to be eligible for a state tax credit of 25 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures.

No one project can receive more than $5 million, and the overall amount of tax credits disbursed per year by the state is capped at $20 million.

The state credits can be in addition to a 20 percent historic tax credit offered for income-producing properties through the federal governments National Parks Service. Federal tax credits are provided to a projects developer equally over a five-year period once the project is placed into service, McNair said. The state tax credit is refundable, which means its a cash refund on qualified expenses through the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Criticism exists over the tax credit, even as its poised to be extended for another five years. Chief among the concerns is it still provides an uneven benefit to larger cities with an abundance of aging structures, like Birmingham and Mobile.

In 2017, when the entire program was under scrutiny by former Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, concerns were raised about its lack of support for small towns. A change was made in the 2018 version that required 40 percent of the state tax credits to be reserved for counties with 175,000 or fewer people. That excluded Jefferson, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Baldwin, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa counties.

The current law, and HB281, puts a time frame for developers of a project in a small town to act. If a state tax credit application is not received and credits are not allocated for projects within the first two quarters of a fiscal year, then any project  regardless of location  can compete for the remainder of the tax credits for that year.

Statistics provided by the Alabama Historical Commission show that the rural investment is still lacking. Of the tax credits reserved since 2018, 16.6% (or $16.6 million) are for projects in 21 rural counties while 57.6% (or $57.7 million) are reserved in non-rural counties.

State Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, said while the law now mandates a rural component, its still predominately used in our urban centers.

Standridge, chairman of the Alabama House Rural Caucus, said the rural areas are at a disadvantage in that smaller cities tend not have the resources to afford a full-time economic development director, or another professional who stays on top of those things. He said there are likely instances of small cities in Alabama having historical structures that would qualify under the program, but no one knows about it.

Standridge said he would like to see a staff member in the Alabama Department of Commerce assigned to rural matters.

It could be helpful in getting the word out to the towns, the county commissions, and the chambers of commerce and things like that who can say that this is available and could be used, said Standridge. In most rural areas, and most our towns where we have our county seats, there are historical buildings that would be great to see restored. This might be a way to do that.

Stewart said the reason that urban centers experience the greatest benefit of the tax credit is because there is simply a higher density of buildings that qualify for the benefit.

That doesnt mean smaller cities are not getting in on the tax credits. Projects in Wetumpka, Heflin, Atmore, Camp Hill, and Monroeville are all listed in the latest round of tax credit allocations. The Howell School renovation in Dothan occurred because of $1.6 million in state tax credits that were allocated. The $12.5 million project took a 119-year-old building - Dothans first elementary school - and renovated it into a 55-unit senior living facility, increasing its market value from $247,300 to $3.1 million.

Restoring homes

The exterior of the renovated 400 Charles St. in Mobile, Ala. The home was renovated thanks in large part to historic tax credits. But legislation in Montgomery would remove residential properties from future eligibility of the tax credit money. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Another criticism of the HB281 is that it removes residential properties from state tax credit eligibility.

That means projects like 400 Charles St., within the Oakleigh Historic District of Mobile, would no longer be eligible for renovation. That project, as of March 5, was one of nearly two dozen on the states waiting list for a tax credit allocation.

Sam Winter, a Mobile-based Realtor and supporter of the historic tax credit program, said the property provides an excellent example of utilizing historic tax credits to renovate blighted residential houses.

It was totally blighted, Winter said. No doors. Windows busted out.

The house, built in 1886, is one of Oakleighs oldest and most beautiful cottages, maintaining its original fireplace and 13-foot ceilings. The state tax credit gives the homeowner the benefit to restore a home like this one. But even without the tax credit option, Winter said people will continue to restore older homes.

Wed like to see residential as part of the (state legislation), but I think its good for (the entire bill) to move forward, he said.

State Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile, also believes the legislation needs to allow for residential renovations. He said there could be instances in which residential home is rehabilitated and eventually transformed into an income-producing bed and breakfast.

Jones, the citys former mayor, was one of only two House members to vote against an amendment that requires the tax credits be spent on only commercial or business purposes.

A bed and breakfast could be considered commercial, but its also residential, said Jones. I was concerned on whether it would have a negative impact on people who are really restoring homes.

McNair, of Mobile, said bed and breakfast operations would be eligible for the credit since they produce income.

Jones did vote for the final version of the legislation. The only lawmaker to vote against the final bill was state Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, who said the program supports only wealthy white people in Birmingham as opposed to assisting the restoration of Birminghams Black neighborhoods.

Im just sick and tired of it, said Moore. Its for big business or big Realtors. I came here to help the people who I represent, and they dont put anything in there to help the established communities. I am talking about predominately Black communities, but also poor white communities as well.

Moore said she would like to see Alabama institute low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program that would provide incentives for people to rehabilitate inner city homes. She said the state doesnt offer a program that incentivizes rehabilitating neighborhoods, like other states such as Arkansas and Missouri.

For those cities to survive, we need to redo our neighborhoods, too, she said. It just doesnt seem like anyone is thinking on behalf of the taxpayers.

Stewart said the states historic tax credit program is not the place for it.

The leverage of a single-family home in a historic tax arrangement benefits one small group and does not have the same impact  where you have 100 jobs or 40 additional jobs created, he said. It doesnt impact the tax base. When we do these projects, they increase the ad valorem taxes for the community as well.

Smart incentive

Stewart and other proponents of the historic tax credit legislation say there are economic rewards from the incentive program, as well as added jobs: State figures show that the most recent program played a role in 641 jobs created during the rehabilitation phase and 239 jobs added after the projects were completed.

The rehabilitated are also adding market value, while helping spur new commercial neighborhood redevelopment. In Mobile, for instance, the $7.4 million reconstruction of an old car dealership on St. Louis Street involved $1.1 million in state historic tax credits. The project creating an office building for a 70-person engineering firm, increased the buildings fair market value $100,700 to $7.6 million. St. Louis Street, meanwhile, has seen a growth in activity after years of being a quieted street littered with abandoned buildings. The newer additions include a microbrewery and the forthcoming opening of a grocery store.

The smart incentive created by the state historic tax credit meant the difference between vacancy and possible demolition versus vibrancy with economic benefits lasting decades, said Elizabeth Stevens, president & CEO with the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

In Birmingham, the Family Service Building  originally built as a bakery in the 1920s  was redeveloped into a bright, airy office structure at Five Points South. The $11.3 million rehabilitation project was boosted with $1.7 million in state tax credits.

While we celebrate the new life breathed into irreplaceable buildings over the past few years, there are still valuable historic buildings that are threatened and sometimes lost, damaging the fabric of our city, said David Fleming, president and CEO With REV Birmingham, an economic development agency. Too many historic buildings continue to be torn down, and we need every incentive possible to encourage a different approach.
Korea-based Doosan FuelCell has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding, a shipbuilding holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, for the joint development of solid oxide fuel cells for ships.

Doosan will design and produce the SOFCs, and KSOE will focus on the integration of the fuel cells in ships.

In November 2020, Doosan announced a plan to work with Navig8, a global shipping company, to introduce fuel cells for ships.

Under this agreement, Doosan Fuel Cell will provide SOFCs to a 50,000 ton petrochemical carrier set to be ordered by Navig8. Navig8 as well as Korean Register will help review the ship design and provide other technical support.





In October 2020, the company unveiled its plan to develop more efficient SOFCs in the Korean market. The goal is to localize cells and stacks and to mass-produce SOFC systems in Korea from 2024. This SOFC R&D is part of the project of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Doosans SOFC will be designed to operate at 620 C, approximately 200 C lower than the typical operating temperatures, with higher efficiency and longer life.

Doosan has focused primarily on stationary SOFCs up to now. Its Model 400 systems can use natural gas, hydrogen or LPG and natural gas as fuels.
TESCO Ireland has announced it will dedicate the latest round of donations from its Community Fund to causes throughout Limerick that support the vulnerable and those most impacted by Covid-19.

The latest round of funding will see Tesco stores in Limerick donate 6,000 to a number of local causes including the Children's Grief Centre, Limerick Suicide Watch and St John of Gods.

Launching the latest round of donations, Rosemary Garth, Communications Director, Tesco Ireland said: We are pleased to be able to support the groups and organisations across Limerick that have continued to help the vulnerable members of their communities during this time. As we reach a year since the start of the pandemic, restrictions continue to have an impact on individuals, families and communities around the country. We hope that this latest round of Community Fund donations will help charities and causes at both local and national level continue to carry out the vital work they do for the people in their communities.

During 2020, Tesco Ireland donated over 1 million in Covid supports to causes nationwide through a series of donations, food collections and fundraising to help those most in need. This included a 150,000 donation split among three national charities - ALONE, Age Action and Family Carers Ireland - to support their efforts in helping the elderly, family carers and the most vulnerable members of local communities throughout the country.

In January, the retailer announced that its Community Fund had reached a milestone of 5 million in donations to local communities across Ireland since its establishment.

First launched in 2014, the Community Fund aims to provide financial support to groups in the local communities across the country.

The Limerick organisations to benefit from the latest round of funding are:

Abbeyfeale store

Kerry Parents & Friends Association, Listowel Family Resource Centre, St John of Gods

Arthurs Quay SC

Children's Grief Centre, St Gabriels Centre The Haven Hub

Coonagh store

Brothers of Charity, Limerick Animal Welfare, Limerick Suicide Watch

Crescent SC, Dooradoyle

Children's Grief Centre, Limerick Animal Welfare, Samaritans

Newcastle West store

Community Crisis Response Team, Desmond Complex, Samaritans

Roxboro store

Children's Grief Centre, St Gabriels Centre, The Haven Hub

Tesco Express, Shannon Banks

Brothers of Charity, Limerick Animal Welfare, Limerick Suicide Watch
Gurugram, March 21 : The Haryana government's nod to the Bill providing 75 per cent reservation in the private sector to job seekers from the state, have far-reaching effects on industries in Gurugram.

Several industry entrepreneurs in Gurugram are preparing to shift their businesses and establishments to Noida's Sector-29 and Rajasthan's Bhiwadi industrial area. They have visited these areas last week, even as some of them have already planned to buy a plot there for setting up their production unit.

Other entrepreneurs are also mulling to shift their units from Gurugram to these locations.

The representative of Industrial Association, however, said that they are not against the Haryana government's decision but cannot risk their business as they need skilled workers for their production units.

They further said that at present 80 per cent employees are from other states as the locals are not capable to work in export or garments and auto industries.

"The new law of the state government is to give 75 per cent reservation in all the private institutions to the youth of Haryana. In these circumstances, there is no other option than migrating to Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for these industries," an industrialist told IANS, on condition of anonymity.

"Pertaining to the matter, we held a meeting recently with the association members and industrilasts. We have also urged the state government to reconsider this Bill as it will affect the industries in Gurugram. We have given our suggestions before the government in view of 75 per cent job reservation for locals which is yet to be considered," K.K. Gandi, President Sector-37 Industrial Association told IANS, adding that the land in Bhiwadi is also available in 7,000 per square yard which is not a huge cost to establish production unit there".

Pawan Yadav, President of IMT Manesar Industrial Association, told IANS that the state governmen's reservation bill will actually compel Gurugram industries to shift to other states.

"They don't know under what sort of political pressure the government has taken taken this decision," Yadav said.

"As per the Industries' requirements, anyone may for his business and there is no harm in it. Although we are not against the government's move, it will affect the industries on a large scale. For example, the IT sector does not need to much time for shifting as they have to only shift their computers and furniture. The government move will affect the auto as well garments industries and they need time for shifting. As an entrepreneur we can not fight against the government but we urged the government they must consider their move. Also, at this stage we not count that how many Industries to be shifted in adjoining state's," Yadav said.

Meanwhile, the association members said that Noida and Bhiwadi industrial areas are much more productive for their business purposes as both the areas is connected with better road connectivity.

"We had approached the Noida's concern authority for this purpose. Sector-29 in Noida is good for business purposes as it is close to Jewar. In the future, the International Airport is going to be established," Yadav added.

"In Gurugram very few local candidates are trained for technical work in the garment industry. People from UP and Bihar are more skilled in this industry. Besides, people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh produce more skilled technicians for the auto industry. This is the same situation in the construction industry," he said.

"We are in discussion face with Noida authority. They assured us that there will be no hassle in setting up the industry. They will provide electricity and other facilities in industrial area," he added.

"The government is not going to change anything in the law. In the past, the online suggestions were demanded, they have also been sent to the Labour department. If the government did not return to this law, there will be no other option than migrating," Gandi said.

The industrialists also asserted that six months later the Haryana government will pressurise firms to accept its decision.
As state lawmakers in Austin wrap up the latest legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday threatened to withhold their pay by vetoing a line item in the states budget because a Democratic walkout killed his priority elections bill. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities, Abbott tweeted. Should the governor veto Legislature funding?

You voted:
A supermarket security guard used his van to deliberately mow down a habitual shoplifter in a revenge attack over him stealing a bottle of wine worth just 5.

Stephen Johnson, 27, leapt into his Peugeot Partner vehicle and chased after 23-year old Steven Quinn after the thief managed to get away from him during a pursuit on foot outside an ASDA store.

Johnson caught up with Quinn at a nearby newsagents but then mounted the pavement and clipped him as he and an accomplice leapt for their lives over a set of railings.

Quinn, who has a string of theft convictions, suffered bruising to his legs in the impact.

Following the crash, Johnson tried to frame Quinn for assault by fabricating a statement falsely claiming he had been stabbed eight times during the pursuit.

Quinn, from Bolton, Greater Manchester was held in custody for 16 hours then had to wait a further three months before police established Johnson had been lying.

Security guard Stephen Johnson (pictured) has been jailed after hitting a shoplifter with his van and then lying to investigating officers about being assaulted in a bid to justify his actions

When confronted Johnson told police: 'I'm gonna lose my badge for this. I'm really annoyed I'm being arrested over some smackhead who's probably robbed 20,000 other old ladies.'

Quinn said in interview: 'Alright, I've nicked a bottle but he shouldn't have run me over.'

At Bolton Crown Court, Johnson, from Reddish, Stockport, was jailed for one year and ten months after he admitted dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

His not guilty plea to a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent was accepted.

The incident occurred on July 25, in 2018, after Johnson who worked for a private security company had been assigned to patrol ASDA's Daubhill branch in Bolton.

Quinn was known as a regular shoplifter in the area and trouble began when he managed to sneak into the store and grab a bottle of red wine from the shelves before fleeing.

Shoplifter Steven Quinn stole a bottle of wine from Asda in St Helens Road, Daubhill, and fled with an accomplice prompting security guard Steven Johnson to pursue him in Peugeot van

Initially Johnson tried to chase after Quinn on foot across the car park but lost him so he returned to the store to get his van, claiming he wanted to get a photograph of the thief.

Moments later Johnson drove his van onto nearby Deane Church Lane where Quinn was with his friend Danny Lee and then veered onto the wrong side of the road before mounting the pavement between a set of metal railings and and a wall.

Mr Robert Hall prosecuting said: 'He drove the van at some speed around a corner in front of a shop which was open putting other innocent parties at risk. The van's front nearside bumper and nearside wing mirror impacted Steven Quinn and threw him over the metal railings.

'The impact resulted in bruising to his left leg and pain as well as damage to the van whilst leaving the mirror panel from its nearside wing mirror at the scene.

'It was only the good fortune that both Quinn and Lee were near the metal railings and were able to vault the railings that prevented them both being severely injured. The van was driven quite clearly at the two men.

'Quinn returned to Asda in order to locate the van, using the mirror panel from its nearside wing mirror, take its registration number and report the matter to the police. He even shouted at Johnson that his dangerous driving could have killed him.

At Bolton Crown Court (pictured), 27-year-old Johnson, from Stockport, was jailed for one year and 10 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice

'But Johnson, mindful of Quinn threatening to report the dangerous driving to police, chose to fabricate a false allegation of wounding against Quinn and his associate.

'It may be Johnson hoped that the effect of the false allegation would intimidate Quinn against making his report to the police of the dangerous driving.

'In furtherance of this fabrication, Johnson inflicted 16 slash wounds upon himself and slashed his jacket and his T-shirt.

'He then decided to get in first by phoning the police with his fake allegation of wounding. It may be Johnson hoped the effect of his pre-emptive false allegation would distract away from any investigation of his dangerous driving.'

Johnson later said he 'had no intention of hurting' Quinn and Lee and said he 'literally wanted to scare them'.

He claimed he scratched himself with his own fingernails at Bolton police station to make his injuries appear more serious because he was 'scared, stupid and panicking.'

In mitigation for Johnson, who now works as a sub contractor in the construction industry, defence counsel Ian Metcalfe said: 'That evening he had a complete meltdown where all clarity of thought and relativity became buried under an avalanche of highly emotional and profoundly stupid actions.

'He was working extremely long hours and was contractually supposed to work 12 hour shifts but often worked longer as he needed to be there to organise and supervise others.'

Sentencing Judge Graeme Smith told Johnson: 'There was a very significant risk of you causing harm to them and they were fortunate to escape.

'This looks like a deliberate attempt to run down the shoplifter and his associate.

'As we know Mr Quinn was a habitual shoplifter and was lawfully arrested for theft on this occasion but he was held for longer than he would have been had you not made you not made your allegation against him.'

Johnson was also banned from driving for 12 months which will come into effect when he is freed from jail.

The court heard Quinn assaulted a policeman just three days after the incident. He is currently in jail and due to be released next month.
FDA Commissioner-designate Scott Gottlieb testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on April 5, 2017 at on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Former FDA Chief Says Social Distancing Mandate Wasnt Based on Clear Science

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that the six-foot social distancing mandate that was employed across much of the United States and the world to deal with the CCP virus pandemic wasnt based on clear science.

This six-foot distancing requirement has probably been the single costliest mitigation tactic that weve employed in response to COVID  and it really wasnt based on clear science.  We should have re-adjudicated this much earlier, he said in an interview with CNBC.

Amid the relaxation of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus guidelinesincluding one from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying its safe for schoolchildren to have three-foot distancingGottlieb suggested that masks may also be safely removed.

We now know that the vaccines dramatically reduce your chance of both contracting COVID and becoming symptomatic to the point where you are going to have a bad outcome; we also know it reduces asymptomatic disease and reduces transmission  we are seeing that in the data, he said.

Gottlieb also was asked about a public dispute between Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who also is a physician, about whether masks should be worn after a recipient is vaccinated for the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

Youre telling everyone to wear a mask, Paul told Fauci, who has faced increasing pushback over his statements in the press. If were not spreading the infection, isnt it just theater? You have the vaccine and youre wearing two masks, isnt that theater?

Fauci responded by saying that masks are not theater and that he totally disagree[s] with Pauls statement.

Gottlieb said both [Paul and Fauci] made valid points, but noted that Senator Paul was right, we need to see light at the end of the tunnel and have guidance that prescribes an environment where people can start doing things again.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on March 19 that new studies have shown that in schools, three-foot distancing is sufficient if other health safeguards are in place. Studies have found that there is a low transmission of the virus in schools.

These include universal and correct use of masks, physical distancing, hand washing, and respiratory etiquette, cleaning to maintain healthy facilities and diagnostic testing with rapid and efficient contact tracing in combination with isolation in quarantine and in collaboration with local health departments, Walensky told CNN.
Forest of falsehoods surrounds Sinharaja clearings By Kasun Warakapitiya Activists ask why forestry officials take so long to mark and guard reserve View(s): View(s):

The forest departments delays in acquiring land that would triple the size of the Sinharaja rainforest sanctuary is allowing landholders and rogue operators to clear land, fell valuable trees and gain controversial building permission inside the reserve, environmentalists claimed.

Activist Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera alleged businessmen and estate owners have started to encroach into the forested area surrounding the core reserve  a world renowned virgin forest and a World Heritage site  with the support of provincial politicians and local government bodies.

He pointed out that former president Maithripala Sirisena, before ending his term, had increased the size of the Sinharaja by annexing nine peripheral forests to the reserve through a gazette.

I increased the Sinharaja forest which was limited to 11,000 hectares by 36474.93 hectares. This decision is a decision taken by me for living in the holy motherland and for the existence of human, animals and the nature of the whole world, Mr Sirisena said after the gazette was published last November a year after being signed.

The Department of Forest had, however, failed to act on this directive by demarcating the reserves new boundaries and acquiring private holdings in the added territory, he said.

Deputy Forest Conservator Nishantha Edirisinghe told the Sunday Times that acquiring private land was a long process that involved several ministries such as the Ministry of Lands, and so officials were unable to bring the project to quick fruition.

Due to budget constraints GPS technology was being used to mark the new boundaries rather than deploying officers.

The Sunday Times found that the forests department has not published any new demarcations.

The Ven. Sagara Thera and activist Sajeewa Chamikara from the Movement for Land and Agriculture Reform (MONLAR) said many areas in and near the Sinharaja reserve have been subjected to forest clearances, often carried out by people using faked freehold title deeds.

The cleared areas, Mr Chamikara said, included:

85 acres in the Godakawila Divisional Secretariat area, where, in addition a group of people had forged freehold deeds for 143 acres of land in the Delgoda reserve and had already cleared 10 acres of forest

seven acres in Manikkawatta Botiyatanna in the Kalawana Pradeshiya Sabha in Ratnapura, that includes a pathway used by the two remaining Sinharaja forest elephants

eight acres of land in the Godakawela Divisional Secretariat area that links up with Botiyatanna.

This week, a furore erupted over the land clearing at Manikkawatta Botiyatanna, when a young woman, 19-year-old Bhagya Abeyratna, spoke out on television against forest destruction in the area, a few miles from her village.

Activists such as Ven. Sagara Thera and Mr. Chamikara claim this is in an area of Land Reform Commission (LRC) land that will be part of the enlarged Sinharaja reserve planned by ex-president Sirisena. The Thera said the forests department had delayed for 16 years to take action on acquiring LRC land, allowing renegade businessmen to claim parts of it as their own property.

The issue is clouded in claim and counter-claim.

Those claiming to own the land say they hold freehold title to it. Sagara Thera said LRC land is cannot by law be obtained by freehold title so that those claiming they have such title are holding faked deeds.

The forest department says, for its part, that the land is privately owned and is not part of the area incorporated into the Sinharaja reserve that it has to buy up if in private hands. Activists such as the Thera retort that as the department has not demarcated the area it cannot be certain if the disputed areas are legitimately in private hands or are LRC lands.

Businessman G.P. Guruge, who is the managing director of Guruge Gems, issued a press release saying he was one of three people to whom the disputed land in the Botiyawanna area belonged.

He claimed to hold 45-year-old freehold deeds to the land and denied that it was part of the Sinharaja reserve.

He said he was building three houses and establishing a tea estate for which stone enclosures were being built to prevent soil erosion, and all this work had been approved by the Kalawana PS.

Mr Chamikara said seven acres was not needed to build a house and claimed there are plans to set up a hotel in Botiyawanna.

Kalawana PS Chairman K.V.S. Chaminda Indrappriya said he had given approval for the construction of a house on the Botiyatanna land, not a hotel. He also said the Pradeshiya Sabha did not have power to give approval for the clearing of land, and so had only given approval for a house construction, not for the clearing of seven acres.

We will look into this matter; they have not informed us that they are building a hotel. We will only allow the construction of a house not a hotel. We also not accountable for clearing the seven acres, we only approved the construction of a house, he said.

The forests departments Mr. Edirisinghe said the Manikkawatta Botiyatanna land was privately-owned property and was not one of those set to be acquired for the Sinharaja.

In response to claims that timber had been felled for sale on that land, he agreed that permits were needed to cut down certain types of trees but added that the department did not have the authority for this and could not take action against tree- felling on private land.

He said it was up to the Irrigation department to take action against the blocking of waterways leading out of the cleared private land and added his own department could play a supportive role.

Ven Sagara Thera said while forestry and wildlife department officials claim forest land being cleared was private land and they could not interfere, the trees being uprooted, cut and destroyed were unique as they were forests surrounding the rainforest.

He said officers were not even investigating what trees had been cut down and how the trees were being transported, apparently without the permits are needed for felling and transporting certain kinds of trees even if they are growing on private property.

The Ratnapura District Secretary, Malani Lokupothagama, said she had no powers to take action over forest clearing as the lands that have been cleared was LRC land.

We are aware of the clearing of land but when we send officials to investigate, they come back and report that the people clearing lands have permits. These permits have been issued by the LRC and therefore we are unable to take action, Ms. Lokupothagama said.

The Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Siripala Amarasinghe, said the authority could not act on the clearing of the seven acres at Botiyawanna as it was freehold land and that the Kalawana PS, local grama sewaka and area police were accountable as their approval was required to clear lands, cut and transport trees and build houses.

He added: The Environmental Act 1992 says an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) must be done for any land-clearing project which exceeds one hectare, but it doesnt specify an EIA must be done to erect houses.

The issue of the elephant corridor through Manikkawatta Botiyawanna is also contested. Ven. Sagara Thera, Mr Chamikara and other activists claim it is an elephant pathway. The Kalawana PS Chairman admitted the area is used by elephants.

The Director-General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Chandana Sooriyabandara, however, rejected the claim that Manikkawatta, Botiyatanna is an elephant corridor, saying it was one of many areas frequented by elephants.

We have not identified the area as an elephant path, therefore there is very little we can do because land is a private property. However, we will report facts to courts regarding the matter, he added.

The claim sits oddly with the fact that there is a board on the site stating that a elephant corridor exists there. Environmentalists and nearby villagers confirm that the elephants movement on the pathway has been disrupted due to the land being cleared and closed off.

Bhagyas bravery saluted, legal aid pledged Politicians, lawyers, environmental and social media activists this week came out strongly in support of 19-year-old Bhagya Abeyratna, who created a furore by fearlessly speaking out on television against clearing of the Sinharaja forest. The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya party (SJB) held a press conference to back the young womans right to free speech and called on the government not to pursue or harass her. Ms. Abeyratna said the reaction of state officials was appalling after she had spoken out against forest destruction taking place 7km from her village, Kaju Gas Watta. She said the cleared area, Botiyatanna, had been the haunt of two elephants living in the area. She said that soon after she exposed the forest destruction police had taken a statement from her and afterwards a forests department official had arrived at her home to get another statement from her. While taking the statement, the official asked me whether I knew the extent of the Sinharaja rainforest and was trying to find fault with what I was telling. I have not done anything wrong and was saying what I saw. It is up to them to investigate it, Ms Abayratna said. SJB member Hirunika Premachandra said saluted the brave action of Ms Abeyratna and accused the government of trying to silence the young girl who talked of environmental destruction. As the womens wing of the SJB, we support Bhagaya Abeyratne and will give her protection, legal support as well as obtaining international assistance if needed, Ms. Premachandra said. A large protest in front of the Colombo Municipal Council was held on Friday in support of Ms Abeyratna and another protest was held on Thursday in front of the Human Rights Commission office in Colombo. Placards and a massive painting illustrating forest destruction set up outside the CMC were taken down by officials. The legal activists group, Lawyers Forum for the People, met Ms Abeyratne and promised her legal aid. The groups leader, Senaka Perera, said when Ms. Abayratna made her claim of destruction of the forests officials should have begun looking into her claims instead of trying to intimidate the person exposing such activity. He said that the example given by the state officials was wrong as their actions would discourage others from standing against wrongdoing. We are planning to take legal action on behalf of her in future and would support her, he said. The forests department denied officers had tried to bully Ms. Abeyratna and said they had only been trying to learn if the location of the tree-felling was in the protected area of the Sinharaja forest.
Editors Note: This is the first in a series about the anniversary of the border closure.

A year after the border first closed due to the pandemic, there are no plans in place for safely reopening the border.

Local officials and citizens have voiced concerns about the continued closure and the announcement this week that Mexico will impose travel restrictions on U.S. citizens for the first time.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said the continued closures are not benefiting the local border economies despite the significant decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths seen in the area.

Without disrespect to Mexico, Mexico doesnt tell us when we reopen our border even though we do try to have mutual agreements with them, but that is something that the U.S. needs to decide, Cuellar said. They are getting 2.5 million vaccines from us, our cases have gone down, and so I am hoping that we can start on our side making that decision ourselves without disrespect to Mexico and see if we can safely open this back up.

Although Mexico announced its new restrictions would be similar to the ones by the U.S. by restricting non-essential activities at the borders, it has been vague about what the restrictions put into effect Friday will entail.

American citizens who live in the country or travel to Nuevo Laredo via the land bridges have not reported any incidents.

I was wondering what they would ask me on the other side, but I was not questioned or anything when I crossed in my car, said Jose Montoya, an American citizen in Nuevo Laredo who works in the U.S. The only thing I saw is there are sanitary control filters once you cross that are returning back any vehicles that have the corresponding license plates that should not be out of the country. Other than that, everything is normal as usual.

Cuellar said he is not sure what the new measures will be but that they would only affect land ports and not other ports of entry. He said this is problematic as it shows the country is favoring people who come into the country to spend large amounts of money at tourist locations but not those who regularly travel between borders.

I do not know what they have in mind, but I can tell you that places where Americans go spend a lot of money they are welcoming those people in places like Cancun, Acapulco, Tulum, and theyve got people coming down as these Americans are spending money, Cuellar said. What I am going to try to see is when we will allow the Mexicans to come over and shop, which I believe will be more of a decision by us as they have said that they want to open up soon, but it will take at least 30 days.

Cuellar has long supported a phase-by-phase reopening of the border by establishing a plan where people crossing must take rapid COVID-19 tests. Under such a plan, Mexican citizens who test positive would return to their country to quarantine, while American citizens and permanent residents would be allowed to enter back into the country under a quarantine plan to ensure infections are minimized. Though Cuellar has had the plan for months, it never gained traction under the past presidential administration, and discussions with the current administration on the plan have not happened yet.

Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz also said he hopes the border fully opens soon as the closure his significantly impacted the economy.

I am not certain, but if it has not been the longest closure then arguably I would think it has been the most costly to our city, our state and national economies, Saenz said.

As cases decline and vaccination efforts increase on both sides of the border, many people are voicing support for opening the border.

I think it's ruining our economy and its time to open it up with precaution, local business owner Veronica Valdez said. It doesnt make sense how illegals are entering through the river and are received with open arms. And yet, Mexican tourists or Mexicans with visas are not allowed. They have done everything the right way but cant cross the border.

Saenz believes it is ironic the border is open for several people and not for all trying to come in the right way.

That is truly the irony, however, I am cognizant that this nation has asylum laws that allow some undocumented people to claim such right, if indeed they are successful to qualify and prevail, Saenz said.

Some people pointed to the ability to travel via air or water as a reason to open the land ports.

People are still arriving in San Antonio, McAllen, Miami and revitalizing economies, Papillon Rosa said. With proper precautions we should also open the borders.

Others simply expressed hope for life returning to normal so people such as business owners can begin rebounding from the difficult year.

Lets hope and pray that once the majority get the vaccine, the store employees locally and customers from Mexico feel more at ease to come and buy goods here, Alberto Omar Perez said. Our great city of Laredo needs the people from Mexico. Our economy depends on them.

Perez said he feels sad going through downtown and even the local malls and seeing how they are slowly dying. He hopes the reopening happens before it is too late for many businesses that are on the brink of failure.

It is sad to see the entire mall shutting down, Perez said. Its beginning to look like a ghost town. But again, it is all about feeling safe and making sure it is safe to go out once again. May God bless us all.

While the timeline for opening the border remains unknown, Saenz said the city is ready to welcome back people from Nuevo Laredo. He said they are more than just economic assets and that there are many family members who have not seen each other for over a year.

As always, we will receive them with open arms, Saenz said. They are our neighbors and very much part of our families. They contribute greatly to our social-cultural activities and business vitality. We are a binational region at the border, and our livelihoods at many levels are very dependent on this symbiotic and respectful relationship.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com

A 39-year-old woman was killed Friday night when she was hit by a vehicle while she was crossing a street in Philadelphias Juniata Park section on foot, police said.

The vehicle then fled the scene, at J Street and Erie Avenue, according to police.

Ana Moya-Jimenez, who lived nearby on the 3800 block of J Street, was pronounced dead at the scene by medics at 10:02 p.m., police said.

The vehicle, described by police Saturday as a 2016 gray Ford Escape, was later found on the 5400 block of Akron Street in Frankford, police said. It was confiscated for further investigation and police have been in contact with the alleged driver at the time of the accident, described as a 21-year-old male.

Moya-Jimenez was crossing J Street when she was struck around 9:55 p.m. by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Erie, police said. The vehicle was last seen traveling southbound on the 3700 block of K Street, police said.
Another 5,587 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 4,291,271, according to official figures released.

The country also reported another 96 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 126,122. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

More than 26.8 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Britain broke the daily jab record for a second day in a row with more than 711,000 doses administered on Friday, the data showed.

More than half of Britain's adult population have now received the first dose, a milestone hailed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a "fantastic achievement".

The National Health Service (NHS) England has warned that Britain is going to face a "significant reduction" in vaccine supplies from March 29 onwards.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Thursday that a need to retest 1.7 million vaccine doses as well as delays to doses arriving from India are the reasons why Britain is facing a "tighter" supply in Covid jabs next month. But the British government insisted that the country is on course to offer all adults a dose by the end of July.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out vaccines.

--IANS

int/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samuel Rodriguez warns Biden's immigration policies give 'green light' to cartels, traffickers

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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.

Now that U.S. immigration enforcement has dramatically changed course, the number of people entering the country at the southern border has exploded.

In February, Customs and Border Control detained 100,441 people, including 71,598 single adults, nearly 9,500 unaccompanied minors, and 19,246 individuals in family units. This marked a 28% increase from January when over 78,000 individuals were detained.

Border detention facilities have far exceeded their capacity to the point where children are sleeping on the floor. According to Rodriguez, Bidens wink and nod has come with dire consequences. It is a dream come true for the coyotes, cartels, and human traffickers. The American people and desperate, innocent immigrants are losing  not only their security but often their lives.

Its over time for the Biden administration to work with Congress to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform that will protect our border, and incorporate advanced technology to vet those seeking entrance to our country. In the meantime, the southern border must be secured, now.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post that took place before Biden took office but after the 2020 presidential election, Pastor Hector Silva, who runs a shelter home in Mexico for refugees seeking to enter the U.S., acknowledged that Bidens election created a surge in the number of people traveling north: They are more confident that the government will not send them back. I dont really know, but thats what they think.

Its what Im thinking too. Im also thinking that theyre going to get an improvement to the way they enter the U.S. Theres going to be lots of change, he added.

ABCs George Stephanopoulos brought up this perception held by many seeking to enter the country during an interview with Biden earlier this week. A lot of the migrants coming in say theyre coming in because you promised to make things better, he told the president before asking him was it a mistake not to anticipate this surge?

The president denied that his words had an impact on the number of people trying to enter the country, pushing back on the idea by asserting that theyre coming because they know Im a nice guy and I wont do what Trump did.

Biden pointed to previous surges under the Trump administration as proof that his words and policy proposals did not necessarily influence the number of border crossings.

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris refused to answer a question about the border crisis, maintaining that she hadnt been briefed on the issue.

In the wake of criticism from congressional Republicans, members of the Biden administration have attempted to send a message to migrants seeking to enter the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stressed that we are saying dont come now, although his plea was preceded by an assertion that we are not saying dont come at all. Biden echoed those comments during his interview with Stephanopoulos, telling would-be migrants dont come.

Meanwhile, the House has passed two pieces of legislation that critics describe as amnesties that will only encourage more illegal immigration and do little to stem the situation at the border.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act passed the House by a vote of 247-174. The vote on the legislation, which would provide a path to legal status for illegal immigrant farm workers, came down along mostly party lines with all but one Democrat voting in favor and all but 30 Republicans voting against it.

The Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of immigrants age and younger who were brought to the country as children, passed the House by a narrower margin, with all Democrats voting in favor of it and all but nine Republicans opposing the bill. The future of both bills remains uncertain in the Senate, where legislation requires 60 votes to pass.

If signed into law, it would " ... provide conditional permanent resident status for 10 years to a qualifying alien who entered the United States as a minor and (1) is deportable or inadmissible, (2) has deferred enforced departure status or temporary protected status, or (3) is the child of certain classes of nonimmigrants. The bill imposes various qualifying requirements, such as the alien being continuously physically present in the United States since January 1, 2021, passing a background check, and being enrolled in or having completed certain educational programs."

Democrats have a narrow 50-50 majority in the Senate, with the vice president casting the tie-breaking vote, meaning that 10 Senate Republicans would need to support the bills for them to become law.
The Hamilton County Department of Education is in line to receive $91 million, or, $91,025,240.10 to be exact, and Rhonda Thurman, a longtime member on the school board, wonders What in the world are we going to do with it!

The money is part of President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan, which was $1.9 trillion (with a T) that was approved by Congress 10 days ago. According to a story in the Nashville Tennessean, the state of Tennessee will receive $3.85 billion (with a b).

The relief bill calls for $128 billion (with a b) to be spent on K-12 education and by the time it takes to get the money to districts, there must be a business plan how each district uses at least 20 percent of the money to regain the states lost learning.

Tennessees 95 counties will get $1.3 billion (with a b) and the states four metropolitan cities will each receive $513 million. The states non-metro towns and cities will split up an estimated $413 million in relief funds.

The big question is how are we expected to spend it, Thurman said. If it is for COVID-only related expenses, can we pay ourselves back with what weve had to do in the past year that was disease related? We paid our teachers and staff when we were quarantined. Could we use the relief money to pay back those costs?

I think the smart thing to do would be to pay back our expenses and then place the rest in a general fund. The worst thing we could do would be to use the money on anything with a recurring cost. For instance, the city of Chattanooga used earlier COVID funds to give their employees raises.

The county did not give raises because sooner or later, the city wont get a relief check and then the city will have to cover the recurring cost, she explained.

Ms. Thurman said, The thing that is our biggest priority, outside of giving every student a better education, is to improve our school buildings. But the HCDE doesnt own those schools. They belong to the county."

And if the city accepts relief money for K-12 education, are they going to give it to the county since the city got out of the education business some years ago? Rhonda wondered.

Each school district in America will rely on the mercy and the grace that our government is now showing. The vaccine is getting more and more plentiful, and I agree with the Johns Hopkins epidemiologists, by the end of April, this round of the worst disease in America will be dead and gone.

Because many of us have been inoculated, it cant come back.

Glory!

royexum@aol.com
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 15:07:26|Editor: huaxia

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Colombian President Ivan Duque speaks at a press conference welcoming a new batch of COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac in Barranquilla, Colombia, March 20, 2021. A new batch of COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese company Sinovac arrived at Bogota on Saturday. (Colombian Presidential Office/Handout via Xinhua)

BOGOTA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Ivan Duque thanked China for the new batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines that arrived here on Saturday and its contribution to the advancement of the country's national vaccination program.

"From Colombia, we say thank you (to the Chinese people), because at this juncture, this diplomatic relationship ... is becoming stronger after four decades of bilateral relations," the president said at a press conference in the northern city of Barranquilla.

Noting that the two sides must work together to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, Duque said that "We hope that our relations will become stronger and more solid day by day."

Duque also said that this batch of vaccines from China will "continue to be deployed throughout the country to advance the National Vaccination Plan."

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has sent Sinovac vaccines to the remote regions of Colombia, especially the Amazon region, and the vaccines are expected to be rolled out next week in places such as prisons and nursing homes.

A total of 6,761 new COVID-19 cases and 136 more deaths were reported, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,331,187 and the death toll to 61,907, the ministry said Saturday.
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.
A beloved cafe where locals commiserated after the disappearance of William Tyrrell has been completely destroyed by floodwaters.

Miss Nellie's Cafe, in Kendall, a small rural town south of Port Macquarie, was flooded up to the roof after the Camden Haven River burst its banks in the early hours of Saturday morning.

There is very little left of the 100-year-old building with entire walls ripped off and the owners may not get any money back from their insurer.

Cafe owner Janelle Nosworthy has been forced to beg locals to help fund the restoration costs, as her comprehensive insurance does not cover floods.

The cafe was inundated with floods as the Camden Haven River burst its banks

The owners of the beloved cafe have received overwhelming support from the community

Miss Nellie's Cafe's owners say they have dealt with floods before but never to this extent

Locals from the area tried to save the cafe with sandbags but it was not enough as the water climbed so high it reached 2.5m inside.

Ms Nosworthy told Daily Mail Australia the community responded immediately in an attempt to save the cafe.

'We couldn't get in, so the community just turns up and does it', she said.

She said that they had experienced floods before but never to this extent.

'The water has just rushed through the window and pushed the wall over.'

'We've lost everything inside, so toasters, ovens, coffee machines just everything.'

The cafe owner's said they have lost everything that was inside the cafe

The owner's of the cafe said there is a tide mark on the walls at 2.5 metres

The cafe owner's said they have lost everything in the cafe and are raising money through a go fund me page

Ms Nosworthy created a GoFundMe page that has so far raised more than $15,000 from more than 150 people, with a goal of $25,000.

'Kendall is behind you! Let's bring your little shop back bigger and better.' one donor wrote.

'Sending best wishes and thoughts, and hoping it's not too long before you are back up and running again.' another wrote.

Ms Nosworthy said she had been inundated with messages of encouragement and support.

Christmas decorations outside the cafe just a few months before it was all obliterated by floods

The cafe is a much loved part of the community, residents rushed to help save the cafe

Miss Nellie's cafe had the wall smashed through as the water destroyed the cafe

'There has been so many messages, I can't even get through them at the moment, even from people we don't even know', she said.

She is waiting to hear back from the insurer since the storm has now been deemed a natural disaster.

'We've lodged a claim and are just waiting to hear back from our insurer.' she said.

'Our plan is to rebuild, we'll be back bigger than ever.'
Arrested man tests positive for Covid

Arrested man tests positive for Covid

Health officials have ordered sixteen people arrested over illegal assembly in Kwun Tong on Friday night to go into quarantine, after a man among the group tested positive for Covid-19.



The 26 year-old Pakistani national was the only patient with no clear source of infection among the four local cases reported on Sunday.



Officials believe the man might not be very infectious at the time of his arrest, as his viral load was low.



But Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the patient had refused to divulge his address or whereabouts, and his failure to cooperate meant people he was with had to go to quarantine.



"Because we cannot get cooperation from the case, so we cannot exclude that they may be the same group of friends who might meet previously, not only on that day," she said.



"For the other police officers and also ambulancemen, we'll assess the risks individually on whether anyone of them have close contact with the patient. For example, [whether] they searched him or fought with him, in case he struggled. But if [it was] just normal checking the ID or taking down some information, we won't count them as close contacts."



Chuang added that the man arrived in Hong Kong five to six months ago, and has a 'going-out pass' issued by the Immigration Department.



A staff at the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre, where he had twice visited this month, also has to be quarantined.



Meanwhile, officials reported four imported cases for the day  from Bangladesh, Canada, the US and the Philippines.



With the drop in new local infections, Chuang said she believes the outbreak linked to Ursus Fitness in Sai Ying Pun, which involved 142 patients so far, has now been brought under control.



But she called on members of the public to remain vigilant.



"Although the number has dropped a bit these few days, we still have recorded some unknown cases here and there. So I think there are still some silent transmissions in the community," she said.



More than 10 people have tested preliminary positive, including a 71 year-old taxi driver who lives in Siu Sai Wan.
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Trees worth saving: Shelley Abeyta and her daughter Liliana Anaya walk under the crabapple trees lining the sidewalk next to the Jerry Apodaca Education Building in April 2020.

Santa Fe and much of the rest of New Mexico are in what the National Drought Mitigation Center calls exceptional drought. To put that designation in perspective, it means arid conditions worse than severe drought or extreme drought.

Exceptional drought is as bad as it gets. Parts of northern New Mexico are among the hardest hit.

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Successful long-range planning and multi-sourcing seem to have held off crisis conditions as far as drinking water in Santa Fe goes. But the states agriculture sector is being hit hard. With grassland dwindling, many ranchers are selling off much of their stock at rock-bottom prices.

Then, there are the trees. Pinon pine, already assaulted twice during the 21st century by drought and deadly beetles that take over and kill the trees in times of duress, are again going down. About five years ago, Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists said much of the pinon/juniper ecosystem could be in major decline by 2050 and gone altogether by the turn of the next century if conditions continue to get dryer and hotter under climate change. Other kinds of trees are also browner than they should be.

Its the kind of problem that can seem overwhelming. If saving northern New Mexicos pinon/juniper landscape means preventing climate change, do we have a chance? Is there time for the U.S. and the rest of the world to get together and do enough?

Well, as the saying goes, start local. To that end, Santa Fe is starting a program aimed at saving and planting trees in city parks.

City data shows nearly 20% of the 1,858 trees in the parks are either in poor condition or are dying, and many are already dead.

Thats an unusually high percentage of trees in failing condition, according to city urban forestry designer Athena Beshur. A failure to address them could spell disaster for the future of Santa Fes tree canopy.

The new Treesmart Santa Fe initiative will reconsider where the city plants trees, aiming for a better chance of survival during climate change.

The city also intends to increase the tree canopy on Santa Fes Southside, an area that has historically had fewer trees than other parts of the city. A heat map shows the Southside is significantly warmer than other parts of the city and officials say the lack of shade from trees plays a major role.

Also, A Fund for Santa Fes Trees has been established at the Santa Fe Community Foundation with a $30,000 donation from a national foundation; further donations are encouraged. The goal is to use the fund to provide grants for groups that want to plant trees, with review by a professional arborist, and to encourage planting of trees in appropriate locations.

The city hasnt said anything about how our ubiquitous and much-maligned Siberian or Chinese elms fit into the plan. The non-native elms are half nuisance weed, overwhelming rights of way and street medians, and despised for attacking water and sewer lines, and half no-maintenance-required shade soft-wood trees that apparently can grow just about anywhere.

Santa Fe County, meanwhile, is making an effort to boost the pinon population on county-owned open space land by planting seeds on cooler slopes facing north and east. Some pinons are benefiting from tubes that help catch runoff. Also, county tree thinning is being used to help limit damaging pest spread, and create stands with bigger and more resilient trees.

The official launch of TreeSmart Santa Fe will take place on April 30, National Arbor Day. The kick-off event will be a small, COVID-safe tree-planting ceremony at a location to be determined.

As another saying goes, from small seeds big things grow. The city and countys efforts to save our tree canopy and traditional landscape deserve support (you can donate to A Fund for Santa Fe Trees at santafecf.org/give-now). But the projects also must have long-term commitment to attain success.

This is one effort that shouldnt end up forgotten on the shelf in a few years.
And then along came Ron. Yogi was being trained to become a trauma dog and he was destined to go to Ron Fenton, a former Victorian police officer from Melbourne who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Ron and Yogi at home in Melbourne. Credit:Chris Hopkins Yogi had been trained to recognise Mr Fentons symptoms. He had learnt to gently wake Mr Fenton before night terrors took hold and nuzzle Mr Fentons hand with a slobbery mouth to calm him. Mr Fenton said Yogi saved his life, reducing his reliance on medication and preventing him from taking his own life on more than one occasion.

Mr Fenton is now backing a campaign by state Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley for a similar program, where dogs would go to veterans and emergency service workers, to be run in Victorian prisons. It will mean there will be veterans whose lives are going to be saved, because all these dogs are life-savers, Mr Fenton said. Victorian Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley with Ron Fenton and Yogi last week. Credit:Eddie Jim Mr Grimley has called for the government to fund a program that could mirror what is being done in Bathurst. The NSW program, run by Defence Community Dogs, has about 12 rescue dogs living in the prison at a time, supported by a trainer who works in the facility full-time. The inmates are selected in an application process that takes into account their behaviour inside.

Loading These programs are successful, they do work. Why cant we have them here in Victoria? Mr Grimley said. Defence Bank, founded for Australian Defence Force members and veterans, funds the dogs program. Defence Bank chief executive David Marshall said it was the financial institutions only charitable endeavour, and one that has a huge impact on prisoners and veterans. Since Defence Community Dogs began running the program in 2014, more than 80 dogs have been trained and almost 70 per cent have graduated as accredited assistance dogs.

Corrections Minister Natalie Hutchins said there were ongoing discussions with Defence Community Dogs about potentially adding to the initiatives already running in the justice system. Greyhound adoption and dog rescue programs already run at Dhurringile, Tarrengower and Beechworth correctional centres and the Office of Public Prosecutions uses two Labradors, who came from a prison in Queensland, to support vulnerable witnesses in Victorian courts. We recognise the important role canine programs can play in our justice system to assist victims and help prisoners turn their lives around, Ms Hutchins said. Last Wednesday marked four years ago to the day since Yogi left the Bathurst jail, coincidentally on the same day Benni was released.

Having survived being shot on duty and the mental demons that followed, Mr Fenton said his life is now coming to an end, with cancer overcoming his liver. He is at peace with this and is living his last months to their fullest. In the past week, he had both sky-diving and white-water rafting booked in. Yogi and Ron in 2018. Credit:Joe Armao It was only what would happen to Yogi after he shuffles off this mortal coil that worried him. The biggest concern I had is what would happen to my boy, Mr Fenton said.

Pretty soon, Yogi will be going back to Benni. Going back to his original handler, his original trainer  I like the balance of it, Mr Fenton said. Benni, 36, said training Yogi was hands down the most satisfying achievement of his life, because of what it has done for Mr Fenton. He said he was upset when Mr Fenton told him about his diagnosis, but was honoured to take Yogi back to live with him and a Labrador he adopted after his release. Its almost like its meant to be.
With three Oscar nominations to her name, it looks like Hollywood is ready to put The Crown star Emerald Fennell on a pedestal  and it seems she's been trying one for size!

Emerald posed on a grand mantlepiece for this light-hearted shot as she prepared for the Academy Awards, where she is tipped to win at least one of best director, best picture or best screenplay for Promising Young Woman.

But things could have been different for Emerald, 35, as she nearly flunked her role as Camilla Parker-Bowles in the Netflix royal saga.

With three Oscar nominations to her name, it looks like Hollywood is ready to put The Crown star Emerald Fennell on a pedestal  and it seems she's been trying one for size!

Things could have been different for Emerald, 35, as she nearly flunked her role as Camilla Parker-Bowles (above, Ms Fennell in The Crown) in the Netflix royal saga

The star, who attended Marlborough College with the Duchess of Cambridge, says: 'I auditioned just as we were wrapping Killing Eve [on which she was writer and producer] so I was a completely insane person. I came in and did a mad performance.

'They said, 'Look, go to sleep and come back when you're not working 48 hours a day'.'

And after a good night's sleep Emerald  daughter of society jeweller Theo Fennell  did bag the part.

No more Hicks hiccups...

A glimpse into the painful saga behind Kata Hicks parting from husband Ashley in 2019 was offered to me last week when I learned that she was sent a legal letter at the time warning her about her 92-year-old mother-in-law,

Lady Pamela Hicks, daughter of Lord Mountbatten. Ashley, 57, apparently took umbrage with Kata, 39, for accepting financial help from Lady Pamela ahead of the birth of their second child Horatio, who arrived in 2019 just a year after their first, Caspian.

Says my source: 'The letter accused Kata of pestering his elderly mother in an attempt to persuade her to meet her expenses.

Pictured: Ashley Hicks on the day he married Kata de Solis, 34, at his Oxfordshire home

'It warned that Lady Pamela would not meet any costs for Kata and said further action would be taken if she repeated this behaviour.

'Kata insists she had merely accepted a kind offer. Ashley had just started dating their friend Martina at the time, so Kata was worried about managing a one-year-old baby and a new-born as a single mum.'

Ashley has since settled matters, with Kata moving into a Kensington home and the children at private school.

The source described matters as 'stable', but added: 'Kata misses Lady Pamela.' Kata declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Ashley said: 'Recollections may vary.'
Healthcare workers treat patients inside a Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at a field hospital in the Heliopolis favela of Sao Paulo, Brazil - Jonne Roriz /Bloomberg

Brazil's neighbours are moving to form an 'epidemiological blockade' to prevent the staggering surge in coronavirus cases bleeding into the rest of the continent and threatening fledgling vaccination campaigns.

Uruguay said it would dispatch what remained of the small countrys vaccine stash to the cities that border Brazil, in an effort to seal off the country from the new strain.

Colombia has also been shoring up a blockade with a vaccination campaign for anyone over 18 in the Colombian Amazonian belt that borders Brazil. It announced last week that it had administered more than 22,000 vaccines so far.

We are under threat by the epidemiological situation in Brazil, Uruguays Health Minister Daniel Salinas said

Argentina, Peru and Chile have also taken steps to guard against the more contagious P1 variant, that is believed to have originated in the city of Manaus, in the Brazilian Amazon.

Coronavirus Brazil Spotlight Chart - Cases default

Brazil, the largest country by far in Latin America, with 221-million people, has now recorded more than 11.7-million cases over the duration of the pandemic, and more than 285,000 deaths, second only to the United States.

Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, has regularly downplayed the virus, dismissing it as no worse than "the sniffles".

But on one day this week the Brazilian health ministry reported more than 90,000 new positive cases, a new daily record for the country, and 2,648 deaths.

The health care system is at the brink: 24 out of 26 states and the federal district that encompases the capital of Brasilia have ICU bed occupancy at or above 80 per cent. Fifteen are at or over 90 per cent, Fiocruz, a public health research institute based in Rio de Janeiro, reported this week.

This is the biggest sanitary and hospital collapse in the history of Brazil, the researchers wrote on Tuesday.

Neighbouring countries have been nervously watching it unfold for months, as cases start to climb within their own borders.

Story continues

Peru, which shares 2,800 kilometres of border with Brazil, suspended flights and closed its border to Brazil in January.

Beachgoers enjoy sunny weather in Leblon Beach as the Carnival celebrations were cancelled due to the coronavirus disease in Rio de Janeiro - RICARDO MORAES /REUTERS

Colombias borders will remain closed - except for certain purposes - until at least June 1. It also suspended flights to and from Brazil in January, and banned flights to Leticia, the Colombian border city in the Amazon.

Chile is sending anyone arriving from Brazil to a mandatory isolation facilities, where they must carry out the quarantine if a test finds them Covid positive.

Argentina has resisted calls to close its borders entirely - travel is restricted for foreigners, but Agentines can move across borders. On Saturday, it reduced the number of flights from a number of Latin American countries, including Brazil, and the United States.

The government is facing internal pressure to do more. More than fifty academics and noted Argentine figures issued an open letter calling on the government to shut the border.

At a time when we have vaccinated only a minority of the at risk populations and we observe an inexplicable flow of tourism with Brazil, we believe that the adoption of measures that try to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in our country is urgently required, an open letter stated.
Thomas Peinhopf, left, owner of Livehouse in Tumon, Guam is shown protesting the closure of bars in August.

The Guam Daily Post file photo
ALBANY  Environmentalists are happy with the way the state budget is coming together, at least so far.

The Senate is calling for a revival of $3 billion bond act vote in November and the Assembly is looking to add another $100 million to the existing $300 million Environmental Protection Fund.

Thats in addition to the $500 million that Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to spend for clean water infrastructure projects like rehabilitated water and sewer systems. Lawmakers also put that measure in both their proposals.

Many are hoping that all of these measures end up in the final budget which is being negotiated between lawmakers and Cuomo and is due at the end of the month.

New Yorkers will benefit from this much-needed funding, which will result in good-paying jobs and cleaner water, said Kate Kurera, Deputy Director of Environmental Advocates NY.

The jobs portion may be a selling point, especially if the $3 billion bond issue is approved in the budget and goes to voters for a public referendum in November.

The original name offered by Cuomo, the Restore Mother Nature Act, wasnt polling well, said advocates who say that gaining passage by voters will likely require a publicity campaign.

The Senate version offered this month calls it the Clean Water, Green Jobs, Green New York Bond Act.

Originally set for a November 2020 vote, the bond issue was taken off the table last summer at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic amid worries about how voters might react to an ambitious borrowing and spending plan.

The bond act would help fund storm resiliency initiatives such as wetland restoration for flood prevention and better infrastructure. The Cuomo administration and environmentalists believe that the recent bad storms and disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene are still fresh enough in peoples minds to support such a move.

The $300 million Environmental Protection Fund pays for a wide range of measures ranging from wild land purchases to park improvements, as well as conservation measures and maintenance in the Adirondacks, Catskills and Long Island coast.

Early on in the pandemic, there were fears that fund, which has been in danger of being raided for other uses, could be cut, but no one is proposing that at this time.

The Assembly went above and beyond by proposing a $100 million increase, said Cathy Pedler, director of advocacy for the Adirondack Mountain Club.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
New Delhi, March 21: India and the US agreed to strengthen their military partnership during a meeting between Defence Minister and the US Secretary of Defence, General Lloyd Austin, held in New Delhi, according to a joint statement issued after the talks.

Singh told the media that India is committed to further strengthening its robust defence partnership with the US.

At the meeting, Singh also highlighted the opportunity for the US industry to invest in India's defence sector. "I invited the US defence industry to take advantage of India's liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) policies in the defence sector," the Defence Minister said.

Singh, in his statement, said a range of issues were discussed with a focus on "enhancing defence information sharing, cooperation in emerging domains of defence, mutual logistics support, and expanding military-to- military engagements across services".

"We also reviewed many bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed on increasing cooperation between the Indian military, US Indo-Pacific command, Centre Command and Africa Command. We've signed LEMOA, COMCASA & BECA agreements and we've agreed to realise their full potential," the Indian Defence Minister said. This is also in line with India's 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy," he added.

Austin says India partnership is a priority

"We discussed opportunities to elevate the US-India major defence partnership, which is a priority of the Biden-Harris administration. And we'll do that through regional security cooperation and military to military interactions and defence trade," the Defence Secretary said after the meeting with Singh.

The leaders pledged to work together for a free and open Indo-Pacific and to cooperate on maritime and cybersecurity in the face of challenges from China.

Austin called India "an increasingly important partner in the rapidly shifting international dynamics" and reaffirmed his country's commitment to a "comprehensive forward-looking defence partnership with India" for its approach to the Indo-Pacific region.

"Our relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi stated India stands for freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce in adherence to international law. This reaffirms our shared vision for regional security," Austin said.

His maiden visit is significant as it comes within a week of the summit between the heads of state of Quad countries US, India, Australia and Japan.

Both countries have increased defence partnership in recent years. India signed four key defence pacts with the US in the past few years. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018 enhanced information sharing and interoperability. The Industrial Security Annex (ISA), signed in December 2019, allows for the transfer of technologies in support of defence production. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is for sharing unclassified geospatial information.

"We've signed LEMOA, COMCASA & BECA agreements & we've agreed to realise their full potential," said Singh.

The top US defence official landed in New Delhi on Friday evening as part of the Biden administration's efforts to forge an alliance of countries seeking to push back against China's assertiveness in the region. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Security Advisor soon after.

Austin, Doval exchange notes

According to the Hindustan Times, the two-hour-long meeting between Secretary Austin and NSA Doval was very positive with both leaders exchanging notes on the security environment in Asia and beyond.

"It is in American interest that there is a favourable balance of power in Asia in face of a militarily assertive China. Washington needs to join hands with countries like India whose territorial integrity is being challenged by Beijing," a former Indian foreign secretary told the daily.

India has substantially increased its acquisition of US defence equipment, with Indian forces operating US-sourced platforms such as P-8s, C-130Js, C-17s, AH-64s, CH-47s, Precision Guided-Excalibur Munitions, and M777 howitzers. In February, India agreed to acquire Apache and MH-60R multi-mission helicopters worth $3.1 billion, and is considering other US systems.

A deal for 30 armed drones, 10 each for the army, air force, and navy, pegged at over $3 billion, is close to being approved by the Indian defense ministry. In November 2020, the Indian Navy acquired two Sea Guardian unarmed drones from the U.S. on a one-year lease. India has plans also to buy six additional P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft in addition to the 12 already contracted.

Experts believe that the trajectory of Indo-US relations under President Biden could well turn out to be more consistent, smoother and stronger because India is poised to play a central role in the US's Indo-Pacific strategy given its big professional armed forces, large economy and its aim of resisting China's unfair policies.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative/

(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.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New storm sewers have been replaced in Richmond to eliminate flooding in areas, seven months ahead of schedule.

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection and the NYC Department of Design and Construction announced Saturday the $6.9 billion project was completed.

The entire installation of new sewage systems occurred on 10 individual blocks along portions of West Cedarview Avenue, including McKinley Avenue, Kensico Street, Amber Street, and Wolverine Street.

The new sewage systems are from 12 inches to 30 inches in diameter, in order to help prevent any future stormwater from flooding, a press release states.

DDC First Deputy Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer stated this installment is a significant investment in infrastructure by the City for residents in the area, and will improve the quality of life for Richmond residents.

With more than 2,000 feet of new storm sewers, rebuilt and regraded streets, plus new curbs and new catch basins, there will be a tremendous reduction in flooding when it rains, said Torres-Spinger, We are very proud to work with our partners at DEP to improve the quality of life for residents of Staten Island.

DEP Commisioner, Vincent Sapienza stated the remodeled infrastructure will relieve any flooding in the hilly Staten Island neighborhood by installing a new network of storm sewers and catch basins along West Cedarview Avenue and the surrounding side streets.

Along with the sewer systems, 19 catch basins were installed, and approximately 1,500 feet of 10-inch sanitary sewers were replaced, the press release states.

Additionally, roadways, sidewalks, and curbs were also reconstructed during the process.

The project began in January of 2020 and was expected to finish by October 2021.
https://www.aish.com/ci/s/One-of-the-Most-Significant-Defenses-of-Free-Speech-in-American-History.html

An 1860 speech by Frederick Douglass, a leader of the abolitionist movement, takes on cancel culture.

I was fortunate enough to attend college in the 1970s, when it was still taken for granted that campuses were meant to be robust marketplaces of ideas and that the clash of opinions was essential to the search for truth. During my years at George Washington University, students could and did attend speeches by guest speakers from across the political spectrum  from liberal Democrats like Eugene McCarthy to conservative Republicans like Trent Lott, from hard-core leftists like Amiri Baraka to fierce anticommunists like Vladimir Bukovsky. Politically unpopular points of view were not silenced by ideological mobs. Left-wing protesters didnt disrupt right-wing presentation  or vice versa. No one demanded that guest speakers be disinvited because their message was politically incorrect or apt to offend some of their listeners.

Now, of course, everything is different. Woke intolerance has turned far too many campuses into fortresses of censored opinion and strangled dissent. At one university after another, invited speakers (typically right of center, though not always) have been harassed or shouted down by agitators, with school administrators too often doing nothing to defend the speakers right to be heard.

#Woke intolerance has turned far too many campuses into fortresses of censored opinion and strangled dissent.

Examples in recent years have become almost too numerous to count. To mention just a few, agitators, hecklers, and rioters have successfully silenced or disrupted presentations by political scientist Charles Murray, philosopher Christina Hoff Sommers, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, Blackwater founder Erik Prince, economist Arthur Laffer, law professor John Yoo, dissident Google engineer James Damore, Manhattan Institute scholar Heather Mac Donald, climate-doom skeptic Marc Morano, and former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren. Opposition to open discourse in academia is now endemic, and it extends not just to silencing guest speakers but to censoring the freedom of faculty members as well.

Happily, free speech still has its defenders, and more of them are pushing back. Among the most important organizations supporting open debate and the sanctity of conscience on campus is the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which was founded in 1999 by Bostons noted civil liberties attorney Harvey Silverglate and University of Pennsylvania history professor Alan Charles Kors. This month, a new organization entered the arena. The Academic Freedom Alliance comprises several hundred scholars committed to unimpeded discourse and the right of scholars to pursue truth and knowledge without being penalized. Among its founding members are Steven Pinker, Cornel West, Randall Kennedy, Keith Whittington, Yascha Mounk, and Robert George  a left-right lineup of intellectual power hitters who vow to counteract pressures on employers to take actions against employees whose views, statements, or teachings they may disapprove or dislike.

In an essay heralding the AFAs founding, Lucas E. Morel, a scholar of constitutional law and black American politics at Washington and Lee University, harkens back to one of the most significant defenses of free speech in American history. It was delivered by Frederick Douglass in Boston on Dec. 9, 1860. Just six days earlier, a mob had disrupted and prevented Douglass and other antislavery activists from gathering at Bostons Music Hall for a program titled How Can American Slavery be Abolished? Animosity toward abolitionists was as rampant among many Americans then, even in Boston, as animosity toward conservatives has become today.

The thugs who invaded Music Hall got what they wanted. Douglass and the others were prevented from speaking. The police, having completely failed to protect the right of the organizers to hold their event, eventually intervened to clear the auditorium. The near-riot made news far beyond Boston. In the New York Tribune, a report on the outrage was headlined: Freedom of Speech Violated in Boston.

Frederick Douglass

As Morel writes, the right to speak was no mere abstraction for Douglass. He and other abolitionists routinely faced ruffians, even in New England, who tried to shut down their rallies. Could he peer into our era, what would he think to see colleges, which should be promoting knowledge through robust protection for diversity of thought, instead allowing the harassment and de-platforming of invited speakers?

I am embarrassed to confess that I hadnt previously known of Douglasss powerful remarks in Boston. More than a century and a half after they were first delivered, they are as relevant and vital as ever.

Boston is a great city and Music Hall has a fame almost as extensive as that of Boston. Nowhere more than here have the principles of human freedom been expounded, Douglass began.

And yet, even here, in Boston, the moral atmosphere is dark and heavy. The principles of human liberty . . . find but limited support in this hour of trial. The world moves slowly, and Boston is much like the world. We thought the principle of free speech was an accomplished fact. Here, if nowhere else, we thought the right of the people to assemble and to express their opinion was secure. . . . But here we are today contending for what we thought we gained years ago. The mortifying and disgraceful fact stares us in the face, that though Faneuil Hall and Bunker Hill Monument stand, freedom of speech is struck down. No lengthy detail of facts is needed. They are already notorious; far more so than will be wished ten years hence. The world knows that last Monday a meeting assembled to discuss the question How shall slavery be abolished? The world also knows that that meeting was invaded, insulted, captured by a mob of gentlemen, and thereafter broken up and dispersed by the order of the mayor, who refused to protect it, though called upon to do so.

Douglass emphasized that the abolitionist meeting had been invaded not by lowlifes, but by gentlemen  by people who proclaimed their respect for the law . . . while in the very act of breaking the law. Then came his ringing defense of free speech  especially speech that goes against the interest of those in power and those with the most influence:

No right was deemed by the fathers of the Government more sacred than the right of speech. It was in their eyes, as in the eyes of all thoughtful men, the great moral renovator of society and government. Daniel Webster called it a homebred right, a fireside privilege. Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter ones thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason of righteousness, temperance, and of a judgment to come in their presence. Slavery cannot tolerate free speech. Five years of its exercise would banish the auction block and break every chain in the South. They will have none of it there, for they have the power. But shall it be so here?

As would be true of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights protesters in Birmingham a century later, Douglass and the abolitionists in Boston were told that they were at fault for riling up opposition and not waiting more patiently to press their case against slavery. We hear . . . voices, Douglass said, deprecating and regretting the holding of such a meeting, by such men, at such a time. We are told that the meeting was ill-timed, and the parties to it unwise. He was astonished that in Boston, of all places, such an unworthy objection would be raised, especially in the wake of the mobs anti-free-speech assault:

Are we, at such a time, when a great principle has been struck down, to quench the moral indignation which the deed excites by casting reflections upon those on whose persons the outrage has been committed? After all the arguments for liberty to which Boston has listened for more than a quarter of a century, has she yet to learn that the time to assert a right is the time when the right itself is called in question, and that the men of all others to assert it are the men to whom the right has been denied? It would be no vindication of the right of speech to prove that certain gentlemen of great distinction, eminent for their learning and ability, are allowed to freely express their opinions on all subjects  including the subject of slavery. Such a vindication . . . would add insult to injury. Not even an old-fashioned abolition meeting could vindicate that right in Boston just now. There can be no right of speech where any man, however lifted up, or however humble, however young, or however old, is overawed by force, and compelled to suppress his honest sentiments. Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker. It is just as criminal to rob a man of his right to speak and hear as it would be to rob him of his money. I have no doubt that Boston will vindicate this right. But in order to do so, there must be no concessions to the enemy. When a man is allowed to speak because he is rich and powerful, it aggravates the crime of denying the right to the poor and humble. The principle must rest upon its own proper basis. And until the right is accorded to the humblest as freely as to the most exalted citizen, the government of Boston is but an empty name, and its freedom a mockery.

Alas, it is still the case that in Boston and elsewhere, authorities are only too quick to ride roughshod over the free-speech rights of disfavored minorities. On too many college campuses, in too many media outlets, among too many public officials, the robust marketplace of ideas that seemed secure a couple decades ago is again under assault. In our age, as in every age, the case for freedom of speech  which includes, as Douglass said, the right to hear  needs to be regularly re-asserted.

Douglasss words ought to be publicly proclaimed every year: There can be no right of speech where any man, however lifted up, or however humble, however young, or however old, is overawed by force, and compelled to suppress his honest sentiments. It is an awful thing, the way fear of speech has come to replace freedom of speech in so much of American life. But the battle isnt lost yet. Free speech, thank goodness, still has its champions. Heres hoping for great things from the American Freedom Alliance and for the ultimate defeat of our contemporary McCarthyists.

This article originally appeared in Jeff Jacoby's weekly newsletter, Arguable, which is sponsored by the Boston Globe.
An Australian couple has been caught up in the chaos of the military coup in Myanmar and placed under house arrest in the main city Yangon after being denied permission to fly out.

Matthew OKane and Christa Avery, a Canadian-Australian, who run a business consulting firm for project development in the troubled south-east Asian nation, are receiving consular assistance from Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

They were told to return to their home to Yangon after Avery tried to board a relief flight back to Australia last Friday but was blocked by authorities.

Matthew OKane, an Australian blocked from leaving Myanmar. Credit:Facebook

It was not apparent why she was not allowed to leave but a friend, Tim Harcourt, said she had spent a decade there dedicated to the cause of development in Myanmar.
'Mama June' Shannon has finally settled into sober life, but it hasn't been without its consequences.

The 41-year-old reality television star - who lost 300lbs in 2017 - opened up about the weight gain she has experienced since leaving rehab in the premiere episode of Mama June: Road to Redemption on Friday.

'Look we have put on a little couple extra pounds. I've put on about 60. He's put on about 100. We put on a whole other person. But I'm going to blame it on healthy Covid weight,' she said about the extra pounds she and boyfriend Geno Doak packed on.

Weight gain: 'Mama June' Shannon opened up about the weight gain she has experienced since leaving rehab in the premiere episode of Mama June: Road to Redemption on Friday.

60 pounds: 'I've put on about 60. He's put on about 100. We put on a whole other person. But I'm going to blame it on healthy Covid weight,' the 41-year-old reality TV star said about the extra pounds she and boyfriend Geno Doak packed on

'I'm back, larger and sweeter than ever,' she added about her sober life in Florida since completing a stint in rehab in February 2020.

Mama June has showcased her weight journey in front of the TV cameras for five seasons of Mama June: From Hot to Not, and now she's focused on her sobriety and her mission to regain contact with her kids.

She explained that her shift in priorities has put concerns about size on the back burner in an interview with TooFab.

'With my weight loss, I have as I like to tell people, gained that healthy Covid weight. I've put on probably about 60-70 pounds,' she said.

Redemption: Mama June has showcased her weight journey in front of the TV cameras for five seasons of Mama June: From Hot to Not, and now she's focused on her sobriety and her mission to regain contact with her kids; here with daughter Alana in 2018

Happy: 'Am I happy the way I am? Yeah. When I was a Size 2 at 150, I was way too damn small. Now I'm 250 and I feel good. Even when I was 500, people didn't believe I was 500,' she told TooFab; June is seen here in 2015

'Am I happy the way I am? Yeah. When I was a Size 2 at 150, I was way too damn small. Now I'm 250 and I feel good. Even when I was 500, people didn't believe I was 500,' she added.

She admitted her desire to shed some of the pounds because they are causing medical issues, but it can't be her focus right now.

'If you've ever been in addiction, you have to know your sobriety has to be #1 and forefront. This may be bad on my part, but it takes precedent over my relationship with Geno, my relationship with my family, my production team,' she explained.

Sobriety: 'If you've ever been in addiction, you have to know your sobriety has to be #1 and forefront. This may be bad on my part, but it takes precedent over my relationship with Geno, my relationship with my family, my production team,' she said about her current priorities

Smoothie? One scene in the episode showed the reality TV personality making a 'smoothie' that most would recognize as a milkshake instead

Treat yourself: Instead of sticking to a healthy dish, the bikini-clad star pulled out ingredients like sprinkles, whipped cream and maraschino cherries

One scene in the episode showed the reality TV personality making a 'smoothie' that most would recognize as a milkshake instead.

Instead of sticking to a healthy dish, the bikini-clad star pulled out ingredients like sprinkles, whipped cream and maraschino cherries.

June could be seeing licking up the sprinkles from the bowl and drinking strawberry syrup directly from the bottle.

Enjoyment: June could be seeing licking up the sprinkles from the bowl and drinking strawberry syrup directly from the bottle

Unhealthy cooking: She offered one of her concoctions to Geno, before entering the kitchen and revealing to Shannon that she was actually making dessert

She offered one of her concoctions to Geno, before entering the kitchen and revealing to Shannon that she was actually making dessert.

He then asked why they couldn't be healthy and sober, to which June replied: 'I got protein right there in my sprinkles.'

June spoke with TMZ on Friday 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.

She explained that the financial strain created by her drug addiction in 2019 and early 2020 along with boyfriend Geno Doak was more than previously estimated.

Lack of protein: Geno then asked why they couldn't be healthy and sober, to which June replied: 'I got protein right there in my sprinkles'

Costly addiction: Shannon told TMZ that the financial strain created by her drug addiction in 2019 and early 2020 along with boyfriend Geno Doak cost close to $1.5 million dollars

'In our whole addiction, I would say close to $1.5 [million dollars],' the mother of four said.

And when asked about her relationship with her family, June revealed 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.'

Family 'struggle': When asked about her relationship with her family, June said 'its an everyday struggle. I am trying to mend those relationships with the children;' she is seen with her children filming Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

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.'

June was arrested in 2019 for cocaine possession and in October 2019, Shannon and Doak pleaded not guilty to crack cocaine possession.

The pair are still 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.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the attack on the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and condemned the attack.

The president also called for an open and transparent investigation of the attack, saying whoever is linked to it should be caught and be made to face the law.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the attack which occurred when the governor visited his farm in the state.

Although the governor narrated how the attack occurred, many Nigerians questioned his narrative with many also expressing doubts about the attack.

The police have since commenced an investigation into the attack.

Read the full statement by Mr Buharis office on the attack below.

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONDEMNS ATTACK ON GOVERNOR SAMUEL ORTOM , ORDERS THOROUGH, TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION

President Muhammadu Buhari strongly condemns the attack on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, saying the string of brutal attacks on individuals and communities in the state, with the latest one targeting the governor, was unacceptable.

The President welcomes the dispatch of a high level team of crack investigators to the state from the police headquarters in Abuja, urging the officers to uncover who, or whatsoever, was behind the attacks and bring them to justice.

In expressing his sympathies, and that of the government of the federation to Governor Ortom and all Benue indigenes, President Buhari said the unfortunate incident must not be politicised, reiterating that an attack on one Nigerian is an attack on all Nigerians.

The president directed the police to undertake a thorough investigation into the incident involving the governor and into all such incidents affecting individuals and communities in the state.

Let there be open and transparent investigation and whoever is linked to it should be caught and be made to face the law, the president directed.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 21, 2021
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is allowing his state's mask orders to expire at the end of March, claiming citizens' 'common sense' will replace coronavirus-related mandates.

'I expect, even though we take the mask mandate away that people will continue to use the mask when you cannot socially distance and whenever there's the risk of the virus,' Hutchinson told CNN's 'State of the Union' on Sunday morning.

He added: 'So common sense is going to replace mandates.'

The governor argued that the public has been educated on the virus over the last year and has the ability to make their own decisions regarding health, including whether to mask up.

In July 2020, Hutchinson issued mask mandates requiring all those 10 and older to wear a face covering in public where social distancing is not possible. The current mandate is still in effect.

Hutchinson previously said  and reiterated Sunday  that he would allow the mandate to expire on March 31 if positive COVID-19 test rates continue to decrease and hospitalizations drop below certain levels.

Arkansas Gov.Asa Hutchinson (right) said 'common sense is going to replace mandates' as he commits to allowing his state's mask requirements to expire at the end of March

At the end of March, Arkansas will become the seventh state to end mask mandates.

So far, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Texas and Wyoming have already lifted their requirements for public mask wearing.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden called Texas and Mississippi lifting their orders 'neanderthal thinking.'

Alabama could become the eighth state to join the list as Governor Kay Ivey has set an April expiration date for her state's mask order.

'It's not going to take away from the seriousness of the virus and we've got to continue to pay attention,' Hutchinson said of lifting mask mandates state-wide in Arkansas.

'Even though we take away the mask mandate, we're still going to make sure that we do everything that we can to protect ourselves and others and recognize the virus is still there,' he continued.

As of Sunday, 29.78 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and nearly 542,000 have died country-wide after contracting the virus.

Restrictions are lifting all over the country  including relaxing restrictions on masks, social distancing, restaurant and establishment capacity and public gatherings.
Police in the southern Vietnamese province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau have arrested a murder and robbery convict who escaped from prison over three decades ago.

The provincial Department of Public Security confirmed on Saturday it had apprehended Nguyen Van Ky, 66, who hails from the southern province of Bac Lieu.

Ky was the leader of a criminal racket that used guns to carry out multiple robberies in Bac Lieu Province about 40 years back.

The man also shot dead one of his subordinates following a conflict.

In 1981, Ky was arrested and sentenced to death for murder and robbery.

His sentence was commuted to lifetime imprisonment in 1987.

In 1989, Ky broke out of prison and has been wanted by police since then.

Police investigation showed that he had stayed in Long Dien District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province before moving to the provinces Xuyen Moc District about three years ago.

Ky changed his name to Tran Van Son and lived with a woman as husband and wife at a makeshift house.

The man earned a living by catching crabs and shellfish.

On Saturday morning, police surrounded Kys house.

He stayed inside for about 30 minutes before agreeing to meet the officers.

At first, Ky still insisted that he was Son, not a wanted criminal, but he eventually admitted the truth.

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(Alliance News) - A record number of people received their Covid-19 vaccine on Friday, with 711,156 doses given to the UK public.

More than half of the UK's adult population a some 26,853,407 people aged 18 and over a have now received their first jab, Government data up to March 19 suggests.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the milestone as a "phenomenal achievement".

The Department of Health & Social Care 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".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among those to receive his first dose on Friday when he was given the Oxford University and AstraZeneca PLC vaccine at St Thomas' Hospital in central London.

Friday's record daily total includes both first and second doses across the UK.

Of those, 636,219 were given in England a the highest daily amount since the NHS vaccination programme began, NHS England said.

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 a around 4% of all adults a 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

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.

The infectious disease expert Tildesley told BBC Radio 4's 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."

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 strain of the virus.

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.

Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said although 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 haven't been vaccinated.

"So the consequences of another wave are less. I think the challenge is of course we don't 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, UK 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.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an "emergency break" on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland began 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 a reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine resumed in Ireland on Saturday.

By Luke Powell and Jane Kirby, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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NEW YORK, March 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of MoneyGram International, Inc. (MoneyGram or the Company) (NASDAQ: MGI) from June 3, 2019, through February 22, 2021 (the Class Period). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you purchased MoneyGram securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit MoneyGram Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose to investors: (1) XRP, the cryptocurrency that MoneyGram was utilizing as part of its Ripple partnership, was viewed as an unregistered and therefore unlawful security by the SEC; (2) in the event that the SEC decided to enforce the securities laws against Ripple, MoneyGram would be likely to lose the lucrative stream of market development fees that was critical to its financial results throughout the Class Period; and (3) as a result, defendants public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

On February 22, 2021, MoneyGram filed its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, disclosing to shareholders that it was possible that MoneyGram will not resume transacting with Ripple under the commercial agreement and will be unable to receive the related market development fees in 2021 and beyond.

On this news, MoneyGram securities fell 33.2%, from a closing price on February 19, 2021 of $10.87, to a closing price on February 23, 2021 of $7.26 per share.

Story continues

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 30, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

If you purchased MoneyGram securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/moneygraminternational-mgi-shareholder-class-action-lawsuit-stock-fraud-368/apply/ or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com.

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2021 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

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KYODO NEWS - Mar 21, 2021 - 09:29 | Japan, All, World

Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs have agreed in their recent meeting in Tokyo to closely cooperate in the event of a military clash between China and Taiwan, Japanese government sources said Saturday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin brought up the issue when he held talks with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on Tuesday, though there was no discussion on how their countries should coordinate their response to such an emergency, the sources said.

Tokyo's policy on China-Taiwan relations is to encourage dialogue for a peaceful solution to cross-strait tensions.

Taiwan and mainland China have been separately governed since they split as a result of a civil war in 1949. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification.

Regarding Taiwan issues, a statement issued after talks by Kishi and Austin as well as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, also held on Tuesday, only called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

In the earlier meeting with Austin, Kishi referred to a recent increase in the number of Chinese war planes crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait and a need to study ways for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to cooperate with U.S. forces defending Taiwan in the event of China's aggression, they said.

Tokyo has been reviewing the feasibility of issuing an SDF dispatch order to protect U.S. warships and military planes in case of a crisis between China and Taiwan given the strait's geographical proximity and the possibility of an armed conflict there affecting the safety of Japanese citizens.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 11:05:19|Editor: huaxia

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Staff members of the Chinese-funded New Tonkolili Iron Ore Project and Sierra Leonean officials pose for group photos at the site of the project in Freetown, Sierra Leone, March 20, 2021. The Chinese-funded New Tonkolili Iron Ore Project in Sierra Leone on Saturday announced the commencement of its full-scale operation. (Xinhua)

FREETOWN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese-funded iron ore project in Sierra Leone on Saturday announced the commencement of its full-scale operation.

The New Tonkolili Iron Ore Project, which is invested and operated by Kingho Investment Company Limited (Kingho), a Chinese-owned private company, started operation in September last year.

The Chinese company's Chief Executive Officer Zhao Ting said the project covers an area of 408 square kilometers (40,800 hectares) with a resource capacity of 13.7 billion tons, and is also equipped with a complete railway and port logistics transportation system.

The project will boost the iron and steel industries both in Sierra Leone and China, said Zhao.

On Jan. 29, the first shipment of iron ore from the project set sail for China.
New Delhi, March 21 : Amid the preparations for the Kumbh Mela 2021 starting from April 1, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said apart from the guidelines issued by the Centre there will be no other restrictions on the tourists coming here to take the holy dip.

This year Kumbh Mela will be organised for a shorter span, from April 1 to 30. Three 'Shahi Snans' will be performed in April. On April 12 and 14, all the 13 Akharas will take the holy dip while on April 27 Bairagi Akhara will take the holy dip.

As per the health arrangements, 100 teams have been constituted for thermal screening while the teams performing the Covid-19 tests have been increased to 50 from 40 and the ambulances have also been increased to 54 from 32. A team of 100 doctors and 148 paramedical staff from Uttar Pradesh has also reached Haridwar.

Tents and toilets will be made and all the Mahamandleshwars will also be provided necessary facilities.

Earlier, the Uttarakhand government had mandated registration of the saints coming to attend the Kumbh. The devotees will have to get their RT-PCR test done 72 hours before participating in the Kumbh. They will be permitted only if they are tested negative.

Uttarakhand government had issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the ashrams, dharamshalas, ghats, hotels, restaurants, guest houses, public vehicles, parking lots, railway station, bus stations, shops, etc.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Political reform, racism, transgender rights -- the audio app Clubhouse has unleashed unbridled debates about topics deemed dangerously sensitive in Saudi Arabia, but surveillance fears have spooked users in the authoritarian state.

Banned by the censors in China, the invitation-only app is gaining traction in parts of the Gulf, sparking bold conversations in countries known to curb free speech.

The most provocative appear to be happening in chat rooms focused on Saudi Arabia, where nationalist trolls and a government crackdown on online critics have largely stifled debate on other platforms.

Such is the popularity of the app that some users in the kingdom are offering to sell Clubhouse invitations on Twitter, highlighting a repressed appetite for debate and discussion despite the fear of surveillance.

"Clubhouse is thriving because there's a plethora of Saudi intellectuals interested in debating multiple topics that could be considered taboo or censored in the public realm," Amani al-Ahmadi, a US-based Saudi-American activist, told AFP.

But after Ahmadi recently hosted a chat on "racism in Saudi Arabia", Twitter was splashed with screenshots and videos revealing the identity and opinions of the participants, alongside conspiracy theories about their motives.

The tactic, which sparked fears that app users were being monitored, marked a breach of the rules set by Clubhouse, which forbids the recording of conversations.

A similar Clubhouse room created to discuss the recent release of jailed activist Loujain al-Hathloul had to be shut down after some speakers threatened to expose them publicly, according to two sources privy to the session.

"I see some Saudi trolls taking Clubhouse conversations to Twitter by recording and hash tagging people," said Ahmadi.

"This is still a new platform and there are many concerns when it comes to security."

Clubhouse did not respond to AFP's request for comment on the reported breaches.

'Free thinking'

In a sign that some may already be self-censoring on the platform, many begin their talks with the proviso "I'm inside" the kingdom or "I'm in a sensitive place", a Saudi user of the app told AFP.

But despite the risks, many Saudis are participating in free-wheeling discussions that capture the zeitgeist of a largely young population.

In one chat room, a Saudi woman bemoaned the lack of civil liberties in the absolute monarchy.

"Thinking freely carries a great cost, it can cost your life, can send you to prison," she said, according to participants.

"We are not barn animals... It is our right to think and our right to protest like any other nation. This is the simplest right of citizens."

In another, a Saudi lauded new employment opportunities for women in the kingdom, but said they came at a huge cost.

"We are now walking down the path to equality," she said.

"But many Saudi men have become resentful and ask: 'Why is it that women have more job opportunities than me?'"

And in another, a transgender woman from the kingdom shared her chilling experiences of being publicly groped and harassed, according to app users.

'Filling a void'

Such unrestrained conversations have sparked furious calls for state regulation from government supporters.

"The acrimony that its discussions can generate could harm society as a whole without any organisational or ethical constraints," Salman al-Dossary wrote in a Saudi newspaper column titled "Clubhouse's moral dilemma".

In an online video, Saudi academic Fahad al-Otaibi went as far as to say that Clubhouse posed a risk to the kingdom's national security.

There was no official comment from Saudi authorities.

Saudi app users say it is only a matter of time before pro-government trolls assert control over the platform's activities -- just like they did with Twitter.

Pro-regime cyber armies have infiltrated Twitter, intimidating the kingdom's critics and distorting online narratives while also harnessing the platform to promote ambitious government reforms.

In recent years, regime critics have been jailed over tweets, underscoring how social media has become a weapon of authoritarian rule, campaigners say.

"Clubhouse is filling a massive void right now, and its popularity in the Gulf shows that people have been waiting for a new avenue to express their opinions, explore ideas and debate freely and without censorship," said Ahmed Gatnash, co-founder of the Middle East activist group Kawaakibi Foundation.

"I do fear that the Saudi government will either crack down by banning the app, or surveil rooms and arrest people for exercising their right to free speech, as they did with Twitter in recent years," Gatnash told AFP.
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Global tea in challenging times By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

The global tea industry had faced one of the most challenging times in their history last year but had been able to produce some of the best quality teas both in India and Sri Lanka.

During a webinar dialogue on tea on the topic Restart Asian Economies: Ideas and Actions for the tea industry hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and held on Monday, Dilmah Tea CEO Dilhan Fernando and Luxmi Teas Managing Director Rudra Chatterjee detailed the key concerns, challenges and overcoming them to cater to the growing demand for quality teas.

Mr. Fernando highlighted that they were fortunate that the government adopted a practical approach during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 last year; as they faced an unorthodox situation and were compelled to focus on ensuring that the agriculture, plantation and manufacturing levels were protected.

He detailed how as a company they had been involved in going beyond their call to reach out to their workers living on the estate in a bid to ensure that they receive adequate supplies of food and that they were not be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Chatterjee of Indias Luxmi Teas pointed out this will (2020) always be a year we will always remember and noted that during that difficult year their company had increasingly focused on quality. We made better tea that year and managed to reach out to customers  it was a challenge, he said.

India faced a tougher time with a hard lockdown last year with no production of tea and by the time things reopened the second flush was also wiped out, the MD explained.

We didnt have to worry about the people working getting affected, except for people coming from outside, he said.

However, agriculture does not stop and start so the supply of tea was down 15 per cent, he noted. But with no dearth of teas to consumers around the world the question was raised how the companies coped with the supply during these challenging times.

Mr. Chatterjee pointed out that the excess supply of tea is the biggest challenge of the tea industry particularly since they were of average quality.

This gave rise to ensure that companies manufacture premium quality teas and that meant that there was a focus on making better tea  we really need to understand that the issue is that we need to think of the entire consumer chain and ensure demand keeps pace with the supply.

Dilmah Tea CEO Fernando also explained that the global market has an abundance of mediocre teas and pointed out that consumers were incapable of selecting between the good and bad teas.

Commenting further on some of the key challenges faced by them, Mr. Fernando explained that shipping out the teas faced blocks as space on containers was hard to find and containers were also stuck around the world.

Mr. Chatterjee however explained that another interesting trend observed last year as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak was that most people ordered online and were able to understand the nuances of the product.

He also noted that the reason for the drop in quality in tea today was due to the fact that there was no effort made to ensure quality tea is produced while there was a compulsion for the production of higher quantities.

Mr. Fernando speaking on the changes that took place in Sri Lanka said that the online auction system was a reaction to circumstance adding that technology is a great enabler.

He also explained that while rising wages is not a challenge, the problem they faced was the market and prices. How to command a better price for the amount we can afford, are key concerns.

Improving the quality of tea that would fetch better prices will be the only way the industry can increase wages, it was pointed out.

Both were enthusiastic of the idea to establish South Asia as a hub and re-introduce to the world the real places from where these teas originate by reinventing the branding image of the teas from Sri Lanka and India.

Dilmah CEO Fernando said, Collaboration is an excellent idea adding that the hub is a fantastic idea but it should be segmented to allow for premium producers and volume segment as well.

Mr. Chatterjee agreed with the fact the teas from the South Asian countries should rebrand its identity by exhibiting the place of origin and this would ensure that South Asia and the rest of the world should also drink our brand and the rest of the world as well.
Vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine resumed in Italy on Friday afternoon after AIFA, the country's pharmacological agency, formally lifted its temporary ban after a clot scare.

Italy lifted the ban after the European Medicines Agency ruled the shots were safe and effective.

On Friday, Italians lined up outside Rome's La Nuvola vaccination hub, which is housed in one of Rome's most iconic architectural sites.

Italian officials said the speed at which they were proceeding with the administrative restart of AstraZeneca shots was a sign of their confidence in the vaccine's safety and efficacy.

Rome's Health Councilor Alessio D'Amato said that after the ban was lifted, Rome's Lazio region can now pick up speed.

He said the target is to vaccinate 60,000 people a day or 1.8 million a month.

Top Italian public health officials held a press conference Friday to insist on the safety of the AstraZeneca shot in a bid to build confidence among the general population.

They also defended their decision to suspend it as purely precautionary.

Countries across Europe resumed vaccinations with the AstraZeneca shot on Friday, as leaders sought to reassure their populations the vaccine is safe, following brief suspensions that cast doubt on a vaccine that is critical to ending the coronavirus pandemic.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The allegations against the Maharashtra home minister are serious and wild, said Sunday reacting to the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Singh has claimed Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

The NCP chief told reporters in the capital that he would suggest Uddhav Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro's help for looking into claims by Param Bir Singh.

Pawar asserted that the allegations will have no will have no impact on the Maharashtra government.

"Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra, all i can say is they will have no impact on the government," he said. The state chief minister has the full authority to take a decision regarding an inquiry on these allegations against the Home Minister, Pawar said.

Pawar also accused Param Bir Singh of making wild allegations because he was removed as Mumbai police commissioner and said that it was him who decided to reinstate Sachin Waze in police force last year. Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards. He said neither the chief minister nor the state home minister were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.

When asked if Anil Deshmukh will be removed as home minister, said he will discuss it with Uddhav Thackeray and then come to a decision. In the 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.

Meanwhile Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that Maharashtra chief minister didn't act on allegations regarding corruption over police transfers.

"Before Param Bir Singh, Maharashtra DG Subodh Jaiswal had submitted a report to Maharashtra Chief Minister regarding corruption over police transfers.

But CM didn't act on it. Hence, DG Jaiswal had to resign from his post." "Sachin Waze was brought back in service on orders of Maharashtra chief minister and home minister only. Pawar Sahab is fleeting away from the truth," said Fadnavis
Photo: The Canadian Press Jeevan Sull, 61, is shown in this undated handout photo. Investigators have identified Jeevan Sull, 61, of Abbotsford, B.C., as the victim of a homicide. Police say emergency responders who responded to a 911 call on March 3 found an injured man who has since died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Integrated Homicide Investigation Team

Investigators have identified 61-year-old Jeevan Sull as the victim of a homicide in Abbotsford, B.C.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says emergency services responded to a home on March 3 after receiving a 911 call in which the caller hung up.

The team says an injured man was found at the scene and transported to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on March 14.

IHIT Det. Lara Jansen says this is believed to be an isolated incident between parties known to each other, but the team is still appealing for witnesses.

She says investigators are asking anyone who was walking or driving in the 32000-block of Slocan Drive on March 3 between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to contact IHIT.

She says there were people in the home before the incident and they have been identified, but no one has been arrested and IHIT is working to confirm the details of what actually happened.

"Certainly, the people who were there when this incident happened definitely are witnesses," she said at a media availability on Sunday.

"However, IHIT still is appealing for additional witnesses who they believe may have been in the area, again, walking by or driving by."

Jansen adds the homicide is in no way related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.

She wouldn't say whether the incident occurred in the victim's home, how many people were there or the relationship between them.

Jansen also did not disclose the nature of the man's injuries.
Republican lawmakers introduce bills to ban sex change surgeries for kids, taxpayer funding for mutilation

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Congressional Republicans have introduced two pieces of legislation that would ban gender reassignment surgery for minors in addition to preventing taxpayers from having to pay for elective gender reassignment surgeries.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., announced the introduction of "The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act" and the "End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act" in a press release published Tuesday. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., introduced companion legislation in the House.

The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act would prohibit doctors from performing experimental gender reassignment treatments on children, citing the fact that puberty-blocking hormones can cause irreversible damage to childrens bodies, including an increased risk of cancer and permanent sterilization.

The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect taxpayers conscience by prohibiting federal funding for gender reassignment surgeries and treatments.

Both bills are supported by socially conservative organizations, including the Family Research Council, Heritage Action, the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the American College of Pediatricians, and the American Principles Project.

The introduction of the legislation comes weeks after the House passed the Equality Act, a wide-reaching bill that critics argue could force employers to include in their health plans things that they might object to like cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers for children and sex reassignment surgery.

The push to ban gender reassignment surgery for children comes in the context of President Joe Bidens selection of the trans-identified Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. During a Senate confirmation hearing, Levine refused to answer when asked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., if minors are capable of making such a life-changing decision as changing ones sex.

Al Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, listed Levines nomination for a cabinet post as an example of the effort to advance the normalization of transgender ideology.

Marshall argued that Bidens selection of Levine, who he said has a track record of politicizing public health issues, advocating for conversion therapy for pre-pubertal children, and has demonstrated a lack of support for parental consent was immoral and unethical.

Protecting our children from experimental gender reassignment treatments and permanent hormone blockers couldnt be more important. These medical experiments are not FDA-approved and have irreversible consequences for the health of our kids, said Marshall. The legislation I introduced ... will ensure this practice is put to a stop and prevent taxpayers from ever having to foot the bill for these horrific procedures.

In some cases, taxpayers already have to foot the bill for gender reassignment surgeries.

Late last year, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that a man serving time in prison for raping his 10-year-old daughter was entitled to gender reassignment surgery at taxpayers expense because he now identifies as a woman.

Radical ideologues are attempting to normalize medical experimentation with a childs biological sex under the guise of acceptance, LaMalfa warned. Vulnerable children are being pushed to undergo experimental treatments, like being injected with puberty-blocking hormones and cross-sex hormones or even surgeries, which have irreversible consequences, such as permanent sterility.

Both the Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and the End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect children and taxpayers from paying the high price of these unethical and experimental medical interventions. Children must be provided with the time and space to develop maturity rather than being pushed to make life-altering decisions that they may likely later regret, he added.

Dr. Michelle Cretella, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians, said these bills " ... are the two most critical pro-child pieces of legislation introduced to date.

No one is born with an opposite-sexed brain, and gender identity can align with biological sex across childhood and adulthood both with and without counseling to treat underlying traumas," she added. "The sterilization of emotionally vulnerable youth in any other circumstance would be seen for exactly what it is: eugenics.

LaMalfa introduced versions of both pieces of legislation in the House during the 116th Congress, but a vote never took place due to opposition from House Democrats who held the majority. The bills face another uphill battle in the 117th Congress, where Democrats control not only the House but also the Senate and White House as well.

The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act has secured 13 co-sponsors in the House and three co-sponsors in the Senate. The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act has secured 14 co-sponsors in the House and four co-sponsors in the Senate.
The coronavirus pandemic changed many aspects of life, including how people eat, get groceries and enjoy food.

Restaurants began offering curbside pickup, grocery-delivering apps were created, and people started cooking more at home rather than eating out. Like almost everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic changed peoples relationship with food.

Burcay Gunguler, 45, and her husband, Aybars, opened Social Sloth cafe in downtown Lansing in August 2020. The couple created a space to share their love of Turkish baked goods and coffee, something Gunguler believes is missing from the city. Adhering to COVID-19 standards, the couple came up with unique ways to introduce people to their cafe.

The cafe now has some regular customers, but Gunguler is slowly growing its clientele through creative initiatives such as holiday brunch boxes and virtual or in-person cooking workshops. The couple also utilizes social media to promote the cafe and word of mouth.

When people come, they like the food and the atmosphere and the service, Gunguler said. We want people to eat slowly, like mindfully.

The cafe offers baked goods, like baklava and eclairs, as well as traditional Turkish breakfast and brunch. Social Sloth has curbside pick-up, to-go, and dine-in options. Gunguler says the cafe is nice to stop by for a chat, meeting, or to study.

After COVID-19, it will be nicer for everyone because it will be the motivation for us, people coming in, Gunguler said. If people are open to new things, they should come out and taste (our food).

Burcay Gunguler, 45, stands in front of Social Sloth cafe in downtown Lansing in. She opened it with her husband, Aybars Gungler, in August 2020.

Like restaurants, grocery stores started offering curbside pick-up and delivery options. More so, mobile and web applications made it safer for people to get food during the pandemic.

Marcie Akers, 67, is a self-employed language teacher who works from home in Flint. She started utilizing grocery delivery options at the onset of the pandemic.

I have become something of a hermit during the pandemic, Akers said. I wanted to be able to see my two-year-old granddaughter, who lives in Oakland County, so I tried to limit my exposure to the public.

Akers has groceries delivered to the house once a week, and shes developed a relationship with two shoppers whom she texts to let them know shes putting an order in.

One always brings organic treats for my little dog, who gets very excited when she knows there is a delivery coming, Akers said. I always tip the good shoppers well; they are certainly fulfilling a need in this environment, and I know their job isnt always easy.

Rachelle Kuehnle became an InstaCart shopper in the Linden and Howell areas in November 2020 to help earn an income for her household. The process of becoming a shopper was easy  fill out forms for taxes and a background check, according to Kuehnle. She starts shopping at 9 a.m. and stops around 5 p.m.

Being a shopper is convenient for Kuehnle because she can set her own hours. More so, Kuehnle said if there are appointments or if she needs to tend to her kids, she doesnt need to rely on being excused from work by a boss.

The income does help, the only issue really is it takes an entire 24 hours for customer tips to become available for instant pay and sometimes I need them right now, Kuehnle said.

Kuehnle will continue working as a shopper because its fun and pays for gas but more as a side job than a main source of income.

Its a good way to make some decent money but use it more as a side job than a main one, especially if you have a family of six, Kuehnle said.

Being at home more often inspired some people to spend more time in the kitchen. Alec Gibbs, of Flint, started meal prepping at the start of the pandemic.

We have only eaten inside twice, while on vacation in an area that had low COVID numbers, and outside a handful of times, Gibbs said.

With hopes of the pandemic nearing an end as state and federal officials ramp up vaccine distribution, some people are keeping the habits they created in the last year.

Now that I am fully vaccinated, I will likely do a little more of my own shopping, particularly at the Flint Farmers Market, Akers said. However, call me lazy, but getting your food delivered is certainly a timesaver, so I will continue to do it to some degree.

Read more on MLive:

Michigans coronavirus numbers are going up, but will vaccinations blunt the impact?

COVID brides and industry professionals consider how the pandemic could change future weddings

COVID-19 pandemic still teaching Michigan schools lessons a year later

9 things we got totally wrong about COVID-19 a year ago
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President Joe Biden denounced attacks on Asian Americans after meeting with community leaders in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, following a shooting that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Saturday in support of the Asian American community after a shooting at three local day spas this week left eight people dead, six of them Asian women.

The killings followed a year of mounting anti-Asian violence in the United States, which community leaders say is due to Asian Americans being blamed for the coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019.

Crowds of people wearing masks, waving American flags and carrying posters that read "We are not the virus" and "Stop Asian Hate" stood in front of the golden-domed Georgia State Capitol building on Saturday.

"I want to make sure the world and the people know that I am here and I am visible," said rally-goer Sunghee Han from Georgia.

"The women who perished, ... I see my family in them," Timothy Phan from Port St. Lucie, Florida, who drove eight hours to attend, told CNN. "I feel like far too often, we're just erased."

Georgia Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, both Democrats elected in January, led the demonstrators in a moment of silence for the victims, video on Twitter showed.

"Let us build a state and a nation where no one lives in fear because of who they are or where they or their family come from," Senator Ossoff said.

Georgia authorities have yet to determine what drove the suspect, a 21-year-old white man, who was charged with the killings at spas in and around Atlanta on Tuesday. Robert Aaron Long told investigators sex addiction led him to violence, but lawmakers and anti-racism advocates have said anti-Asian bias could have been at least part of the motivation.

"I'm not interested in whether or not he had a bad day," said Warnock, blasting a comment by an Atlanta-area sheriff's department spokesman about Long's state of mind.

"No matter how you want to spin it, the facts remain the same," Georgia State Representative Bee Nguyen told the crowd. "This was an attack on the Asian community."

Some of the women killed were immigrants and mothers, described by family and friends as hard-working, loving and beloved.

Hyun Jung Grant was among those killed at Gold Spa in Atlanta. Her son, Randy Park, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for himself and his brother, who are alone now in the United States while the rest of their family is in South Korea.

"She was a single mother who dedicated her whole life to providing for my brother and I," Park wrote.

The shootings prompted an outpouring of grief, from the local community in Georgia to the halls of U.S. Congress. Since Tuesday, mourners have piled flower bouquets and signs, lit candles and said prayers outside the spas where the victims were killed.

U.S. lawmakers decried the spike in anti-Asian violence in a congressional hearing on Thursday, where Democratic Representative Grace Meng, who is of Taiwanese descent, testified that the "community is bleeding."

On Friday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American community leaders in Georgia to express condolences and implore Americans to stand together against hate.

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The Philippine government expressed concern after spotting more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels it believed were crewed by militias at a reef claimed by both countries in the South China Sea, but it did not immediately lodge a protest.

A government body overseeing the disputed region said late Saturday that about 220 Chinese vessels were seen moored at Whitsun Reef on March 7. It released pictures of the vessels lying side by side in one of the most hotly contested areas of the strategic waterway.

The reef, which Manila calls Julian Felipe, is a boomerang-shaped and shallow coral region about 175 nautical miles (324 kilometres) west of Bataraza town in the western Philippine province of Palawan. It's well within the country's exclusive economic zone, over which the enjoys the exclusive right to exploit or conserve any resources, the agency said in a statement.

The large numbers of Chinese boats are a concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation, it said, although it added that the vessels were not fishing when sighted.

When asked if the would file a protest, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted, only if the generals tell me.

Chinese Embassy officials did not immediately issue any comment. China, the and four other governments have been locked in a tense territorial standoff over the resource-rich and busy waterway for decades.

Critics have repeatedly called out President Rodrigo Duterte, who has nurtured friendly ties with Beijing since taking office in 2016, for not standing up to China's aggressive behavior and deciding not to immediately seek Chinese compliance with an arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's historic claims to virtually the entire sea. China has refused to recognize the 2016 ruling and continues to defy it.

The arbitration body also ruled that China had breached its duty to respect the traditional fishing rights of Filipinos when Chinese forces blocked them from Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines in 2012. The Philippines, however, could also not deny Chinese fishermen access to Scarborough, according to the ruling. The decision did not specify any other traditional fishing areas within the Philippines' exclusive zone where fishermen from China and other countries could be allowed to fish.

When Xi says I will fish,' who can prevent him? Duterte said two years ago as he defended his nonconfrontational approach, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

If I send my marines to drive away the Chinese fishermen, I guarantee you not one of them will come home alive, Duterte said then, adding that diplomatic talks with Beijing allowed the return of Filipinos to disputed fishing grounds where Chinese forces had previously shooed them away.

Duterte has sought infrastructure funds, trade and investments from China, which has also donated and pledged to deliver more COVID-19 vaccines as the Philippines faces an alarming spike in coronavirus infections.

(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.)
Healthcare workers continue to administer vaccinations across Michigan, giving out than 3.4 million doses as of March 20.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke at a news conference while visiting a mass vaccination clinic at Ford Field on March 18. Many counties across the state are working to finish vaccinating people age 65 and older, while beginning to move to the next phase, which includes people age 50 and older.

Heres a look at vaccination headlines from counties across Michigan:

Bay County COVID-19 vaccinations outpace statewide rate

COVID vaccination efforts ramp up in Muskegon as eligibility expands

Expanded list of retail pharmacies offering COVID vaccination appointments in Jackson County

Kalamazoo County has vaccinated over 70% of people 65 and older

Kroger stores to help Genesee County knock down waiting list for COVID-19 vaccinations

More COVID vaccine eligibility coming, but appointments wont be immediate, officials say

Some 16 and older will soon be eligible for vaccination; heres how to register in Kent County

Saginaw County in pretty good shape with doses right now, health department says of vaccine progress

Michigan has administered 3,412,372 vaccine doses as of Saturday, March 20.

The state has recorded 624,811 confirmed cases and 15,897 deaths as of March 20.

Read more:

Ford Field prepares to vaccinate 6,000 a day at mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic

6 reasons that Michigans COVID-19 numbers are surging

26% of Michigan adults now vaccinated; see numbers in your county
And then along came Ron. Yogi was being trained to become a trauma dog and he was destined to go to Ron Fenton, a former Victorian police officer from Melbourne who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Ron and Yogi at home in Melbourne. Credit:Chris Hopkins Yogi had been trained to recognise Mr Fentons symptoms. He had learnt to gently wake Mr Fenton before night terrors took hold and nuzzle Mr Fentons hand with a slobbery mouth to calm him. Mr Fenton said Yogi saved his life, reducing his reliance on medication and preventing him from taking his own life on more than one occasion.

Mr Fenton is now backing a campaign by state Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley for a similar program, where dogs would go to veterans and emergency service workers, to be run in Victorian prisons. It will mean there will be veterans whose lives are going to be saved, because all these dogs are life-savers, Mr Fenton said. Victorian Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley with Ron Fenton and Yogi last week. Credit:Eddie Jim Mr Grimley has called for the government to fund a program that could mirror what is being done in Bathurst. The NSW program, run by Defence Community Dogs, has about 12 rescue dogs living in the prison at a time, supported by a trainer who works in the facility full-time. The inmates are selected in an application process that takes into account their behaviour inside.

Loading These programs are successful, they do work. Why cant we have them here in Victoria? Mr Grimley said. Defence Bank, founded for Australian Defence Force members and veterans, funds the dogs program. Defence Bank chief executive David Marshall said it was the financial institutions only charitable endeavour, and one that has a huge impact on prisoners and veterans. Since Defence Community Dogs began running the program in 2014, more than 80 dogs have been trained and almost 70 per cent have graduated as accredited assistance dogs.

Corrections Minister Natalie Hutchins said there were ongoing discussions with Defence Community Dogs about potentially adding to the initiatives already running in the justice system. Greyhound adoption and dog rescue programs already run at Dhurringile, Tarrengower and Beechworth correctional centres and the Office of Public Prosecutions uses two Labradors, who came from a prison in Queensland, to support vulnerable witnesses in Victorian courts. We recognise the important role canine programs can play in our justice system to assist victims and help prisoners turn their lives around, Ms Hutchins said. Last Wednesday marked four years ago to the day since Yogi left the Bathurst jail, coincidentally on the same day Benni was released.

Having survived being shot on duty and the mental demons that followed, Mr Fenton said his life is now coming to an end, with cancer overcoming his liver. He is at peace with this and is living his last months to their fullest. In the past week, he had both sky-diving and white-water rafting booked in. Yogi and Ron in 2018. Credit:Joe Armao It was only what would happen to Yogi after he shuffles off this mortal coil that worried him. The biggest concern I had is what would happen to my boy, Mr Fenton said.

Pretty soon, Yogi will be going back to Benni. Going back to his original handler, his original trainer  I like the balance of it, Mr Fenton said. Benni, 36, said training Yogi was hands down the most satisfying achievement of his life, because of what it has done for Mr Fenton. He said he was upset when Mr Fenton told him about his diagnosis, but was honoured to take Yogi back to live with him and a Labrador he adopted after his release. Its almost like its meant to be.
A 35-year-old Bucks County man stopped by police for driving erratically brandished a knife while screaming, Shoot me, before fleeing again and finally getting Tasered and arrested, authorities said.

Daniel S. Agrelo, of Warrington, is charged with felony assault of law enforcement and numerous other counts in the incident Friday afternoon along Route 611 in Monroe County.

It began about 12:30 p.m. with 911 calls about a white Ford F-250 pickup truck driving erratically and passing vehicles in the center lane of Route 611 through Pocono Township, Pennsylvania State Police at Stroudsburg said in a news release.

Agrelo fled from responding police for miles, continuing to illegally pass vehicles and run red lights, at times traveling at high speeds and nearly striking multiple police and civilian vehicles as the pursuit continued through Hamilton and Stroud townships, the release states.

At Bridge Street and Route 611, Agrelo stopped and aggressively approached a state trooper and Stroud Area Regional police officer, walking toward them in an extremely hostile manner while brandishing an opened knife in his hand while screaming, Shoot me, according to the release.

The officers screamed verbal commands at Agrelo at gunpoint then began to distance themselves from him, at which point he immediately turned and jumped back into the pickup, police said.

State police, Stroud Regional and Pocono Township police continued the pursuit before Agrelo eventually stopped on North Ninth Street near A&A Auto and again exited the truck, the release states.

Troopers attempted to subdue Agrelo, who continued to resist and fight police before being shocked with the Taser and taken into custody, police said.

Agrelo was arraigned Friday night before District Judge Daniel Kresge on felony counts of assault of law enforcement, fleeing or attempting to elude police and terroristic threats; misdemeanor driving under the influence of a controlled substance and reckless endangerment; and summary reckless driving, careless driving and traffic offenses.

He was sent to the Monroe County prison in lieu of $150,000. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled March 30 before Kresge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in Monroe County Court.

Court records did not immediately list an attorney for Agrelo.

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A Long Island attorney and retired court referee was dragged out of a ritzy Republican gathering in midtown Manhattan after becoming drunk and belligerent, according to witnesses and video.

Frank N. Schellace, 67, who spent years working on cases in state Supreme Court in Nassau County, was removed in a headlock March 15 from Bice Cucina restaurant during a GOP event

Frank N. Schellace, 67, was removed in a full-nelson headlock March 15 from Bice Cucina restaurant on West 55th Street, where mayoral hopefuls and at least three members of Congress mingled with GOP donors, the New York Post reported.

Witnesses said a disturbance erupted while Schellace was speaking with Congresswoman Kat Cammack of Florida. She did not return messages seeking comment.

Schellace, who spent years working on cases in state Supreme Court in Nassau County, said he 'did not recall' being removed from Bice in a headlock.

Schellace confirmed he was at the event and was involved in a 'misunderstanding' sparked by 'a conversation of a political nature' he declined to discuss. He strongly denied being intoxicated and called any such accusations 'slanderous.'

Police were not called and the attorney was bundled into a cab, said restaurant owner Peter Guimaraes, who is running for New York City mayor as a Republican.

Xen Sams, an actress and radio host who said she witnessed the altercation, said Schellace looked like 'he was clearly drunk,' according to the Post.

'I was right at the bar area having a conversation and all of a sudden, this guy got rowdy,' Sams said. 'He was extracted in a choke hold, he was still screaming and yelling.'

Frank Schellace, center, pictured with Long Island Federalist Society Chapter former President Grant Lally, left, and James Ho, former Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

Rep. Kat Cammack, Republican from Florida, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 27, , 2021. Witnesses say the disturbance that resulted in Schellace's ejection occurred while he was speaking with Cammack

Schellace was attending an event at the restaurant hosted by the Liberty Club, a business and professional association closely aligned with the Manhattan GOP.

Entry to the Liberty Club, which is controlled by supermarket heiress Andrea Catsimatidis, costs $1,000, while 'VIP' memberships cost $5,000.

Her father John Catsimatidis ran a failed campaign for mayor of New York and owns the Gristede's supermarket chain along with WABC radio.

Andrea Catsimatidis attends the Sixteenth Strolling Supper at Gotham Hall in New York City in November 2018. Catsimatidis controls the Liberty Club, which hosted the event from which Schellace was removed March 15

'His behavior was inappropriate and a major violation of the Liberty Club's rules of decorum. The individual in question has been stripped of his membership and is no longer welcome at any of our events,' Catsimatidis told the Post.

Marilyn Miller, a retired NYPD officer who was at the event with Schellace, confirmed he was bounced from the restaurant and that 'we all were drinking.' But Miller said she found the treatment of Schellace to be excessive, according to the Post.

Newly elected GOP members of Congress in attendance included Cammack and New York's Nicole Malliotakis and Andrew Garbarino, all Republicans.

Other GOP mayoral hopefuls who stopped by included Guardian Angels head Curtis Sliwa and taxi and bodega advocate Fernando Mateo.

A listing on the website of the Republican National Lawyers Association says Schellace resides in Westbury, New York, and attended Hofstra University School of Law. Schellace is also listed as a member on the website of The Florida Bar.

Bice Cucina restaurant owner Peter Guimaraes, who is running for New York City mayor as a Republican, says police were not called to the disturbance involving Frank Schellace
Two 18-year-old men and a 17-year-old girl were charged with luring two men looking for Tinder dates - only to beat, kidnap and rob them, Chicago prosecutors said Friday.

The attacks took place about 45 minutes apart earlier in the week and were part of an 'organized strategy,' according to prosecutors.

Jahziah McDonald, 18, and Jeremiyah Mannie, 18, both from Killeen, Texas, were arrested this week in connection with the attacks.

Police were able to find them after the second alleged victim's mother tracked her son's phone, which led police to the suspects in the the alleged victim's stolen vehicle.

Jeremiyah Mannie (left), 18, and Jahziah McDonald (right), 18, both from Killeen, Texas, were arrested this week in connection with the attacks on two men on Tuesday night

The two men are charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated robbery and were both denied bail.

Cook County Judge Arthur Willis said they 'terrorized these individuals  striking them when they thought they were meeting up with someone for a relationship' when he denied them bail.

A 17-year-old girl, who is unnamed because she is a minor, was also charged with driving a car during a criminal trespass to a vehicle, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated robbery.

She was set to appear in juvenile court, as she's not 18 years old.

A fourth man was also arrested in connection with the incidents, but he was released without any charges being filed against him.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the first attack happened around 9:30pm on Tuesday night when a 23-year-old man went to a house, where he was met by a woman he thought he met on Tinder.

The violent attacks took place near the 700 block of South Ingleside Avenue in Kenwood

She led him inside and to the basement, where four men in ski masks allegedly pushed, kicked, and hit the man with a metal object - and at least one of them also had a handgun, police said.

The assailants proceeded to go through the man's pockets and took his car keys, phone, Apple watch, wallet, and a ring, before warning him not to run.

The attackers then allegedly drove the victim in his 2014 Jeep Wrangler to South Shore before dumping him out of the car.

The alleged victim then used a stranger's phone to call 911 and was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, where he eventually needed staples to close head wounds, as well as suffering bruising and a hematoma to his ear.

In the second attack, around 10:15pm on Tuesday, a 21-year-old man went to the same house to supposedly meet a date.

The man was allegedly attacked and punched in the face by the assailants, who managed to catch up to the victim when he attempted to escape.

The attackers then put a gun to the victim's back and forced him into the victim's tan Dodge Nitro, where they drove him to Grand Crossing and forced him to take $100 out of an ATM.

They then used the victim's credit card to buy cigars and drinks at a gas station before kicking him out of the vehicle.

Upon being found by emergency crews, the man declined medical treatment.

McDonald's attorney has stated that witnesses and the victims couldn't have properly identified McDonald by his face.

Both McDonald and Mannie are due for a court date on March 29.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 20:14:31|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- This year's first freight train from Northwest China's Gansu Province to Central Asia was flagged off on Saturday, according to local transport authorities.

The train carrying 1,300 tonnes of cargo including garments and suitcases was assembled in the provincial capital of Lanzhou for unified delivery from Yiwu, Ningbo, Shanghai and other regions through railway.

The cargo train is expected to arrive in Kazakhstan's Almaty in seven days after traveling more than 2,700 km, according to the China Railway Lanzhou Bureau Group Co., Ltd.

The company has signed cooperation agreements on cargo transportation with enterprises in Yiwu and other regions vowing to assemble more high-quality goods in Lanzhou and ship them to Central Asia. Enditem
New Jersey is betting big on offshore wind  not just to reduce carbon emissions, but with high hopes of transforming into a dominant player in renewable energy along the East Coast and wresting away manufacturing dominated by Europe.

The states powerful Democrats, unions, and business leaders say their ambition means jobs, lots of them, over the next two decades or longer.

Were talking about a whole new workforce of construction and maintenance jobs, work for architects and engineers of all types, mapping and surveying, computer and telecommunications, transportation and maintenance jobs, said Jane Asselta, vice president of the Southern New Jersey Economic Development Council, a nonprofit.

Painting and skilled metal manufacturing jobs, legal, accounting, banking, and financial services. The list of services and materials needed goes on and on, Asselta said. Not since the casino industry came to South Jersey have we seen a workforce of this size being created.

Not everyone agrees that offshore wind, which has the potential to provide double the amount of electricity consumed in the United States in 2019, according to an analysis by the Frontier Group, would benefit New Jersey.

Critics include a local group that has said wind farms will block prime beach views, those in the fishing industry, others concerned about turbines injuring birds, those who have said the number of jobs is inflated and wondered about the cost to ratepayers.

Proponents say the claims are being addressed, or are wrong or overstated, and its clear New Jersey is forging ahead.

A sense of scale

The sheer size of one turbine assembly gives a hint at whats to come for New Jersey:

A five-inch-thick, 400-foot-long, 2,500-ton steel monopile gets driven into the ocean floor as the foundation. A tower, a rotating nacelle that contains a drive train, and three 305-foot-long blades are attached atop each monopile. When complete, the GE Haliade-X turbine will rise 853 feet above the Atlantic Ocean  roughly as tall as the Two Liberty Place skyscraper in Philadelphia. With one rotation, the turbine can power a home for a day.

There could be up to 99 turbines in just the first project, Ocean Wind, by the Danish multinational rsted, in partnership with New Jerseys largest utility, Public Service Electric & Gas Co., or PSEG. When complete in 2024, the $1.6 billion wind farm, located in federal waters, will generate 1,100 megawatts, enough to annually power 500,000 homes as one of the largest facilities of its kind in the United States.

But thats just the start of the states plan under Gov. Phil Murphy. New Jersey expects five more projects, or solicitations, meaning many more turbines will be needed to achieve the goal of 7,500 megawatts through 2035, enough to power 3.2 million homes. The next solicitation to be awarded this year could be twice the size of Ocean Wind.

Miles of cable are needed to connect to the onshore grid. New operations and maintenance facilities will open to service the turbines. Multiple ports, vessels, and dozens of other logistics are required in what amounts to a $100 billion investment over the next 15 years, according to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Officials have said thousands of additional jobs could also be created if the state achieves its goal of becoming a wind-manufacturing epicenter. Most jobs will stem from a few key locations within the state: The Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Gloucester County, a yet-to-be built Wind Port in Salem County, onshore operations and maintenance facilities in Atlantic City, and a yet-to-be located Wind Institute.

Officials say associated jobs along the supply chain, diverse as rock drilling and blasting, harbor dredging, and software development, could be supplied by businesses based anywhere in the state. Hundreds of companies have registered with the states supply-chain registry. And firms throughout the area are recruiting employees with wind experience. The goal of state officials is that workers trained in New Jersey will be able to take advantage of opportunities in other states as well.

Andrew Gohn, of the American Clean Power Association, which represents renewable-energy companies, said states from Rhode Island to Virginia have committed to 31 gigawatts of offshore power by 2035, which would be the equivalent of adding thousands of wind turbines along the Eastern Seaboard.

So workers trained in New Jersey, he said, will develop in-demand skills.

Were talking about a massive, massive industry, Gohn said. There are going to be manufacturing facilities for components, all up and down the East Coast. ... The momentum behind this is just unstoppable at this point.

Monopile construction

On a recent day, New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney walked along a wind-whipped edge of the Paulsboro Marine Terminal where a steel and concrete pier juts out over the Delaware River just across Philadelphia International Airport.

EEW, a German manufacturer, this year will start building the rsted monopiles at an 80-acre parcel at the port. The adjacent pier is being built to withstand the crushing weight of the monopiles, which will be rolled and loaded onto waiting ships, carried down the Delaware Bay, and driven into the ocean floor.

The whole purpose of offshore wind was for offshore energy, said Sweeney, an influential Democrat and a union vice president. But another goal was to capture the manufacturing piece of this. Were thrilled to have clean energy, but were also focused on the jobs.

Sweeney, a former ironworker, was joined by Assemblyman John Burzichelli, a fellow Democrat and former Paulsboro mayor. Both have been pushing for offshore wind since 2010 and say the monopiles are just the opening gambit of the push to capture manufacturing now dominated by Europe. Consider that EEW is based in Germany, rsted in Denmark, and GEs Haliade-X turbine blades are built in France.

Though other states already have offshore wind projects, the monopiles and blades are all built in Europe. The race is on to start manufacturing in the United States. The New Jersey lawmakers sponsored a successful bill as far back in 2010 to establish a wind program that, combined with an executive order from Gov. Murphy, would include a manufacturing sector. Currently, no U.S. facility produces parts needed for offshore wind projects. EEWs monopiles, to be constructed for rsted in Paulsboro, will be the first built in the United States.

As the two lawmakers toured the pier site, ironworkers clambered along steel beams just above the running river. Sweeney estimated the positions, which dont require a college degree, pay an average of $70,000 a year. Already, more than $30 million has been spent on construction salaries just to build the terminal pier, which is owned by the South Jersey Port Corp. The $350 million terminal opened in 2017 and was long eyed by Sweeney and Burzichelli for wind.

EEW expects 500 jobs at the terminal and has already posted positions, including a business development manager post with a salary range of $100,000 to $150,000 a year and a quality manager job with a range of $80,000 to $100,000.

Some of those jobs could land at the Philly Shipyard, just across the river from the port because goods transported between domestic ports must be carried on U.S. ships. In a recent quarterly report, the Philly Shipyard said it is exploring interest from owners in building vessels to support the expanding offshore wind industry but did not specify New Jersey.

Yank Marine and Dorchester Shipyard, both New Jersey-based shipbuilders, are also ready to work with offshore wind developers, according to the states Offshore Wind Strategic Plan.

The wind farms

In an email, rsted said its typical wind farm creates about 1,000 jobs for each year of construction. rsted expects to take three years to build its Ocean Wind project. It plans 69 full-time jobs at the operations and maintenance facility in Atlantic City, which technicians will use as a service base for the turbines over the estimated 25-year life span of the farm. Jobs will then be generated to decommission the wind farm.

rsted said it will need manufacturing, skilled tradespeople such as construction workers, and welders as it gets closer to construction this year. Last year, it signed an agreement with the North Americas Building Trades Unions to cover all current and future projects the company may develop.

rsted is growing rapidly in the U.S., and our hiring needs are continually evolving, the company said in a statement. We foresee hiring individuals with engineering experience, permitting experience, at the state and federal level, procurement, accounting, and communications among many others.

It cited an estimate by the American Clean Power Association that offshore wind in the United States could generate 83,000 jobs by 2030. We firmly believe that New Jersey can be the hub of the American offshore wind industry, an rsted representative wrote.

New Jersey envisions six separate wind projects to launch every two years, so various projects will be in different stages at any one time, supporting jobs for years to come. The state Board of Public Utilities expects to award the next wind solicitation in June for up to 2,300 MW of wind power.

Atlantic Shores, a venture between EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US LLC, is one of the bidders, along with rsted.

Joris Veldhoven, Atlantic Shores commercial director, says the next offshore wind project also has enormous potential to create hundreds and hundreds of jobs. Atlantic Shores would also base its operations out of Atlantic City.

There will be a whole different set of jobs that will be created by this industry, Veldhoven said, adding Atlantic Shores wants to be a front-runner in helping localize manufacturing of turbines in New Jersey.

Critics, such as Jonathan Lesser, an economist and fellow at the conservative think tank the Manhattan Institute, who has written about New Jerseys plan, have said most of the jobs will be in construction and set to disappear after build-out.

Its an illusion, Lesser said of the number of permanent jobs. He also is critical of the cost, which he said will lead to higher bills for New Jersey ratepayers. He said the price of the Ocean Wind project is expensive per megawatt hour, compared to $20 a megawatt hour now on the wholesale market.

Those costs will be subsidized and handed down at least in part to ratepayers, he said.

Lesser said the fossil-fuel industry is more jobs-intensive. So losing them to renewables is a net loss.

The states Board of Public Utilities, however, concluded that the Ocean Wind project would result in a cost of about $46 a megawatt hour, and an increase of $1.46 on the average residential bill.

Doug OMalley, director of the nonprofit Environment New Jersey, stressed the cost of inaction on climate change.

We would argue the cost is immense if climate change isnt addressed, OMalley said, citing increased flooding and sea level rise among the cost.

And Veldhover, with EDF Renewables, said the claim that offshore wind will steal jobs from the fossil-fuel industry is overblown.

These are overlapping industries in the first place, said Veldhoven, who comes from the Shell side of operations. The types of jobs were talking about with offshore wind, for example, are the same contractors we come across in oil and gas. Its not a zero sum.

Burzichelli, the assemblyman, said offshore wind opponents who claim few jobs will remain after the initial build-out are misguided.

Critics who think all this is transient are kidding themselves, Burzichelli said, adding that the build-out phase will last at least 20 years, and produce thousands of jobs.

The New Jersey wind port

Key to New Jerseys efforts to gain wind manufacturing jobs will be a planned 200-acre, $200 million state-funded Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek in Salem County.

The port, next to PSEGs Hope Creek nuclear power plant, would be used for marshaling and manufacturing, eventually, of turbine blades. It is centrally located on the East Coast and would have heavy-lift wharfs, open ocean access through the Delaware Bay without obstructions, and access to tradespeople.

The first phase of build-out is set to begin this year and to produce 200 construction jobs over three years. Officials believe the port has potential to create 1,500 jobs in cargo handling, storage, warehousing parts, and manufacturing. Officials plan to pick a developer soon.

Tim Sullivan, director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, envisions jobs not only making the turbines but the components that go with them.

We think there could be thousands plus manufacturing jobs related to the components, Sullivan said. So if a wind turbine is a big pole sitting on a big foundation with some very advanced technology on top of it and in the middle of it, there are jobs sort of at every point along the way. ... The number of components and pieces that go into it is enormous.

He adds to that the professional services that would follow, such as in advertising and marketing, lawyers, consultants, and human resources professionals.

There are lots of growth opportunities in New Jersey were excited about, but theres nothing that compares to a brand-new sector like this.

The state also hopes to bring turbine manufacturing to the port. As of now, GE, which is building its state-of-the-art, 13-megawatt, Haliade-X turbines for Ocean Wind in France, said it would weigh a number of factors in determining where to locate manufacturing in the future.

A Wind Institute

The state also has ambitions to create an independent, nonprofit Wind Innovation and New Development Institute (WIND). The Wind Institute would centralize and coordinate education, research, innovation, and workforce training related to offshore wind. The states goal is to include diversity as part of training and hiring.

Though there is no physical location yet, or time frame for one, its expected colleges and universities, such as Rowan, Rutgers, and Stockton, will play a role to train both skilled trades workers and white-collar workers.

The Department of Education is developing a technical education program to launch this year. The Economic Development Authority plans a program to educate businesses and workers in the offshore wind industry.

The institute would help establish wind turbine technician as an occupation in New Jersey, expand the number of trade workers with offshore wind skills, and establish a Global Wind Organization (GWO) Safety Certification.

Rowan Universitys provost, Anthony Lowman, said the school has already started taking steps to align curriculum with wind and use its associated colleges in Burlington, Gloucester, and Cumberland Counties for other training. The school is helping develop the safety certification.

Wind is something that weve been watching for quite some time, Lowman said.

He said Rowan is working to partner with trade schools so that a student leaving the high school can become certified in one of the trades that support wind. That means working with technical and vocational high schools and the colleges associate degree programs that could also continue to become bachelor degrees.

The universitys already thriving engineering program is a big plus, Lowman notes. Wind is going to need advanced manufacturing techniques, Lowman said.

Diane DAmico, a spokesperson for Stockton University in Galloway Township, said the school near Atlantic City is also gearing up. rsted has funded development of a program to observe protected species during construction. And Atlantic Offshores Wind has funded, along with rsted, a program to train students in hydrography, a science that includes mapping seafloor and measuring depth and shape of coastline.

Stockton has also proposed a Coastal Resiliency Institute and Marine Science Center in Atlantic City that would serve as an educational research and training hub for offshore wind and other energy innovation.

Students are also looking to wind.

Nick Kabala, 21, a Rowan senior majoring in electrical and computer engineering, wrote a paper last semester with a focus on wind and micro-grids. Hell soon be looking for a job.

Ever since I came to Rowan freshman year, I started getting involved in different fields of electrical energy, Kabala said. Renewable energy really stood out to me. ... The growing need for renewables such as wind is filling a vital role. Its something that definitely shows a lot of promise.

The Future of Work is produced with support from the William Penn Foundation and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the projects donors.
Thailand as a Worlds major producer and exporter of organic food has shown a strong attention in offering their organic products to the fast-growing Middle East market.

Aimed at gaining access to the market, Thailand, has shown keen interest to be part of the upcoming Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo Dubai 2021 to be held from December 6-8 at Dubai Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Organised by Global Links Exhibition, the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai is the Middle Easts sole trade fair that focuses on organic and natural products for the past 18 years. It also hosts the Middle Easts only dedicated online wholesale marketplace, ArabianOrganics, for organic and natural products, which is the B2B portal of the Expo.

Exhibitor interacting with VIP buyers as part of an exclusive VIP Buyer programme at the show Organic and healthy food products are fast becoming popular in the Middle East, offering Thai producers a great opportunity to enter the market. Agriculture is the backbone of Thailand and with the country aiming to promote itself as the centre of organic farming and become worlds major supplier of organic products, the Middle East market is very significant, said Panot Punyahotra, Commercial Consul at the Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Consulate General, Dubai.

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, the value of Thai food exports was estimated at $34.9 billion in 2020, an increase of 5.4% from the previous year. Organic rice, coconut oil, herbs, and spices, as well as foods high in nutrients or superfoods from Thailand are high in demand in various markets.

Punyahotra, who had visited the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai last year to explore the market conditions, said that the DITP is very keen on the market and believes that the event provides the perfect platform for Thai producers to tap into the growing demand in the country and the wider region.

With the Middle East importing up to 90% of its food and more millennial opting for healthy eating and organic products, the demand for organic products is on the upswing in the region. At present, a significant proportion of organic fruits and vegetables are imported from Europe and elsewhere. Being the leading supplier of organics products, Thailand can offer an option to consumers here, said Punyahotra.

The trend has reflected in the growth of the event too, with the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai more than doubling in size and introducing special components such as the Tea & Coffee Pavilion, the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Conference, the Superfoods pavilion, the Ingredient Section, Fresh Produce Corner and the Date Pavilion, among others, in the recent past.

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and supported by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai focuses on natural market segments such as food &beverages, health, beauty, living and environment.-- Tradearabia News Service
A German politician has died in hospital in Ireland after she became unwell onboard a transatlantic flight.

She has been named as Karin Strenz (53), a member of Angela Merkels CDU party.

Ms Strenz was travelling on a flight from Cuba to Germany when she suddenly fell ill on Sunday morning. She is understood to have been travelling with her husband at the time.

The plane was diverted to Shannon Airport early on Sunday morning and Ms Strenz was transferred to University Hospital Limerick, where she later died.

It is understood she suffered a possible cardiac incident.

Condor flight DE-199 was en route from Varadero in Cuba to Frankfurt when the crew declared a medical emergency while the flight was still west of Ireland.

The crew reported they had a female passenger on board who had fallen ill and requested cleared to divert to Shannon asking that emergency medical services be on standby for their arrival.

The Boeing 767-300 jet landed safely in Shannon at 7.36am and was met at the terminal by airport personnel, National Ambulance Service paramedics and gardai.

A post mortem examination is expected to be carried out while a coroners inquest will be held at a later date.

The flight later continued to Frankfurt.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The Only Way Is Essex viewers were left unimpressed by Sunday's episode as the cast continued to be filmed in bars and restaurants during lockdown.

A message from the cast at the start of the episode informed fans that social venues were opened for the stars to film and social distancing guidelines were adhered to.

But at a time when non-essential businesses are still closed to the public, fans slammed the 'fakeness' of the show.

Lockdown? The Only Way Is Essex viewers were left unimpressed by Sunday's episode as the cast continued to be filmed in bars and restaurants during lockdown

During Sunday's episode, several cast members were filmed in a club enjoying drinks while Harry Derbidge, Amy Childs and Bobby Norris had a meal in a restaurant.

Ella Rae Wise and Pete Wicks went for a drink in a bar while Ella and Kelsey had a coffee together in a cafe, all of which remain closed to the public until lockdown restrictions are eased on April 12.

Venting their frustrations, one viewer said: 'This episode is embarrassing. Really really cringe. The fakeness knowing everyone else is in lockdown is disgusting'.

Another said: 'These venues must have been paid a decent amount of money for them to open just to film whilst we are all stuck at home.'

Filming: A message from the cast at the start of the episode informed fans that social venues were opened for the stars to film and social distancing guidelines were adhered to

Another viewer fumed: 'Instead of enjoying #TOWIE I get jealous of all the filming locations and the fact that it'll be ages before I can do as they are. Think I'd have preferred a lockdown reflected series.'

One fan added: 'Pubs and gyms are closed because of lockdown yet they can open to film The Only Way Is Essex. What an absolute joke!'

Another said: 'Anyone else just wanna go sit in a bar with their friends and enjoy a few glasses of wine, good good and great company?'

During the episode, Ella and Kelsey had a tense conversation in a cafe when they decided to end their friendship after Ella kissed Pete, who Kelsey had feelings for.

Reaction: At a time when non-essential businesses are still closed to the public, fans slammed the 'fakeness' of the show

Kelsey asked her: 'Why do you think I haven't spoken to you in two months?'

Ella replied: 'I honestly have no idea what it could possibly be.'

Kelsey said: 'The boy I liked, that I was with 24/7 in front of you, did you kiss him behind my back? Two people told me Ella.'

Kelsey then told Ella that she 'craves attention' before telling her their friendship of two years was now over.

Awkward: Ella Rae Wise and Kelsey Stratford had a tense conversation in a cafe when they decided to end their friendship after Ella kissed Pete Wicks, who Kelsey had feelings for

She said: 'I've seen your true self. I don't hate you, I don't want to be your enemy but I honestly just don't want to be mates anymore.'

Pete later told Ella that he 'can't be in a relationship' when they met for a drink after he told Clelia Theodorou he hoped she wasn't hoping for a romance to blossom between them.

He said: 'There was a lot to drink and we had a little kiss. I think Ella's a lovely girl I really do, but for me at the minute, it's more about doing me at the minute. I would hope that Ella's not expecting anything from that.'

Meanwhile, Bobby and Harry had a furious argument in a restaurant after Amy brought the exes together to finally settle their differences.

Kelsey said: 'I've seen your true self. I don't hate you, I don't want to be your enemy but I honestly just don't want to be mates anymore'

Harry has been unhappy with Amy carrying on a friendship with his ex, despite the fact their relationship ended seven years ago and Harry is now engaged.

Harry said: 'I do think it's a bit strange that you two are now buddies. I'm hearing a lot about you.'

Unimpressed, Bobby responded: 'That we've gone furniture shopping? What part don't you like?'

Harry replied: 'Cause we never had a good ending. I was thrown under the bus.'

Nothing serious: Pete told Ella that he 'can't be in a relationship' when they met for a drink after he told Clelia Theodorou he hoped she wasn't hoping for a romance to blossom between them

Bobby said: 'I don't think you can rewrite history. It's like trying to say the Titanic never sunk, saying you never cheated on me. I know you cheated on me.'

Harry acknowledged he slept with his ex-boyfriend but insisted it wasn't when he and Bobby were together.

Not believing his former flame, Bobby stormed out of the restaurant and said: 'Amy I love you, I've got a lot of time for you, [to Harry] you're full of s**t.'

It comes after TOWIE was hit by complaints to Ofcom after the stars were seen visiting pubs and restaurants while the UK is in lockdown during Wednesday's episode.

Tense: Bobby Norris and Harry Derbidge had a furious argument in a restaurant after Amy brought the exes together to finally settle their differences

According to a report from the government regulatory authority on Wednesday, 64 people have contacted them to complain about the programme since its launch on Sunday night.

Before the episode began, bosses clarified in a disclaimer that the 28th series was filmed following strict Covid-19 protocols so that the cast and crew are safe.

It read: 'The show will still be bringing you the casts real lives and stories, but to keep everyone safe TOWIE have had to create its own little world to film in.

Furious: Harry has been unhappy with Amy carrying on a friendship with his ex, despite the fact their relationship ended seven years ago and Harry is now engaged

'So, although you may see cast in pubs and restaurants, dont worry because they've opened just for the show and have put in lots of extra measures, so Lime Pictures and ITV can still bring you the TOWIE you love safely.'

According to a report from The Sun, the complaints to Ofcom were made about: 'Filming in bars, restaurants and gyms during lockdown and food wastage.'

MailOnline has contacted Ofcom for further comment, TOWIE spokespeople declined to comment when approached.
Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran ODonnell has welcomed the approval of funding from the Department of Education under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme 2021 for three Special Education Needs (SEN) Classrooms at St Clements College on the South Circular Road.

Having engaged with the Department on behalf of the school to ensure this much needed school project was progressed, I am very pleased to see that funding has now been approved, with the three brand new classrooms facilitating 18 SEN pupils once completed," he said.

The new classrooms are expected to be built and ready for use in September 2023 following completion of the design, planning and construction phases.

St Clements secondary school is currently utilising existing rooms for their SEN students and these three new classrooms will be specifically designed and fit-for purpose for Special Education. This is very welcome news for all at St Clements College, particularly the pupils who will greatly benefit from these newly built classrooms, said Deputy ODonnell.
Sharad Pawar to be discharged from hospital in 2 days

No question of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigning: NCP

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 21: There is a no question of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigning, NCP state chief and senior minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government said on Sunday against the backdrop of ex-Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh''s corruption allegation.

Following a three-hour meeting held at NCP president Sharad Pawar''s residence here, Patil said there is no need to divert attention from the main incident of bomb scare outside Mukesh Ambani''s residence and the killing of Mansukh Hiran, a Thane-based businessman.

The focus is on these two events and after that appropriate steps will be taken, he said.

"The question of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigning does not arise," Patil said.

During a media briefing earlier in the day, Pawar said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh. His comments came amid speculation in Maharashtra political circles that the state may soon have a new home minister.

Mansukh Hiren murder solved, claims Maharashtra ATS officer

The top brass of the NCP met here against the backdrop of former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh levelling allegations of corruption against Deshmukh. Singh has claimed that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

Pawar held the meeting with senior leaders Supriya Sule and Praful Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP Maharashtra chief and Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil.

The NCP along with the Shiv Sena is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, and the home minister belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led party.

The allegations levelled by Singh against Deshmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe, Sharad Pawar said.

Before the meeting at Pawar''s residence here, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had also met him. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath also met Pawar separately.

Singh, a senior IPS officer, who was transferred to the low-key Home Guards on March 17 following the arrest of police officer Sachin Waze in the case related to the bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani''s house Antilia, in a letter to the Maharashtra chief minister had claimed that he was made a scapegoat.

In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister 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.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister''s Office, in a release on Saturday, said Singh''s "unsigned letter to Thackeray" was not sent from his official email ID and efforts were on to contact him to verify it.

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Nearly two dozen elected officials, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, are urging the vice president of the San Francisco Board of Education to step down after a series of offensive tweets targeting Asian Americans resurfaced.

Alison Collins once wrote a long Twitter thread accusing Asian Americans of using "white supremacist thinking to assimilate and 'get ahead,'" and comparing them to a "house n****r" (she added the asterisks and did not spell out the word).

Alison Collins's tweets  still not deleted as of Sunday afternoon  were written in December 2016. They're coming to light now as a group pushes to recall the entire school board over prolonged school closures, and also during a time when anti-Asian American rhetoric has come under closer scrutiny following a sharp rise in hate crimes.

In response to the tweets, a joint statement condemning Collins's words and "respectfully ask[ing] her to resign her post" was issued by a number of Bay Area politicians.

Among the signees are Board of Education commissioner Jenny Lam, state assembly members David Chiu and Phil Ting, San Francisco supervisors Shamann Walton, Connie Chan, Matt Haney, Gordon Mar, Rafael Mandelman, Aaron Peskin, Myrna Melgar, Hillary Ronen, Ahsha Safai and Catherine Stefani, and BART board director Janice Li.

"I support calls by leaders like @DavidChiu and @JennyhLam, as well as many others, for Alison Collins to resign," Breed tweeted Saturday. "Our students and our API community deserve better."

Collins wrote in 2016 that she was "looking to combat anti-black racism in the Asian community at at my daughters' mostly Asian Am school," because "Many Asian Ss and Ts I know won't engage in critical race convos unless they see how they are impacted by white supremacy."

"Ss and Ts" appear to refer to students and teachers. "Critical race convos" may be a reference to critical race theory, a controversial framework for examining race and racism in all aspects of society that has grown in popularity in recent years.

Collins continued, "Many Asian Am. believe they benefit from the 'model minority' BS," and "many Asian American Ts, Ss, and Ps [teachers, students and parents] actively promote these myths. They use white supremacist thinking to assimilate and 'get ahead.'"

Near the end of the thread, Collins writes, "Where are the vocal Asians speaking up against Trump? Don't Asian Americans know they are on his list as well?" She added, "Do they think they won't be deported? profiled? beaten? Being a house n****r is still being a n****r. You're still considered 'the help.'"

Collins did not respond to SFGATE's request for comment.

In a Medium post, Collins said the tweets were taken "out of context" and apologized but did not offer to step down.

"President Donald Trump had just won an election fueled by division, racism and an anti-immigration agenda," Collins said of the timing of her 2016 tweets. "Meanwhile one of my daughters had recently experienced an incident in her school in which her Asian American peers were taunting her Latinx classmate about 'sending kids back to Mexico' and the KKK. It was a time of processing, of fear among many communities with the unknown of how the next four years would unfold."

Collins faced further fallout from the 2016 tweets, as the Ed Lee Asian Pacific Democratic Club called for Collins to resign, labelling her tweets "racist and wrong." Friday afternoon, Lowell High School's Black Student Union also removed Collins as a panelist from a Women in Leadership event scheduled for later in the evening. The student group wrote on Instagram, "Based on recent news, we will be removing Board of Education Commissioner Collins as a panelist for our event tonight. The Lowell Black Student Union stands with the Asian community and condemns all acts of Anti-Asian Hate."

Collins had previously drawn scrutiny for being a strong proponent of Lowell High dropping its merit-based admissions process, calling merit-based admissions "racist" since the school was majority Asian American and did not enroll as many African American and Latino students relative to their population in the city.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/21/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report features spoilers revealing if Hazel and Tarik are still together or if the couple called it quits on their relationship.]

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So are Tarik and Hazel still together or did the couple break up?

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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.

's eighth season featured Hazel Cagalitan and Tarik Myers putting their problems behind them and starting fresh, so did the couple get married or did circumstances change? Do the latest spoilers reveal that they've broken up or are still together?Tarik was a 43-year-old realtor and single father from Virginia Beach, VA, when he first saw Hazel, a single mother from Quezon City, Philippines who is now 28-years-old, on an Asian dating website.Following a three-month courtship, Tarik traveled over 9,000 miles and 36 hours to meet Hazel in-person in the Philippines on : Before the 90 Days' second season.Tarik's family and friends worried Hazel was after a Green Card, money and a better life, but Tarik had to see for himself.Hazel was, in fact, quiet and reserved with Tarik and wasn't very affectionate, but Tarik was still optimistic about his relationship and decided to pop the question at the end of his trip.Once Tarik returned to the U.S., he filed for Hazel's K-1 visa and she agreed to sign a prenuptial agreement to prove she was with Tarik for the right reasons.At the time 's eighth season filmed, Tarik and Hazel had been together for two years and Hazel finally got approved for a K-1 visa.Hazel was finally going to move to America and meet Tarik's seven-year-old daughter Auri for the first time. Auri apparently stays with her father five out of seven days a week and lives with her mother on the weekends.Tarik shared how Auri has high-functioning autism and everything in his life revolves around her. Tarik hoped Hazel would love Auri and that they'd get along wonderfully.Hazel also has an eight-year-old son Harrey, and Hazel was having a tough time leaving him behind. Tarik and Hazel therefore planned to bring Harrey to the United States "eventually" in order to give the boy more opportunities in life.Speaking of "opportunities," Hazel looked forward to having a girlfriend on the side in the United States.She and Tarik had once introduced a woman named Minty from Thailand into their relationship but Hazel ended it after a few days because she was jealous of how much Tarik seemed to like Minty. (Tarik began dating Minty alone when he and Hazel were on a break)."Hazel felt like Minty was more into me than she was into Hazel," Tarik explained."Hazel could see I was just fascinated by Minty. It was refreshing to me to be able to speak in Thai and talk about all the stuff I experienced in Thailand, but there was this jealousy that came over Hazel immediately and it ended right there. Hazel told me to never contact Minty ever again."However, Tarik confessed he had texted Minty again a couple of weeks back to check on her amid the coronavirus pandemic. Tarik was afraid to tell Hazel about his little betrayal.Tarik then picked Hazel up at the airport and the pair had a sweet reunion."This is the turning point in my life. It's like everything before her and then everything after her," Tarik said.Once Hazel arrived in America, she was a bit overwhelmed and needed to adjust. She also apparently didn't like the spiritual center at which Tarik hoped to wed.Hazel and Auri bonded right away and things were going great for a while -- until Hazel discovered a message to Minty on Tarik's phone.Hazel asked why Tarik hadn't been honest with her right away, and he acknowledged that she was right.Hazel felt the virus was just an excuse to get in touch with Minty, but Tarik promised he wouldn't contact their ex again.During quarantine, the couple searched through women's dating profiles together, for example, and Tarik just hoped Hazel still considered marrying him the No. 1 priority.Hazel told the cameras that she wanted to find a "sexy, brown American woman" to date although her relationship with Tarik was more important.With 35 days to wed, Tarik and Hazel decided to concentrate on their wedding planning since they were running out of time and needed to make some progress as soon as possible.About two weeks later, Hazel explained she wanted a girlfriend not just for sex but to also have a sister-like best friend in her life.Tarik suggested to Hazel they ask Minty for help on their search because Minty knew them very well and might have a good recommendation for them, but Hazel was annoyed about how much Tarik talked about Minty."If Tarik still has feelings for Minty, I don't know how we can get married," Hazel noted.Hazel wondered if Tarik was just looking for an excuse to be able to communicate with Minty again.In May 2020, Hazel agreed they could contact Minty, but only because she wanted to watch the pair interact with each other."I am attracted to Tarik very much," Minty told the cameras. "If Tarik not engaged to Hazel, I think me and him would be together."Hazel made it very clear she didn't want to date or be friends with Minty, but Minty told Hazel to compromise since Tarik really likes Thai woman. Minty therefore suggested she could join their love triangle again.Minty told Hazel that they wouldn't be able to find another girl like her in the future, but Hazel asked her to stop talking."She will not be our girl," Hazel confirmed.With 18 days left to wed on Hazel's K-1 visa, the couple wasn't in a great place.Tarik was afraid Hazel was going to throw in the towel and refuse to get married, and he just hoped they could move past their issues given Hazel was upset at him and a bit jealous of Minty.Hazel told Tarik that Minty had been very "disrespectful" to her, and Tarik agreed it was a bad idea to contact Minty and communicate with her at all."I don't trust you with her and I still think you call her because that's what you like," Hazel explained.Tarik wondered when Hazel was going to stop worrying about Minty and his past. Tarik said he needed Hazel to trust him and she was making him out to look like the "villain" or "the bad guy."Tarik insisted he had done nothing wrong and never tried to get back with Minty. He didn't appreciate being accused of something he didn't do."What if one day he gonna fall in love with her again? But Tarik wants me to think that will never happen," Hazel said, adding that she didn't believe Tarik.When the couple's wedding was only two weeks away, Hazel still wasn't sure whether she could trust Tarik 100 percent -- and so she was feeling "uncomfortable."Tarik was then shown shopping for wedding attire, and he revealed his wedding date was June 7, 2020. Tarik told his friend that he didn't have cold feet but he and Hazel had been arguing a lot.When a friend asked if he had any lingering feelings for Minty, Tarik hesitated at first and replied, "Umm, no... She's not [in my life anymore]."Tarik determined he should probably delete Minty's number from his phone in order to please Hazel.In May 2020, Tarik and Hazel only had seven days left to wed and were still fighting over trust issues, so the couple decided to meet up with Tarik's best friend Angela at a restaurant.Angela quickly realized the couple had no wedding plans and there was tension between Tarik and Hazel.Hazel informed Angela that Tarik had contacted another girl, not Minty this time, which made her really upset.Tarik said a woman in the Philippines -- whom he had previously been friends with for years but lost touch with -- suddenly started calling him a lot and so Hazel apparently messaged the girl asking why she was reaching out to her fiance.Tarik said he felt "embarrassed" that Hazel had contacted the woman, but Angela said Tarik should be embarrassed that he didn't shut the conversation down himself and make Hazel feel better about it.Tarik insisted Hazel was "making a mountain out of a mole hill," and then Hazel snapped, "Maybe you want to call her like you call Minty too."Hazel said Tarik was good at defending himself and added, "Just because I am bisexual, it doesn't mean Tarik is allowed to talk to any girls he wants. I still want to find a girlfriend, but I have to choose the girl, not Tarik."Tarik said Hazel's behavior made him look crazy but Angela accused Tarik of acting like "an alpha male" and accepting the fact he was wrong.Angela advised Tarik to block the women who made Hazel feel uncomfortable because Hazel was about to become his wife and had moved to a foreign country -- and left her son behind -- to be with him.Tarik acknowledged he needed to fix his broken relationship or else there may not even be a wedding.In June 2020, Tarik put his powder-blue suit on and decorated the house with rose petals and candles in order to please Hazel and surprise her with a romantic evening. Tarik admitted he had disregarded Hazel's feelings about other women and there was "no excuse for that."Tarik said it was never his intention to look sketchy or cheat on Hazel, who admitted in tears she felt angry, hurt and mad over Tarik's behavior.Tarik apologized to his fiancee and promised that no one would ever come before her and he wanted to start over. Hazel said she appreciated Tarik's gesture and hoped he'd live up to his words.Tarik then got down on one knee and proposed marriage to Hazel again under the new circumstances of their relationship. Tarik decided to "lay it on thick" that she was and would be the most important woman in his life -- and then the couple dined on some strawberries and champagne.Hazel apparently felt so much better and concluded, "I can say I am ready to marry you."Tarik and Hazel are still a couple and their romance appears to be thriving.In mid-March, Tarik posted a funny blooper-video of Hazel trying to wish someone a happy birthday on Cameo. Tarik even commented about how Hazel's lipstick line would soon be available.Tarik uploaded a video of Hazel and himself dancing together in early March."Men. Wanna get outta the doghouse? Try Wil Smith style dumb dancing. If you're deep in the doghouse, add the running man with jazz hands. Hazel is wearing her own lipstick. Available soon. #Tarzel 4L #90dayfiance #90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days," Tarik captioned the video.In late February, Tarik posted a video of Hazel posing as computer-generated snowflakes fell around her face."I remember when you said you'd always wanted to see and play in the snow. I said I had to walk to school calf high in it in Ohio. So I'm very happy without snow but not without you," Tarik captioned the video, before promoting her new lipstick. #Tarzel #allnatural."Tarik posted a video of Hazel driving a lawn mower in mid-February and captioned it, "Hazel doesn't just sit around searching profiles all day. She also nearly crashes the riding mower into the fence lol. Maybe I'm a bad driving instructor."He added the hashtags "Tarzel," "girlpower" and "ilovevirginiabeach."On January 31, Tarik shared a video of Hazel and himself driving in the car, and about a week earlier, he posted a photo of Hazel in glasses and added a funny caption with it."Me : I clearly text Minty to see if she was ok bc there was a big Covid outbreak in her city. Hazel : I put my glasses on to clearly see if this was BS. #Tarzel #90dayfiance #90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days #rayban #allnatural," Tarik wrote.On January 16, Tarik posted a photo of Hazel standing in the sunlight with her eyes closed, and he captioned the image, "You are an original. You are misunderstood. You are ridiculed and hated on by many close to you. But you are still perfect."He continued, "I am an original. Misunderstood. Ridiculed and hated on by many close to me. We soak up the sun different. #Tarzel #90dayfiance #90dayfiancebaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days #nomakeup #nofilterneeded."A few days earlier, Tarik uploaded a photo of Hazel and his daughter flashing peace signs, showing they're still together as a family.Tarik also apparently rang in the New Year of 2021 with Hazel by his side.Tarik posted several photos of Hazel standing in front of a sunset, including two pictures of Hazel standing out of the sunroof of a car."Ok. So the house may have been a LITTLE messy," Tarik captioned the slideshow, referring to Hazel's first impression of his home in America."I'll make it up to you with a beautiful sunset. 2020 GO THE F AWAY ALREADY! BYE FELICIA! Everyone have a SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2021 #Tarzel #90dayfiance ##90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days."On December 18, Tarik posted two selfies with Hazel in which she looked stunning in a burgundy dress and matching lip. In one of the pictures, she was kissing Tarik on the cheek."Hawt Sauws. Hella Hawt Sauws. #Tarzel Watch #90dayfiance Sunday at 8pm EST on @tlc #90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #90dayfiancebeforethe90days," Tarik wrote alongside the images.One day earlier, Hazel posted a similar photo and captioned it, "Haters don't hate hate, haters hate LOVE.' #Tarzel #90dayfiance."Tarik reposted Hazel's quote on his own page saying he agreed with her, and then Hazel commented with multiple kiss-blowing emoticons.Tarik also posted a video of Hazel on October 25, 2020.In the video, Hazel told her fans, "I'm here to send good tidings and well wishes to your family and friends... I'm here for y'all! Have a good one!"Tarik captioned the Instagram post, "My beautiful Hazel is on Cameo now. Book her for all occasions. She is Hazel Cagalitan on Cameo. Thanks. #beforethe90days #90dayfiance."On August 28, 2020, Tarik posted a selfie of the couple, revealing they had watched Black Panther three times in one week together because Hazel loved it so much. He said it was "the first move we ever watched together."2Tarik posted a photo of Hazel and her father on June 21 and gushed about how he raised 14 children in poor conditions."I thought I knew the difficulties of fatherhood until I met this man. He raised 14 children in conditions most of us only see on TV. Never once shirked his responsibility. The definition of a real man. Salamat Pa. Happy Father's Day," Tarik wrote.Tarik also wished Hazel a happy Mother's Day in May."When life dealt you crap, you turned it into fertilizer. I was proud of you before the cameras rolled. And I'll be proud of you... Well anyway. I'm your defense mechanism against anyone. And I mean anyone. Happy Mother's Day Zellybean," Tarik wrote alongside a photo of Hazel and her son.Tarik and Hazel's posts about one another date all the way back to Fall 2018.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
With print media continuing to diminish and economic hardships plaguing small newspapers, the work of student newsrooms is as important as ever. (Anthony Angel Perez / Staff)

In his book, Journalism: Why It Matters, Columbia University journalism professor Michael Schudson addressed what perhaps most of us have noticed for a while now: that traditional newspapers are being cast aside.

Journalism in much of the world is in a long-simmering crisisits central institutions are floundering economically, its popular appeal is under challenge from both new and old rivals, its self-confidence in stumbles, Schudson writes.

For decades, newspapers have faced uncertainty as the internet has taken the industry by storm. The difficulty to maintain print media has led to a shift in digital media, where securing revenue to keep publishing the news still poses a challenge. Larger newspaper chains continue to impact smaller newsrooms by buying them out. This activity contributes to the newspaper industrys decline, leading to numerous journalists losing their jobs.

Student newsrooms that arent funded by their institutions face similar setbacks, thus requiring them to seek digital solutions  such as online ad revenue and fundraising  that allow their respective newspapers to continue their development and existence in an ever-changing technological world.

The Daily Californian perseveres through these challenges while presenting a unique opportunity for students to represent a diversity of voices and creating a place for them to grow both personally and within the Berkeley community.

Building the next generation of journalists is crucial to fostering representation, as journalisms very purpose is rooted in accuracy, which includes fairly communicating the reality of different communities. College students, who come from a variety of cultural and geographical backgrounds to attend college, can bring this diversity in perspective to a campus newspaper.

This is especially important because student journalists are the ones who will continue to pave the way for print and web media in the fight to keep newspapers alive. Student newspapers maintain the coverage of local news when other small newsrooms shut down. The efforts of student newspapers go beyond the university and into the city  and sometimes, even the rest of the world.

A student newspaper naturally produces unique content as a result of the diversity of its young contributors. This includes pieces that discuss events that occur within their community and publicize stories that have been historically silenced and reflect the voices of budding writers. Student journalism functions as a necessary channel through which students can help others understand new and relevant information.

Student newspapers efforts reflect the principles of ethical journalism, which include truth and accountability. These principles define the basis of journalists responsibility to not only report fairly but also actively renew that commitment when mistakes are made.

When in the hands of powerful institutions and individuals who wish to prioritize their own representation over the voices of students, those principles become jeopardized. As a result, student newspapers such as the Daily Cal were left to fight for their independence and authenticity  and some are still engaged in that struggle for creative agency.

The Daily Cal used to be funded by UC Berkeley, meaning that the institution had license to shut down certain stories that didnt appeal to its standards. This, in turn, silenced student voices, especially on issues of controversy and social activism, reflecting a controlled narrative that opposes what ethical journalism stands for. In 1971, the Daily Cal gained its independence as a student-run newspaper, becoming one of the few independent college newspapers whose unique status reflects the power of student newspapers while fostering ethical journalism.

As student newsrooms continue to fight economic hardships and challenges to their freedom, student journalists still dont receive all the recognition they deserve. They are subject to censorship and are often underestimated because of their youth. These difficulties, which challenge the survival and integrity of student newspapers, contribute to the greater cycle of newsrooms extinction.

Empowering student newsrooms is important now more than ever. In our complex and changing world, journalism lends a helping hand by documenting stories and providing a place where students have the agency to offer truths about their communities. To put it simply, student journalism matters  today, tomorrow and in the foreseeable future.
Mamata Banerjee slams Centre, says vaccinating all citizens before December 2021 is just a hoax

Mamata Banerjee blames self for not recognising true face of Adhikari family

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kanthi Dakshin (WB), Mar 21: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday blamed herself for not recognising the "true face" of the influential Adhikari family of Purba Medinipur district.

Venting her ire against Suvendu Adhikari, her protege-turned-rival who is pitted against the TMC leader from Nandigram constituency for the coming assembly polls, Banerjee said at an election rally here, she had even heard rumours the Adhikari family had built an empire worth Rs 5,000 crore. The chief minister said, she will get it investigated once she is voted to power.

Most members of the Adhikari family, which holds considerable political clout in the district, have either joined the BJP or expressed a desire to join the saffron party.

Veteran TMC MP Sisir Adhikari - father of Suvendu Adhikari - joined the BJP at Egra on Sunday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders of the party.

She compared the Adhikari family with "Mir Jafar" (traitor) and said the people of the region will not tolerate it and give befitting replies with ballots.

Mamata Banerjee terms Central Bill give more power to LG 'surgical strike', extends support to Delhi CM

Mir Jafar, the military general of Bengal''s last indepedent nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, is considered a traitor for deceiving the besieged Nawab during the Battle of Plassey in 1757 which paved the way for British rule in India.

"I say I am a ''big donkey'' (Ami ekta boro gadha) for having failed to recognise them. I dont know (about it), but people say their empire'' is worth Rs 5,000 crore and they will use money to buy votes. But don''t vote for them," Banerjee told the rally. The TMC chief also described the BJP as a party of "rogues and goons".

She also blamed the Adhikari family for ruling the district as "zamindars" (landlords) by taking full control of the area, claiming that even she was not allowed to hold public meetings there.

Highlighting that all works like health, roads and other schemes were undertaken by the state government and not by the Adhikari family, Banerjee urged the crowd to keep the BJP out of West Bengal to maintain peace and further the pace of development.

Earlier too, she had described Suvendu Adhikari as a traitor, pointing out that she had blindly supported him when he was in the Trinamool Congress.

Banerjee also attempted to play the nationalistic card by raising slogans of "Bande Mataram" and "Jai Hind".

Banerjee left her Bhowanipore constituency in Kolkata to contest against her former lieutenant and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram seat, where an anti-land acquisition movement catapulted the TMC to power in the state in 2011.

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Story first published: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 15:22 [IST]
Wuhan study suggests COVID-19 antibodies can prevent reinfection for at least 9 months

Xinhua) 09:42, March 21, 2021

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- About 40 percent of COVID-19 positive patients in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, have antibodies that can offer protection against being reinfected with the virus for at least nine months, said a new article published in the medical journal The Lancet this week.

According to the study, the adjusted COVID-19 positive rate in the city hardest hit by the virus earlier last year was just 6.9 percent, indicating that only a small proportion of the city population was infected after the epidemic outbreak.

"Assessing the proportion of the population that has been infected with COVID-19 and who are immune is crucial for determining effective prevention and control strategies to reduce the likelihood of a future resurgence of the pandemic," said Wang Chen, lead author of the article and president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.

The first long-term seroprevalence survey in Wuhan, the study tested COVID-19 antibodies in more than 9,500 residents living across all 13 districts after the city's lockdown was lifted in early April of 2020. Follow-up blood-sample tests were conducted in June and between October and December to examine if antibodies were present.

Previous studies in many countries showed that the infected COVID-19 population, as estimated by the positive rate of serum antibodies, is much higher than the actual infected cases. The new study suggests this may be primarily due to the fact that most of the infected people were asymptomatic or did not get tested or treated due to their mild infections.

Besides, the antibody levels in asymptomatic patients were found to be lower than those in confirmed patients and symptomatic cases in the study. The results may help facilitate precise COVID-19 infection prevention in the future, said co-author Ren Lili, from the Institute of Pathogen Biology under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.

"Little is known of the durability of immune responses against COVID-19 over a long period. In our study, we found that the proportion of participants with antibodies against the virus was sustained for at least nine months. Importantly, we found that neutralising antibody titres remained stable for at least nine months," Ren said.

Among the researchers working on the study are some from the Wuhan Disease Control and Prevention Center and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

They said that understanding seroprevalence and how antibody levels change over time in Wuhan would help inform their vaccination strategies, with their findings indicating that mass vaccination is needed to protect against future resurgences of the virus.

The study "underscores the remarkable achievement of the Chinese public health system in controlling the Wuhan outbreak of COVID-19 at a time when testing, tracing, and treatment resources were much less developed," Richard Strugnell, a renowned expert in microbiology and immunology from Australia's Doherty Institute, wrote in an accompanying article in the journal commenting on the Chinese team's latest findings.

"It is an important milestone in the description of SARS-CoV-2 infection and our understanding of immunity in the pandemic," Strugnell said.
David Cameron personally lobbied Rishi Sunak to grant millions of Covid loans to a financial firm he was advising before it collapsed, it was claimed last night.

The former prime minister is said to have texted the Chancellor's private mobile in a bid to secure government-backed funding for the afflicted Greensill Capital.

Mr Sunak ignored most of the messages and instead referred Mr Cameron to senior Treasury officials, according to The Sunday Times.

Those contacted by the ex-Tory premier were said to include Tom Scholar, the permanent secretary, and Charles Roxburgh, the second permanent secretary.

The paper reported that Mr Sunak stood by officials who felt Greensill did not qualify for the scheme.

But Labour has called for an inquiry into the saga to ensure that decisions taken about taxpayer money is transparent.

David Cameron personally lobbied Rishi Sunak to grant millions of Covid loans to a financial firm he was advising before it collapsed, it was claimed last night

It emerged earlier in the week that Mr Cameron held meetings with Treasury mandarins to ask that Greensill receive support through the Government's Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF).

The company, which Mr Cameron joined as an adviser in 2018, plunged into administration after its loan application was refused.

The FT said that public records showed Greensill representatives had 10 virtual meetings between March and June last year with senior Treasury officials.

Mr Cameron has exposed himself to accusations of hypocrisy after previously warning about the dangers of financial lobbying.

Mr Cameron, 54, was prime minister and Conservative leader when Mr Sunak was first elected to the Commons in 2015.

The former prime minister is said to have texted the Chancellor's private mobile in a bid to secure government-backed funding for the afflicted Greensill Capital

He resigned a year later after his Remain campaign lost the Brexit referendum.

For Labour, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: 'Rishi Sunak already had questions to answer as to why Greensill was given so much more access to the Treasury than other Covid lenders.

'The suggestion that David Cameron was also contacting the Chancellor directly to further Greensill's commercial interests raises even bigger concerns.

'This is public money, and the processes involved in decision-making should be fully transparent and beyond reproach. We need a full and thorough investigation into what's happened here.'

A Treasury spokeswoman said: 'Treasury officials regularly meet with stakeholders to discuss our economic response to Covid.

'The meetings in question were primarily about broadening the scope of CCFF to enable access for providers of supply chain finance, which - following a call for evidence and discussions with several other firms within the sector - we decided against and informed the businesses concerned.'

The Sunday Times said that Mr Cameron did not respond to a request to comment.
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New Delhi:

The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR against a man who threatened to kill four eminent women and a senior journalist- Shobha De, Arundhati Roy, Kavitha Krishnan, Shiela Rashid and Sagarika Ghose- all of whom he termed anti-national.

A Facebook user named Vikramaditya Rana wrote a post on his wall that read, Let d shooting of #GauriLankesh serve as example to those anti-nationals who masquerade as journalists & activists.

I hope this is not d last...should be episode of serial assassinations of all anti-nationals. Shobha De; Arundhati Roy; Sagarika Ghose; Kavitha Krishnan; Shiela Rashid etc at d end of a list that should start with anti-national & treacherous politicians. A hit list be prepared & eliminate all those on d list. At last a ray of hope (sic)... it said.

Here he is again : VikramAditya Rana on Facebook with a hit list. @DelhiPolice you need to check this pic.twitter.com/eJ8mnkLupu  Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 6, 2017

The Delhi police is now tracing Rana and sought details of the IP addresses from which the post was written.

Also Read | Gauri Lankesh murder: Special Investigating Team headed by IGP BK Singh begins probe

Delhi police came into action after Sagarika Ghose- one of the women threatened by Rana- tweeted about the venomous post.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT act, the police said.

Earlier on Tuesday night, 55-year-old staunch journalist Gauri Lankesh, known as an anti-establishment voice with anti-right wing views, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home in Bengaluru.

Lankesh, a writer, publisher and editor, had returned home in her car and was opening the gate when motorcycle-borne assailants sprayed bullets, of which two hit her in the chest and one on her forehead, police officials had said.

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A four-year-old girl died after being torn apart by a pack of five stray dogs in Saudi Arabia.

The girl, identified only by her first name Shahd, screamed as she was attacked by the dogs when she stepped out of her family's holiday home in the suburb of Al Washaila on March 12.

A number of passersby managed to chase away the dogs and the bloodied girl was rushed to hospital. However, she passed away a few hours later.

The girl, identified only by her first name Shahd (pictured), screamed as she was attacked by the dogs when she stepped out of her family's holiday home in the suburb of Al Washaila on March 12

The victim's uncle, Abdullah Hazzam Al Abd Al Salam, told local media: 'We rushed my niece to the nearest hospital, and we reached the hospital at around 5:30pm.

'The medical staff confirmed her condition was stable.

'We kept waiting outside the hospital due to COVID-19 precautionary measures, but at 7.50pm, we were informed that the girl had passed away. It was a shock to everyone.'

A number of passersby managed to chase away the dogs and the bloodied girl was rushed to hospital. However, she passed away a few hours later. Pictured: Riyadh

Al Salam complained to local media that the suburb had long had a problem with stray animals and the local authorities had not done anything to address it.

He urged the authorities to cull stray dogs in the area, which is frequented by families with children on weekends.

Shahd was buried at the Al Mansouriya Cemetery on March 14.
New Delhi:

The tension between US and N Korea reached new levels after the latters most powerful nuclear tests conducted recently.

Now, US President Donald Trump has said that though he prefers not to use military options but if that becomes a reality then it would be a very sad day for the leadership in Pyongyang.

Trump pointedly declined to take military route but his administration sought to increase economic sanctions on N Korea. Trump emphatically said that Pyongyang was behaving badly and its got to stop.

Donald Trump said that military action against a defiant North Korea after its recent powerful nuclear test was not inevitable.

Speaking in a White House news conference along with the premier of Kuwait, the president said, Military action would certainly be an option. Is it inevitable? Nothings inevitable.

It would be great if something else could be worked out, he said, while adding that if it comes to military action, It will be a very sad day for North Korea.

The N Korea has remained defiant after their hydrogen bomb tests. A top diplomat had warned US that the country is ready to send more gift packages.

"The recent self-defence measures by my country, DPRK, are a gift package addressed to none other than the US. The US will receive more 'gift packages' ... as long as it relies on reckless provocations and futile attempts to put pressure on the DPRK," the ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Han Tae Song said in a conference.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley had said that North Korea is "begging for war" with abusive use of missiles and nuclear threats. She pushed for the "strongest possible measures" against Pyongyang following its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.

On Sunday, North Korea said it detonated a hydrogen bomb designed for a long-range missile and called it a perfect success, inviting worldwide condemnation and promises of tougher US sanctions.

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In the case of Tah v. Global Witness Publishing, Inc., which emerged from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, nobody but the parties involved cared about the issues in the case. It became noteworthy, though, because Judge Laurence Silberman used the dissent, not just to disagree with the majoritys ruling, but also to warn against the danger of a national media that is completely allied with the party controlling all of Washington D.C. However, I find the case even more exciting because it attacks the notion of Supreme Court infallibility.

The majority in the Tah case did a good job of summarizing the case and youll see why nobody in America was paying attention:

In this defamation action, two former Liberian officials allege that Global Witness, an international human rights organization, published a report falsely implying that they had accepted bribes in connection with the sale of an oil license for an offshore plot owned by Liberia. The district court dismissed the complaint for failing to plausibly allege actual malice. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm. The First Amendment provides broad protections for speech about public figures, and the former officials have failed to allege that Global Witness exceeded the bounds of those protections.

The Supreme Court first enunciated those broad protections for speech about public figures in 1964, in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. In brief, it held that, if a public official or political candidate wants to succeed in a defamation claim, she or he cannot merely prove the elements of a defamation cause of action (i.e., publicly disseminated defamatory statements) but must also prove that whoever made the statement acted with actual malice. Actual malice means knowing the statement was false or recklessly disregarding its falsity. As a result of that decision, public officials stopped suing the media, so much so that they no longer sue even when obvious actual malice is present.

Judge Silberman wrote a dissent challenging not only how the majority applied New York Times Co. v. Sullivan to the case before it but also challenging the entirety of the Supreme Court decision. Its this last aspect that makes Silbermans dissent noteworthy.

Silberman points out that Justice Thomas has already persuasively demonstrated that New York Times was a policy-driven decision masquerading as constitutional law. *** As with the rest of the opinion, the actual malice requirement was simply cut from whole cloth.

Although Silberman acknowledges the difficulty inherent in overruling landmark cases, he has come to see the 57-year-old New York Times opinion as a threat to American Democracy. It must go. And then Silberman goes into overdrive defending the Constitution.

He makes plain his disdain for Justice Kennedys contention that criticism of the Court is tantamount to an attack on the Constitution. Instead, I readily admit that I have little regard for holdings of the Court that dress up policymaking in constitutional garb. Its that kind of dissimulation that is the real attack on the Constitution. Indeed, [t]he notion that the Court should somehow act in a policy role as a Council of Revision is illegitimate.

What Silberman has written is incredibly important. The Supreme Court, unlike the Pope, is not Gods representative on earth (at least for Catholics). Its a collection of lawyers, with those from the left being highly politicized. These same leftist lawyers pretend that they are, in fact, infallible, making their decisions indistinguishable from the Constitution itself  and as unassailable.

What lies behind Silbermans attacking the imaginary doctrine of Supreme Court infallibility is the Courts 67-year history of deciding cases on purely political grounds, while pretending that the Constitution is controlling. The most famous of these cases for conservatives is Roe v. Wade which found a constitutional right to abortion hidden in the Constitutions emanations and penumbras.

However, the same make it up as you go along philosophy really began with a truly righteous case: Brown v. Board of Education. There was nothing in the Constitution to bar the heinous practice of academic segregation (one that Democrats are again embracing), so the Supreme Court, to advance a moral public policy, made up constitutional law. When doing so worked, the Supreme Court was off to the races. It now makes up imaginary constitutional rights on a regular basis. Just think of the Obergefell decision, in which Kennedy wrote a romance novel to find a constitutional right to gay marriage.

On the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas clearly understands that Supreme Court infallibility is a false doctrine and Justice Alito probably does, too. Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett may understand the principle. The remaining justices quite definitely do not. Until all the justices recognize that theyre merely fancy lawyers, with none having a claim to the papal throne, America will continue to fall victim to the fake constitutionality of an activist court.

(If you want to read about Silbermans excellent attack on the unholy alliance between the media, Big Tech, and the Democrat party, I recommend Mollie Hemingways Twitter thread.)

IMAGE: By Andrea Widburg, using a public domain image.
Panna pramukhs BJP's strength, deploy them to win hearts: Rajnath Singh to Delhi party unit

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 21: Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday told the city unit of the party to deploy 'panna pramukhs' across Delhi, as they are its biggest strength and can make it win in the national capital.

The 'panna pramukh' or page in-charge is the first point of contact for most voters in the BJP's election management machinery. Singh, who inaugurated the Delhi BJP's executive committee meeting, said panna pramukhs should help create awareness about schemes and programmes started by the Narendra Modi government.

The Modi government has a proven "track record in good governance and development... we have always done what we promise", Singh told Delhi BJP leaders.

Congress is used to doing politics over tea, says PM Modi in Assam's Bokakhat

"Panna pramukh should be deployed in Delhi. I think it is the most important post and the biggest strength of the party... I can say it with conviction it can take the BJP to a win here," he said. Singh said the panna pramukh is more important than a president of the party's state unit and that he should be honoured.

Earlier this month, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won four out of five seats in municipal by-elections, seen as a semi-final before the MCD polls scheduled to be held in 2022. The AAP lost one seat to the Congress, and gained one from the BJP. The BJP failed to win any of the five seats. There are 272 municipal wards in Delhi.
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Energy expert at EE Business Intelligence Chris Yelland told the City Press that the best case scenario for Eskom is that it stabilises the current, low level of coal-fired power station performance.

The countrys Integrated Resource Plan aims to develop Eskoms power stations to offer over 70% availability; however this has regularly dipped below 60% in 2021, and Yelland doesnt believe Eskom can raise its coal plant availability to meet its goals.

Eskom cant win, said Yelland.

It can, at most, mark time.

You can keep driving an old vehicle forever if you treat it like a baby, but we need tools.

Yelland said repairs to the troubled Medupi plant have not made a sufficient difference, and he doubted whether Medupi and Kusile will ever be properly fixed.

He used Medupis Unit 3 as an example, as it was the first unit at the plant to be fixed, but Yelland explained that when it has been active, it has been running at 75% availability, rather than the expected 90%.

Load-shedding isnt going anywhere

Yelland previously speculated that Eskom is overwhelmed by its issues.

This followed a press conference by Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter where he warned that South Africa faces an electricity shortfall of 4,000MW for the next five years.

I did not sense optimism that they were on top of things. Rather, I sensed that the problems were so endemic that they are becoming overwhelming, said Yelland.

2020 saw the worst load-shedding in the countrys history despite demand being lower as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This trend is expected to continue in 2021, and will likely result in even more load-shedding this year than last.

Powerships a solution?

Energy minister Gwede Mantashe recently unveiled three Karpowership projects for the country.

Each of these powerships will be situated at coastal towns  Coega, Richards Bay, and Saldanha  and are expected to provide a total of 1,200MW to the grid.

The necessary liquified natural gas will be sourced internationally and delivered via other ships as South Africa does not have this gas naturally.

The gas is channeled into generators on the powerships, and this produces electricity that can be fed directly into the countrys transmission network.

These powerships comprise three of eight preferred bidders announced by Mantashe to form the countrys emergency risk mitigation IPP programme.

The other five projects are as follows:

ACWA Power Project DAO

Mulilo Total Coega

Mulilo Total Hydra Storage

Oya Energy Hybrid Facility

Umoyilanga Energy

These, combined with the powerships, are expected to produce 1,845MW of energy.

Mantashe also said the first bidding round to eventually acquire a further 11,813MW from IPPs has opened.

The first round targets 2,600MW from wind and solar, with the following still to come in future rounds:
Batteries or Bicycles, China Has No Choice Other Then To Push EV's; Chinas Ambition to Power World's Electric Vehicles Took A Giant Leap Forward This Week

Originally published June 2018

Editor's Note: Look at the chart above, it shows that there will not be enough oil in the world to supply gasoline for all of the private vehicles projected to fill roads in a "westernized" China, so without the availability of electric vehicles, powered vehicles would not be available in China...therefore, it's EV's or Bikes! No wonder China is pushing Electric...but why is the rest of the world following like lemmings off a cliff?

Editor's Note 2: Changan breaks ground on 20 billion yuan EV plant in Nanjing

State-owned Changan Automobile Co. began construction on a major assembly plant for electric vehicles in the east China city of Nanjing to boost EV output. The 20 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) factory is set to start production in June 2020.

CATLs stock has shot up since it raised nearly $1 billion in an IPO to build more lithium-ion battery plants.

SEE ALSO:



By James Temple

MIT Technology Review

Special To The Auto Channel

BOSTON - June 13, 2018: Chinas grand designs to dominate the future of clean energy paid off spectacularly this week.

In a public offering on June 11 in Shenzhen, battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) raised nearly $1 billion to fund ambitious expansion plans, and its stock has been shooting up every day since. Thanks largely to the companys new plants, China will be making 70 percent of the worlds electric-vehicle batteries by 2021, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

The rapid rise of CATL is arguably the clearest, though certainly not the only, payoff from Chinas calculated efforts to bolster its domestic battery and electric-vehicle industriestwo of the most promising sectors in clean energy. These efforts have largely followed the same playbook China used to get ahead in solar panels, including highly automated manufacturing; aggressive efforts to lock in global supply chains; foreign acquisitions and licensing; and hefty doses of government support and protectionism.

China is already the worlds largest car market, but its domestic businesses sell only a small fraction of vehicles and components globally. China sees EVs as the way to assert their global dominance in automotive, says Venkat Viswanathan, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, whose work focuses on batteries. To make it work you need scale, and they do scale better than anyone else.

Chinas efforts are also part of a broader plan to reduce air pollution, meet soaring domestic energy demands, establish the nation as a leader in fighting climate change, and exert the soft power that comes with global business dominance.

CATL shares rose by the maximum allowed in each of the first three days of trading, giving the Ningde-based company a value of more than $13 billion by the end of trading on June 13. That minted at least three new billionaires, including founder Zeng Yuqun. He effectively spun the business out of Amperex Technology, which makes batteries for consumer gadgets, in 2011. (The company didnt respond to questions from MIT Technology Review before press time.)

Just seven years later, CATL has built up the biggest lithium-ion manufacturing facilities in the world, according to BNEF. The company can crank out around 17 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion cells annually, placing it just ahead of Koreas LG Chem, the Tesla and Panasonic partnership, and Chinas electric-vehicle giant BYD.

Flush with capital from its offering, CATL plans to build two new plants and expand existing facilities, pushing its capacity to nearly 90 gigawatt-hours by 2020.

National champions

So what fueled CATL's rapid rise?

The key factor is Chinas generous subsidies for domestically produced electric vehicles, which in practice apply only when they use Chinese-built batteries. More recently, the country started to condition that subsidy on higher energy density, prompting battery makers to push their technical limits. Thats also accelerated the shift to a new generation of batteries containing more nickel and less cobalt, a metal that is in increasingly short supply.

You saw a huge push around the performance of these batteries and the technologies they chose that you wouldnt have seen otherwise, says Logan Goldie-Scot, head of energy storage analysis at BNEF.

The scientist still fighting for the clean fuel the world forgot

A decade of investment in advanced biofuels led nowhere, but Jay Keasling remains undaunted.

That move, along with other efforts by Chinas government to encourage consolidation, has also helped weed out lesser players and build the lead of national champions like CATL and BYD. CATL has also earned a reputation for putting more effort and funding into research and development than its domestic rivals.

Notably, its the only Chinese battery company so far to line up deals to supply foreign automakers, including BMW, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Chinese EV batteries generally havent earned glowing reviews for their technical performance, but these deals suggest that gap has narrowed significantly, Goldie-Scot says.

CATL does face some real risks, however, notes a BNEF research report issued last week. It might overshoot, building too much capacity. It still has stiff competition. And China plans to phase out subsidies for battery makers by 2020, which could level the field for CATLs foreign rivals.

Tesla is also aggressively cutting costs and expanding production for its lithium-ion cells, with a new facility planned in China. Meanwhile, a number of other regions and nations are considering or establishing strict limits on gas-fueled vehicles, which will draw more players, investment, and customers into the nascent field.

China is developing its own plan to eventually ban sales of new combustion-engine vehicles; its already established ambitious quotas for the production of electric vehicles and hybrids. BNEF forecasts that these and other policies will push electric-vehicle sales in China to 2.5 million in 2020, up from nearly 800,000 last year, quadrupling battery demand.

At this point, CATL appears perfectly positioned to benefit from these trendsand drive them. What theyre bringing online in production is going to fundamentally change the landscape in cost and scale, Viswanathan says. It is, by far, the most interesting things in batteries today.
BCCL

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. Read more

Finland Suspends Use Of AstraZeneca Vaccines After Cases Of Blood Clots

AFP

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. Read more



150 Academics From Yale, MIT, Harvard On Professor's Exit From Ashoka University

Forbes

Academicians from international universities, including Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Oxford, and Cambridge, have come out in support of scholar and commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta, saying that the founders made it abundantly clear that his association with the institution was a political liability. It is clear it is time for me to leave Ashoka, Mehta wrote. He also pointed out that a liberal university will need a liberal political and social context to flourish. Read more



Seven Tigers Are 'Missing' From Ranthambore Since A Year, Activists Concerned

Tiger Watch

Seven tigers including two cubs are reportedly missing from the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan for nearly a year now, causing concerns among conservationists that they could have been poached. Though the Ranthambore National Park authorities are yet to officially confirm the incident, there is consensus that at least four of them are not currently in the reserve. Read more



Sachin Vaze Made To Recreate Ambani Bomb Scare Crime Scene

Screengrab

The NIA which is probing the bomb scare outside Antilia the house of Mukesh Ambani has reportedly attempted to recreate the chain of events. On early Saturday, the NIA ferried arrested Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze to the spot and tried to play out the crime scene, as it could have happened, around half a kilometre away from Antilia. Earlier it was reported that the person, seen in a CCTV grab walking near Ambani's residence on the night of February 25, was Vaze. Read more


MUMBAI: Bollywood's power couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan welcomed their second bundle of joy on February 21, 2021 and on Sunday (March 21), the little bundle of joy turned one-month-old. While Kareena had shared a glimpse his son resting on his soldier in a photo where his face wasn't visible, their fans have been eagerly waiting for the couple to drop the first picture of their newborn son.

Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan's younger sister Saba Ali Khan, who stays with her mother Soha Ali Khan in New Delhi, took to Instagram to celebrate the one-month birthday of her nephew. She shared a collage of pictures of Kareena, Saif and her son, without revealing the baby face. "1 month, I love you," she wrote.

Saba always shared pictures of Saif and Kareena and their elder son Taimur Ali Khan. A few days back, she had beautifully framed wedding pictures of Saif and Kareena and had specified they are two people she can always count on in life.

Earlier, on Women's Day on March 8, Kareena had shared the first picture of the baby on social media. She had captioned it saying, "Theres nothing women cant do. Happy Womens Day my loves." The black-and-white photo showed Kareena cradling her newborn child.

About revealing her child's name, Kareena had told Neha Dhupia on 'What Women Want', "After the whole controversy of Taimur, both Saif and me have not even thought about it. Were like going to leave it last minute and then spring a surprise."

On February 21, announcing the baby's arrival, Saif had said in a statement, "We have been blessed with a baby boy. Mom and baby are safe and healthy. Thank you to our well-wishers for their love and support."

For the uninformed, Saif also has a daughter Sara Ali Khan and son Ibrahim Ali Khan from his first marriage with Amrita Singh.
A senior Teen Vogue staffer who expressed concern about the racist tweets posted by the magazine's now-departed editor used the N-word in her own tweets.

Christine Davitt, a senior social media manager at Teen Vogue, wrote two tweets in 2009 to a friend identifying him as a 'ni--a,' and another in 2010 using the word 'ni--a', Fox News reported.

The friend to whom the comments were addressed appears to be white. Davitt said in multiple tweets that she is of Irish and Filipino descent.

After news of her tweets became public, Davitt's Twitter account was switched from public to private.

Alexi McCammond, 27, lost the top job at Teen Vogue even before she was able to assume the new role after staff members complained about racist comments she posted about Asian Americans when she was a teenager.

Christine Davitt, senior social media manager at Teen Vogue, wrote two tweets more than a decade ago using the N-word

Davitt supported the ouster of Alexi McCammond, who did not follow through on plans to become the magazine's editor in chief last week after staff members raised concerns about her past racist tweets about Asian Americans

McCammond was a rising reporter at Axios when she was hired to oversee Teen Vogue, but she and the magazine parted ways after the Atlanta shooting that killed eight people Tuesday, including six Asian Americans.

McCammond announced she would not join the publication as originally planned, saying her past tweets 'have overshadowed the work I've done to highlight the people and issues that I care about.'

McCammond's tweets included comments on the appearance of Asian features, derogatory stereotypes about Asians and slurs for gay people.

'Outdone by Asian. #Whatsnew,' McCammond tweeted in 2011.

'Now googling how to not wake up with swollen, asian eyes,' she wrote in another. She also referred to a 'stupid Asian T.A.' in a different tweet.

McCammond's comments about Asian people came about two years after Davitt's tweets using the N-word.

Screen grabs from Twitter show Christine Davitt's 2019 comments using the N-word

Davitt, McCammond and Teen Vogue could not immediately be reached for comment, Fox News reported.

Davitt posted a letter on Instagram March 8 from Teen Vogue staff expressing concern to management of Conde Nast, the corporate owner of the magazine, about the hiring of McCammond, 'in light of her past racist and homophobic tweets.'

'So proud of my @teenvogue colleagues. The work continues' Davitt wrote in a photo caption.

After McCammond said she would not join the magazine, Davitt posted a tweet expressing relief.

'[Exhales the deepest sigh I've ever sighed],' Davitt wrote on Twitter an hour after McCammond's announcement.

Davitt also liked a tweet on March 18 arguing, 'She [McCammond] wasn't fired just because of her tweetsit's so much more than that.'

McCammond would have been the third black woman to serve as Teen Vogue's top editor

The tweet quoted another thread noting McCammond had never been an editor and was 'way too close' to the White House and the Democratic National Committee.

'Conde seemed to be trying to reign in the Marxism, anal sex tips & labor coverage' by hiring the former political reporter, one of the posts said.

McCammond is in a relationship with former White House press aide T.J. Ducklo, who left President Joe Biden's administration last month after he threatened a Politico reporter who was planning to publish a story about their relationship.

McCammond, a rising star at Axios who covered the Biden presidential campaign, is in a relationship with former White House press aide T.J. Ducklo

Ducklo left the Biden administration last month after he threatened a Politico reporter who was planning to publish a story about his relationship with McCammond

McCammond was a White House reporter for a time during their relationship before moving to coverage of Congress.

McCammond covered Biden's presidential campaign for Axios and was a contributor to MSNBC and NBC. In 2019, she was named the emerging journalist of the year by the National Association of Black Journalists and she would have been the third black woman to serve as Teen Vogue's top editor, The New York Times reported.

McCammond apologized for her racist tweets in 2019 and deleted them. Screenshots of the tweets were recirculated on social media after her hiring at Teen Vogue was announced March 5.

Anna Wintour, chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, was one of the Conde Naste executives who was made aware of McCammond's decade-old racist tweets

McCammond was vetted before Conde Nast hired her, and top executives including Conde Nast CEO Roger Lynch and Anna Wintour, the chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, were aware of the decade-old tweets. McCammond acknowledged them in interviews with the company.

Although Conde Nast was aware of the racist tweets, it did not know about the homophobic tweets or a photo from 2011 showing her in Native American costume at a Halloween party, a company executive said.
The United Nations on Sunday defended its decision to accept free Covid-19 jabs for its staff in Kenya even though the government there hasn't finished vaccinating its own vulnerable citizens.

The offer, confirmed by UN and diplomatic sources, comes as Kenya battles a severe third wave of the virus and last week recorded its highest single-day death toll since the pandemic began.

The UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), which has approximately 20,000 staff and dependants, said it had accepted the national government's offer of free AstraZeneca jabs but stressed only those most at risk would be eligible.

"It is not a wholesale vaccination of all UN staff members and their dependents," UNON spokesman Newton Kanhema told AFP on Sunday.

Registration opened Sunday for UN staff wanting the jab, with vaccinations to commence Tuesday.

Kenya is still in the early stages of inoculating its most at-risk frontline workers against Covid-19.

The first doses were administered on March 5. On March 19, the health ministry said 28,000 medical workers, teachers and security personnel had received their first jab of a two-dose regimen.

Read | Airport robots give hi-tech boost to Kenya's Covid-19 fight

Earlier this month, Kenya acquired about one million doses of AstraZeneca through Covax, a global vaccine-sharing scheme to ensure coronavirus jabs reach the countries most in need.

A second batch of 100,000 vaccines was later donated from India, while a third consignment is expected in April.

Kanhema said it was "likely" the vaccines destined for UN staff in Kenya would come from the Covax batch.

"The UN has got staff members deployed around the world, and those staff members are as vulnerable as anybody else. There is no other facility that could give them access to a vaccine," he said.

"We have health workers in the clinic in the UN. Those are frontline workers. If they receive a vaccine, it is in harmony with what the Kenyan government is doing."

In a letter to staff dated March 18, the UN urged employees and their families to take up the Kenyan government's "generous offer" as soon as possible.

A Nairobi-based diplomat told AFP their embassy had also received the offer of free vaccines from the foreign ministry.

The ministry did not reply to requests for comment.

However the health ministry said Sunday: "The vaccination plan remains intact and targets all persons resident in Kenya including those serving in the diplomatic corps."

The World Health Organization, a co-leader of the Covax scheme, declined to comment and referred questions to UNON and Kenya's foreign ministry.

Kenya has suffered nearly 2,000 deaths from coronavirus including 28 on Friday -- its highest daily toll yet.

Rates of community transmission have soared to near-record highs this month, and doctors warn hospitals are overwhelmed.

"This is the very worst time to get Covid-19. If you fall seriously ill in need of a hospital bed with O2 or ICU bed, you won't find any in the city," Dr Ahmed Kalebi, director of one of Nairobi's main private laboratories Lancet, said on Sunday.

Kenya recorded 747 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total since the pandemic began a year ago to 120,910.